Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1870-01-04
Divine Providence.


A sublime and boundless, as well as con-
stantly practical theme, is thus introduced
upon which it is always good to dwell
And our attention is turned now to some
of the more manifest and important less
ons which the theme suggests.
As preliminary we must keep IN mind
continually two things in regard to Gods
providence, and then our reflections will
not lead us astray. The first is, that Prov
idence is educational in all its plans and
processes; and the second, that it is so con-
Quoted as to evoke in the best possible
manner every mans own agency in har-
mony with Gods. All its ends are moral.
God would draw each heart to Himself
educate, develop it by his discipline, into
His own image, and make it meet for His
blessed and eternal companionship. We
must not overlook this design, nor misin-
terpret the experiences through which we
pass. With this in view the first remark
which the theme suggests is:
l. That the discipline Of this life is ncvi-
tally to every one a discipline Of faith. 1t is
so from first to last. We cannot see God
with the natural eye. He withdraws Him
self from human view in the management
Of His providence. As we pass along in
our lifes experience, and calculate and
reason for our temporal interests, the eye
Of faith must be on God. There must be
an abiding inner sense of His having con-
slant presence, and protection. He would
test the heart by its responsive, joyous
trust, as Abraham was led with Isaac to
Mount Moriah. We can. if we will, neg
lect or refuse to see the many convincing
proofs Of Gods presence with us; or we
may perpetually harrass ourselves with a
sense of the many mysteries Of our being
here, and Of the unveiled future beyond
But this is all the work of unbelief, and
God will never meet its demands. He still
maintains voicciess silence even rs lie
stands unseen at our very side Even the
heart that loves him must and eagerly
longs for the vision face to face'of its Faith
err and its God, must be content with the
calm inner view of the faith. There will
be no manifest Divine approach in this
world directly to the senses. Though God
is in the sunshine and the cloud-though
He speaks in the thousand voices Of ma
ture- though He sends forth pestilence
hat
pest that desolates our homes, and rides
upon the storm that for a moment threat
ems destruction-and we kn0W this, too
still we see no visible hand stretched forth,
no horses and chariot of fire. He is an in
visible presence to every view but that OF
faith. SO calm is God in the hiding of His
presence amid earth's fercest tumults that
TO multitudes perchance He seems to be en-
tirely indifferent to human want and woe
and they either deny Him or charge Him
with malignity. But once let faith begin
to reveal the invisible; let the soul bu
look up, and filially pronounce the name
MY Father" and behold, God appear
clothed with untold radiance, and utter
His everlasting promise, Gear not, for
am with thee" 81 will never leave thee
nor forsake thee, no harm shall come nigl
thee. Thus are we led to remark
,. 4 right rie,oof COTS providence IN hi
worId is the rery highest stimulus to taith.
What can be more inspiring than a RICH
and deep impression Of Gods perpetua
practical interest in the whole human rae
and in each individual, his history, condi
ton and destiny? Our faith is our glory
But where does faith find its full and ap
propriate field of exercise if not in tn
sphere of Gods all-abounding providence
Suppose the idea of God is but dimly shaC
owed to the mind, and He appears as
mere impersonal indefinite Principle, {
Force, different throughout the univers,
What has the soul here upon which to re-
what is there to meet its felt necessities
1t signs and sinks into barren atheis.
nothingness. But now contrast the otht
views. Take home the idea of a person,
ever present God; conceive of Him in II
absolute being as He really is; think
Him in the carefully reiterated commanC
ment of Himself, 81 am that | an" or Il
everything God see the disclosures of Hin
self as the great creator and glorious Go,
ernor Of the world and all its affairs; the
move on from point to point to the fulne
of that revelation which is made in Chri
Of His tender fatherly feelings, and II
wondrous plans of love in our behalf-an
we have here a substantial foundation, Il
only basis of all other just conceptions
Him. Faith, therefore, is the startir
point of all else in the soul and II is brc
out, stimulated, encouraged, by the vel
attitude in which God stands to Us. Ho
much is there now. even within the chur,
Of God itself, of that ill-concealed al
practical unbelief in the reality and for
Of Gods providence Good men oft
strangely believe in the efficiency of h
man management and policy, and very /
tie comparatively in the value of simp
earnest, straight forwardness in all tn
they do. Human wisdom is relied up
and exalted, while they forget that Godt
appointed the fixed relation of means a
ends, and that His laws will be stead
obeyed. 1t is true that the doors of Divi
providence do not open to any man a
mere talismanic touch. They are not k,
to answer our selfish and capricious W
But they do yet wait upon one desire.
must ourselves often try to open them, a
push, if need be, and push hard, and pr
and watch, and strive, but then we m
look to God for all the good we hope to
tain, and thank Him for it when the
is received.
How often is the alleged remark of
poleon quoted with a telling smile of
proval even by protesting christians, "T
he had always observed that God was
the side of the strongest battallions." T
remark gives the lie direct to the Bible
sertion that 'the race is not to the sv
nor the battle to the strong" and it prC
alurking mischief which is fatal alik
all efficiency, and all joy. He who ut
it, and feels it, shows that he resists,
misinterprets all the drawing powers,
educating influence of those circumsta
in which God has placed him. He is str
In himself, and not in God; Gods law
providence are even now working to $
him his misapprehension by the failur
invites.
On the other hand what power of thou
feeling and purpose has he who at all t
deeply realizes the fact of Gods p
dencel How great is he, and manly,
strong, for the duties of the present h
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