Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1871-03-16

Of this city, on Sunday. March 5th:
Thy testimonies arc wonderful.--Ps. cxlt I'D
King David, the monarch minstrel Of Israel
Ike Isaiah, the prince among prophets, was u
fond and critical student of Natural Theology.
As he listened attcntiyey and reverently ~
creations rich and manifold melodies his lips ut
tered forth the thought of his heartily testt
monies are wonderful
| The spirit of inspiration had given to David .
deep and clear insight into the works and ways
of God and he felt profoundly the sentiment con-
| The theme that dcducc from the text ia--
Gods testimonies in Nature, Providence and
Grace. In inviting your attention to it, it will
| be my object to show,
l. That Gods testimonies arc wonderful m
| Nature.
| II. Wonderful in Providence.
H. Chiefly and emnently wonderful 10 the
| purposes and provisions OF Grace.
Gods great book otnatnre Is CROW DED with tho
marvellous exhibitions of his creative skill and
sustaining power. Nature speaks living voice
of praise unto God. The earth Is full OF the
goodness and glorious manifestations of Gods
| power
| II we lift mp our eyes to the starry heavens
that vast highway of uncounted suns and orbs--
! II We read the glorious visions OF the night and
| watch the rolling spheres as they move on the
grand march of worlds we shall feel the force OF
David's appropriate langmge-The heavens"
declare the glory of God and the trmanlcnS
| showeth his handiwoyk. The amazing disclosures
made by astronomical science aud research con
| firm the psamst's language, viz Gods tcstt
monies are wonderful
| II we stand by the seasldc--that broad high
way OF the worlds commerce-when 1t lifts on
| high It's heayng billows lashes the shore with
,olemn sound and huries fleets and navics In Its
sounded depths stand by the sounding sea and
| llstcn To hardy men who go down In ships and
do business on the great waters, as they narrat0
! the startling wonders of the dark blue sea. Or
| II we pauee at the base of some wild AlpU0
range, look far up its dizzy, ragged heights and
decipher the prophetic record of the rocks, our
verdict will be that OF lsrael's royal singer--Thy
testimonies, o God are wonderful. God made
these vast soudes The complicated, yet per
| feet laws Of light and heat, attraction and no
pulson the laws of gcrmination, growth, mo
| tnrlty, decay aud reproduction the laws OF tho
rolling year, giving seed to the sower and bread
| to the eater. The manifold aud mysterious laws
| that prcvadc the material world, these all ars
wonderful testimonies To the wisdom, power,
majesty and goodness Of an Almighty God. The
fair lily that God clothes blooming IN the valley,
| the blushmg rose on the mountain side, the glow
worm sparkling beneath thy feet, the heated
sands of broad Sahnra's desert, the glowing lava
| hot from Ncrsuyius' volcanic fires the circllng
mists from the dreaded decps Of Nagria's
| cataract, the bchemoh that Job calls the chief
of the ways Of God, the lion roaring IN the great
ness of his strength the eagle that mounts up ~
|
dom, the innumeiable myriads of the insect
ocean, the awful storms that sweep the sky, tho
terrific voice Of the thunder and the vivid CLEAN
of the lightning-thcse and ten thousand more %
natures witnesses affirm the truth OF the tcxk-
| Thy testimonies are wonderful.
! God in nature s one OF the most sublime and
| fruitful themes that mortal man can study.
There Is both truth and beauty IN these lines OF
| the poet to
"Above below, where'er gaze,
The guiding finger Of the Lord view
Traced on the midnight planets blaze,
Or glistcnng In the morning dew.
Thy glory walks IN every sphere,
And all things whisper God IL here,'"
| Christian brother, read the testimonies Of God
| on thine own organization. Analyzc that marvel
Of architecture the hand /; disscct that ear and
| eye, strange channels Of sight and sound watch
that seat OF litc, mysterious cngnry Of vitality,
rs it beats thy march TO the grave survey that
delicate harp of more than a.thoueand strings
| and do you not eNclam with David am fear
fully and wonderfully made. The fool, says tine
pslanist, Ga fool ndced) hath said in his hears
there is no God ; hui at this all nature rcvolts
| and writes in imperishable characters upon the
door posts of her vast labra.ory THERE'S God
who rcigns on high, Lord Of the earth and sea
aud sky, holy il his nane."
All nature shows the chemical adjustments
mechanical touch and architectural finish of that
wonder working God who spake and it was
done, commanded and il stood fast.
III. Gods testimonies are wonderful In Prov
idcnce By Providence Is meant that supefir
tending care oversight and control which God
| continually exercises In upholding and directing
all his creatures II Is both general and special
and has tor It's object the ultimate accomplish
ncnt Of His most wise and holy purposes. BY
Providence is meant that all pervading power
that shapes the destiny Of nations and Kingdoms,
makes even the wrath Of man to praise God, re
strains the remainder, orders the steps OF u good
man, numbers the hairs Of the head, feeds the
young ravens, marks the fall of sparrow. Do
we inquire for examples Of proyidcnlial nterptA
sition. Look at the fugitive Israel delivered and
fleeing from the horrors Of Egyptian bondage,
Cyrus entering and snbjugating Babylon and its
king Titus beseigng Jerusalem, Daniel in cap
tivity, Abraham on Mount Moriah, Joseph an eT-
lie in Egypt, the prophet Elisha by the brook
sidc the mountain shepard boy and Goliah "
Gath, and those dealings OF God With afflicted
job Look ut the strange history Of the Amen
lean Revolution, late civil conflict, the signal
results Of that most sangunary struggle between
France and Prussia. Can we not discern the
signs of the times. Gods hand is IN history.
His testimonies there are wonderful.
To open the book Of Gods providence Is 10
spread before Us volume Of wonders Provt
dcnccs are Of two kinds-nerciful and affective,
Begin if YOU please with the very morning Of
days. Plant your feet on the outer threshold OK
time and 20 out upon the great highways of nS
tions Watch the establishment and prosperity
or the overthrow and ruin Of kingdoms, poten,
tates and powers the rise and fail Of empires. tho
rout aud dispersion Of armed batallons, the sub
mission Of anarchica and despotic powers, the
grinding of whole nations between the imillstoncs
of righteous providence, and remember that il
is God that daahcs nations TO pieces as pottcr's
vessel preparatory 10 the complete triumph OF
truth and Righteousness. Observe how the de-.
oiate regions of moral darkness and idolatry are
Of