Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1871-06-01

WeIi as materially, there is no doubt in |
reflective minds. But because our ma
terial senses fail to comprehend them.
is no reason why they were-not found |
ed upon the most transcendant Wisdom
We know it is the question with skep-
tics, why God ordained certain things
We may with the same propriety ask
why>the simooIn sweeps the desert,
hurricanes devastate the tropics, earth
quakes convulse the torrid zone and
islands of the sea. Why, says skeptic,
that is easily accounted for: air, when
heated, rises, forming partial vacuum,
cooler currents rush in then. produc-
ing violent winds. Earthquakes are
the result of disturbed electrical condi-
tions, or, on another theory, explosive
gasses in the caverns of the earth.-
Very well; now we have it, and so has
every school boy; but can we find the
hidden principle that produces pisturb-
ed electrical condition Why, says
one, attraction and repulsion. There
is principle of electricity that always
seeks an equilibrium. Why this prin-
ciple? why is there principle Of ca
loric that always seeks an equilibrium
Can we comprehend it? Skeptic says
all effects are produced by certain caus
es, snd that the whole material universe
is governed by immutable laws. Ad-
hitting this in the material world, we
claim there are no less immutabIe laws
which govern mans spiritual existence
as those which govern his material or
physical organization. We know if we
violate physical law we pay the penalty
in physical suffering; so if we violate
spiritual law we pay the penalty in
spiritual suffering; for is it not quite
as rational to suppose God would fur
nish code of laws to govern the spir-
itual principle of man as one to govern
his material, when life is so short and
insignificant compared with the bound
less future before us, and the veal or
woe of that future must depend upon
our condition when we enter it? In
order to comprehend even in part, why
God gave us spiritual laws, it would be
well to consider, in connection, man S
free agency and Gods love and mercy
toward man in his rebellious condition.
Doing this, it need not seem out of
harmony with the character of God
that He should present a means, or
ordain form for a sin or peace offer
ing whereby man might atone for his
disobedience. The shedding of blood
and burnt offerings under the Jewish
covenant constituted this atonement
Why, we dare not question. 1t was {
part of Gods economy. He command
ed it, and by obeying, man furnished {
test of loyalty to his Sovereign and
Ruler. God even gave them form
for this offering, very minute in detail
and which He required them strictly tc
observe. We read of punishment fol
disobedience in this respect, where
Aaron's two sons, Nadab and Abihue
''offered strange fire." which he com
manded item not, ''and there went ou
fire, and devoured them - whereas, Oh
the contrary, there was always bless
) ing bestowed for obedience. Let u
notice the case of Abraham, that grant
old patriarch to whom God ''talked a
man speaketh to his friend" CO.
wished to try Abraham not tempt him
as some translators render it }, and sal
to him, 'tTake now thy son-thine on
ly son, Isaac, whom thou lovest-an
l offer him for burnt Offering" Wha
a trial was that! What terrible sac
e rifice! Not word of complaint or re
monstrance from that old patriarch
but he rises up grandly sublime in hi
trust in God, and obeys the comman
to the letter. We say, to the letter, fo
a he stretched forth his hand and too
Il the knife to slay his son, when the al
{ gels voice reached his ear: "Abr;
u ham Abraham! lay not thy hand VI
Il on the lad, for now l know that tho
fearest God" Now hear the blessing
d 'sThat in blessing, will bless thee
: and in multiplying, l will multiply th
e seed as the stars of the heavens and ,
e the sand which is upon the sea-shor
/ And thy seed shall possess the gate
: his enemies; and in thy seed shall q
: the nations of the earth be blessC
lS (what boundlcss meaning in this la
. sentence ,, because thou hast obeyt
: my voice." The prophet Jeremia
II was no doubt referring to this GOV
~ nant when he said, Behold the da.
'd come, saith the Lord, that will ma;
Is new covenant" But skeptic may i
quire what was the use of new GOV
nant? Permit us to answer, in Il
IS language of learned theologian, g
u is amazining how much self CONGO
u some persons have. They do not he
= itate to pronounce condemnation {
= the Bible, and to declare that it is fl
III Of inconsistencies, when little refle
II ton and little humility would tea'
them that the whole trouble is on q
N count of their own imperfections, Th'