Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1876-07-13

" He hath not dealt so with any nation"
PsAI.M-l47: 20. p
The text states fact and implies
doctrine. Ihe fact Us nat God had
dealt in a prominently gracious man
ner with IstaeL Butin the statement
of this fact the dpcs5ue Of Gods
providence over all nations is plainly
implied HE hath not dealt SO with
any nation;' but it is implied in some
other less favorable manner. He
therefore deals in some manner with
all nations. By fair inference then
we have our theme from the Bible:
The Hand OF God in American Histo-
ry.. With this theme / desire to call
attention to the doctrine OF the text,
as exemplified in the history of this
nation. We will forget the fact stated
nnless it may serve to illustrate the
doctrine as thus exemplified. Provi-.
dence in its progress is often dark,
mysterious, and dreadful 1t is then
dii uIhhiohct otoiy. Nhcu Vic oeoh
is told the darkness is dispersed, the
mystery is solved, and the dread gives
place to satisfied assurance. To IL
lustrate. beautiful Spanish story is
related to this effect s.saii'i ..itosl
laRationia, the councillor, said to his
sovereign, in a case requiring advice:
L should be much pleased To relate
to you what happened to Don Rodri-
go Nelendez de Valdez His sove.
reign desired him to relate what that
was. Don Rodrigo said Rationia,
was a knight much honored I'm the
kingdom of Leon, and was accustom-
ed, whenever anything happened to
him, to say, God be praised for
since he has so willed, it Is for the
best" He was councillor to and a
great favorite with the king Of Leon,
but he had many enemies, who in
duced the king to think i'll OF him, and
at last order him to be put to death.
Nov, Don Rodrigo, being at his
own house, received orders to attend
the king. Meanwhile appointed as
sassins waited on the highway, to kill
him, as he passed. He intended to-
go on horseback; but, coming down
stairs he fell and broke his leg His
attendants reminded him. half -iocose-
ly, you know you always said, God
be praisedl that which he permits is
always best. How now?" He replied
that they might be certain, however
grievous this accident may appear,
since it is the will OF God, it will sure
ly be for the best; and all they. can
say can never change his opinion.
"'Now the assassins failing to meet
the Don, returned to the palace. He
was long time recovering. During
this time the king had leisure TO find
out that his enemies were conspiring
unjustly for his destruction and had
grievodsly lied about him His SLAM
derers were seized and punished; the
king went himself to Don Rodrigo,
and, explaining his case, bestowed on
him new honors and riches. In this
way God delivered Don Rodrigo, who
was not guilty. Hence was his Gus
tornary assertion proved true, that
Whatsoever God permitted to hap
pen was always for the esbest.n na9r ID
The winter of 1777-s was the mid
night of the Revolution. The army
lay at Valley Forge. Isaac Potts,
whose house was at the time Wash
ington's head quarters, discovered
the chief, on one occasion, in a retir-
ed place, pouring out bis soul in
prayer to his God. = Potts went home
to his wife and said, with tears in his
eyes, IF there is any one on this
earth to whom the Lord will listen, it
is to George Washington. What to
the great christian warrior was faith
is sight to us. Coming events cast a
dark shadow upon him. Upon us
these same events cast no shadow
atall. The heavy unbroken .elo,id
which lay upon Valley Forge has be-
come d blaze of glory, Frightening
upon the world, as it recedes through
the centuries. Like the ancient pillar
OF fire and cloud, it has two sides. 1t
is light to freedom, and to oppression
darkness. Under the shining glory
OF that cloud is the bowed form and
.upturned face OF one worthy, in many
respects,-to be classed with Moses,
the man OF God" Auasku
The struggle for American inde-
pendence began in darkness and