The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1884-02-20
.: controversy with us2 The visible facts,
the p!hysical, outlines, every. eye can now

a controversy with us2 The visible facts,
the physical outlines, every eye can now
trace In yonder desolation; but Of the alb.
solute intentions OF heaven, or the moral
results to be produced, or the remoter con.
8 eqlsncea upon our social and commercial
prosperity, we know but little.
We must recognise God as tho great In.
visible, efficient agent in this calamity,
aud feel that the hand OF His Fatherly
chastisement Is upon u.s. or this great
and awful Beipg, Without whose notice not
a sparrow dies or a hair OF our head falls
to the ground, II we speak at all in the ex.
planstionB OF his chastiRcments, our
swords" may well "be few" and "well.
ordered" before Him. There is no
doubt but that the special acts
Of Ills adorable Providence are
often grounded upon reasons and
ends which are Inaccessible 10 It's, and
that Mt times for nc reasors visible or dis.
eoyerable by men, He intends one place
or community 10 be, in the calamities
which they suffer, the common instrument
Of instruction and reprool to many others.
TIE MOST AFFLICTED Nor II MOST GUILTY..
Thus, 1t mayolten be, III His general visi.
tation, that tue moat all .cted are not tho
most guilty; and the most wicked, gener.
ally and absolutely speaking, may not be
the NEST particularly criminal. This will
appear plaiU, when we look at communi.
ties 10 their outward relations to Dlvine
Providence, and the comparative light anu
blessings which they enjoy. We thus see
why The jews were at times more liable to
the Judgments Of God than other u~atiors,
when they were less socially licensious
and depravsd. Beaidta, a nation or com.
nlunlly max be 30 far destitute OF tho ole
men!s OF Divine truth, that it may bs in
capable OF a fit application Of the lessons
o. .prov!dential calamity, while to another
ulis may be one Of the mos.' useful means
Of instruction. Beyond all considera.
tions Of this kind, there is still
another Of very great importance. II there
are certain principles Of religion, which are
most nGtdiul to be believed aud felt for the |
personal welfare and salvation OF man az
an individual, there are others, connected
with the coaimon affairs aud pursuits OF
Ills, and the secular interests OF society,
which arc equally neediul 10 the prosperity
and welfare oil communities. Here the
great vital principle Of religion is the entire
dependence Of mau for all his earthly sac.
upon tho constant caro- aud aid, and
protection aud blessing of Divine Pfovi
dence, as a feeling in his rmind, which
h%ssbitualiy guides and Influences his life.
THIS principle-shis doctrine, sin its prAc
licle elect, in the daily pursuits OF life,
most comprehensive and salulary. Strict
honesty manly integrity in all business
transactions; modification in the desires and
pursuits Of gain; u noble unselish spirit O
good will to othere; a %virtuuus exerlion to
lnset and realizs all the kind intentions Of
Providence towards us, and a filial
remembrance Of It's kindnes, and
! daily gratitude to God for
them, arc among Its fruits. TN all thy
ways Acknowledge Hin, and H. shall d.
thy paths" "a mans hears dev;seth
tlis way, but the Lord dirtcseth his steps,"
Except the Lord build the house, they
Labor in vain that build il; except the Lord
the city, tho watchman wske,h but
III vain"