The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1889-03-02

IOr OUo 10 U0 b SeTlOuS Stuu6nC Oh nu"
man life and not recognize the sus.
tanning, guiding. governing hand OF
the God of providence. as we'll as the
hand of the Creator. We see the
providence Of God in its direct appli-
cation to men and their affairs. How.
ever confused The currents of human
affairs may seem in their present
state, however tangled the web of
life may appear from our standpoint,
yet in the review of long period of
human history, equally confused and
opposing currents appear blended and
directed in one channel and for one
purpose, and the providence of God
is distinctly seen shaping AMI guild
ing the varied streams through all
their course.
So, too. of individual life it is true
that "Man's goings are of the Lord"
He does not start in life alone it is
not of his own design that he starts
at all. He is placed in this world
and led through it by an unseen
hand. His early training. his edu-
cation, his whole course of life from
the cradle to the grave is passed I'M
der the proyidential care and guild.
ance of his Creator. This becomes
more evident when we see how few
men carry out that plan of life which
had been marked out for them by
their parents or by themselves.
How different, too, are the results
of effort from that which was con-
templated at the outset of a career
A humble, unknown, friendless Or
phan is raised to the highest point of
distinction and prosperity. Another
man. with every advantage which
wealth and position and friends could
afford, sinks into obscurity and me-
glect. Much is doubtless due to in
dividual character, but yet how great
the diversity in the success Of per.
sons who are similar in their char
acters, attachments, and advantages
Some men are born great, some
achieve greatness, and some have
greatness thrust upon them. The
race is not always to the swift. nor
the battle to the strong, nor riches to
men of understanding. So univer-
sally 1t is acknowledged to be true.
even by those who are irreligious and
even profane. that ut is not in man
that walketh to direct his steps,"
that it has become proverb that
imam is the creature circumstances.
We need not 60 beyond personal
experience to find abundant iliustra-
ton of this providential care of God.
They are few who have not been led
in way that they knew not; few
who if piously inclined, cannot, in
looking back over their past lives.
see that the finger of God plainly
pointed out the path in which they
were to walk who have not felt the
strong grasp of Gods hand holding
them back from evil, his words of
love drawing them to himself. and
his light shining into their hearts.
and on that road which he had made
straight and plain for their weak and
stumbling feet. or thorny or difficult
to test their self.confidence, and bring
them to a humble and patient reli-
ance upon the only true strength.
How often haye those plans that
seemed the best. been frustrated !;
prospects which were bright with the
rainbow of hope been darkened by
clouds of misfortune. purposes form.
ed for life been blown away like chaff
before the tempest, ways of sorrow
opened before US wherein our feet
were forced to tread. and avenues
closed forever, in which we had
deemed that he might WALK joyful
without interruption So, too, the
blessings which have frightened our
lives have come from the most I'M
expected quarters. and often through
our greatest and sorest trials. Our
success has been the most complete
when we despalred of accomplishing
anything. and an enterprise which
we were almost ready to abandon has
been productive of sudden profit and
advantage. Every one who reviews
his life with religious reflection IS
surprised to see how little influence
his own plans have exerted upon
that life. and how evident it Is that
"there's divinity that shapes our
ends" In spite of our conscious free.
dom our firmest decisions have been
overruled. we have done the very
things that we pledged ourselves not
to do, and have neglected or forgot.
ten those things which were once
foremost in our thoughts. God has
direc.ed all our efforts, marked our
course. and introduced US to new and
unthought-ofscenes. Infidels call this
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