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Literary
March 27, 1784
The New Hampshire Gazette And General Advertiser
Portsmouth, Exeter, Rockingham County, New Hampshire
What is this article about?
A poetic reflection by Addison on the inscrutable ways of Providence, followed by a moral tale where Moses witnesses a divine vision: a soldier drops a purse, a boy takes it, an old man rests, the soldier kills the old man suspecting theft, but the old man had murdered the boy's father, illustrating divine justice.
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OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
INDEPENDENCE.
ON PROVIDENCE.
The ways of Heaven are dark and intricate,
Puzzl'd in mazes, and perplex'd with errors;
Our understanding traces them in vain,
Lost and bewilder'd in the fruitless search;
Nor sees with how much art the windings run,
Nor where the regular confusion ends.
ADDISON.
Was called up by a voice from Heaven to the top of a mountain: where in a conference with the Supreme Being, he was permitted to propose to him some questions concerning his administration of the universe. In the midst of this divine colloquy, he was commanded to look down on the plain below. At the foot of the mountain there issued out a clear spring of water, at which a soldier alighted from his horse to drink. He was no sooner gone, than a little boy came to the same place, and finding a purse of gold which the soldier had dropped, took it up and went away with it. Immediately after this, came an infirm old man, weary with age and travelling, and having quenched his thirst, sat down to rest himself by the side of the spring. The soldier missing his purse, returns to search for it, and demands it of the old man, who affirms he had not seen it, and appeals to Heaven in witness of his innocence. The soldier, not believing his protestation, kills him. Moses fell on his face with horror and amazement, when the divine voice thus prevented his expostulation: Be not surprised, Moses, nor ask, why the Judge of the whole earth has suffered this thing to come to pass: The child is the occasion that the blood of the old man is spilt, but know, that the old man whom thou sawest, was the murderer of that child's father.
ON PROVIDENCE.
The ways of Heaven are dark and intricate,
Puzzl'd in mazes, and perplex'd with errors;
Our understanding traces them in vain,
Lost and bewilder'd in the fruitless search;
Nor sees with how much art the windings run,
Nor where the regular confusion ends.
ADDISON.
Was called up by a voice from Heaven to the top of a mountain: where in a conference with the Supreme Being, he was permitted to propose to him some questions concerning his administration of the universe. In the midst of this divine colloquy, he was commanded to look down on the plain below. At the foot of the mountain there issued out a clear spring of water, at which a soldier alighted from his horse to drink. He was no sooner gone, than a little boy came to the same place, and finding a purse of gold which the soldier had dropped, took it up and went away with it. Immediately after this, came an infirm old man, weary with age and travelling, and having quenched his thirst, sat down to rest himself by the side of the spring. The soldier missing his purse, returns to search for it, and demands it of the old man, who affirms he had not seen it, and appeals to Heaven in witness of his innocence. The soldier, not believing his protestation, kills him. Moses fell on his face with horror and amazement, when the divine voice thus prevented his expostulation: Be not surprised, Moses, nor ask, why the Judge of the whole earth has suffered this thing to come to pass: The child is the occasion that the blood of the old man is spilt, but know, that the old man whom thou sawest, was the murderer of that child's father.
What sub-type of article is it?
Fable
Prose Fiction
Vision Or Dream
What themes does it cover?
Religious
Moral Virtue
What keywords are associated?
Providence
Divine Justice
Moral Tale
Addison
Moses Vision
What entities or persons were involved?
Addison
Literary Details
Title
On Providence
Author
Addison
Subject
Divine Justice And Providence
Key Lines
The Ways Of Heaven Are Dark And Intricate,
Puzzl'd In Mazes, And Perplex'd With Errors;
Be Not Surprised, Moses, Nor Ask, Why The Judge Of The Whole Earth Has Suffered This Thing To Come To Pass: The Child Is The Occasion That The Blood Of The Old Man Is Spilt, But Know, That The Old Man Whom Thou Sawest, Was The Murderer Of That Child's Father.