Alexandria Gazette, Commercial And Political

MONITORY.

O Thou! whose word from solid darkness struck
That spark, the Sun, strike wisdom from my soul!

In this dark and gloomy day, which overspreads our country, the mind naturally turns to some consideration which may cheer and console it. With this hope, we have turned our eyes to politicians and legislators. With this sentiment we have looked to those mighty concussions that have shaken the continent of Europe, and flattered ourselves that some light arising even out of these eruptions, would make our hope to brighten through the gloom.

But our hopes have been vain. A cloud still blacker settles upon the horizon around us, and threatens to pour its magazines of wrath upon our devoted country.

Amidst all the foreboding fears which such thoughts naturally excite, there is one view however, which makes "light to arise in darkness to the upright."— Such is the view which reason and revelation give us of an overruling Providence. They represent the Gracious Father of the Universe as riding in the whirlwind and directing the storm, and amidst the tremendous machinery of his dispensations planning the welfare of his people. They teach us, that he rules in the armies of Heaven, and doeth all his good will and pleasure among the inhabitants of earth, that he does not willingly afflict the children of men, but designs by his chastisements, as well as his mercies to lead men to repentance He controls the events of peace and war. He unites and scatters the nations But whether he arise in the majesty of his wrath to destroy, or whether he designs to preserve our nation, we may individually apply to ourselves the comfort of the doctrine "the Lord reigneth, let the isles rejoice." Were we well acquainted with our own grandeur and the high relation we bear to the Deity. and led to obtain an interest in the favor and protection of him, before whom things past, present, and to come, bow down and obey, we should rise superior to all those fears & apprehensions which relate to this mortal state of existence. For in what manner can an immortal and immaterial soul be rendered unhappy by the operation of natural causes? Shall he fear the tyrant's & oppressor's rage? He may afflict the body. He may break the bond that unites the mortal to the immortal part. But he will free his captive by overloading him with chains.— The union dissolved, the soul is free After death the soul becomes invisible, and a tyrant's eye searcheth for it in vain: it ceaseth to be tangible—his chains and fetters hold it no more ; it is no more divisible; his gibbets and racks and his wheels can rend it no more; none of his fires can burn it, for it is not combustible.

The defence which religion provides, is altogether of an internal kind. It is the heart, not the outward state which it professes to guard. When the time of trouble comes, as come it must upon all, it places them under the pavilion of the Almighty, by affording them that security and peace, which arises from the belief of divine protection. It brings them into the secret of his tabernacle by opening to them sources of consolation that are hidden from others. And by that strength of mind with which it endows them, it sets them upon a rock. against which the tempest may violently beat, but which it cannot shake.

"Who art thou that thou should'st be afraid of man," and we may add, of any outward circumstance whatever? God alone hath the power of destroying, and he alone the power of preserving an immortal soul. He alone can act immediately upon a spiritual Being. It is He alone who can excite infinite sensations of pleasure and pain. It is He alone can apprehend the soul of a tyrant amidst the most gay and festive scenes And He can make a martyr triumph involved in fire and flame, and carry off unhurt from the fall of its earthly tabernacle, that immortal and everlasting part of man and place it beyond the reach of war and elemental strife.

It is because men do not sufficiently understand, and live according to the influence of these truths, that they suffer their minds to be perplexed by those things which ought to have only a subordinate place in the solicitude of an immortal spirit. -For our country, it is laudable, it is enviable and natural that we indulge some concern. But as we by our thoughts cannot add one cubit to her stature after having used those lawful means which God hath put in our power, to better our condition, it will be our interest as well as our duty to dismiss all disquieting fears and apprehensions, and to submit ourselves to the protection of Him who rides in the whirlwind and directs the storm.

"Fear him ye saints and you will then have nothing else to fear."

But if we hope for his protection and blessing, we must study to please him in our lives. We must propitiate his favor by repentance for our sins and by faith in that atonement which his blessed son has made for the whole world.- "Being justified by faith, we have peace with God through Jesus Christ." We are hereby brought into covenant with him, and may plead with confidence our claim to his mercy and everlasting defence. We have an asylum from the storms of life, a fortress into which we may retreat in every time of danger.-- Into this refuge then let us flee for safety, now, while the gathering danger warns; now, when the calamities of life teach us the instability of a world within and without us, "which seems to toll the death bell of its own disease and by the voice of all its elements to preach the general doom."

J. B.