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THE PROVIDENTIAL CLIMAX.-DR. STILES.

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whole Southern people "the chosen of God" as the Israelites were, and on that ground applying to them those words of Scripture which were applied to His ancient people. The likening of the President of the United States to the king of Egypt,-and of course regarding Jefferson Davis as a second Moses,-are essential to complete the conception.

The most satisfactory solution which we can give of the mental and moral state of a man of Dr. Smyth's well-known abilities, under such an exhibition of them, is that previously given in reference to Dr. Palmer, and applies to the mass of Southern writers upon the rebellion. Their views of the "peculiar institution," and of the "trust" concerning it "providentially committed" to them, present every thing relating to the contest in which they have embarked for its sake, to their minds and hearts, in an aspect so very "peculiar," that they alone, of all mankind, are able to perceive things as they see them. There is at least one peculiarity between their present condition and that of God's ancient people, which is true in fact: "their minds are blinded;" and "the veil is upon their heart."

THE PROVIDENTIAL CLIMAX.-DR. STILES.

We give but one more sample of this remarkable religious literature of the South. In some respects it exceeds all that has gone before it. It is from a discourse of the Rev. Joseph C. Stiles, D. D., a Georgian by birth, but who was formerly settled for a short time over a Church in Cincinnati, and subsequently was Pastor of the MercerStreet Church in New York, and then Pastor of a Church in New Haven. He also spent several years of ministerial life, previous to these several Northern settlements, in Kentucky. He was a slaveholder by inheritance, and removed to Kentucky for the purpose of preparing his slaves

for freedom, and at that time deemed freedom better than slavery both for himself and them.

cipated them all.

We believe he eman

On the breaking out of the rebellion, he joined the rebel leaders, and has since given the power of his unwonted eloquence and fervent prayers to the attempt to erect that treasonable "nation" whose "corner-stone" is slavery. The discourse to which we refer, came to light in the summer of 1863, and is entitled, "National Rectitude the only true Basis of National Prosperity; an Appeal to the Confederate States," founded on the text, "Righteousness exalteth a nation."

THE SOUTHERN CONFEDERACY TO USHER IN THE MILLEN

NIUM.

Dr. Stiles holds to the doctrine of a "good time coming," believes in common with all branches of the Church that a millennial day will yet dawn upon the world; and as in his view this is to be providentially accomplished through national instrumentality, some one nation taking the lead, he is firm in the faith that this high honor is to fall upon that "nation" which glories in human bondage. But let him speak for himself:

Why should it seem a thing incredible to you, that God should raise this nation from the dead, and raise her now! A freer nation, the sun does not shine upon, and you know it, though she has never been blatant about free thought, free speech, and free soil. A nation of simpler, purer Christianity, thank God, earth does not hold, and you believe it, though she has never been as boastful as some whose religion bears many a sad mark of corruption. Why should not God distinguish this nation, which has so decidedly distinguished herself in His behalf? Why should not God draw nigh to a people who are wont to draw nigh to Him, not in the worship of established ordinances only, but whose Constitution itself approaches God with a reverence, you believe, never similarly expressed by any other people? Do you not know that the interpreta

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tions and calculations of the soundest Christian learning justify the faith that ere long the approach of the Millennium must begin to show itself in appropriate premonitory changes, both in the political and Christian world? And is it not reasonable to suppose that God will inaugurate this glorious era of the Church, by wheeling some one nation out of the ranks of the world, to take ground for God and man under the banner of the Gospel?

We have but little doubt that, in the course of God's providence, at least one thing here predicted by Dr. Stiles will prove true, though not in the sense he intends nor for the object he states; and that is, that this rebel "nation" will ere long be literally "wheeled out of the ranks of the world" and be known as a "nation" no more. That God had selected that "nation," however, which boasts of standing on an ebony corner-stone" on which no other nation"in the history of the world" ever stood, as His grand instrumentality, and Jefferson Davis as his VicarGeneral, in ushering in "the Millennium," is something we had not before supposed was recorded in ancient prophecy.

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Of course, this glowing prospect opened up to rebel vision by this modern Daniel, who puts all the "astrologers, the magicians, and the soothsayers" of the Church to flight, furnishes a basis on this "interpretation of the dream," for a most earnest and pious exhortation to the people to come up to the help of the Lord against the "atrocious;" and thereupon Dr. Stiles implores them as follows:

And now, at a period when the atrocious opposition of a powerful nation would seem to invite the interposition of God in our behalf, tell me, why should not every man who loves God or his country, to the uttermost of his ability, preach, pray, and work, to arouse our population to seize this one great niche of time in the history of the world, and occupy that national position?

REBEL VICTORIES BY MIRACLE.

Certainly; why should they not "preach, pray, and work," as never before; and especially, when the prospect is so good for counting on the direct "interposition of God" in their behalf? As the circumstances of their extremity "would seem to invite the interposition," can God withhold it from those whom Dr. Smyth regards as his" chosen people," and from that "nation" here specially selected "to take ground for God AND MAN under the banner of the (Southern) Gospel," and to usher in the "Millennium" of universal negro-slavery, a "nation" that has "so decidedly distinguished herself in this behalf?" God cannot withhold it; He certainly will interpose by the direct might of His omnipotence. See how it is to be done, as pictured by Dr. Stiles:

Oh, how far you live from the light! Why, let the North march out her million of men on the left, and array upon the right all the veteran troops of England, France, Russia, and Austria; and bring up the very gates of hell in all their strength to compose the centre of her grand invading army. What then? Why, every thing in God and from God assures us that these Confederate States would hear a voice from heaven: "The battle is not yours but mine. Stand ye still and see the salvation of the Lord." If they dared to advance one step, a righteous and an angry God would fire off upon the aliens terrible thunder that angel ears never heard, and shoot out upon them vengeful fires and lightnings that cherubic vision never saw, and fling down upon them cataracts of angry power that hell herself never felt, and if necessary to our deliverance, shake the very earth from under their feet!

A NEW SIEGE OF JERICHO.

It is somewhat difficult, but we finally recover our breath again!—and being able to speak once more, we have a suggestion or two to make to those Southern Christians and to their preacher, founded upon his own words: "Oh, how far you live from the light!"

A NEW SIEGE OF JERICHO.

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Our first suggestion is this: If "every thing in God and from God assures" you of such an easy and complete victory over your foes, and by such means, why don't you lay aside such expensive and cumbrous things as shot and shell and canister, and imitating your prototypes, God's ancient chosen people, march out with "rams' horns" as they did at the siege of Jericho? You would be saved an amazing amount of "transportation," and the whole thing would be done in a single week, and then we should have "peace," for which we all sigh.

You of course, as you read your Bibles, know how it was done in the olden time. "Seven priests" were commanded by Joshua to "bear before the ark seven trumpets of rams' horns." Let General Lee, your modern Joshua, select Dr. Stiles to head the list of "priests," with Drs. Palmer, Smyth, Sehon, Fuller, Adger, and Moore; we should certainly name Bishop Polk and Dr. Thornwell, had they not gone to their final account. The "ark" will of course contain a copy of the Constitution of the "Confederate States of America" which founds your nation on the "corner-stone" of human bondage. As the whole thing would have failed at Jericho had not the priests taken the "ark" into which God had previously commanded "the testimony" to be put, so it is essential that your "ark" should contain "the testimony" which you have given to the world in your Constitution. The ancient "ark" was "overlaid with pure gold within and without." As gold may be scarce with you, it may be covered and lined with "Confederate Scrip" of the latest issue.

Thus prepared, let the Confederate armies "compass" the camp of their enemies, followed by the priests, "bearing the ark and blowing the trumpets," once a day for six days, and on the seventh day go round seven times; and

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