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have exhibited in its behalf much religious zeal and devotion. They have always claimed that God was on their side, and that the initiatory and subsequent steps of the movement were undertaken by His direction. When recounting their military successes (and they have claimed a victory on nearly every battle-field), it is wonderful to note how their journals, especially the religious, have ever found in current events striking evidences of God's favoring providence.*

We should suppose that at least religious men, before making such a wholesale appropriation, would wait to see the outcome; for God often gives temporary or apparent success, where the final upshot is an utter overthrow. But so elated have they been at present results, that they have often predicted certain triumph; and they have frequently so put the case as to be willing that their cause should be judged by the determination of the contest. Here again they are ethically at fault, for success is not necessarily a criterion of merit, nor does virtue always conquer; and yet, without admitting the principle, we are almost willing to rest the present case on that issue. We are doubtful, however, whether, with all their boastings, they will so readily abide the judgment which the result may furnish. Already, as the contest progresses, we see signs of misgiving, and less confidence expressed in the favor of God than formerly. What the bearing of this may be, even

In the winter of 1861-2, after the campaign of the first season of the war was over, an "Address to the People of Georgia" was issued, signed by Howell Cobb, R. Toombs, M. J. Crawford, and Thomas R. R. Cobb, in order further "to fire the Southern heart," This passage on providence will illustrate what we have said above: "We have faith in God and faith in you. He is blind to every indication of providence who has not seen an Almighty hand controlling the events of the past year. The wind, the wave, the cloud, the mist, the sunshine, and the storm, have all ministered to our necessities, and frequently succored us in our distresses. We deem it unnecessary to recount the numerous instances which have called forth our gratitude. We would join you in thanksgiving and praise. If God be for us, who can be against us ? We have no fears of the result-the final issue."

as modifying their ethics, no one can foretell. That they need a modification, not merely upon current events of the war, but upon matters which underlie the whole structure of human life, is easily made apparent.*

The providence of God has been so much dwelt upon by them in their public journals, debates, and discourses, and especially by the clergy, that it becomes a fruitful theme for meditation, as furnishing a marked feature in the moral phases of the contest.

IT UPSETS THEIR THEOLOGY.

One of the most noted things about the views of the clergy among the rebel leaders, is seen in this,--that while their devotion to treason, in the interest of slavery, has blinded them to the demands of duty to their country, the same devotion has unsettled the foundations of some of the prime articles of their religious faith. Their elaborate

No one familiar with the early events of the war, can forget how the rebels exulted that the fleet sent to Charleston, at the time the last effort was made to provision Fort Sumter, was dispersed by a storm, so that it could not enter the harbor. This gave the rebels an opportunity to complete their plans, and to capture that fortress without opposition from the fleet. Its dispersion, they said, was “no accident," but the very "finger of God was in it," and a sign of His favor to them. We accept the doctrine; God “was in it," but possibly for a different purpose than they supposed. And so they have exulted almost ever since. Observe, however, one among many signs which have occurred more recently, where serious disappointments are laid to the account of "accident," and where hope in "Providence" is waning. Remarking upon the "invasion" of Maryland and the threatening of Washington in July last, the Richmond Enquirer says: “It is said that a lucky accident alone saved Washington. Canby's Corps, from New Orleans, arrived at Fortress Monroe on Saturday night, the very day on which the battle of Monocacy was fought, and which revealed to the enemy the magnitude of the danger that threatened Washington. Ordered by telegraph to that city, it arrived there on Monday in time to prevent the capture of the city, and to hold the defences until the arrival of additional corps from Petersburg had rendered the storming of the works useless. The accidental arrival of Canby saved the city. Had he passed up to Grant, or been delayed in his arrival one day longer, Washington would have been captured. However great the disappointment may be, yet much has already been and much more will be accomplished." No storm delayed Canby "one day longer." God "was in it." The Richmond Examiner thus refers to the same inva

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discoursings upon providence furnish a striking illustration.

We of course admit, that while the whole world agree in holding to a doctrine of providence, men often differ as to the doctrine itself; as to its extent, whether general only or particular, or both; whether it is concerned only in the great affairs of the world, the marked and unusual occurrences, or extends to all events alike, great and small; whether it controls and works through the free volitions of men, or only reaches outward things; whether its ends are accomplished through wicked agents as directly and efficiently as through the good and holy, or only through the latter; and a thousand other questions, which theologians and metaphysicians have discussed more or less from time immemorial. We do not name these differences to enter into any examination of them. Our present business is more simple. The divines who are foremost in the apologetical literature of the rebellion, so far as this has come more immediately under our observation, and from which we cite examples, are of the same school in theology with ourselves. They have received the same standards of faith, and when adopting them received the doctrine of providence therein set forth, which substantially is that received by nearly the whole Christian world. We doubt whether they ever would have so widely departed from it under any other influence than that of this rebellion, sion: "It must be confessed that our 'invasion' just at this moment looks like one of the most paltry affairs of the war. Washington was not taken. Baltimore was not taken. The Yankeeized population of Martinsburgh has embraced their townsman Hunter again. Not a bridge of the road between Washington and Baltimore was burned. The road itself was unbroken. What has been done then? What bas yet been obtained by these opportunities,-Lynchburg and Washington,—the like of which Providence has not vouchsafed since the first year of the war? One house has been burned; two thousand head of cattle brought off; Major-General Tyler and Major-General Franklin were taken prisoners and both permitted to escape. ** Let us hope, und pray, and trust, that the story still is left halfi told."

which with them has overturned some of the fundamental principles in morals as well as theology.

THE TRUE DOCTRINE OF PROVIDENCE.

That doctrine of providence is thus concisely expressed: "God's works of providence are His most holy, wise, and powerful preserving and governing all His creatures; ordering them, and all their actions, to His own glory." This is simple, comprehensive, and unquestionably founded on the teachings of Scripture. Its purport is plain. It sweeps the universe. It leaves nothing without the control of God. Not a sparrow can fall to the ground without His notice, nor is a hair of any head unnumbered. It embraces men, angels, demons, races of men, nations, families, and the concerns and interests of each and of all; and directs all things for great purposes of good to those who love God, and for glory to His great name. If the Ruler of the Universe is indeed GOD, then He will do His pleasure in heaven and upon earth, and no being or thing can thwart His plans.

SOUTHERN EXPOSITION OF IT.-DR. PALMER.

Now observe how some of the high priests of the rebellion preach upon this doctrine. We will let Dr. Palmer lead the way, in his Thanksgiving Discourse before referred to. He sets out with the undoubted truth, that nations have a special destiny to fulfil in the designs of God; that "a nation often has a character as well defined and intense as that of an individual;" that "this individuality of character alone makes any people truly historic, competent to work out its specific mission, and to become a factor in the world's progress." He says, also, concerning the crisis then reached, that, "in determining our duty in this emergency, it is necessary that we should first ascertain

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the nature of the trust providentially committed to us." Having ascertained, as he supposed, what the special trust of the South was in the plans of God, he then declares it, and gives assurance of providential security in its execution, as follows:

The particular trust assigned to such a people becomes the pledge of Divine protection, and their fidelity to it determines the fate by which it is finally overtaken. What that trust is, must be ascertained from the necessities of their position, the institutions which are the outgrowth of their principles, and the conflicts through which they preserve their identity and independence. If, then, the South is such a people, what, at this juncture, is their providential trust? I answer, that it is to conserve and to perpetuate the institution of slavery as now existing.

PROVIDENCE FRUSTRATED.

The announcement in the last sentence, declaring what the providential trust of the South was understood to be, is the substratum of the whole discourse. We do not, just here, propose to dispute so remarkable a proposition. We have only given this passage as opening the way for exhibiting some views of providence which are quite as remarkable; indicating that the preacher supposes it within the power of man to frustrate God's plans, and betraying an excited fear not merely that He might do so in matters then undeveloped, but charging directly that it had already and most grossly been done, as seen in the election of the Chief Ruler of a great nation, and in the special bearings of that election upon God's providence, showing a positive interference by the electors with "the particular trust assigned" to the South, in the execution of which they had "the pledge of the Divine protection." But let the preacher speak for himself:

All that we claim for them (the slaves) and for ourselves is liberty to work out this problem, guided by nature and God, without obtrusive interference from abroad. These great questions of providence and his