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THE ATTRIBUTES OF GOD.

THE ATTRIBUTES OF GOD.

BY G. RUTLEDGE.

THE design of this essay is to illustrate the wisdom and goodness of God, by presenting a few facts brought to light by chemical experiments.

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of hydrogen with sixteen of oxygen, by weight; thus illustrating the doctrine of definite and multiple proportions.

Among the great and brilliant achievements in modern chemistry, the discovery of these laws is one of the most important and wonderful. These facts, which cannot be denied, are sufficient of themselves to convince any reflecting and unprejudiced mind, that order and system pervade the universe; and that the most minute atoms of matter, as well as those stupendous orbs that roll through illimitable space, are under the control of the invariable laws of the Creator.

The first fact that I would present, as an illustration of the wisdom of God, is, that the globe which we inhabit, with all its appendages, is formed of a few elementary substances. When we consider the numberless objects contained in the animal, vegetable, and mineral kingdoms, who would suppose that all these The fourth fact that I would present, I conceive are formed by the Infinite Architect from less than to be one that in a very high degree manifests the wisfifty elementary substances? Yet such is the fact, as dom and beneficence of God. It is, that all liquids, demonstrated by chemical analysis. All the minerals except water, contract in volume as they cool down to scattered over the surface of our globe, or deeply im- the point of congelation. But the point of the greatest bedded in the various strata of which it is composed; density in water is about 40°, its freezing point being all the vegetables, from the beautiful flowers that deck 32°: as its temperature deviates from this point either the lowly vale, to the sturdy oak that crowns the sum-upward or downward, its density diminishes, or its volmit of the lofty mountain; all the animals that traverse ume increases. If not-if water, like all other liquids, the ocean, air, or land, are formed by a few elementary continued to contract in volume as it cooled down to substances, variously combined with each other. How the point of congelation, all the water in our great naincomprehensible that wisdom, which from so few sub-tural basins or lakes would become a solid mass of ice; stances has formed such an endless diversity of objects, and thus every living thing they contain would perish, differing so widely as to their animal, mechanical, chem- for the water on the surface, as it cooled, would become ical, and medicinal properties. specifically heavier, and sink, until the whole should The second fact that I would present as an illustra-arrive at 32°, when the whole mass would congeal at tion of the wisdom and goodness of God, is, that he, by variously combining the seven primary colors which compose the solar spectrum, has formed that infinite variety of tint and hue, which adorn and beautify creation. All those gorgeous colors which adorn the clouds that hang along the horizon at morn and even; all the variegated colors of the landscape, as it spreads out in grandeur and beauty, are formed by the innumerable combinations of those prismatic colors seen in the bow of promise.

The third fact that I would present as an illustration of the Divine perfections, is, the laws of definite and multiple proportions which govern all energetic chemical combinations. By the law of definite proportions in chemistry is meant, that the ingredients, or elements of chemical compounds, unite with each other in certain proportions only; and that these proportions in the same compound are, under all circumstances, invariably the same. This law of definite proportions extends to gaseous, as well as other substances; for it is found by experiment, that whenever different gases combine chemically, they unite in certain definite proportions, both as to volume and weight, By the law of multiple proportions is meant, that when two elementary substances combine together in more proportions than one, the second, third, or fourth proportions are always multiples of the first. Thus oxygen and hydrogen gases combine together in the proportions of one of hydrogen to eight of oxygen, by weight; or one of oxygen and two of hydrogen, by volume, in forming that well known substance, water. These gases combine in another proportion, viz., one

once: and even in the temperate zones, this mass of ice would never again become liquid, and navigation would be obstructed. But by a deviation from the common law of nature, this disastrous effect is averted; for water in cooling, after it arrives at 40°, instead of increasing in density and sinking to the bottom, becomes specifically lighter, and consequently cannot sink. The surface, however, continues to decrease in temperature until it arrives at 32°, when it congeals, and thus preserves the water beneath from the influence of further cold. Surely this deviation from a common law of nature is not an effect of blind chance, but of infinite wisdom and goodness, employed for the comfort and happiness of man.

The next fact that I would present for my present purpose, is, that in the conversion of a solid into a fluid, a large quantity of heat becomes latent; that is, it is not indicated by the thermometer. This arrangement of Providence is of vast importance to the world, and especially to the inhabitants of high northern latitudes, where the ground is covered with vast quantities of snow and ice through a great part, or the whole of the year. For were it not for the fact adduced above, and did the snow and ice follow the same laws in respect to temperature, that we observe in some other bodies, almost as soon as the atmosphere became above 32°, the whole mass would be turned into water, and the whole country would be inundated and destroyed by floods. But in consequence of such a vast quantity of caloric becoming latent by the liquefaction of snow and ice, the melting is gradual, and no such disastrous consequences take place. I conceive this to be a striking

ADDRESS TO THE MOON.

visitest him?”

"When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers; the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; what is man, The last fact that I will present to illustrate the Di-that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou vine perfections, is, that the atmosphere around us is composed of about 80 parts nitrogen, and 20 parts oxygen, to each 100 parts by volume. This proportion of these gases is found to be the best for sustaining in a healthy state all animated beings. If there was a greater proportion of oxygen, there would be a feverish excitement; if there was less, languor and debility would be the immediate consequence.

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The effect it produced in the first instance was well

LIFE AND DEATH OF MRS. MORRIS.* calculated to show her what was wanting in her heart,

BY THE EDITOR.

THE victories of faith in the experience of suffering and conquering saints should be recorded for the encouragement of God's children. Few examples could be adduced to our readers, in which the succors of grace have been more encouragingly exhibited than in the cheerful patience of Mrs. Morris, under her almost unprecedented and long protracted sufferings. We therefore present a brief notice of some passages in her life, with a more particular account of her last sickness, and death.

and how needful it was that the work of grace should be carried on to perfection. During the latter part of the first year of her married life, her husband began to feel that it was his duty to devote himself to the ministry in the itinerant ranks. To this she was scarcely prepared to submit without a struggle. In a gentle manner she demurred. She was not opposed to his preaching; but western itinerancy in those days presented so many difficulties, and threatened so much deprivation to the family of the preacher, and especially to one brought up as she had been, that the prospect was not only disheartening, but to a sensitive female Mrs. ABIGAIL, late consort of Bishop Morris, was overwhelming. In these circumstances her husband the daughter of Mr. Nathaniel Scales, and a native did not act regardless of her feelings. He deemed it of Patrick county, Virginia. She was born, January his duty to rest in Providence, and expect the Father 18, 1793. Her childhood was mostly spent at Sandy of mercies gently, and in his own good time, to clear Ridge, in Stokes county, North Carolina; and her his way, and open to him a field of labor. Better thus, youth at Sugar Grove, on the bank of the Ohio, in than to have done violence to the feelings of one who the northwest part of Virginia. Her early associates was herself seriously solicitous about duty, and who were not religious. They placed a higher estimate looked daily to the Father of lights to guide her and on the world and its gayeties than on a life of piety. her husband in ways of righteousness. A prayerless She was a stranger to renewing grace, until she reach-companion's influence must often be heedfully guarded ed the twentieth year of her age. In the early part against, and not be allowed to check or divert us in our of the year 1812, her attention was drawn to the sub-career of duty. But the devout, who wait on God for ject of religion, and she became sensible of her lost state as a sinner. She joined the Methodist Episcopal Church, and obtained an evidence of pardoning mercy and renewing grace.

At that time only one other member of her father's numerous family was inclined to a life of devotion; and some of them were dissatisfied at her communing with the Methodists; but she lived to see them all religious, and all, except one, who are now living, are members of the same Church.

instruction, are likely to be led in the right way.

In the fall of 1815, while suffering under a severe attack of bilious intermittent fever, Mrs. Morris herself, as might have been expected, if his call was from God, became most deeply exercised on the subject of her husband's ministry. An impression was one day made upon her mind as distinctly as if the Holy Spirit had said in audible tones, let him go. But she still hesitated. The difficulties appalled her; and she had not yet a sufficient degree of simple trust in the promises of God to yield. She was almost immediately upon her refusal seized with violent bodily pain, as if rolling on a bed of thorns, while the distress of her mind was, as she said, comparable only to the torment of a lost soul. After enduring this agony for two or three hours, the same impression was repeated on her mind as if she had heard a voice from heaven, saying, let him

Let this fact in the life of the deceased encourage others similarly situated to be faithful to the grace of God. In how many instances do aged parents and a large circle of relatives owe their first convictions and their salvation to the instrumentality of a young crossbearing disciple of the family! It often happens that a child, brought into the kingdom of Christ, by displaying in life great meekness, and patience, and perse-go. She responded, “Yes, Lord, with all my heart;" verance, under severe opposition from friends, is honored of the Lord to bear the blessings of salvation to a whole family. Mrs. Rogers did not suffer in vain. She not only saved her own soul, but brought the blessings of the Gospel to her relatives, one of whom became a successful minister of Christ.

Mrs. Morris was married to Mr. (now Bishop) Morris, January 23, 1814. Almost immediately upon this union, a new and unexpected trial came upon her.

and in a moment she was relieved of all distress of soul and body. Her countenance indicated the deliverance even before she could announce it in words. After praising the Lord for delivering grace, she told her husband that he had her full consent to travel and preach, whatever might be the consequences, and that if he ever located, no one should say it was at her request. This resolution was adhered to through life. When her husband, discouraged by slender support for his family, or want of success in his Master's business, would talk of locating, she always dissuaded him from it, lest some worse thing should come upon them

*We displace from this number of the Repository several pages of matter already set up, and which will appear hereafter, to make room for this interesting sketch. This accounts for deserting a work to which they had been so signalfor the apparent mistake in the table of contents. The facts in the life of sister Morris have been obtained from an undoubtedly called. source, and may be implicitly relied on. God grant that they may deeply and permanently affect the heart of the reader!

There is harmony in all the acts of God-not only

in what are termed the works of nature, but also in

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the apostle of old, to do all things through Christ, who strengthened her.

the operations of grace. In both, harmony may be interrupted by the agency of minds opposed to God, but where there is no opposition there is always exact order. Mrs. Morris was a great sufferer from sickness. Few When Saul of Tarsus, and Cornelius the centurion, persons ever lived through greater afflictions than she needed instruction, teachers were provided and thrown did during the last twenty-five years of her life. Among in their way by divine Providence. When the heart the instances of her extreme suffering, the severest preof the Eunuch was disposed to listen to the word of vious to her last sickness was in 1839, from spinal and God, an interpreter of that word was near at hand, and neuralgic affection, whereby she was confined to her a minister of Christian ordinances was ready to induct bed nearly six months, most of the time in extreme him into the Church. In the above facts we have a agony. This brought her apparently to the gate of striking illustration of the order of God's gracious death. But the grace of God was so manifested to dealings with his servants. He moved a young man, her in that affliction, that the more she suffered, the in the prime of life, to go forth and proclaim his more she rejoiced, and the nearer death seemed to apword. He removed what seemed to be a serious ob-proach, the more she triumphed through faith in Christ stacle, by the powerful impressions of his Holy Spirit on the heart of a companion whose reluctance was by this means wholly conquered. That companion was, in after years, so fully convinced of her husband's duty and of the fearful consequences of neglecting it, that, under peculiar discouragements, she could listen to no proposal which savored in the least degree of a draw-lovely, just such a Savior as she needed; and that he ing back from toil and suffering, but urged him to perseverance in his glorious calling. Happy for those who follow her example. They may expect a peaceful and triumphant death. Mrs. Morris did not in the end regret the sacrifices she had made for Jesus and his blessed cause. She had forsaken many things for the king- || dom of God's sake; but she had, and now has, a great reward.

Jesus.

Her case affords another proof that high attainments in grace are attended with an affecting sense of unworthiness in those who possess it; for amidst her brightest prospects of future glory, she said she was but a mass of corruption, but that Christ was altogether

was all her hope, all her trust, and all her plea. A friend visiting her on one occasion, she said, "I have this day given myself anew wholly to the Lord, to do with me as he sees good. Surely he will make me meet for heaven." While she thus spake, her countenance beamed with heavenly lustre, indicative of a joy which words could not have expressed. Frequently after a struggle in prayer, she was filled with rapture, smiled at pain, and discoursed of heaven.

Having on one occasion received the Lord's supper with a few friends in her chamber, she considered her work done, and the same day sent this message to her son, then in Texas: "Give my love to my son. Tell

For more than thirty years she was an orderly living member of the Church, and for more than twenty-six years suffered the privations incident to the itinerant work, patiently sharing its toils and anxieties, as they fall upon the family of the traveling preacher. While health permitted, she was exceedingly active and use-him I shall never see him with these bodily eyes, but ful in the work of the Lord, as a leader of female prayer meetings, visiting the sick, and exhorting all with whom she had influence to flee from the wrath to come-by which means a number of souls were brought to the knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus. When she had strength to speak in the love feasts, the effect was often felt throughout the house in an unusual manner; but for many years, in the latter part of her life, she was unable, through bodily weakness, to|| take a part in those religious exercises which required much exertion.

Those who did not experience them, can scarcely conceive the difficulties, privations, and hardships endured by the families of preachers who came into the work twenty-six years ago. Of these Mrs. Morris suffered a full proportion, but without murmuring. The brethren and sisters acquainted with her in the various circuits and stations to which she accompanied her husband, through Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee, can bear wit ness with what meekness, patience, and cheerful resignation, in despite of her delicate health, she toiled and suffered among strange brethren for the sake of Christ. Nor was this owing to any extraordinary constitutional fortitude, but to the abounding grace of God, which exceedingly fortified her spirit, and enabled her, like

may soon be commissioned as a ministering spirit to administer consolation to him in a strange land." Contrary to the expectation of herself, her physician, and friends, she was partially restored, and was able to go about for two years.

Last November she took a severe cold, which fell on her lungs, followed with much pain, great soreness in the chest, a stubborn cough, chills, fevers, night sweats, and loss of flesh and strength, so that by mid-winter she was confined to the bed. Bishop Morris was then in Texas, where he failed to receive letters from home, and knew nothing of her condition until he arrived at Galveston, on his return trip, in February. He then got merely a verbal report of her illness; but on landing at New Orleans he received letters of various dates up to February 15th, which created serious fears that he would see her no more on earth. After a painful suspense during a trip of seven days, on the 1st of March he reached home with his son, and found her still alive, and apparently better than she had been. We need not add, that the meeting was truly affecting to all parties. When she embraced her husband, who had been absent nearly seven months, and her only son, whom she had not seen for three years, and whom she never expected to see again, she exclaimed, with a trem

LIFE AND DEATH OF MRS. MORRIS.

ulous voice, "Now, Lord, I am ready to depart when her theme was generally the goodness of God to her, it is thy will."