BIBLE CHARACTERISTICS. No. I. DECISION-NEHEMIAH. WHEN we read that ascription of praise, "Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty!" our hearts cannot but respond to the adoring cry. Above, beneath, around us, we behold the great works of his power, and the marvellous workings of his wisdom. The past records, the present speaks, and the dim shadows of the future point out the beauties of his wondrous might. "His way is perfect." Yet we are apt to overlook some eloquent testimonies to the truth that we willingly admit, and by so doing, to defraud the Most High of some of the glory due unto his name. The pen of profane history has not often been wielded by men of spiritual discernment, and this may seem to be unfavorable to the show B ing forth of that overruling Providence which orders all things both in heaven and earth: but if we could realize the fact that the hand of the worldly politician, the infidel, the scoffer, are no less under divine control than that of the inspired apostle, we should often yield praise to God for the instruction conveyedthe evidence unwittingly afforded—of his allpervading sovereignty; more especially as it is manifested in that world of mysterious wonders, the mind of man. There are certain qualities which one man may naturally possess in a higher degree than another; but which no man is debarred from cultivating in himself: and as the most obscure, the most unpretending of human beings are not unfrequently so circumstanced as to influence at least a narrow circle around them, composed of individuals who in their turn influence others, it becomes every body's duty to make a practical use of such examples as have been provided for us, in the chronicles with which most people are familiar, and to mark how beneficially the possession of certain attainments has operated in the furtherance of their respective objects. To see this in its most perfect exemplification, we must turn to the Bible, and study the value of meek wisdom in a Joseph, of holy daring in a Gideon, of perseverance in a Daniel, of constancy in a Jonathan, of ardent zeal in a Paul: but uninspired history likewise furnishes us with many striking examples, often among bad men, pursuing an evil end, but still proving the excellency of those gifts which they wickedly perverted. A few brief sketches of men as they have been, if conducted on this principle, by an able hand, might prove useful to men as they are, and to women too. For days are at hand when something more than negative qualities will be called forth on all sides. To select an example, there are comparatively few who attach sufficient importance to the characteristic of Decision. Among spiritual people it is highly prized, and no doubt earnestly sought after, in their usual acceptation of the word, as indicating a decided tone of religious feeling and conduct, as contra-distinguished form improper compliance, and unfaithful compromise with the ungodly; but in the sense wherein the world generally uses it, we often find the reverse of decision esteemed |