cams_benton_b028_f014_001_006

of heaving sea whispers of his power – bird's gushing song tuned by Him alone.
Gave Sum. [Summer] Eve. [Evening] air its 1000 tones of music – all its voiceless melodies, & ev. [even] here to
ev. [every] cloud floating in Silent heaven; or hovering in gorgeous, golden beauty
around the setting Sun. Glorious is God in all these – but in them we have no
share. (b.) Not in wks [works] of Providence.

We govern not t. [the] spheres. Control not the seasons. Raise not the winds. Hush not
the storms, nor send the terrific whirlwind – or the rocking earthquake. ~ He scat^h [scattereth] hoar frost like ashes – entereth into o. [our] treasures of t. [the] snow. We grasp
not t. [the] vast affairs of men. Preside not over kingdoms & empires; raising up &
putting down; dashing nations & people together as potters vessels. We give not
prosperity or adversity, health or sick^s [sickness]; famine, or pestilence, or disease,
or life or death. These are subject to Heavens sole decree. His providen-
-ces move go on their triumphant march: awful & majestic in movement – august &
glorious in design. We only behold adore, admire, wonder & submit!!!

But (C.) We labor &c. [etc.] – in Promoting t. [the] kgm. [kingdom] of C. [Christ] on Earth – In making
men {holier & happier}², {excellent & benevolent}¹. A work more glorious than
any other. Full of all that can inspire & ennoble. A work angels mi't [might]
covet – wh. [which] C. [Christ] undertook for t. [the] joy set 'fore [before] him ~
To renew the will, to change the affections, to refine the feelings,
to purify the hearts of men. To cause the rosy morning to dawn upon the
night of their souls – to shed sunlight & peace upon their darkness – to cause
verdure to spring up in a once barren soil – the healthful herb, the beautiful flower,
& t. [the] plants of righteousness to grow & flourish together. This is t. [the] blessed wk [work]
in wh. [which] G. [God] permits us to share – in wk. [work] we may coop. [cooperate] with the Kg. [Kingdom] of Heaven.
In this respect we are laborers together with God.

II For what ends?
(a.) For our own develop. [development] – growth in grace – & so
for G^s [God's] glory in us. Not invited in C^s [Christ's] kgm [kingdom] to be lookers-on &
drones. Work as well as worship – labor as well as love G. [God] requires.
"Why stand ye here all the day idle?" Xⁿ [Christian] grows wretched without
something to do. Graces droop without active exertion – & healthful
exercise. Can never be what we o't [ought] to be – nor do wht [what] we o't [ought] to do till we
cooperate with God in this noble work assigned us ~