The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-05-14
EXTRACT FROM THE REV. J. ~ DAN
FORTH'S SERMON ON THE DEATH OF
GENERAL HARRISON.

ain the midst of all our forgetfulncss of God he
has suddenly come out Of his place, and by extra
ordinary manifestation of his Providence, reused the
painful attention of the whole nation TO sad event
II is as if lumnary, which its light far and
wide other orbs had been instantly struck from its
lofty position. On such an occurrence, men must
think, whether they will or not Thousands died that
day. but excited interest beyond the circle of
their acquaintance. Towards that vacant Executive
Chair, however the eyes Of millions turned The
death of President, the retirement Of private life
awakens the attention of nation, but not when
clothed in the full robes Of oceand those robes just
put on-not when expectation had been raised TO
The highest point, and something and unusual
perhaps undefnable, its object.
BY this act of Providence, he soemnly warns
not TO look below himself for Saviour in the time of
trouble. He tells to cease from man, whose
breath is in his nostrs for wherein is he to be ac
counted of" He rciterates in his providence the
injunction in his word Put not your trust in princes
nor in the of man. in whom there is no help, Cor
salvation) His breath gocth forth, he rcturneth TO
his earth in that very day his thoughts perish" By
the light Of such truths these may penetrate the
clouds and darkness that surround the throne, and
satisfy ourselves that Righteousness and judgment
the habation Of that throne
This indeed, has been fully acknowledged in the
official notice of the Cabinet to the American people,
announcing the decease of the President. An all
arise Providence" say they "havng suddenly removed
from this life William Henry Harrison" And in a
similar spirit does the respected TO the Exc
Fast hold this language: When a Christian people
feel themselves TO be ovcrtaken by great public
Iamity, it becomes them to humble themselves under
the dispensation Of Dirne Providence, to recognise
his righteous government the children Of men, to
acknowledge his goodness in time past, well as
their unworhiness and TO supplicate his merefui
protection. for III. future"
This is the attitude, in which, believe God
has designed to place us-this the spirit which He
would awaken within There has been concur
renee Of providental circumstances in the closing
year Of the life Of the departed President amnently
adapted produce the deepest moral impression on
The mind of The nation. Elected by unprecedented
majority-takcn directly from the bosom ofthc people
and from the retirement OF happy domestic life, as
well as from an humble official here, he entered the
Capitol ofthe Republic with all the glory Of Roman
triumph, without any of its misery. No suffering
capti,es chained TO his truulpha No tears
shed but those which came from the overlooking
fountains Of joyful and grateful hearts Then came,
on the Fourth of March, the simple, but sublime ce
renony of the INAUGURATION. How alas, was
II succeeded by the ceremonies of Death What
mind did not institute the contrast between the lnau
gura and the Funeral scene The same bells that
on the Fourth rang out their exultant notes now
tocd the funeral knell for the dead The banners
that then srcamed aloit TO the wind were now furle
10 the staff and bound with the badges Of mourning
brave soldier who indicated the honor of his country
on the battle field. The muiiled drum in vain at
tempted the inspirting sounds that gladdencd the
scene Of the Inguaration. Instead Of the shouts of
thousands Of ireemen, there was an awful silence,