Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1850-12-13
For the Kenosha Telegraph.

For the Kenosha Telegraph.
A Thanksgiving Sermon.
My FRIENDs,-T day is the day set apart by
our worthy Governor, as day of public thanks
giving and prayer to our Spirit Father, for the ma
nifod kindness and blessings, which, from the pie
nitude of his goodness, has fallen upon u.s." a
people.
This is very proper inasmuch as the occasion
may be made one of great individual and public
benefit 1t is well that we should be arrested IN
the wild career we choose to pursue through life
and submit to have our attention directed TO the
Father from whom our existence is derived and
from whom all our blessings flow. We thus as it
We're, commence life anew, with subdued and cEas-
tened feelings, AMI trust, with renewed determi-
nation topursue better and more truthful course.
Many OF u.s. however, do not properly avail ourselves
OF the blessings the day is calculated to bring forth
We make 1t rather the occasion for more active
and Jealous violation of the truthful relations exs-
ting between ourselves and the parent. Violating
ms laws IN our persons, by ntemperance in eating
and drinking, satisfy ourselves by simply lend
ing our ears to the teaching of the day. and not un
frequently think we have not only done our whole
duty, but have purchased indulgence for the com.
mission OF further sins. In this the day is
worse than wasted and so far as those who thus OBJ
serve it are concerned, it were much better it had
never been instituted appointed. Let US on this
occasion, seek to avoid this course and let me
briefly direct your attention to what seems to me
to be the proper reflection and action on an occa-
sion like the present
lhese peculiar days are necessary only because
we are in the practice and commission of sin. We
are called upon to give thanks on this, special
day, because We have not been every day and at
all times as thankful as we should be- This day
then should be devoted to disciplning our minds
to course of life which shall be always truthful,
always righteous. We are receiving blessings al
ways and should be thankful always. Our thank
fitness Will in respect add to the glory or pow
er OF the parent it is beneficial only as it affects
ourselves We should then seek to enjoy its ben
efits perpetualy by being always filed with thank
fitness. Our existence properly understood and
used is blessing, therefore We should have no
feelings during the continuance of that existence,
but those of thankfulness In this manner, instead
of enjoying but day of the year, we should en-
Joy every day. And to prayer, our life should
be one perpetual truthful prayer How strange it
sounds that people protesting to be christian
people have found it necessary to institute spe-
cial day prayer thus virtually confessing that but
on one day of the year do they render that homage
to their God which is his due. We should have
no aspiration of soul and perform no act except
practical prayer twill be in thought, word and
deed, aspiration to the father for his blessing
and being truthful, his blessing will of course con-
tinually descend upon us. How humiliatnc to be
obliged to confess that during the 364h part of the
year we have been less prayerfu less thankful thar
we knew how to be, inscmuch as to make it neces-
sary to employ special day on which to remedy
our neglect. We shall never be happy until We
learn to be truthful, and we are not truthful wher
we find it necessary to set aside special days and
times tor Thanksgiving and praise. live truth
tul we shall be always filed with thankfulness and
every act and thought of our life will be prayer
and SO being, each and every day will be day
properly employed, therefore 2 day devoted to the
Lord and as further consequence day of thanks
giving and prayer. And all this not to the glory
Of God, for he is always filed with glory, but to
oir own glory and happiness, which embodies the
VIII lie beneficial result of these ordinances
Let us then take advantage in our present sinful
condition, Of these days which we have consent
ed and agreed to look toward the parent for the
purpose of intoxicating in ourselves more correct re-
lations towards him, and placing ourselves contin-
ually near his presence. So shall the day be well
employed and through its instrumentality we may
bless ourselves for time and eternity.
EXCELSIOR.
Thursday, December 18th.