The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1853-01-01
NUMBER is.

to receive it is in proportion to its value and
the ingratitude we have previously shown to the
giver.
For moment apply this short course of req
soning, and let US throw our hurried thoughts
over the vast catalogue of our natural, social,
civil and religious privileges. and, If possible,
let US gauge their value. Then in all serious
ness let US ask: Have We by our penitenoe and
conservation to God, rendered ourselves worthy
of the least of all our mercies? Our entire past
history, and conscience emphatically answer
no, NO! How great then should be our sense
of unworthiness. 1t is this abasing idea of our
selves as sinners which enables US to ibless God
for His goodness and for bis wonderful works
to the children Of men. 1t is this emotion Of
soul which will make Heaven so sweet and an
eternal scene of Thanksgiving to the ransomed
sinner. This will inspire the song "Not unto
US, not unto US, but unto Thy Name give glory"
Sd. True thankfulness on earth is also atten-
ded with an humble resolve to live better in fu-
ture. This should be done by those who are
without hope and without God in the world
On this occasion, in the strength of the Lord,
you should humbly resolve henceforth to live
to his glory. Thus fer you have failed of at
tanning eternal life. If you continue as you
now are. and as you have been in days past,
you are irrecoverably lost. Your soul must lie
down in hopeless despair where "the worm
uIctu uOt. Ou nave Oitcu llSteueu u SOlemu
warnings. You may have seen many sleep
less hour while reviewing the past and antici-
pating the future. The falling tear has often
indicated the anguish of your SOUL and some
faint hopes have not unfrequently been cher
ished by your friends that you would soon sur
render your heart to God, and become his in an
everlasting covenant. But still your heart re-
mains unmoved BY all the terrors of the Lord,
and the tender, bleeding love of Calvary
Pause for moment, We beseech you, and pom
der the path you are now treading. You do
not expect to wall your eternity away, but re-
member. "the expectations of the wicked shall
perish" Your case is critical and will soon be
desperate unless you repent, and turn to the
Lord with full purpose of heart. What then
remains to be done, but just what you would
do, if this were your dying hour, or the last
Thanksgiving you were ever to behold? Did
you know that this would be the fact, would
you not abandon all selfconidence, cast your
self upon sovereign mercy, and cry with many
tears of penitence, Save Lord or PERISH
God be merciful to me sinner" Would you
not at least resolve by Divine assistance to seek
the Lord and mend your ways in future p
Would you then spend this day to his glory
those things which belong to your peace before
they are hid from your eyes, and let this be the
beginning of a Thanksgiving which shall be
continued in Heaven to all eternity.
My Christian friends, it becomes us also to-
form solemn resolutions of amendment When
we review our countless mercies and realize
our utter unworthiness of them all, if We have
a spark of grace in our souls, we can but feel
our obligations to arise as the heart of one man
and seek the Lord 'till he rain down righteous
ness upon u.s. Towhat purpose have We beer
living the last year, What additions have we
made to our faith, virtue" ETC.? How many
prayers of faith have been lodged in Heaven
that will one day be answered? Who is the
better for our holy walk and godly converse
ton? How many souls have been converted
by our instrumentality? What inroads have
been made upon the empire of darkness around
us? In view of these questions it is peculiarly
appropriate for US rs Churches to manifest our
thankiulness to God by united resolution that
" we will arise and go to our Father" Unless
We do, from the heart, form resolutions of a.
mendment. and put them in practice, we have
no evidence that we possess true gratitude to
God, for genuine gratitude and obedience 90
hand in hand. The grateful child is an obedi-
ent child If we love God We shall keep his
commandments.
Let us now examine our hearts and see
whether we are simply glad or truly thankful
to God on this occasion.
Do We realize that we are entirely dependent
on God for all our merciess
Do we feel ourselves utterly unworthy Of
them?
Do we here resolve with peni,encc, in view Of
past SINS to live for eternity?
If so, this to us will be happy Thanksgiv-
ing. and one of lasting memory.
AS We retire from this sanctuary and gather
around our family boards, loaded with the
bounties of the year, let us not be unmindfuf
of the poor in our midst Many poor emf
grant in his bleak cabin, and lone, frail shanty,
needs our special sympathies at this Indictment
season. Let this be the time when they shall
he especially remembered, that they may re-
jOce with us in the festivities of this occasion.
Let messengers then be Immediately sent to the
abodes of the poor with provisions from our. ia
bles, that they may be blessed, remembering
that "he who giveth to the poor lendeth to the
Lord!" And let us not be unmindful that this
may be our last Thanksgiving and endeavor to
spend it accordingly.