The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1855-04-27
NATIONAL EVILS AND THE REM.

EUY.
A sermon delivered in the first Congregation.
al Church, in York, Me-, on tie day of
annual Fast, april l2h, 1855, BY Rer.
John Moore.
''Righteousness exaiteth nation but sin 10 ~.
proach to any people."-Prov. lti -.
This is an important age in which we live,
one in which great progress is made in every
department Of art and science. Men are
running to and fro, and knowledge is rapid.
ly increasing, 50 that steam, which is 80 ex-
tensivsly applied at the present time rs a
motive power, Is highly significant Of the
progressive character Of the age. The
country in which wo live includes vast
area, extending from the Atlantic to the
Pacific. Il, has boundless internal resources
which, by industrious enterprise, are becom.
ing developed. Look ut the forests Of tim.
Der, the rich and productive soil, the mines
Of valuable and various metals, and many
other resources, which are only waiting to
DO touched by patient, hardy industry.
to pour out their treasures on tho inhabi-
tants.
The nation to which we belong is one Of
great importance. It Is true that numcri.
cally, there are many others far before it,
but at tho same time, there is no one which
occupies SO important position among the
other nations Of the earth, as does this
We are working out the great problem, and
trying the grand experiment Of self.govern
ment. It remains with US 10 show, as it
never has been done before, that people
can govern themselves, and be prosperous
and happy. It rests on US to prove practi.
cally that republcansm and Protestant
Christianity are the pillars and bulwarks Of
the true and permanent prosperity ofa peo.
pie. In our hands rests, in IN important
sense, under God, the future destiny Of the
world. Though We are only in our infancy
as republic, our influence abroad has been
very great, and the effects Of that influence
in favor of the cause ofliberty, have already
manifested themselves in considerable do.
gree. The seeds of FREQ principles which we
have been quietly sowing, are fast germinal.
Ing and sprinsing up, and will, 1.-Two do our
duty, yield, in the future. very abundant
harvest. If we are faithful to our trust, and
continue to prosper and increase in tho same
ratio during for even the next half century,
that we have for tho last fifty years, it
seems to me that the timo OF the downfall OF
ecclesiastical and political despotism will
not be far distant. The despots Of the old
world including the Pope himself, are al
ready looking with anxious and jealous eye
towards the star rising in the West. They
we'll know that If this nation continues to
flourish, TINT it will be next to impossible
for them to keep the people in suhjection to
their tyranny and control, with The example
of the great American Republic exciting
them to rebellion against despotic authority.
But in tho midst Of our unparalleled pros
perity, it is we'll for US to stop and reflect
occasionally, and inquire it oil is safe, if
there are any dangers which might prove
our ruin if UNDECIDED. The noble ship may
bo rapidly gliding full sail before the propi.
tious breeze, and be apparently nearing her
destined port in safety. But her officers do
not neglect ,on that accoun,,to take freQuen,
observations and TO examine their charts, in
order 10 avoid and ward off the dangers
which might prove the destruction OF the
noble c,ah and OF all on board. So we
should frequently take observations in the
moral and political horizon, and examine
that unering chart, the Holy Bible, to as.
certain what our position and dangers are,
and the course TO bo pursued in orde: TO
avoid and ward of destruction. A day
such as this set apart for humiliation, fasting
and prayer is one especially appropriate TO
attend 10 this :mporian, duty.
Every nation has its dangers which, II
unheeded, will result in Sls overthrow
These. Il should be borne in mind, are in.
,ernal rather than foreign. Thelmish,y ma
,ious that once existed, and have passed
away, fell generally by their own hand,
more than by any foreign foe. The remark
Of Kossu,h is sustained both by history and
the Bible, 4" Nations jail by suicide"
lie, US then on this occasion notice some
Of those evils lha, exis, among Us asa people
which threaten our destruction and like.
wise our duties respecting them; and while
We DO this, le, Us keep before our minds
the sen,imen, Of the text, Righteousness
exalie,h a nation bu, sin is reproach 10
any people,"
The first danger We shall notice Is the
corruption Of our public men. Itis a Ia.
meniable and undeniablc fact, ,ha, large
portion Of our Legislators and rulers are cor
rup,. Many Of them seem 10 be aiming
moro aher their own emolumen, and agran.
dizemen, than after the public welfare; and
are mol scrupulous in regard 10 the means
they employ 10 accomplish their object
Look for example a, our national congress;
composed Of representatives sent by The
people Of The different slales, for the pur.
pose oilcgislallns for The proiessedly free
and Christian nation. The members Of
,ha, body should presen, an example in
L.;, n,;,,,, M, and nphlic acfs that would