Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1856-10-03
PRAYER FOR OUR C0UuTRY.

PRAYER FOR OUR COUNTRY.
Every Christian believes, or should bs.
lieve, in the efficacy of Prayer. However
difficult it may seem to adjust this in its
logical relations with the imuutabilisy OF
the Divine purposes, as . matter Of Chris.
tian conviction We believe, as a matter Of
Christian experience We kaou, that, "the
effectual, fervent prayer Of the righteous
man availeth much )" that the Lumbless
soul, If penitent and sincere, and coming
with faith in Christ unto the throne, has
power with God and that results may be
e1pected..by it, appropriate to the prayer,
and answering with blessings the desire
which shat speaks. The answer may 10.
come always in that precise form in which
We expect it. 1t may not come At that
particular time, when We have desired and
hoped that it would come. But no sin.
cere and earnest petition, offered to God
BY believing heart, is ever lost, or is ever
Ineffective; and in some way, At some time,
the answer comes which more than meets
and ful6lls the petition.
And now, especially, this great, and
rich, and solemn truth, has lesson for rs.
At no time in the history af our country,
thus far, has there been . more urgent and
imperative call in the providence of God
on all Christian persons to use the highest
power which they possess-to use it con.
stantly, to use it fervently-on behalf Of
our nation, than nov. As conductors Of
this journal, as Christian men and patriots
We aim to keep ourselves perfectly free
from all partizsn partislities and excite
ments, in the present conjuncture Of our
national affairs. But we can not be blind
no man in his senses, intslligently con-
sidering the state of Affairs, involving in
terests SO great and momentous as to be
really appalling, is Low upon US! The
political contest now going on in this coun.
try, between the Republican party on the
one hand, and the Democratic party, with
Mr.. Fillmore's friends to assist them, on
the other, is . contest not about Banks, or
Tariffs, . greater or less measure Of In.
ternal Improvements, one term or two
terms for the future Presidential incum.
bents. 1t is saeontest about the funda.
mental and organizing principle VI Oar
so"~'"-.s-', ~ostess whether this gov.
ernment shall iI future be Despotism,
governed BY shareholders, or q Christian
ard Republican government, devoted to tho
maintenance and diffusion of Freedom. L
is contest whether the slave code Of the
South-which seals up the Bible, which
breaks up the Family, which puts the
strength of man and the chastity of woman
at the mercy Of the master, aud which sells
little children from her Who bore them, as
if they were puppies-shall be established
in Kansas, and in every other territory
where the siave-trader chooses; or whether
the domain which We own as Nation
shall be kept free from the blight and the
doom Of a system 50 blasting, brutal aud
nefarions
The contest is one that involves the is
sue of internal peace, if liberty sriumphs,
or iuoessaut agitation and violent dissen-
sion, resulting at last Of necessity in civil
war, if slavery triumphs. 1t involves
the issue of foreign policy rapacious,
truce-breaking, at once dishonora6le and
demoralizing, or a foreign policy pacific,
wise, and scrupulously just! 1t is really
question between Barbarism and Chris
tianity; the barbarism of Border Rufians
and Ostend MaLifes,oes, or the Christianity
Of States like the States of New England,
and Of papers like the Platform Of the
Philadelphia Convention.
And this immense question: reaching
down the future ages in the range Of its
applications, reaching up to Gods throne
In the height of its principles, is now SUBJ
mitted to the people of this country for
their decision; to the people Of the Nor.
thern States, in fact, We may say; since
the South are committed in body,it would
appear, to the side of oppression and pirat-
ical aggression. If the Northern States 70
in body for the Right,th tina: will tri-
umph. If they fail to do this, "on tho
other side Of the oppressor" there will be
a new Power. Algiers might exult, but
England will be dumb! Then the contest
comes up again and for ever in iercer
forms. Then the future of our country 10
dark indeed Now is the time to WORK,
then! Now is the time to PRAY! Ye
aged men, who can not speak and actively
work as once you could, Pray for tho
Right! Ye Christian women, PRAY for
the cause which your quick hearts knop
to be the just one! Ye men who do work
PRAY as well, with full heart! Let all
pastors and churches and all Christian per-
sons, wrestle with God in fervent prayer;
that He would give energy, eloquence, sue
Al 4