The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1858-12-11

know ledge, neither freedom, nor virtue. nor
knowledge. have any vigor or immortal hope.
except in The principles of the christian faith:
and the sanctions of The christian religion. ~
America has no future. unless that future is
ilnlned by the light of christianity. Not
only are we the people Of his pasture, we are
the sheep of his hand we are chosen vessels
IT honor, of J,hovah's planting. Who NAV
doubt that il was Gods everything providence
which brought our fathers 10 this shore, here
TO build an altar, to dedicate a tcmple. to
proclaim one monarch, God, one creed Gol' s
word alone! Who may doubt that 1t was
God who gave us Washington. that it was
God who prcsdcs ovcI the deStinics ofnat,ons,
who raised up friends to ght our battles for
us! Who may doubt that it was Gods wis
dom that ruled in our councils. and secured
to us our Federal Constitution W iSdom
came in an hour o. need. and in answer to
prayer! We hesitate not to believe that to
God we are indebted, no! only for our christi
ani'y but our religious freedom. our civil
privileges.
If We are to judge the future by the past.
God designs great things by and fer this
people. Our destiny, under God. may he
onward and forward Oh that this people
would but honor God this day realise hi,
blessings, and give thanks to him for all his
benefits.
As the sheep Of his hand, we have been
preserved from foreign wars; this dav peace
dwcllS III our land, no angry banners wave in
our sight. No hostile fleet sails mp our rivers
or threatens our shore, no mprcilrSS Zoe treadS
down our pastures: all is quiet and serene
Give glory to God, and long may he avert the
dread calamity may we never more hear the
roar OF The hostile cannon. see our cities sack
ed, our temples dcsolaied, our dwellings
wrapped in flames. our sons bleeding and
d ing on Ihc battle field. onr daughters fugi-
tivcs from their homes. May God never per.
INIT foreign foe to challenge us to battle
may hc never send another ration to be his
avengcr. for our neglect of himself.
God sometimes c"m,,h forth ont Of his
place to punish the luha hi'ants If the earth "
AS the sheep Of his band God has preserved
us from domestic diScotd more terrible this
Than foreign War. In an especial manner do
We think to God we are indebted for our
domestic peace: for the continuance of our
glorious Union Already has mutaal conf.
dence been lost, GOODNESS. prejudice. and jea-
ouSy. taken It's place. We have more than once
approached pe'picc, over VIII ch lad We
been buried our Rel uhlic had been DESTROYED
and evils. and >orInwS would have come upon
us, for which their authors could never have
a'on,d, though they had worn sack cloth and
ashes the I,lnaindrr of their lives. and wept
bitter burning, tears, from an ever flowing
fountain Of tears There are in this country
aspiring politicians. political tools. wild brain.
ed fanatics ignorant philanthropisls, who, to
crafty reckless ambition, To secure a party
triumph. to carry out all abstraction, to &c
c"mrli>h doubtful good would sever this
holy Union. secured by tie wisdom Of patriots,
and conSecratcd by their tears and blood. -
State legislatures have almost endorse d,
church courts have indirectly approved. aud
ii may be ere long our Congress may hc called
upon to consumniate the dirctul deed. Nav
God, IN his unspeakable mercy. inIelfy'c to
save us may he bring to naught thcis cuun
sells, and If needs tie, paradise the tongue aud
SinlIe to the earth the dastards and traitors.
We have much confidence III the virtue and
patriotism Of lhe people of these United States.
but the danger is to great, the sacrifice is too
Immense. to tIESt to human wisdom. human
virtue, human fore sis ht. To God we appeal.
and most earnestly pray that notwithstanding
oar national toree,lulntss Of himself. he will
rem, nher Ms as the sheep Of his hand. and
Protect our nation from domestic discold.
preserve our Union for generations yet un-
bonn. AS the sheep Of his hand, we have
also received national blessings God has
preserved us fl"m disease. IeSlllcnce snd
famine: our state has been kept from all
symptoms of approaching disease: our hearts
have not lh'ohhc'l with painful apprchensions
In this community. especially. have we been
free from disease, almost ron death. Some
few Of you have been called upon to bid adleu
TO objects fond'v loved sonc have had the
sad ard mourntul duty to bury their dead.
but the town has been healthy. few have been
land on beds Of sickness and pain, few from
among us have been called to thtIr last ac-
count. This community wrers not to-day
the loss O any of lis enterrrising citizens.
this church, the church at whose altar it is
my privilege TO minister, mourn but few
deaths. Yet among us, there are not few
aged persons. whose days must be ALMOST
Numbered: some Of whom. in all Likelihood,
before another thanksgiving day will slccu III
yondcr graveyard, Old man give thanks to
God for frightening ont YOU days. Children
give thanks that God has spared your parents
to you. Ci,iZ,nS Of Elkton. give thanks that
Gud has Willlcld his hand aud nunbe, ed tut
few Of us with The dead. As the sheep of his
hand Gods goodness has preserved to us the
kindly fruits Of the earth; our fields have
b,en white to the harvest; for this let the
huSbandman, the farmer give thanks aud L.,
our mci Chants, ON mechanics our professional
men, cur statesmen and rulers, remember
that on the fruits Of the the earth We all de-
pend. people nay live without merchants,
mechanics, lawyers, doctors, or preachers
even without politicians, hut we doubt if a
people could live without iulmcrs The linits
Of the earth are Gods spccia. gifts to man;
they are life HE individual. life social life
national, nanra falling from Heaven: the
favor OF our Fathc, III Heaven. Think of this
as you gather around your tables. and to day
let no one cat without first giving thanks to
God.
To-day if yc will hear his voice" there is a
warning in these words: we should give
thanks: God has dealt with us not after
our sins, nor rewarded us according to our
iniquiti,s.''
God is not honorcd by this people. Jesus
Chilst has never been acknowledged by tins
nation. Our rulers our statesmen. our p,o.
pie accept not Gods law. as the law of this
land God has rival. one for whom his tenn
pie is folSak en-. his service is ncgk cttd, his
Jaw despis,d Gold Is the God of this people,
the IDOL Of the nation. the ptnatcs of every
one of us. The temple of Nlammon is crowd
cd day and night : his altar ever smokes
with the incense Of his worshipcrs. gifts and
sacrifices are ever being offered at his shrine
The nation is in danger of barlcring its in.
hcrilancc for gold, and man, immortal man.,
is SO lnp his hirthrioht far n m, & of r,ot,,,,o