Smyrna times., 1858-12-02
THE CHURCHES.
MORNING ICE


MORNING SERVICE.
The services [all denominations uniting) were
held in the morning at the NJ. L. church,
large congregation being present. The Pastor.
Rev. w. ii. Brisbane, delivered in his usual
clear, logical and pointed manner. an able dis
course from Psalms GILL, VS.. p: Bless the
Lord, o my soul, and forget not all his benefits. -"
He remarked, in beginning, the peculiar cir
cumstances under which the words of the tex
were uttered. The Psamist had been coutem-
plating the goodness of God in providence aud
the glories of God in creation. Overpowered
by the strong emotions excited by such reIigi-
Gus institutions, he gives vent to his deep feel
ings in the words of the Psalm. lie dad not
stop to discriminate between pras and thanks
giving the words, though synonymous were
not identical, but might be used interchangea-
bly,. He very beautifully y and pointedly showed
how Nature praised God in all her works; and
then proceeded to set forth why we should
praise him. We should praise Him for his
goodness; it is natural for us to praise all that
is good, aud to allow the finer feelings Of the
heart TO 90 out after moral excellence in all its
furms
Secondly. II is our duty TO praise Him.
This he urged from the obligations growing
out Of our creation, preservation and redemp-
tlon; and from just appreciation of His ten
der mercies. Whilst we deserve condemnation
and wrath we daily receive a thousand eviden-
9
guage of a regenerslc heart is, F." will praise
thee, for though thou vast angry with me thine
anger is turaed away, and thou comtOrtest me.''
lie then took broader view Of our motives to
praise and thanksgiving than arises from indi-
vidual interests. lie gave a cursory review Of
the past year; aIluling to the monetary crisis;
the great revival still going on through the
land, which has resulted in adding to one de-
nomination alone Ohe NJ. +. church) 1873, 900
souls. The spiritual condition of the church
in this State was said to be highly prosperous,
notwihstan nding the late fierce and exciting DO.
Iitical struggle. Having reviewed our indi-
vidua and social mcrces, the preacher asked
the signitica at QUESTION, "What do we deserved"
Our individual sias were dwet on then he
passed to our social sins. Intenperance is
aarmingly on the increase, and we are making
little or no effort to restrain ii we sometimes
grow bravely virtuous and drag an lrishman
into the awful and majestic presence of insult
ed Justice, and ine him twenty dollars ;but the
State regularly comm issions, " for certain
consideration, respectable" individuals to
make as many drunkards, drunkards' widows
aud orphans, and criminals and paupers, as they
please. This iniquiious system of "plenary in
diligence" pours into the State treasury petty
income wrung from the wrctchedness and ruin
OF the sons and daughters Of Delaware.
The bitterness aud unscrupulousness of par
tizan spirit was noticed. Men of all parties,
creeds aud conditions in society carry bribery
and corruption to the very ballot-box. He
dwelt upon the inesimable value Of u free and
pure elective franchise as the great pillar of our
temple of liberty; but what is il worth if Il
bold fraud, few hundfuls Of gold or a few bar
res of rum may change the political complex
ion of State lie appealed to the moral feel
ings of the people to rise in the ma jeSty of their
strength and rebuke this wickedness.
The gambling shops in our midst were next
noticed in strong terms. But the whole State
is one great gambling shop; the Legislature
has sold
-" The mighty space of our large honors
For so much trash as may be grasped thus"
Yet, in spite of all this, God has dealt gracious
" and bountifully with US. Gratitude calls on
Us to praise Him. How black the sin of ngra-
titude! The speaker then enlarged upon the
effects of thanksgiving and praise on the mind
the morals, and the religious feelings; and
closed with an exhortation to the performance
Of this duty.
AFTERNOON SERVICE.
The Episcopal church was crowded in the
afternoon, when the Rev. J. E. Gramme
preached an interesting sermon in his pecuia
nervous, emotional style, which at once enlist
ems the earnest attention Of the most listles
hearer. He took as the basis of his discourse
Psalms CXVI, 18th ": "What shall rende
unto the Lord for all His benefits toward me =
: The speaker, after explaining the object Of tn
D Psalmist and the reasons that called forth tn
D language of the text, welcomed the congrega
lion in their observance Of the day, and halle
e them as the worthy descendants of u brave an
,rue.hearied ancestry, as the sons Of men VIII
q bonored their God and did not fear the tyrann
and mower of their king" The speaker elC
oueniIy pointed out the Propriety and suitable
asss Of thus commemorsling the merees {