Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1859-12-09
For the Chron
Thanksgiving Day.

Mr.. EprToR:--Having listened, in common will
he Rev. Mr. wardlaw Of the Presbyterian Church
delivered at the Methodist Church in this city on
he oath ult, and believing,,that rARing sketch Of
some of the more prominent positions assumed by
the reverend gentleman would prove interesting
and perhaps profitable, TO your Sunday readers at
home and abroad, with your permissionsI will pro-
coed, as follows
Text" All the rivers run into the sea
unto the place whence the rivers come, hther they
return again" Eccl. ! a.
The subject was introduced by some remarks on
the changeableness vet permancncy of nature. The
beautiful and bencfcent arrangement mentioned in
the text then noticed in its working and in the
wise end thcrv;,, sS.aied. As the rivers rising
from the ocean at length fall again 10 erilize and
rejoice the face of naiue--to flow in meandering
stream or mighty river, in the gentle Avon or the
lgiganiic Amazon, 10 their primal fount the ever
moving sea--so there is presented TO man On i'm
portan, lesson-gratefully to render back. in love
and service what he so bountifuily receives from
the fountain Of his being and has merces.'
Inquiry ]. IN rhot manner. II. For what reason,
this return should be made.
With regard to the first point the speaker said /:
we ought
{" First. To have proper views cf our present ra-
laton to God, not merely ~ his creatures and the
recipients Of his bounty. but as sinners. We are
nov sinners, and our relation TO God is different
from what ii would be il ~e had never sinned-I
from that of the holy angels in heaven. Without
recognizing our true position might come before
God, but il would be in the spirit Of the Pharisee
and our offering, like the Offering Of Cain, would be
rejected.
Second There must be n rohptsry and CAtiys
conservation of ourselves TO God. Our service 10
b. acceptable must be the free offering of the SOUL
and it must be entire: for partial service or
partial love Gcd will not accept. Almost every
man has his seasons of devotion but when love to |
God is the habit Of the soul, and the purpose 10
serve God is The purpose of the life, we are pre-
pared every true Christian is, TO render TO God
that return which as our Creator and Redeemer he !
requires
Third. life of holy obedience sprnging from
love-the expression OF the great purpose Of the
soul To etioresce and bring forth the lovely fruits
OF grace is of the very nature of the principle of
purity. Otherwise it would be worthless This Is
the test which the Savior has proposed to prove the
genuineness Of our faith-ths is the evidence which
all men demand. Obedience is the best sacrifice
By their fruits ye shall know them holy life
will be constant rcfow back to God of gratitude
and praise. As the rivers flow into the sea- re-
turning unto the place from whence the many
come, so from us in every holy purpose every fer
vent prayer, every pous act there will be an ex-
preston of our love to God, return ogain unto
the great ocean Of benevolence whence have come
our being and our beings bliss
ii. Consider for phdf this return should
De made. For the following reasons, this was shown
to be obligatory as duty proper and desirable us
an end to he aimed at:
First. Because God has created w for this end
All things in this world were made for man. Man
f,lr God To nInrifp nl Z. /
once his highest interest and most solemn obligation
BY faith. dependence, love, obedience and submis-
sion, we honor God, and attain the end of our
being. Reason and revelation, which teach that
this is the great end for which man was made,
teach also
"Second. That this is our highest end. As God
is infinitely perfect his will must be the wisest and
the best for all ANY other must be finite. and of
consequence imperfect To live for God, rendering
to him the love of a devoted heart, and the pure i
incense of holy life is not only 10 honor him. but
in the highest degree to secure own gicry and
happiness 4
Third. As God is the givcr OF oil our blessings.
we owe to him as has right AMI are bound by the ,
principles of gratitude, TO make him II return
Our obligations to God Creator life holder :
and gracious benefactor here uoticed and enforced
Under this hoad the speaker alluded TO the occa- {
sion which brought US together. The proclamation
OF the Governor of the State, appointing this annual
Thanksgiving not arbitrary command which
we ought not TO obey, but response 10 the feeling
OF the serious and respectable Of the people OF
the State. The Ieopc assembled here to-day are
but part OF great nation lately known 10 his q
tory The speaker apidly reviewed the history Of :,
this nation, from its small beginnings and doubtful
promise to its present position of respectnblity and
power that this position has been wUn and can e
he retained, only 10y fidelity TO God, sclfrespect
and virtue. The fathers of this nation were men
of WISDOM energy and faith. They won for them
selves country 10y their blood; by their industry
and virtue they raised it To power aud this nheri-
lance noble in its descent because coming for noble
man fearful in its responsibility, because Ne NAV v
prove unworthy Of il; and still fearful from q
the very indications which speak of its high des-
tiny they have transmitted TO US, aud must meet
the responsibility. We 10 influence for good The
destiny Of this nation; give security to its strength
respecability 10 its name and depth and fearless
ness TO its love of virtue ,
The speaker in conclusion, mentioned with much
feeling some evils which characterised us aud con-
sequent dangers TO which we are exposed, particu-
lary want OF proper family government Htemper- !
dhee public corruption undue estimate IF and desire
for Gi,h, hnte regard for human (e which were /
making US = by-wOrd among other nations and ifl !.
not amended, must destroy our peace and prosperity
and concluded with earnest appeal to ALL man {
and woman to work, in the highest and best sense
for the prosperity of this nation by observing God
laws always and everywhere.
Human legislation may err, public opinion may
be erroneous nt times bnt these founded on eternal
justice wrong, never unwse, never unsafe
pure as the serene heavens aud far enduring
than their stars" \
Having endeayored faithfully to present the
points advanced by the speaker in his precise TOrds
will merely add that the services Of the hour were
closed with appropriate prayer 10y Rev. DR..
McMullin President of Stewart College, and the /
benedctiOn pronounced by Rev. w. u +. Sawrie, ,
pastor of the Methodist Church. ,
The hour passed of. most delightfully."-, and | sin
cCrely pray upon it the richest blessings of Almighty
God. X. y. z. d
-. Il