Smyrna times., 1859-12-01
rHANKSCIVlNG SERMON,
By REV. J. Z GRAMSIcR,


Perhaps no Psalm is more Joyous and trum.
phant than this from which our text is selected
1t commentaries the completion of the walls
OF Jerusalem by Nehemiah-an event putting
an end to the reproach of Israel and restoring
the Holy City to its proper rank. These words
were strlkingly true when applied 10 the Jew
lsh people. With no nation had God so dealt
IN all history. In looking back upon the events
OF their pilgrimage, well might the leader ask,
I" For what nation is there so great, who hath
God 50 nigh unto them as the LoId our God is
in all things that we call upon him for And
what nation is there so great, that hath statutes
and judgments so righteous as all this law
which | set before you this day!" Nor were
the Jews unmindul Of this peculiar distinction.
1t was their glory and boast They rejoiced in
the possession Of such reyelations-such his.
tory-such leaders, as Providence had granted
them. They cOmmemorated the marked periods
ofciVil, social and domestic experience Their
festivals were celebrated by the heartiest cheer
and the most solemn pomp. Their Passover
perhaps the most impressive of all, as memo
rial of their national deliverance, was kept
every year, in the month Of April. Then oc-
occurred the festival of Pentecost, lasting only
g day and intended only as a thank offering for
the plenteous harvests. And last, the greatest
of all, what was -eminently styled "he
Feast "-the feast of tabernacles, kept in the
month of October, in memory Of their journey
ings through the Arabian wilderness. The
Jews, during its continuance, dwelt in booths,
as they did in their journey from Egypt. From
them, doubtless, the Heathen nations derived
many of their customs; for We find the Greeks
and Romans had many such festal days, highly
resembling those OF the Jews. But in this
single point of comparison, of itself, we are
strongly impressed with the difference of re-
vealed religion in it's effects upon the people
from one that is corrupt and earthly, as was the
Greek and Roman. 1t shocks the least sens-
tive conscience to read of the impious idolatres
practised at the Elusinan and Saturnalian fes-
tivals, while there is an elevating purity and
sacred devotion in the Jewish religious rites
worthy of imitation by all nations. To the
plous practices of this devout people we owe
the good custom of a thanksgiving day. Like
them we keep the true Paschal feast in the fes-
tivities of Easter, for Christ is our passover"
like them we celebrate our release from the
yoke OF civil tyranny, and on a day correspond
ing very much to their Purim, mentioned in
the book of Esther. and in the spirit of their ex-
ample, to-day we gather, as our Pilgrim FORE |
fathers did, around the altar of our national |
faith to acknowledge that God who is wonder. |
ful in all his works and holy in all his ways.
For what are we not TO thank Him TODAY.
who Is "the giver Of every good and perfect
gift" -!
l. For brief space, let us think of our civil
blessings. How manifold and yet how peculiar
are they A handful Of prosecuted and har-
rassed people less than century ago, our gov
has risen TO the pr0udest rank among
he nations of the earth. Her sceptre extends
'ver the fairest regions on the globe, and 70.
eives the loyal homage of millions of free. en-.
Ightened and Christian citizens Her arts
nd commerce, aud science, are POURING nm.
ounted treasures into her lap; and her agri.
ulture is stocking the granares of all Europe.
Think today, my hearcis. Of the goodness of
'rovldence 10 thus opening to this mutton. this
eneration, the mines OF iron, and coal, and
opper, and lead, and gold, and granite, which !
terally enrich the sell, as If it had been some /
Ibled robbers cave for the spoils of all the {
arth. Think Of lts broad and noble rivers. ca.
able OF fipatIng the combined naval ermaments |,
England, France and Russia-of it's forests '
hIch might overshadow the diminutiye princi. G
lIlties OF the East-of its lakes, into which '
reece and England might be thrown and II
lried-ol It's mountains, enthroned amonp the u, u,
ouds aud inviting the benisons of heaven II
max OF It's praires, as boundlees to human IN
sion as the surging ocean. and whose virgin IL
II Is as rich as the goIG-dust of Australia +
ere they lie, IN ail their natural fertility and bl
Fength, untrod by the pl1ugh-man's team Is
II this' ana more than can be pointed at in this re
ssihg way, goes to make up the estimate of 10
ou goodness IN giving Us This country az our ~
ne-a good Iand and large, a land Howinp Gu
th lnlik Hhc money, whose pastures are cIotbad II
:" W "ochs inc valleys also are covered over "a
"a cofn-they shout for joy, they also sing" II,
y ~ "o' De uuly said IN the review of these ul
'ssings' Tie hah not dealt go with anv ma sti
M! '' "''y "9- W
mo hat'on possesses 80 many natural and Dhv- "
al auVantages a5 ours. With a climate ~
.p,eu 70 'he grown OF almost every luxury ON
' '"'i'uues' ana with enough th
t,fc oi the necesearies of life, we are strict. -
Independent of any other people. Not thai i0' I'
advocate spirit Of cxclusiveuess. either as ~
cy Or the duty of nations. AS members ac pc
'.9n family, all the powers of the :,
TN should suotain aud cherish friendly com.
rcial intercourse. And America has ever -.
ID out the right hand of friendship and the ~ VI
We branch OF peace to the world-she has lls
own WIDE open her ports aud hospitals to ~
Try foreign and helpless visitant-hcr free inl
.ltutions nave ever been the asylum of the sal
PRESSED and persecuttd-her honors have ou
70 offered to all who hav. cast thei. lot in COZ
n hers and consented to support her lava mi
there Is no country so independent of all Syf
ers as our own. England could not feed or Inc
The her inhabitants without the products of scL
inch and American labor. France would spI
guIsh and her chvurOus armies be dlsband. an'
but for the gold Of Australia and CalifornIa all