The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1860-11-21
From the " Y Tribune
Moral Significance OF the Times.
SERMON BY THE REV. ii. W. BEHCHEI.

SERMON BY THE REV II. W. BElCnE..
/ Mr.. Beeche, preached sermon last evening,
to very large audience, from the following text
70 ;b ehT.n of Issaeiar which were men tta, ha We
understanding f the times and know what Israel ouyh,
10 a" II chTon chap. l., rIJ! Of fse sd rsrse.
de said: Saul was a man of courage, and OF
many good and kind sympa,hies vet a proud,
jealous, and depotic man, who spent much OF
his time in chasing David. II would be difficult
to say what David had done he was peaceful,
loving, loyal, and in the performance of duty a
man OF scrupulous fidelity; yet Saul kept the
kingdom in a turmoil with his envy and anger.
At last Saul came TO an end and slew himself
IL was natural then, that David should be chosen
King; and the men of Issacher were the men
who knew what ought TO be done, and they did
1t. The event justified their course; never was
reign more glorious than that of David. To
be sure be had his troubles he had co!nely son,
with a foul heart, who cOntrived 20 get power
into his hands. But he was verv soon over
thrown, and died dangling from An oak If every
oak would bear such fruit the people Of this land
could afford to plant oak trees from one side of
the continent to the other. Our Saviour in his
day rebuked the hyprocrites who did not under.
stand the signs Of the times, and the man who
did NEEDLE in, and refused to do either, these
things, the Master of all religion laid it to his
charge as a sin. Then, men around about cur
Saviour were stupid, and saw no moral signif-
cance in the events of the day; they shut up
their religion in the church. Let us not rcsem-
bic them. Now, if ever, men should understand
the moral meaning of events. In history the
gravest events dawn with 10 more noise than
the morning star; great developments complete
themselves silently. We must be sensitive and
sensible il We would see the beginning and end
ing OF great things. Now, another historic date
is reached in the history of the world. The
landing of the Pilgrims gave us one date; the
Fourth of July is renowned as another great
date; bu. the 9th Of November, 1860, will here
after take rank with the landing of the Pilgrims
and the Declaration of Independence. They are
links in that great chain of gold by which God
is measuring time and fixing eras and moral de.
veOpments in this world. We have entered upon
new day; the wheel is turned completely
around; il has made an entire revolution. Ii is
fit then that we should consider the moral value
of things. He proposed first, to give his inter
probation Of the things God has shown by the
voice of events during the past half century.
Second, to consider the relation of these results
and events to the future. Third, what things
further Christian men ought to do. First, we
have a new proof OF the ruinOus nature OF despot'
ism. We have had the lesson before our eyes,
that the despotism Of the plantation differs from
others only in being bolder, more irresponsible,
and more entirely subject to avarice, lust and
arbitrary power. Such system carried inevita-
ble weakness with it. Meanwhile, every argu-
ment for oppression since the days of NiuirOd,
and Pharaoh is reproduced in our time; all the
old clothes of past despotsms are vamped up for
modern uses. The virus of infamous ages has
been collected 10 inOcuiate the yoIng blood OF Il
new State but, tha!k God, il would Tot take.
Nothing is ever 90 much aggFieved as despotSm,
and in our day nothing suffers so much a.gres
sion as Slavery, if You will believe the words Of
its defence. Yet it is undeniable that Slavery
has controlled this Government for more than
so years. Ii was its destiny, io- Slavery must
either muzzle cur free institutions, il must die
itself But there arose, in Gods providence, a
spirit of investigation and again in our time
Christ came TO the grave and called Lazarus
forth, and he came. The jew said, stop the life
of Lazarus, for he is a living evidence of the
miracles OF Christ. So Slavery cannot live ii
free speech is allowed to live. To be sure there
is free discussion that is allowed in the Slave
States; they who believe in Slavery have right
to talk, and nobody else. This is what they call
free discussion When John Quincy Adams and
Z
power OF Southern feeling rose up and demanded
silence in the whole land and there were not
wanting men at the North, who must have been
born white by mistake, who declared there ought
to be punishment for free speech. The next
great step was the Texas history. Next the war
with Mexico. 1t was but one step more to the
repeal of the Missouri Compromise aud the Dred
Scott decision. These came together with their
bolts forged on the Stithy of injustice, ready to
be launched against Freedom. The manacle was
on the wrist of Liberty, the lock was hooked,
the KEY was fitted, the hand stretched forth to
turn the key when God launched an omnipotent
bolt that dashed both fetter and lock, key, shacke
and hand, to the ground. You will never get
thatlshackle on again. 1t was the last time. With
all this there has been a constant QUERY on the
part of Slavery. OF what? Why, that they
/ have been abused and wrOnged! Have stolen
the Government; having peijured every line OF
revoutionry memory, having grossly travestied
the whole Testimony OF our fathers; turned the
Ship Of State end for end; they stand crying
and weeping that they are victims OF constant
persecution But the last inch OF free territory,
for Slavery, has been piliaged. Consider some
| of the events Oh the other side of this conflict
In this great work, the turning period OF which
we celebrate ROW, God did not call the great aiiC
the many, but the humble and the few. TIL.
men, many OF them almost unknown, who hrs
agta.ed in behalf of Liberty against SLAYER,
! we're the truest martyrs this age has seel. Nj
Beecber said he must bear witness; though hs
was not of his party and did not agree with al
his views, to the fidelity Of Vim. Lloyd Garrison
He then referred to the early history OF the An
ti-Slaverv movement, how societies, churches
everything against it; yet II lived and pros
pered We ought, therefore, to derive SOM
important lessons from such a great change a
we see to-day. We should see what is the powe
of moral principle, steadily pressed, over all re
sstance 1t cannot be destroyed. We shOui'
never be afraid of minOrities, that minoritle
are only based on great moral principle. W.
should also take notice o; tue safety and OF th'
power Of free speech. Free speech, hOweve
unpopular, has been OmnpOtent. Speaking |
Gods safety valve for tree people, and 1t sup
pressed it works within till there are revenges
riots and revolutions. Judging by this standard
he did not think there WAS much danger OF rev
olution in South Carolina. They talk too much
) There is no danger Of explosion when the safety
valve of an engine is lifted; when there Is Ii
, escape for the steam but through the joints an
seams, and the boiler trembles and shakes, the
stand one side, for there is danger. Dumb dog
bite; barking dogs don't. Therefore, all homo
to free speech Z is the channel through whic
men let off their passOnsinnocuOus Therefore
, when vou are in a cause, see that il touches Tn
, bottom-Almighty God Then taia it II me
muzzle YOU, talk oTl-taik living, and talk dy;n;
There is no peril in taking; only In reiicenc
, and guilty silence We cannot check the pO~t
of this great movement We did not like TO g