Delaware State journal and statesman., 1861-05-14

Extract nom sermon preached by Rev @. !
F. WIswELL in the Central Church, OF this city,
on last Sunday morning. II being the fifth an
niVersary of the installation of the speaker az
Pastor OF the Church. The Rev. gentleman af-
ter reviewing the history and progress OF the
church for the last five years, alluded to thu
present condition of the country, as follows.-
My friends, there are many things yet to be
spoken unto u.s. judge, 80 soon as we are able
to hear them. If l rightly read and inter- ret
our history and present position, we have NOT
yet finished our work. We have yet much To do
and perhaps to suffer and endure
Our lrst i've years close amidst STRANGE I'M
looked-ior, and unspoakably eyentiul soeucs.-
We began our career at period of nnprecclcnt
ed prosperity in this land--wc close this first
measure Of 1t with the tramp Of armies and
the sound Of war on every side II is difficult
10 speak of the strange and fearful aspect ol the
present hour with anything like calmncsi The
entire combination of events is so new, so unlike
any thing we have ever known, that we cannot
determine our precise locality. We have been
30 long and gently waited by fostering gales up.
on this voyage Of national prosperity. that we
had begun TO fancy ourselves us having received
oil the uod of nations an immunity from the in
cursions of foreign foes and the violence of in
ternal seditions. We have so long and 90 conf
the blessings of free republican institutions, as
almost to fancy that of all lands we had sort of
divine and exclusive right 10 these privileges
Our religious advantages have hecn 70 great and
abundant, such perfect freedom of opinion has
been enjoyed, MS to make us quite the envy of
oppressed and misruled nations all over the
world.
But our dream, blissful and gorgoousy drapcd
MS i has been is already broken, the charm is
FuuplV tianallp1 flna Of 4
benehcent governments ever inau sutated hy man.
has been teoklessly assaulted, by those whom ii
| has ever protected and under whose supremacy
they have received all that raises them above
mental and spiritual degradation and nbieot
poverty. Those who have taken upon themselves
the fearful responsibility Of making war upon
this republic, are simply making bold push joy
the right Of The minority 10 q0perR tie Ni0joriiy.
thus aubverting the very fundamental principle
upon which the government was established -
Human history presents nothing so shocking us
INhis unprinoipled rebellion against the peace and
happiness of 10000, 900 of people. The annals
Of civilized nations furnish no parallel with this
utter abandonment Of political honor, this toi4l
lack Of loyalty to the Constitution they were
sacredly bound to sustain.
We see the beginning of this reign of lawless.
ness aud rapine, but who sh0ll tell us where is
the end Here is truly "upon the Garth, dis
tress Of nations, with pcrpexity the sea and the
waves roaring, mems hearts failing them for leal
and for looking after those things which ar,
coming on the earth" But in the midst of nj
this direful commotion, We get the most perfec
assurance as we fall hack upon the essential iuy
hee OF our cause. Never was clearer issui
put. before great and patriotic people.
War is n terrible necessity, and can only hi
justified as last resort when great and vita
principles are at stake. But it is sometimes
necessity in this fallen world. and esueeiall,
when inalienabe rights are mpCrilled and III
hopes of countless millions are about TO h
quenched in more than Egypt's darkness Moth
ing but seuse Of the imminent danger Of thi
could have in moment, in the twnkling Of al
eye, brought 10000 900 Of free and rrncef,
people to their feet, and started them on IN
march to the battle field 10 defence Of their en-.
deared government. There is a moral sublimit,
in this picture, such rs was never before behe,
among men. Now my brethren, God has nm
pointed to us our lot in these times of trial :
The Christian Church has by no means tb
smallest interests at stake in this war Cor tn
defence of the government and the perpetuity o
the republic Indeed it were idle for me 10 en-
large upon this point. Upon the church of lin,
would fall the heaviest blow, CONSEQUENT uron
reign OF anarchy and despolism in This fai
land, such as would be sure TO follow the de-
strucuon OF this free government With the fail
Of this my brethren, We lose most that we hal,
sacred and dear in this world. As this is true
we have grave responsibilities az christian CHI.
zens and ns u Christian Church. Il is not III,
creed OF this communion that we are to sit il
supineness and indifference while others Ggh
the battles Of freedom for us We have tot
much staked upon the issue, thus TO look q,
from aiar. There is not a christian man OIL
woman in this "household Of faith who is mn
under the most solemn obligations of rclinion II
10 TO the utmost Tor the support Of the cor. itu
ted powers Of government. There is no option
1t ever there was "holy war; on earth.
soemnlybelieve that this in which we are nov
engaged is that war. In urging every membe,
Of this church to aid. to his utmost. for ia suc
cessful termination, have not the smallest
scrnples Of conscience. hope my inetfrotion,
from this pulpit for the past five years in refer
ence 10 the practical relations Of the church /,
the world have not been in vain mol no IN,
brethren, we are not to shrink ingloriously from
any responsibility that the present cxigoncics o
our country may put upon us CherisLinq suo1
views as do, Of the sphere and influence of re
llgion, and the essential righteousness of IN,
country's cause against her lrcacherous foes.
am iull OF hope am quite unwilling to beey,
that uou mas raised up government like this
20 long terror to despets, for so ignohle a pur.
pose, as to allow it to he DESTROYED by III,
phrenzed hands Of ambitious but disappointed
uemagogues and tauutcal partzans Ii cannot
" 'h"e nv VIII hlluM chnihs 30 clnnk lnstpud of
the angelic strains Of liberty. | will fain hone
that more glorious future awaits us. The
great albiier Of nations has put us into tho cru,
ei1lc TO test and prove us lie shall ut length
bring Us rs nation out Of these fires purer and
stronger than before.
o! my country my country! thou hast
nursed me from my infancy even as a tender and
gentle mother; thou hast lavishrd upon me untold
blessings, aud now when enemies, who should he
friends, cluster around thy Capitol, and lift
treacherous hands to smtc thee will stand for
thy defence. My heart shall prove true to thee.
and all have and oil am, by the help Of God
VIII freely ny upon thine altar.
such shonl1 be our finn resolve my hearers.
as our religion includes the sincere love of onr
country, and thus doing, be assured TINT those
Wac come after us will rise up and call us bless
cd. The volume OF the future is all scaled 10 MS.
buy let us watch with eageruess and road WITH
diligence So fast as the divine fingers sh,ll niin
the leaves Let us be faithful % God, faithful
to man, faithful TO our church, faithful to our
country. The end is not far OIL Already the
| gates OF the eternal day stand wide aiar-tbe
llglit celestial streams through the open PORTALS.
ana soon shall our glad car catch the sound Of
Tue "welcome good and faithful servants