Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1861-11-07

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af thy people 20 out to battle against their enemy
thou shalt send Them and shall pray unto
the Lord toward the city which thou hast chosen, and
toward the house have built for thy name then
hear thou in heaven their pray and their suppcaton
and maintain their cause."-l KINGS, VIII, A-45.
A National Fast is greater thing than the
grandest spectacle of National rejuicing. The
one, is easy snd agreeable TO our nature. the
other, is a conflict against our natural corrnp-
tion. An act of rejoeing mingles with the
qualification of our budily senses, but an act oil
humiliation is a subsection of the body, and an
elevation of the soul. 1t is a mighty effort Of
the spirit over matter, conquest OF the spirit
ual man over the natural man, a triumph of the
spiritual world over the carnal. Hence we may
affirm with truth, that nation upon lis knees
in the act of humiliation. is far greater thing
than the most dazzling and magnificent human
exhibition Of any public rejoicing. A whole
nation, with the President at its head, rulers,
ministers. and people-all joining, with one &C.
cord, 10 keep solemn fast for the distinct rec
ognition of an Almighty but invisible God, as
sembling in all the temples of the lnnd, ac-.
knowledging their sins, supplicaiing for mercy
in the midst of divine Judgments, aud bewing
down with humble submission 10 the will OF
the omnipotent. How much more sublime and
moving spectacle is this, than the most gor-
season Of prosperity. nation humbling 1t
self is better than e nation triumphing-a peo-
pie prnying. is in reality, more glorious sight
than triumphant army-Ohl how much better
than the must brilliant illumination for victo-
ryi Now three reasons, at least. may he ad-
yanced for proving thai National Fast on GER
tain occasions, is peculiarly acceptable in the
sight of God. First. because it is public ex-
precision of humility made by whole oommu-
atty, for The the condensation Of sin in ma
ton pride: secondly, because it is, in aspect
&c shape, national act of faith; and, thirdly.
because it involves 4 general if not a universal
net of self-denial; and inasrnuch as humility.
faith, and sclf-denial, are pleasing TO God when
exercised by each person in his individual ca
pacty, so are these three religious duties esIe-
ciaIly acceptable 10 the Almighty. when they
are jointly exercised by people in their ma
tional capacity We learn from our scripture
that public humiliation was resorted to Of cid
in varieties of exigencies. and that the attend
ant success was such rs to show God 8 approval.
and therefore to give 10 the act the authority
of his command. The instance of the Nine
vites. and OF the Jews in the city Of Shxshan
will at once occur to you rs sufficient in their
evidences. Joshua and his people solcmnized
a special fast, whilst his army was besicging
the hostile city of Ai, after having met with a
temporary disaster; but the declared result was
the capture af the city. Ssmud and the Israel-
its fasied Mt Gibeah, when sore pressed in battle
| by the Pbilistines; and, besides other signal
| instances which might be adduced, TINT of King
Jehoshphat is 60 renlal knble that it may well
claim our more particular attention, as peculiar
" applicable 10 the occasion of this solemn day.
fhe hostile sations ofibe Mosbites and Ammou-
| ties had accumulated an immeleearmy TO bat :
lie against Jehosbphat for the osssstrgy Of Ju-
dab. 1t is very striking eircanissanee, that
although the men Of Judah had not then suffer.
ed q single defeat from the enemy. Jehoshphat
yet deemed it essential to bis success to pro.
claim national fast. Tie day was appointed
Immediately y-the solemn assembly called; out
Of every city focked a devout congregation to
the temple. for the express purpose of seeking
the Lord. and supplicstpg his help ir the threat.
ening prospect Of q tremendous conflict. "All
Judah stood before the Lord, with their little
Zones. their wives. and their children" First
and foremost in Tint mighty gathering. stood
Jehoshphat himself. the faithful adyecsie for hia
people in the temple. as he was their detcrmin.