The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1861-05-07
SERMON,
By Rrv. G.. +. PETERS, Rector St Peters Church
Hillsdalc, Sunday Evening, April %, lcGl.

BY Rrv G. +. PErrrs, Rector St. Peters Church
Hillsdalc, Sunday Evening, April -, lcGl
Hope thou in the Lord and keep His way, and He
shall promote thee that thou shalt possess the land
Psalms 81, verse 81. Prayer Book Translation.
This Psalm is a collection of divine aphor-
isms that administer advice and consolation
to the people Of the Lord; and recommends
to them, faith, patience aud holy obedience
to God, who for this fidelity to him-will-
even in this life, prosper, p0rotcct and give
them triumph over all their enemies, and
upon the wicked viii iuhict His severe Judge.
msnt ard sore punishment aud en-, Sc them to
he put down. "lIope thoa in the Lord and
keep His way, and IIo shall promote thee
that thou shalt possess the land, is rs true Of
nations as Of individuals. This result was
most wonderfully displayed in the Israellish
nation. 1t was demonstrated in tho cstab.
lishmeut of this Republic and it will be pro.
ven equally true in its preservation.
Though the American people as a body,
have, for time departed from Gods ways,
though national sins have long provoked Him
to vengeance, and in the elected and elect. FL.
ing people are found those offences " ich the
Apostle announced should be the narbingcrs
Of periIous times, men cp ming TO be lovers Of
their own selves, covctous, bOastrrs, proud,
blasphemors, uuthanklul, unholy, truce break
ers, false accusers, ncontinent fierce, despisers
Of these tLat are good, traitors. hea1y, high
minded lovers Of pleasure more than lovers
OF God, despisers Of governments, rcflSn. /.
obedience unto lawful rulers. Such things
have provoked the wrath oi the Almighty
and awakcd him to vindicatc his in.ultcd
honor Yet return unto Him. "ilorc
thou in the Lord and keep iii, way, aud
verify lie shall promote thee that thou shalt
hold possession Of the land"
Now he has sent his scourge Of civil war
among Us, not to Urng us back into barbar.
ism or destroy us, but to rcbuke personal n.
, fidelity; to wipe out national sins, to reform
our lo9g accustomed boasting that the peo.
/ pie arc supreme, and to demonstrate the
truth that the Lord God Omnirolent livclh,
and will rule in the affairs of men aud Of IA.
! tions.
OF the political Issues by which the pres
ent woeful state ol affairs was brought about
| have nothing now TO say; except, God has
permitted il Cor his own wise purposcs to
cleanse us Of great crying national sps, to re
store US once more to the christian patriotism
which in our revolutionary fathers breast
beat in unison with Gods own sacred cause
ot liberty. The past has gone, aud we may
repent OF tho evils; the present is upon US
boadlpg direful calamities which must be me-
manfuIly, trusting to the Almighty ruler o
nations who mover deserts the right.
Civil war it abroad in the land; pcrilon
times have como upon us; perilous TO indiyId
uals, TO society and StA'cs, pct.lous 10 com
merce, to trado and 10 business of every kin
perious 10 life aud to liberty and to everythinl
in this life We hold most precious. Suci
times, such occasions, such causes for blood
warfare among brethren, the world never saw
the like before
The American Republic, the pride, glory