The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1861-10-11
A SERMON;
Preached on the Day Of the National Fast,
Sept. 26th. 1851, in tho
SECOND CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH,
IN BIDDEroRD. BY
REV. CHARLES PACKARD,
[ruBLlsHED ny REQUEST.

TEXTS. 26 o. "when Thy Judgments are In
the earth, the inhabitants Of the world will learn
righteousness"
The immediate reference Of this passage Is
to the calamities which the Jews were to
suffer in their captivity in Babylon, and TO
the favorable effect these calamities would
have upon them. It is remarkable fact,
that the 20 years captivity eGectually cured
the Jews of all inclination to idolatry.-
Whatever other sins they were afterward
guilty of,thcy never went back to what might
have been called, in their previous history,
their great national sin.
There is marked difference in the results
Of the chastisements Of Gods Providence up
on the characters of men. In the case Of
multitudes, Affections evidently harden the
heart, as they did the heart Of Pharaoh, the
king of Egypt. Instead Of bowling to the
yoke and humbling himself under the mighty
hand.of God, the sinner. lin the language OF
Job) "stretcheth out his hand against God,
and strengtheneth himself against the Al
mighty. He runneth upon him, even on
his neck, upon the thick bosses Of his buck.
lers." In the case of others, however, the
effect of trial is maniicstly favorable. They
can cay with the Psalmist, at is good for
me, that have been afflicted. Before was
afflicted weiit astray, but now have kept
thy word"
Our text asserts. that "when Gods judg-
ments are in the earth, the inhabitants Of the
world will learn righteousness This passage
does not mean that this will actually be the
result, in every instance, but that this is
always the design Of Gods judgments, and
that they are adapted to produce the result.
In the discussion Of this topic. 1t seems
appropriate that We should apply 1t particu.
larly to tho present state Of our Affairs as
q nation. Our country has never been brought
into 50 much danger and difficulty as now.
No national Fast was ever proclaimed In this
country, when there wus 20 much need Of
prayer and humiliation as there Is this day.
Let us consider, therefore, some Of the
ways in which the judgments Of God upon
us as nation will (if rightly improved by
us) teach us Righteousness.
I. They should humble our pride. We have
felt too much as did Nebuchadnezzar, when
he walked in his palace and said "Is not this
great Babylon, that I have built by the
might Of my power and for the honor Of my
majesty" and rs the King Of Asyria, when
he boasted "By the strength ofmy power
have done II, and by my wisdom. for am
prudent" We have as nation been proud
Of our ancestry. Of our wonderful advance.
ment In the arts and sciences, in manufacture.
in commerce and agriculture, Of our extent
ol territory and the vast increase OF our popa'
lation, Of our mines Of coal, OF lead OF iron
and Of gold, of our civil and political ins'isu'
tons, Of our National and State Con'tisu.
tions, and of our republican form OF govern.
men,. We have felt ourselves 50 FAR separated
from the old world. by wide ocean, and by
.uch diverse habits and manners, that when
we have heard Of the storms Of war sweep
ing over them, and the calamitous visitations