The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1861-12-09
THE WAR AN OCCASION FOR THANKSGIVING.
DISCOURSE FOR THANKSGIVING
PREACHED IN THE
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHI / RC II
OF KEOKUk,
NOVEMBER 2SrH, 1861
B Is "A AC e G "A r f x,
PASTOR OF THE CHURCH.


Zion the highest of the mountains on which Jerusalem was
built Being celebrated for the strength of defences, is
icaled the stronghold of Zion As the residence of David
called the CITY Of David The
the inhabitants of the City Jerusalem itself The express
sion daughters Of JUDAH simply the of Israel
The text therefore, the general JOY Of the people of
Israel male and female because Of the judgments Of the LoRD
upon their enemies The daughters Of Judah appear have
taken the active part the joyful demonstrations
Of national deiyerances Thus view of the judgment
by which Con accomplished the overthrow and destruction Of
the Egyptian army the Red Sea, Miriam, the prophecies,
the Of Aaron took tmbrel in her hand and all the
after her. with mbrels and with dances And
Miriam answered them and said Sing the LORD for he
hath triumphed grous the horse and his rider hath ne thrown
the 80, upon the of Saul and David from the
slaughter Of the Phsnes the daughter Of Judah reoiccd
The Of all the cities If Israel singing and dan
cng King Saul with abres and with joy and with
instruments OF music
There times therefore, when it appropriate rejoice
and give thanks in view Of the Judgments Of the LORD The
present such time for II hardly necessary for
assembled for dwell particularly upon the many
blessings which have received nd enjoyed and for which
called be deeply grateful Heavenly Father
1t not only true with the loving
ndnesses and tender Of Cop true also that
have suffered under his Establishments and almost
shut up the contemplation Of the judgments of the LORD
has been OF trouble and rebuke to country
Cop has been visiting the nation for lis nique According
- lis Word he has been rceompcnslbg upon
heads year the great conspiracy fast gathering its
forces aud completing It's for malignant and de-
ternned assault upon Corruption secretly
undermining foundations doing work ul-
checked and using the powers Of the against the
Government itself At length yerythng being made ready for
the deadly thrust the heart all dguises thrown
off, revealing the astoned country and world thoroughly
organized rebeloa combination strong and confident
intense fixed upon accomplishing purpose, that the preser
of the Government and Union was for me problem
of doubtful solution. This them the fact OF the
past yearhe rebellion and the consequent Let dwell
upon this fact Passing many other things for which
to give thanks and which will readily every mind let
COP has yet indeed complete deveance from
enemies but He has given encouragement hope for such
eyanee and have to rejoice and give thanks be
Of the Judgments which only bring
Of the power of Cons but which, also, shining
FORTH clearly, the light of His mercy aud good will
preliminary remark will give the right direction
temptations What evil considered by itself may be
good considered i'll relation to other things Suffering consd
cred in itself evil but relatively be good The
punishment of crime, absolutely considered evil but
sdered relatively the great principles Of law
the public happiness and being, it good desirable
Far better the punishment than mpuny in crime. So ther
we'll that there also suffering Better wer
> there but well that there suffering
nected The suffering connected with sin reae
and the ends of moral government good and evil
In like manner there national and political crimes
lis well that there also troubles, perpexes and
nations Better there such crimes but the crime
the trouble and suffering connected with hem and CROWN
of them, ought BE- Accordingly, the existing Wit
its sacrifice Of life and property its and desoaons
great evil considered by ITSELF but evil viewed reae
" other things such law government liberty, and the vel
being Of the nation If think only of the destruction Of M
and property the horrors of battle fields the acton and d
Of households the appears unmgated evil great
be deplored But, taking wider say better til
Of life and property than the overthrow Of the Government
the sacrifice of millions OF lives than the triumph of Law
les sness ana Darbarlsm, despotsn iand
Thousand times, the national suffering noble than ii
ona disgrace and ruin The loss and suffering, viewed
voluntary and necessary prevent mmeasuraby great
evils appear only in the light of noble sacrifices, the freew
offerings of generous upon the atas of their
Of them tribute OF thanks ascends from
the of freedom the nhctor Of great principles and
go nationality found wanting the hour of the
~ countrys peril.
We have reason for thanksgiving in view Of the
l. In general, the condition Of the country already
pro OF the Morally politically, financially
are better off than year ago. This is, obvousl
trale the free The Improvement the condition
the slave obvious, only because all which
the fearful coact going forward those states
yet itself upon the surface results have not yet
light That there Improvement however, appears from
o N