Delaware State journal and statesman. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1855-1870, 1861-05-07

:. God is Refuge and Strength: very presen
help in trouble. palm Is: /.
When the ground beneath our eet is trembn,
with the thioea Of an earthquake, the minds Of ncf
are a absorbed with the appalling movcmen-whcl
the ihunder-eloud is rising swift and black above It's
all eyes are turned upward in anxiety and alarm
And thus in a crisis Of public affairs such as we nov
dcpore, all hearts beat with common pulsation 4
guii opens before which We contemplate with dis
may and horror The clouds that have hecn Ion.
gathering, instead of being dispersed as We hopeC
aud prayed, have oycrspread our Sky and the storm
seems ready to burst upon us. We can now loo;
back and estimate the value Of blessings OF which at
the time We Thought lightly appreciate thai long
peace those tranquil years during which war, in.
tasiuil and bloodshcd came not into thoughts.
We read and heard Of mastering armies aud fierce
conflicts, of the battle of the warrior and uf garments
rolled in blood-but such things seemed historical or
remote, matters belonging to other lands and rcorl
| not coming home to Us. WeneNer expected TO hear
the cannoEglc, Or to see our fields trodden down BY
the grim array of war Ours was a sense oi happy
security, of blisslul rcmOteness from the battlefield
and the siege Under the influence Of that protlact-
ed peace how rapid has been our progress in numbers,
wealth. influence, diuscd education and general i'm
pfoNcment. We expected this prosperity to continue
and were impatient under the least cheek or ebbing
Bui change, a sudden and fearful chance, his
come over us Now we hear from every quarter
awful note of preparation. Our country is rapidly
assuming the aspect u. two vast camps and the
trumpet is ringing out its loud alarun. War is I'M
ponine and war in It's most dreadful form-oyil
wal-wa between brethren Of the same family and
OF the same faith war in which if we dcprccatc de-
leat, there would be much to qucmch the Joy of vic
tory We cannot tOrcsce the end but everything
polieuds desperate struggle Surely this is time
when we ought to feel how vain is the help Of man.
This a time when We may realize Us we never have
a. l.|l..p. 8 ] ! A. Il.
OF Jacob Tor their help, and whose hope is in the
lord their God" 1t was under circumstances like
the present that many parts of the Bible were writ
ten. Those expressions Of lofty confidence and I'M
wayering trust in Jehovah spmng from dark and
trouhl0us times. II was not in the calm but in the
tempest that the 10th and like Psalms were indtod
- Gud sour Refuge and Strength, very present
help in truube therefore will we not fear though
the earth be removed and though the mountains be
carried into the midst of the sea; though the waters
thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains
shake with the swelling thereof" We find new
meaning in The holy volume nluOkcd-lnr changes
oecrakc lis, and new developments crowd upon us.
The march Of events is rapid solemn, awe-in-
spring. 1t speaks to every hcwt-to the Christian
and the Minister, well as TO the Statesman and the
patriot. None Of us isolate ourselves il we would
from the living world around us so intensely aei-
tatcd. We are alike members of the Commonwealth
Our earthly hopes and treasures all embarked in
one vessel, and every great emergency or critical
period brings its peculiar demands The man who
fears God is called oact in such circumstances
The Christian citizen desires to do his whole duty
both Christian and as q citizen, He may reason
ably look for counscl to his spiritual guides and cx-
pect from the sanctuary word in season. And his
pastor should be prepared to give it, This is no time
ior any one in amy station to cvade responsibility or
to re,lse to look stern realities in the face While
oIr great object as Ministers of Christ is to bring SIN
ners to repentance, and enquircrs to Jesus, and
Christians to growth in grace, and souls to heaven,
we are at the same time called to apply the principles