Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1861-10-11

every one of them with more fixed re
solve, more steadfast purpose AS ye
we know almost nothing of that tempe
of the soul, for we have had no occasion
to know. But we shall need to know
and to exercise it.
1t was magnificent thing, that out
burst Of patriotic enthusiasm with whicI
the people accepted the issue thrust up
on them by the rebels an Enthusiasm
before whose burning heat all ties, how
ever strong, of political or religious par.
tizanship melted like wax, and all rank
and conditions of men we're fused togeth.
er in a compact unity Of thought and feel
ing. know nothing in history at all
comparable to it in sublimity. But it will
be nobler thing, the calm, steady, dis
passionate fortitude which lversity may,
which adversely alone can, bring into ex-
ercise, and which shall grow stronger
and stronger the deeper the night Of ad-
yersity darkens around it. ITO sail out
gai!y in the breeze singing patriotic songs
is good enough beginning of the voy-
age, but hurricane or two, or only bad
leak discovered, will take all that away,
and !hen a good steerage at the helm,
and a true compass, and sturdy stout,
resolve kept up through long watchings
and exhaustive iabor-that only will at
last bring in the ships" Such virtue as
that we may need to have in exercise,
and it is our duty to cultivate it that it
may be ready for exercise when the time
of need sLall come.
Not to dwell longer on this point, tho
much remains to be said, let US proceed
to other and more important matters
We who tarry by the stuff have not less
to do, towards bringing the war to a sue
cessful and happy issue, than .hey who 60
down to the battle. The controversy
with the rebels is infinitely less iormida
bic than the controversy which God has
with the nation on account Of its sins.
If we can make our peace with Him, He
who has in His hand the hearts Of all
men, and turneth them whthersoever
he will, will speedily bring the rebels to
make peace with Us. Some trust in
chariots, and some in horses, but we will
the name of the Lord our
God" While we do not undervalue the
ordinary appliances Of war, but would
resolutely use all the available resources
Of men, money, aud munitions, we must
not forget that wisdom is better than
weapons of war;" that prayer is more
potent than artillery, and that if God be
or US, it is Of no consequence who are
against US.
3. Then it is our duty to repent of our
ins, and break them off by repentance.
# this be undone, it is of small account
whatever else is done. Sck-bed repen-
ance is, indeed, rarely to be trusted, but
I is the sick sinners only chance. That
S the precise extremity to which we as
nation are now reduced. "The nation
nd kingdom that will not serve God shall
,eTish." We are now in the throes and
onvuIsons of a national sickness which
nay finally end in our perishing in our
ins. Repentance in such circumstances
5 liable TO great suspicious of spurious
ess and selfshness, but it, nevertheless, {
fiords our only hope Of deliverance.-
And when we look over the black cata-
)gue of sins which by their magnitude 6
nd frequency have attained to the rank S
f national sins, how appalling is the
Ight How numerous, how aggravated, 8
ow Heaven-daring our transgressions q
luxury and extravagance-corruption, a
rivate and official, in high places and in c
0w-pride. sef-assertion, infdelity, in a
e importance, profanity. licentiousn ess, t
slave-holding, man. '
ION worship-but why lengthen the cata-
,gue, already long enough and black t
nough? We dare not say, 10 the sight
f God, that as a nation we are not gull t
/, of all, and Of much more. The only {
ay to avert the Divine wrath is by con- P
.ssing, repenting, and forsakng our sins, s
nd seeking the forgiveness of God Tor a
lem. By so doing He may be inclined t'
turn aside His fierce anger, that we a
erish not but there is no ground for r.
ope that lie can be propitiated in any "
her way than by repentance and reior- n
alton. a
Nor must we lose the consciousness of n
,rsonal, individual guilt, as we consider ol
If national sins. National sins are only N
e aggregate of the sins of individuals. tt
Re are responsible for our own faults, cl
ID not for the faults of others, except as la
ey nave been encouraged and aggrava- b
d by ours. II is Of our own sins that to
e have occasion TO repent. We have al