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

II have allowed them TO dwell continually
is n the land of the shadow Of DEATH
it God has expressly declared tc us, the
silver and the gold are none" and we
1 have contradicted Him to His face. All
! this have we done through love of mon
| ey. and we have thought that God was
, altogether such as ourselves, but now He
{ is reprovng us, ard setting our sins in
( this regard in order before US. He ID
, teaching US that the gold and silver are
not ours, and that if we will not willing
= ly surrender them at the call of Divine
J authority, we shall be compelled to yield
= them at the demand of earthly power.
We have refused to give a million of dol
lars yearly for the spread of the gospel
of peace, and now we must needs give
million day TO defray the expenses OF
war.
This love of money, which is the root
of all evil, this covetousness, which IS
idolatry, must be rebuked, must be regu-
lated, must be restrained within lawful
and scriptural limits, or all our fasting
and humiliation will be merely solemn
mockery.
l. 1t is our duty to pray for forgive
ness, for blessing, for deliverance from
sin and from evil. If my people, which
are called by my name, shall humble
themselves and pray, and seek my face,
and turn from their wicked way; then
will hear from heaven, and forgive their
sin, and heal their land Prayer is the
specific remedy for national as well asfor
individual calamities Efectual, fervent
prayer, such prayer as Abraham offered
for Sodom, such prayer as David offered
for Israel when the pestilence fell upon
it, will avert the wrath of God, and Sc
cure " the speedy restoration of peace"
ard what is better than peace, the right
eousness without which peace is not de-
sirable and cannot be permanent. In
answer to prayer God can confound the
best laid plans of our enemies, as easily
as when, in answer TO the special prayer
of David, he defeated the good counsel of
Ahithophel. In answer to prayer He
can, by unforeseen and apparently triv-
/ ial circumstances, defeat the plans of the
ablest generals, backed by the most pow
erful armies, as easily as when by the
dream of one Midiante told to another,
He sent confusion into the Midanite ar
my and gave victory TO Gideon. And
without prayer, neither our wise states
men, our skilful generals, nor our bravo
soldiers can bring deliverance to the
country.
Prayer for ourselves individually, our
churches, our country, our rulers, our ar
mics, our enemies, and for them that are
in bonds, is what is required Of US. The
limits within which it is necessary to con-
fine the remainder of this discourse for
bids that we consider more than two or
three of these topics, and those the most
liable to be neglected, nor can they be
discussed with thorougness.
(a) We must pray for our rulers
They are entitled to our prayers at all
times. God commands us TO pray for
them. Their duties are onerous, diff
cult, and OF the highest importance. In
their hands, under God, is the welfare OF
the country. If they rule in the fear of
the Lord, are honest upright, truly patri-
otic, the welfare Of the country is meas
urably safe in their hands. But even
though they have the best intentions they
ire liable to make mistakes. They are
nen, and therefore fallible men, and
therefore, influenced by prejudices, ex-
joNcu " utCC pllOil anu lclh hp'dtiOhSs did
capable of erring. They need the wis
lom which comelh from above, and is be
slowed in answer to prayer. If this be
50 in ordinary times, how much more so
n times like these, when the destinies of
he country for centuries TO come are
remblipp in the balance. The volcanic
Tres of rebellion are rumbling beneath
,ur republic, and threatening to shake
nto ruins the fabric of our institutions.
Jnless there be great wisdom, skill, en-
rgy, prudence, and discretion in our
saders, civil and military, nothing short
special providence can save the
Unless few individuals, ex-
osed to death not only by the ordinary
ssaults of disease, but by the attack of
ur enemies and secret assassins, are pre-
erved and prolonged in life, our ealami-
les already great will be multiplied ten
Did bv the loss of those upon whom we
ely to conduct US safely through this eri-
IS. Il exhort, therefore, that first of
II. supplications, prayers, intercessions,
nd giving of thanks be made for "
\ that are in authority"