Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1861-01-16
FAsT-DAY SERMON.


CURwENsyILLE, Jan. 9th, 1861.
REV. J. NJ. GALLOWAY Dear Sir In be-
half of the audience that listened with pleas
urs to your sermon OF Friday evening Jan. 4th,
and that was deeply impressed with the i'm
portance of the subject, and the solemnity
with which it was treated, we request you to
hand a copy of it to the Raftsman,s Journal
for publication. Yours respectfully,
VIM. Irwin, Daniel Faust,
Daniel Livingston, II: p. Thompson,
John McNaul. Henry Kerns,
E.A. Irwin.
Mr. EDIrcR The discourse referred to In
this communication WAS delivered from brief
notes, and hence it is impossible to comply
fully with the request. l have however en-
deavored to give the ideas, and to some extent
the language, condensing.so as not to occupy
too much of Your paper at time when impor-
tant news SO abundant.
No doubt the interest felt in the discourse
resulted from the Importance Of the subject,
In connection with the present condition OF
our country. ]. NJ. GALLOWAY.
Ps. l27 latter clause Of first verse:
Except the Lord keep the city, the watchman
waketh but in vain"
"The Lord God oMnipotent reigneth.''
This is the grand truth that has brought us to-
gether this evening, that has brought multi
tudes Of fellow citizens this day to the house
of prayer, and that brings this nation a sup
plant to the mercy seat.
In the time of prosperity VIC may forget
this great truth, and rest in the wisdom of
man, and imagine that human hands can hold
the reins OF civil government, and manage the
affairs of state. But it is not SO when the
thick clouds of adversely gather over us, and
shut out the light, when naught is seen but
the angry flash, and nothing heard but the
deep mutteriDg Of the coming storm which
,.tf
dened fury upon our.heads. Then the wisdom
Of man appears but folly, and the power of
man as weakness, and all eyes turn to God
for help.
1t is not our business this evening, nor has
Il been the business of the nation on this day
of our humiliation, to take counsel in REFER
ence to the state policy by which the present
dangers may be avoided; nor yet to inquire
into the immediate causes of our difficulties
but our object is to come before God, recog-
nizing the truth expressed in the text, ssEx-
cept the Lord keep the city, the watchman
waketh but in vain,'' and implore his merci-
ful interposition in our behalf.
The recognition of dependence on God in
the management OF our national affairs is no
new thing in our history. Our fathers, who
framed the Constitution under which we have
enjoyed SO much prosperity. recognized that
dependence as expressed in the words of in
spiration which Immediately ly precede those we
would now impress on your minds. They felt
the truth of the declaration, "Except the Lord
build tho house, they labor in vain that build it,
After the Convention which framed the Con-
stitutiOn had spent several weeks in ruitless la
Dor, that profound philosopher and statesman,
BENZ. Franklin, thus addressed that assembly
''Mr President THE small progress we
have made after four or five weeks close at
tendance and continual reasoning with each
other, our different sentiments on almost eve-
~ question, several Of the last producing as
many noes az ayes, is, methinks, melancho-
y proof OF the impertection of the human un-
derstanding. We, indeed, seem to feel our
own want of political wisdom, since we have
been running all about in search of it. We
have gone back to ancient history for models
OF government, and examined the different
forms OF those republics, which, having been
originally formed with the seeds Of their own
pssoiution, now no longer exist; and We have
viewed modern states all around Europe, but
hha none of their constitutions suitable to
uur circumstances. In this situation Of the
assembly, cropping as it were in the dark to
Aha political truth, and scarce able to distin-
sush 1t when presented to us, how has 1t hap
pened, sir, that we have not thought Of apply
.ng humbly to the Father of Light to illumi-
Hs'e our understandings In the beginning
~ ,ne contest with Britain, We were sensible
uahger, We had daily prayers in this room
hSine l piSine protection. Our prayers, STR, were
ns1d, and they were graciously answered. All
Us who were engaged in the struggle must
t'e ai neard frequent instances of superinten-
pne Providence in our favor. To that kind
.ce 'o'idence we owe the happy opportunity Of
iH'uuing in peace on the means of establish
s our future national felicity. And have we
IN" forgotten that powerful Friend or do we
t,~h1gihe We now 10 longer need his assistance?
nave lived, sir, long time, and the longer
t,n.' the more convincing proofs 1 see of this
,stn That 6 cd governs in the affairs of men.
BY sparrow cannot fall to the ground
R;r E;.aout his notice, is it probable that an en-
can rise without his aid We haye been,
ssn. s,sed, sir, in the Sacred writings, that s.ex-
rsi" .ae Lord build the house, they labor in
a.. sna build it.'' firmly believe this and
believe, thai, without his concurring aid,