, 1862-11-29
.yb1rd Presbyterian Church-.lIev.
Rnf.ert RoEfHrNQNa nA ns

The service here was united service Of the
Prcsby terian churches Of the West Side. In
consequence Of the sickness Of the pastor Of
the Third church, Rev. Mr- Swazey, who was
prevented by an attack of quiEsy, from being
prseent, the devotions were led BY Rev. Nr.
JackEon, of the United PresbJ terian caurch,
Rev ROBERT Patterson, D. D., OF the R Horm-
ed PtebJ teI1an church, preached the sermon.
His text was:
IURE u1-vs. 23.-st IEAe,, these things BE-
gin to come to pass, look up. and lift up your
heads, for sfonr redemption drGUeth nigh.' He
introduced the discourse by stating tnat many
paous persons thought that day Of fasting on
account Of our national troubles, wonld be
nore appropriate than Thanksgiving services
utconcurred in the duty olthauking God for
the blessings VIC still enjoy; enum.ra.ing,
life, health, plenty, employment for the work
ing man, our public schools. and Sabbath
schools, city missions, and the preaching OF
the gospel, the existence Of the government,
the edetgy of the people, the repulse Of in
yasiop. the publicly avowed refusal Of Eng
land to interpose With France on behalf OF the
North, and The possession OF an army sutIi-
cient, with Gods blessing, and gsod general
ship, to que1 the rebellion.
Bu5 besides THESE, the text pointed to
class O. blessings demanding acknowiedg.
nlent, which migut be overlooked in times Of
revolution. He explained the text, primarily
as relating to the destruction ct Jerusalem as
necessary preparation for the propagation
Ct the gospel, and generally as Involving the
principle that Christians should thank God
tor revolutions destructive of anti Christian
Institutions. That the revolution now in
progress in the United States is of this clsse;
is part OF this class; and Is part Of the great
revolution which shall usher Ia the millennium,
he showed ty consideration of
l. TIE ERA IN WHICH IT TAKEs-PLAcE. The
era Of the chris1iaEizIng OF mankind, promoted
hy steam navigation, 1ailroads, lelegraphs,
Steam Fressee, commerce, education and
missions. TIE era of the downfall OF hea-
therism in China, of the decay OF
NehammedaIiism in 1adia, Persia, and
Turkey, OF the downfall of the Pope's
temporal power, AID OF the emancipation OF
the Rerls Of Russia- It must be recorded by
the historian as part OF the world wide revo-
luton Of the nineteenth century, preparatory
to The millennium, and therefore to be hailed
and welcomed by every friend Of God and
man.
| acknowledged as q special miracle, thai
! anidtt the uniform series OF sophistrias
! salsebccds and perjuries by which the rebel:
/ have surrounded themselves, one siug.e
| glcam Of truth and honesty i'luminates thei'
open aFowal Of slavery as the corner stone o
tion Of The President leaves no dubiety IS tt
the position OF us on the side OF freedom
Our revolution is then part of the gres
battle bet@een slavery aud freedom, began il
Egypt, ard fought successiVely on the field
OF Marathon, Nuyarten, Baunaeklure, an,
Bunker Hill It is cause of thanksgiving tha
God has created US worthy to bleed in such
contest, ak to snffer in the cause Of God an
liberty.
3. The PROGRESS ALREADY ACCOMPLISHED
In the elevation Of the nation to spend none
freely in defense OF liberty; in the noble sat
1ifice Of ease, home, and personal safety by
million Of brave volunteers under sense {
du1y; in the dciveraDce Ct our capital an
territories from the curse Of slavery in 1h
emancipation Of the platform, pulpit an
: prefs Of the South, from the silence Of conse
/ vatism; in the ayowal and execution OF !
E emancipation policy by ths President, SUI
j, ported BY the great majority Of the people;
j the mere reverent acknowledgement Of God
d President, Generals, Governors, editors ar
orators, since our troubles began to thicke
r # 10 these ne add, the unparalleled distrib
1icn OF hundreds of thousands OF testamen
It to soldiers, the duly prayer meetings in MAI
r | regiments, and reyiYa!s in several camps n
o hospitals, We must see at least the sWe11il
t, buds Of the fig tree encouraging expectati'
o Of Il blessed fruitage of gospel reforms, VIII
/ these wintsry rains shall haVe swept away
d frozen abuses Of centuries. He concluded
an appeal to Christians to prove themsei1
q | yc, nf l3,hfr or,H Gt3