Delaware State journal and statesman., 1862-12-02
THANKSGIVING DISCOURSE
Preached at the
CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH,
In this City,
On Thursday, November eth, 1862,
By the Pastor,
REV. GEORGE F. wIswELL.
Preached at the

EphesianH v, 20
thankful spirit always is becoming the chill |
tlien Of men. The most eloquent aud fervent
expressions Of such a spirit too tame to rem
der unto God, the gracious and unslintiug Dene-
factor OF all mankind
My text indicates that thanks on our part are
not to be limited to auy particular class de-
partment of the divine beneinctons. We are TO
- give thanks always for all Miags'-as well for
temporal rs spiritual bestOwmeuts--as well for
Affections rs mercies MS well for things that are
limited to time as those which are bouudless ns
eternity as well for blessings upon others as
urselyes as well for great principles which we
here see ouly in the germ, yet which are surely
to blossom and let fall showers of golden fruit
upon the hearts OF generations yet to be, as for
those producing fruit for our own personal gruti
iicatOu. lu short, the doctrine is that the pro-
violence of this great, wise aud beneteent beng.
who rules over us, is inclusive of all times, sea-
sons aud events; aud there is nothing which, be-
ing interpreted by the principles OF a true Chris
tian philosophy, is not worthy of our " thanks
to God and the Father in the name Of our Lord
Jesus Christ" Any people who caunot find
abundant occasion for a public aud hearty OK
preston Of thanks at east once year, or who
object to any such demonstration, for any fnse
prudential reasons, must he very lar gone on the
iirect route to harbarsm.
ORIGIN oF TnASRsGIvIN0 DAY
The origin OF the observance of day Of pub
lie Thanksgiving upon the order of the civil
authorities lies far back in the history of these
colonies. 1t il interviewer with some Of the
most interesting events of providence, in couucc-
tlon with people whose whole history was PROV
identa Tue little colony who lauded on the
sterile coast of New England in December lG20.
had endured almost every form of hardship short
of absolute martyrdOm for the right of great
princple But their faith in Gud remained un-
shaken. In the spring Of 1929, Immediately
after corn planting, d" the rains OF heaven were
withheld" as their historian has told us. "until
about the middle Of July. with great heat Of
weather, for the most part insomuch that their
corn began to wither away and langushed sore
/ Upon which they set apart solemn day of hu-
initiation, to seek the Lord by humble and Ter
veut prayer, in this great Distress and lie was
! pleased TO answer them graciousy, both TO their
own and the Indians admiration that lived amoup
them. After fruitful and liberal harvest to
their great comfort and rejoicing, 10 time convc-
nient, in the autumn Of that year, they also
solemnized day OF thanksgiving unto the Lord &"
This is believed to have been the first public
celebration OF thanksgiving on this or any other
Continent. And such an observance was early
wrought into the history of each succeeding
Colony of Puritan New England One after
another Of the States adopted It, until now on
this very day, we believe, every loydi State of
our Federal Union is in unison with us in public
ly aud solemnly rendering thanks to Almighty
God for all his benefits. What pleasing and
sublime spectacle Of whole nation recognizing
IA God of providence and grace How betittng
IL christian people
II would be quite useless for me this morning
to attempt TO recount all the reasons which move
us to gratitude, thanksgiving and praise. We
cannot 20 amiss Of them Whether we reflect
upon our history as individuals Or as associated
in the State, the, ssme round Of divine benefac
tions meets ug. Let me- therefore, select from
the unlimited catalogue of our mercies, few
which may stand as representative of all.
Ia doing this l shall not observe so much O
logical order as simple and clear statement.
ouR NATIONAL ORIGIN AND HISTORY
a. Let US giue thanks 10 God for our naiioaa
> oy,yh and history. Oar history is full OF th,
most stirling and wholesome inspirations. Theri
is no person who retains his natural sensihilit,
and cfrespect, who does not love to dwell up
ola the fact that his immediate ancestors wer
yrtuous and noble men; persons who fllc,
!, honorable aud useful stations and who have con
T, terrcd exalted benefits upon their race Thi
very thought is full Of strong and constant mo
=, tlyes to like virtue and uobleness So is it viii
A nations. 1t is for them great occasion 70
!, thanks, that they have Il noble origin and whole
. some history. And in this, no nation Of histo
rical record has had much to excite thank
# fu spirit as we. 1--WE are siugularly iortunat
a in having our whole national rise aud progres
y, lie within the limits of recorded time "
- All The world may read it, and with relerenc
!, 10 almost the entire Of it, there is very little
N tinee the cheek Of an American citizen wit
"a shame, Most Of the nations Of antiquity ha
their rise and history in rupncity and blood
i. Great armies swept along planting mighty kim
% dom- and empires. where once iourished peac,
> iul aud happy provinces. Caesar with his col
H. al. Al. uN..Haf
!, channel His eager eye sees peaceful poop
:, nestled ON the islands beyond. lie knocks rude
r. Mt their gates aud enters, unlimited, with Ii
~ devastating train. Other CAESARS have hourishi
+. nn the very soil he conquered, The history
"A British rapacity and INSCRIPTIONS lust of pow
40 is notorious, wherever history il read.
in QUA EARLY SETTLERS AND STATESMEN.
~ ~ In our origin we have nothing like this to =
~ fleet upon God in his benign providence spar
,o us all such painful remembrance, The cur
IL SETTLERS of this country were peaceablc peopl
- who came hither 10 find refuge from tyranl
of and oppression They were neither moved
h, ayarice nor love OF conquest and power Loi
a, at the settlement of New England, of penusy
"a Vania, and our own little State. They a. we
a., all good men and true who. in their efforts al
>" sacrifices had no other object in view than the
country's good, and the progress Of truth a
righteousness. In their intercourse with I
20 primitive inhabitants, they SET bright examI
er Of humanity and the same sense of Justice
at here witnessed that pervaded all their public n
ur private acs." Not foot of soil was taken frt
as them without their consent, aud they made col
of mon cause with them in all nets of charity nj
MS mercy. This, believe, is something new in I
to history of the word-that nation 30 great Il
Its powerful has had its origin and progress tn
eW far with SO little of injustice towards others
ITS the great national family. The history Of Q
I'd, Federal compact is full of motives to thankfr
act ness in the purity aud ability of our early stat
e. men No such or similar number Of men, Vt
OF ture TO say, were ever grown in any country.
q "rhe civil deeds of statesmen and law gvers
ro- establishing and forming institutions, ncorI
at rating principles into the forms of public a
e- mns'raton, and setting up the defences
Is public security and prosperity, are far less
TO attract aud hold the attention of mankii
than the achievements of military life.
name indeed may be forever associated with
work OF the hand but the mass of mankind
not study and admire or respect the deeds of
law giver as they do those of the hero. Yet
who has framed law or fashioned an insti
tion in which some great idea is made practi
to the conditions OF human existence, has ex
cised the highest attributes of reason, and il
be counted among the benetactors of his race
Pre- eminently is this true of the frameF,
our Constitution and founders of our Kepub
Not one Of them but conferred honor on all v
succeed, or are in any way allied to him
blood or fellowship. We shall never appreci
or know how much the character and ability
those men have done for our history or to stiu
late in their successors a sense Of national bO
49,, aud integrity. Had their illustrous exam
9"' and counsel been followed aud initiated by
,. >, our statesmen and legislators, we had ne
I'VE struck upon the rock on which our ship Of ST