The national Republican., 1862-03-24
The New Era.

An eloquent and appropriate sermon Oh the
above-n8med topic was preached ~ the Il
street Baptist church by Rev. J. 8. kennard, n
truly eloquent young divine, who belongs to
She right, dare maintain It. Yesterday morn
ing an unusually large congregation was as.
sembled ut the above named church, II having
been understood that the pastor was to preach
lie selected as bis text The following words:
"Say not thou, what is the cause that the
former days were better than these for thou
dost not inquire wisely concerning ths."-Eco.
TO say 90 would be to say that Gods kingdom
goes backward, which sayors OF skepticism.
We, to-day, are In the midst Of v revolution.
Old times, old customs, and old ideas, are pass.
ipg away. 1t is the plowing up Of the highway,
for new era, and the march Of better peo'
pie. There Is always great hesitancy In taking
the first steps in such change Of cirCum
stances. II was so In Luther's reformation, the
Cromwelian period, and our former Revolution.
The wheels Of Gods providenCe never go back
ward. The herald. angel of God never sounds
the retreat on his heavenly clarion. We can
not subside into old ideas. We cannot be com.
pressed into tho narrow m0ulds of former
days" Our present chastisemt mt 10 not that
of peace breed little men, but great re evolutions
produce men Of larger minds, greater patriot.
ism, and nobler virtues. .....
The progressive spirit of religion should also
be me infested in this age. ln former days there
were giants in piety, but the masses were
greater dwarls than we are. But in this pro.
gressive age pe,y ia more generally d'fiused,
ard we have Sabbath Schools, Missionary en-.
terprises, ant the efforts for the elevation OF
the down.tro den and degraded.
We have b d an age OF gold, an age OF silver,
and an age o' iron. The age we have just pass
ed has been ne of brass. BraLen impudenCe
and iniguity has stalked through the land. aYd
manifested itself even in our National Cove 1h
ment. What shall we call the present age
Lot IL be An age of steel. Let us have ideas Ol
steel, sharp and cutting: lot us have meh OF
s.ee firm, haId and unyielding; let us h3ve n
religion Of steel, not rusty, not soft like tword
Of dough. bit II strong and piercing weapon.
In no portion Of the country will this fogress
bs more manifest than In this city. These
streets will be crowded with energetic business
mon. This noble river viii be whitenbd with
many sahs. These hills which SURROUND us
now blaCkened by war, or bristling wifi arms
and frownins fortresses, will be dotted fith the
humble cottage Of the mechanic, and thk palace
OF the wealthy. This Ia ~ be free CITY. Ls
no man attempt 10 stop the tide of fteedom
The capital of the nation will be freb. Yol
may legislsie, you may demonstrate. hut II /,
vain. Slavery is in IT'S decline. Lei II di'
peacefully. DO not apply nostrums In vain OF
forts TO prolong its existence. We will ,liter'n,
curses Mother will we shed tears, for rlange
lowering over US rejoice it's departure.
There will be changes in our social lite IN GU
schools, and in our churches. Y
Mr.. X. closed IN an earnest appeal toth'
members ofhis own church 10 seize the preset
opportunity for doing iood; adding that Co
had favored that church in Il special manner
In the present crisis.