Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1862-03-15


That shines in Tic Southern sky Jos1r.
Pcndlcton, s. G..
A SERMON FOR THE TIMES.
h'eochcd by Rer. r. L. .MB,wle, ID. d., before
his Congregation IN iSmilcton, S. e.. Februa
"a osA, 1862 aSd pa1lishcd dy request.
n TEXT I'd Chronicles 18th chaptsr, I'd and 7th
verses: The Lord smith you willie ye be with
hm ); and il SO seek him. lie will be found of you
hut if ye forsako him, he will forsakc YOU lc yc
strong, thcrefors and lot not your hands be weak
tor yonr work shall berewardcd.'
The word Of God is the OILY standard of
right aud wrong; to it must all non make
their ultimate appeal for the rcctitudeSo of thcir
conduct; and, frpplits Instructions, mustthey
dsriyo thatwisdoh which they noed to guide
thom in all the relations Of life, and in every
condition of life. God has therein recorded
examples Of his dealings with individuals,
families, communities and nations, illustrating
what conduct he approves and What conduct
: he disapprovesj and wherein, and for what
reasons, he will bless and wherein, aud for
what reasons, he will withhold his blessing
Andshcrc 1t ia chat we. e.fhd,thosc principles
which Gre eternal MS tho, Throne of Godv,-that
lilo aEtl6 ,foundnt6a Of ,ilahss civil socialiana
& @ s sssssp s.
1aaacf 81 the Espi ptures, tho part Of dhis
spsssa3o may appear TO- Teach, that Gody ySif4iiS
dealings with man, acts upon, the pr;n,iple of
i:a:aliuioj,--"l love for ovc, hate for hate"
1Sut We know, from the whole tenor Of the
Scriptures, that IIc is Influenced by no such
spirit, rs is common amongst men. lie speaks
and acts as a L,w-givcr and Judge; MS one
bound to give wholesome laws aud to sec to
their observance. Holding. therefore,, tho
Inw which IT.. has given, and which embod.
les the eternal principles of His Government
in Ills hand, iIc says "obcy aud live; do
that which is pleasing in my sight, as your
Sovereign, and you shall be blessed" J" or, as
Ill the text, 6 il yc be with me '--i. c.. on my
side, loving and serving nlc--'. will be with
YOU to sustain and bless you, &C. And,
in SO doing; God not only nets for the main
.,nance OF Ills laws and Government, which
arc Holy, wise and good, but for the best in.
forests of lis creatures.
With these explanations Of the general sen.
timcnt Of the text, propose to apply it to
tho present condition of our beloved country !;
inasmuch as we have assembled together, in
obedience to the call Of our much esteemed
President, (of whom the people Of these Con,
fc'lorato States may we'll be proud, for his
T,RIy dcportn,rnt, as vel! rs for al! his other
virtuos,) to humble ourselves bci;irc Almighty
God, OH account Of our national sins, and to
invoke His favor and protection, in these
g times that try mems souls. "' ..ss
In respect to the controversy that occasioned
t.lc war now raging bctwoon the Northern
and Southern portions Of this once united but
now dismcmbcrcl Conicdcracy, so far as rc.
la,cs to the chief qusStiiSSasseg eaAhc
South may 81 s.
ns and weIarc wiEffHs E@ssssS ssss;sl! y g
The sidgof, truth and righss-' GEsi3 y
~ nfaholy Word. 0uoof those qucss,v.esSsss.s Sssl III
which is indeed the principle onc---relatcs rs
nn iastftution. venerable for its antiquity aud
for Us many valuable uses, which God 4ath
expressly authorized in Ills Word, and witch
lie has approved and blessed in many other
ways, even us now existing among men In
this respect we arc built upon the fouuda.
sion Of patriots, prophets and Apostles. And
tho other question relates to cirn iiberty--
the right OF n people to justice and equality
under the Government thut is set over them,
aud to cast of that Government if these things
nrc denied them which is also in accordance
with the eternal principles of truth, and right
cousness that are set forth In the Word Of
tiod The truth Of these propositions is too
pnlpablc to require augmentation on this oc.
casinn.
We were with God, my hearers, and lie
with us, while this controversy was peqding !;
and wo arc still with Him in this respect, for
we havo never asked or wished for anything,
in these matters, but what is "iust md
equal which Christian and Sovereign States
had @ right to expect from tt,eir. Representa-.
tivcs aud Rulers HEf
! And in'the uct Of sdparation from tic old
Union, No we're also With God aitaa isaa,witi.
us. It was not a MastY act, but one of pattre
dclbcration the result ofyeats Of discussion
and counsel. Nor was it gotten up iron, nisS.
tivcs ofSSrevcnge1 or selfaggrapaiSeluept ana
ambition; but proceededsfromth tho Ipurest pa.
triotisna ami piety.5 Units tacoomplishh,cSt;,
,niniatcra Of tho Gospel, churches and churo6.
officers, ,wcllds tho wisest and best pf states,
non, mon, were s'eonccrncd. Yea, IT. would. have
boen avoided, had therc' boon any possible
way of doing 40 without sacrificing conscience
20 T r. i.fyf y 49, :