Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1862-05-23
SERMON BY REV. GEO. WOODBRIDGE D., D.,

SERMON BY REV GEO. WOODBRIDGE, D., D.,
PREACHED IN THE MONUMENTAL CHURCH, RICHMOND, FRI.
DAY, NAY l6TH, (rHE DAY OF PUBLIC sUPPLIcArOS,)
AND PUBLISHED AT The REQUEST OF THE MKXBERs oy
HIS CONGREGATION.
"My house is the house Of prayer"-St. Luke,
xix: &c.
We have been called this day, my brethren by the
Proclamation of the President the house of God 10
humble ourselves before Hin, and 10 implore His bless
ing upon these Confederate States and upon the in
wi i3h We are engaged.
We are ia condition of anxiety and deep sclcitude
The enemy have occupied large part Of Virginia and
Of other Confederate Safes Our people are flying
bsfOre their invaders Their property Is taken their
slaves liberated, their crops destroyed And We, who
witness these things feel not only deep sympathy for
them, but xety Tor ourselves for our time may soon
come
Our help is in the name Of the Lord. To Him only
can we look ia this our necessity.
Wisely, therefore, has the President summoned US to
the house of God or It is the house of prayer" Al
God looks with an eye Of special favor the united
prayers OF His people. II the unity OF the church in
which He delights Il this for which he prayed the
night before HIS death: AS Thou, Father, art in Me-
aud in Thee, that they also may be one in US"
"In prayer on earth the saints are one'
Hence therefore He says: "If two of you shall
be agreed together as touching anything that they
er which is in Heaven" And "Where two OF three
are gathered together in Ny name, there an | III
the midst of them" Wisely therefore, We repeat has
the President assembled this day in the house Of God
for il is the house of prayer And however profitable
private prayer, land none can estimate it too highly ii
is the very aim of public prayer; still the uuied
prayers OF His people, the sincere, earnest heart
fit prayers Of q whole congregation, and more
especially Of whole people ascending together at their
various places OF pubic worship must be all powerful
with God at the conservation OF the temple OF Solo,
mon this agreement OF His people in prayer aud prase
this cOGcordancs Of sentiment stesed by very re
na,kabls evidence OF Gods favor aud blessing az
came even pass the tEumpeters and singers
one TO make one sound 10 be heard in praising AID
thanking the Lord aud when they lifted up their voice
with the Tumpels aud symbols and Instruments Of mu
SIC and praised he Lord Tor He good for His mercy
eudureh forever that then the house WAS filed With
cloud even the House Of the Lord that the priests
could not stand minister by of the cloud for
the glory of the Lord had filled tie House Of Cod
You will observe that il when the Ark was de.
posted "n the Mosi Holy Place :" it not when the
sacrifices were offered but when all Joined in one grand
chorus of praise and thanksgiving; when the vocal and
srumenla music when the rumpetes and singers we're
as one 20 make one sound to be heard that
then the glory Of the Lord led the House Of the Lord
then the Lord descended and took possession of HE
House.
l. was when the early disciples "were all with one ac-
the third hour OF the day." hour Of prayer in the
House of God, that 'tne Holy Ghost descended in co
ven tongues like as OF FIRE and upon each Of them"
Special importance, therefore, Ia attached the earn
est heartfelt prayers and praises OF whole congregation,
aud especially Of whole people, for special infl
ence is attributed them in the word OF God. THE
Lord oveth the gates OF Zion more than all the dwell.
nngs Of Jacob" And therefore may we hope that
the prayers which shall this day ascend from every
part of our Contederscy in the various places OF
worship to the God OF our father, may be
heard with acceptance and answered with power.
For We are now brought 10 state when we must
loo to Him for deliverance No; only must realize
that He is in general, shield and defeuce but
that now especially, nov, this day Of darkness
aud dependency, ia He our refuge and our hope
shield and exceeding great reward On, spirit Of
the living God Taou spirit OF grace aI,ksupplcation,
teach Us how TO pray Fable Us 10 pour OUT the
est heartfelt supplcauOns Of our hearts before Thee
10 expecting and desiring to obtain the blessing OF
God upon our cause aud people, IN placing ourselves
der the Divine protection, thing is especially de-
mlnled. It is that we put away all iniquiIy from Us
IF regard njquity in my heart, the Lord vii! not
hear me" "The Lord thy God said Moses, "waketh In
the midst of the camp TO deliver thee and 10 give up
thine enemies before thee therefore, shall thy camp
be holy that He uuceAn thing in thee and turn
away from thee" How shall that Great Being 20 forth
with our hosts to the battle against the enemy when He
0ehois the u.qutes Of QUE camps; when he hears the
.
ing aud when He Eeeth the selishuess the cruelty the
rapacty AID the violence which il, alas, 30 earfuy
prevalent Oar reform must be individual. Let each,
therefore, b gin with himself Let each resolve that
from this day forward, be will amend his life he will TO-
paut aud walk in OF lite Aud let our prayers
and our ,Isrs extend TO the camps, to those who 90
forth TO fight our battles.
If 1.-THE powers that be ere ordained ofGod; Il our
)vernmelt place itself under His protection il DOS
this day by solemn services if We call ourselves His
poople then must to It that We serve HIM with
clean hands and pure heart All orders aud ranks
among u must live becomes His people. We must
cultivate a high standard OF public morals. We must
elaC. 10 office men who fear God and keep His com
maadmlnts' not mere party politicians Wao kUow no
standard Of du.y tU. the will of their party. We must
rONa upon all bribery, corruption, electoneerng-hu'
terry. We mus. rebuke every cus.om or Institution
which has a tendency to deprsye and yite the public
taste We must especially trown upon the grievoui sins
Of Hctnousness and profauenes aud upon tina. drunk
enuess, which, BY the testimony Of member OF Con
press i the peculiar sin of our Confederacy, aud for
which We are becoming known in Elrope. That stern
simplicity which religion produces and which belongs to
all who truly God must super3ede that luxury and
show that scramble for office that ambition Of rising to
which for many years past has been iearuly
crossing among "a. All base material ends must be set
aside we Wou be the instruments of just and gracious
Providence in righteous cause This then is our hrst
our great duty. There are other DATES, but they all
dow from this spirit OF holy conservation 10 the Lore
our God. And they are such IS these.
Frs, Of ALL We must not think, we must not
.Dslk Of failure We must cherish the belief that
VIC shall succeed, and viii succsed. Any
thought OF peace as long az a foot Of our lapd
remains within the power OF the enemy, must not De for
moment INDUCED. Ths determination to succeed, this
conviction o, succe5s is OF i,se vast element Of pow
err No people can succeed without It, Aud Why should
VIC not cherish it' II otuso be ust If the PTnci
ples for which we are conendug DO right, then We
should aed ought to cherish H. And we must, we do
eve that cur cause just and right and that the God
Of truth and Justice is on our side.
"And right Is right since God is God.
And right the day must "il'
To doubt would be disloyalty,
To alter would be sn."
The las; words which the !s;e, lamented Bishop OF
this Diocese sad to me- inst was taking leave Of him
to 20 70 Augusta vers these Encourage the people in
this ,rare Tell them trust and no. be afraid. We
shs prevail in this conflict OlT cause IL just and right
"a Gnd IA an rur side We NAV experience great die