New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-11-28
The Importance Of Faith i'm the Rectitude -

the Divine Government.
SERMON PREACHED BY THE REV. EBERT 8.
Il PORTER, IN THE FOURTH-STREET RE.
FORMED DUTCH CHURCH, BROOKLYN, 4. d.
Tsxr-Rshtsousnss and judgment the habisstion q
His Throne. Psalm xcvii. 2.
After brief introduction explanatory Of the text.
the preacher said:
Faith In the rectitude Of the Divine Government
lies ut the basis OF all virtue and must be the grand
and constant incentive to every effort made to mend
and improve mankind. They who scout at this
must scott OF justice and with Atheistic seIfshness
oppose every labor of philanthropy, Of statesman.
ship, and of religion He who will not fear and
trust the justice Of the Almighty must count good
and evil indifferent, az they minister to his
| selfish pleasures or pains.
The Rev. speaker then enumerated some OF the
more constant and influential hindrances which con-
tribute impair the confidence Of some in the recti.
tude Of the divine government-such az the wide
prevalence Of error-the existence Of long and fear.
full oppressons-the suiferings Of good men and the
triumphs OF the yilethe apparent failures Of right
| to overcome and subdue organized wrong-al these
make the clouds and darkness which Overhang the
world and surround the throne OF the righteous God.
Against all these hndrances, depressing and sad.
dening, though at times they may be, there arc
sufficient counteractives furnished in the book Of
TRUTH and to these the wearled and waiting mind
ought to subject itself for treatment aud healing.
What are they First the universal, irresistible
and undeniabe conviction of the human SOUL con.
| nate and ineradIcable, that despite all human
evils God is good and true, righteous and just The
mind is unable TO think otherwise, because 1t cannos
inaugarate Satan upon the Throne of the Universe.
On this point all men are one. However divergens
the notions of the ancient PHILOSOPHERS respecting the
gods and their administration OF human affairs never.
theess they harmonlzed here. Plato, In bis dlspu.
Iations with his friends claimed that they were all
agreed respecting the Divine Justice and Belevo-
lence. So, too, the great theological poets. The
gloomy but comprehensive genius OF Eschylus, and
the tragic grandeur of Eurpides exhausted tnen-
selves upon the illustration and enforcement OF tbn
truth. 1t was the massive barrier which In thelR
way they opposed TO atheism on the one hand and to
human wickedness on the other. Moreover the
very existence of society with its framework Of laws.
aud its inner life of aspiration, rests upon and y
maintained by this indesructaole conviction, that
the righteousness and Justice of God exerted on
] the side of righteousness and justice among men,
and that these will In the end prevail. This poins
was further illustrated by numerous references 70
the Word of God.
III. The course Of history is confrmatory Of The
correctness Of this conviction. Human affairs 90
not return upon their former paths. There u
Progress. Scales fall from the eyes OF many blind
ana thrones are held by Difference TO the peoples
rights, and letters are broken by the ponderous
blows Of stalwart men, resoute for freedom. 50
that the world to-day is not what 1t was when II
swung in the eclipse of the Middle Ages. Truth
shines, and Love works. and Justice pleads, ana
righteousness goes DelOre nd,ioIb VIII
and Humanity is Travelling to become the mother
and nurse Of a Garth wherein dweileth Right.
eousness
Ill The Cross is Gods never 10 be broken
pledge that the resources of infinite love en-
ployed to undo the work of evil and establish justice
and truth among men. BY that sign Human Faith
mounts the chariot of conflict, of conquest and %
victory. Love is stronger than Hate, aud will WIN
its way to every citadel Of iniquty aud PROSTATE Il
in the dust. This Is the unwritten and therefore
nefacible creed that keeps heart end hope in tho
bosom Of Humanity.
The speaker closed with an application OF these
thoughts 10 the present condition Of our country
the character of the struggle in whichit is engaged
and the necessity of cuuvatng an unfalteriDg faith.
that Righteous God will give success TO the right.
From the moment, SAID he, that this Rebellion
burst upon the land from the mouths OF asssiling
cannon there has existed among the people oil tho
free States sublime trust III the rectitude OF the
cause which they rushed 10 the battlefield TO
maintain Here has been the secret OF their patience,
torbearance, courage and determination. They feel
themselves enlisted 10 the Army VI God to light Tor
truth Justice and freedom. IL is lit that we should
be thankful that this nation should be counted
worthy and made able IN It's day OF trial. 10 contend
for universal interests, for human rights here ana
everywhere, for Liberty on this soil and every SOIL
and for Justice social and civil, now and forever.
These are what our lights tor Not simply Tor nation
atty for territory, nor Tor the spoilers reward
but for every principle that man has ever valued
or Chri-tahity has cousecra,ed. Let us continue TO
trust 10 God, and remit no effort to serve him In
His cause by war continuous and dreadful Tor .
time If need be, aud then in peace and by peace when
it shall have been established BY righteousness.