The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1862-12-16


ine upon God III ,hs day of oar ,rou-
be. And
lth. The promise Of deliyemncc
from il in such manner as 70 bring
glory to God and blessings upon the
people, For although 1t be true, as
we have seen, that this present war
80 far al direct human agency IS con-
ccrned. may be traced to the inward
purpose and overt acts Of particular
class of men, whose proceedings Of
lisloyalty and treason are all before
tbe sun, yet this does not exclude
, the recognition Of a particular Prov
1 idence therein, permitting, and in this
sense, al leasi, employing this very
slses pQpey, ie ehastise and punish Us
ar our fellowship WITH, Or too iardy
and feeble reproof of the sin and wick
edness connected with The existence
and aqgressions of this po,rfr upon all
that Is righteous, benevolent, just, or
good or, il We are not particularly
cnlpable in this respect, yet 10 many
others, we have participated, construc-
lively at least, in those national sins
or disregard ofihe divine Government,
honor and glory, which might Justly
bring, IN some form, a decided, divine
reproof upon us as people and ma
ton. And as ia ancient times, the
Lord employed foreign hostile powers
10 chasiise his people Israel, for their
sins-saying 90 Assyrian, the rod Of
mine anger, and the staff Of mine in
diguation, will send him against
hypocrilical nation aud against the
p pople Of my wrath viii ] give him
charge, to take the spoil, and take the
prey, and to tread them down as the
mire Of the streets" So, lie may be
now calling 10 this hostile, gigantic
Stare powcr, to invade our position and
strike at our Government, our union,
and expose US to all our present suffer-
ing and sacrifice, that we may learn
10 remember those in bonds as bound
with them break forever the yoke Of
opprcssion--do more equal justice to
men, and walk more humbly and obe-
diently before God.
Thus while we acknowledge God
as the object Of our thanksgiving, and
our VOWS, and exercise hat penitence
for our sins, aud trust in his good
ness and justice in all his dispensaiions,
which are his due, we may call upon
him with confidence in the day Of
trouble, assured that be will hear Us
and deliver US.
Only 1T our Thanksgiving 10 day
for the many mereies and blessings we
still enjoy, in the midst OF all our hi.
als and dangers, be attended with
true acknowledgment Of our own de-
linquency, and n true purpose Of
amendment, aud we may hope that
this scene Of perGdy, perjury, rebel
lion, war, and bloc lshed, will pass
away, The days Of this conflict be
shortened, and peace, order and SC.
curity return to bless the land.
True, we cannot tell how long we
may have 10 wait. What future trials |
wc may be called to endure, the fu-
iure, as il comes, viii reveal.
Ii the meantime, lei us think liow
much remains to US as ground, OF
occasion fir thanksgiving. Sympa-
taizing as Ee do with the condition
Of the country, il il Is natural that we
should feel a no small burden of our
national griels and partaking rs some |
Of US do in the more personal sorrows
and bereayements which result from
this war, il is natural that our hearts
should be nearer attuned 10 griefthau
joy. But, in other respects, aside
from the drain and sacrifices Of the
war, we, as people, and as compared
With other years that have gone over
US, haye lilile cause for complaint.
Generally speaking, il has not been
year Of sickness or prevalent disease.
Il has not been a year Of famine or
But the heavens have
dropped down their dew, the earth
Las brought forth her increase, our IN
lnstrial pursuits have been generally
and the produce Of field
and farm have encouraged the hus-
Jaudman wilh fair remuneration and
returns. And were il not
.or the record Of private griefs--of
IONS and brothers gone forth to the
war, Of some sick, Of others wounded,
.ad others still fallen upon the high
places Of the field, wc should hardly