Delaware State journal and statesman., 1862-04-15
THE PRESIDENTS PROCLAMATION
IN CHURCH.

The recommendation of President Lin
coin, in his Proclamation of Friday last -
that the people return thanks to Almighty
God for the signal victories youchsafed TO
the American arms over treason and re.
bellion-was very generally observed in
the churches of this city on last Sunday.
At the Central Church, large number of
strangers were present, in anticipation of
national Discourse from the truly loyal
and national Pastor-Rev. MIR. WIswELL.
In this they were not disappointed for
we'll timed, patriotic, and impressive
sermon greeted them The Rev. gentle
man took his text from Nehemiah Gx-6,
from which he pointed ont the Providence
Of God in its relation to. individuals, COM
munities and nations Passing from
general review Of his subject, he made
special reference to the power of God
manifestly visible in His care over this
Union in it, present trials and conflicts
with treason, Applying the arguments
and inferences Of his text to this point he
said -
Invlew Of the doctrine Of Divine proyi-
dence, we may have hope that ouR aoyERS-
MENT Is SAFE. He whose eye detects the
sparrow when it falls, and cares for man a,
an individual will take care of the nation
that trusts him The people who in their
national capacity honor him, will be the
special subjects of his care and recipients of
his favor. Sometimes men forget this, and
losing their hold upon the divine word and
promises, they fear that the very foundations
Of government will ultimately be swept
away, and universal anarchy will reign
But not so God still reigns and controls
the world, He holds the equal scales of us
tice, Moral distinctions can never be ami.
hilated. Men may rise and rage in then
rebellion against good government and
: righteous law. They may plot treason and
strive to destroy the safeguards Of socal
order, and open the tlood-gates of ruin upot
the hapless millions; but tod will not suffer
the guilty to go unpunished lie may per
nit them to triumph for time, only tho
more elfectually to display his power in thei
final and complete overthrow aud rain.
This doctrine Of the experimenting provi
dence of just and righteous God, is one
upon which we, as a nation. have ample oc.
casion to dwell with peculiar gratitude an,
pleasure. 1t is not quite century since W,
commenced our national existence. In th,
dark night of the mighty birth which CAV,
us Independence as Republic, there wer,
tremblings and trepidations, and convnlsiy,
throes and longings for the light, but still
the darkness thickened, and the last twink
ling stars had withdrawn their shining N,
rays streamed over the eastern landscape Il
herald in the wished-for day But it is oui
comfort to know that even in that darkness
God was there. He was with that greatest
of men, when, in the depths of the dreariest
of winters. as he looked up into the oper
heavens through the dry, sere branches o
the forest trees, he implored the divine
blessing upon the cause of his country. The
everlasting arms were round about the
struggling few, and at length through the
riffs in the black and angry clouds, the
bursting sun appeared. II there was any
truth of our holy religion which more than
all others gave courage. confidence and hope
to those early heroes of our country, it was