Delaware State journal and statesman. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1855-1870, 1863-08-04
Victory Recognized:
A NATIONAL DISCOURSE
Central Presbyterian Church,
BY THE PASTOR
Rev. G. +. WISWELL
Rev. G. +. WISWELL,
ON SABBATH MORNING. JULY l2, 1863.
BY THE PASTOR

b He ,Sd sSS s in o S % s,oSss The ssGaad and defended d. @ and slew r
glory in the Lord "-2d Sam XIII, IL. I'd Cor. x, IL
Under Theoeratc government it usual refer all great
and momentou events to God It through Him that empires
and Kingdoms rose, ourshed and declined 1t by Him that
Kings reigned and princes decreed justice He he
unerowned the heads of the monarch and the mighty
If the hosts went forth to battle and wreahed with the
laurel of victory it was Jehovah who wrought it, and if they
overwhelmed and vanqushed accounted for the ground of
His sore displeasure.
My text in the historical account of the famous generals
and ehetan who fought under David The sacred historian goes
over the catalogue OF these ustous and you will
he ha however splendid their achievements the honor is not
single instance given to the but the Lord who wrought
by them, who is counted worthy Of all praise.
Now know of no change in the nra government world
whereby this order reversed Whether it be Patrarchy
Monarchy Theocncy Autocray Democracy the
God who regns controls the destnies Unseen
mighty and triumphant the divine hand in all the great affairs
the world He orders the grand procession of the nations. lie
maIshas the royal and controlling the world us saith
the Lord Cod the diadem take off the CROWN him
that low and abase him that is high will oyeur overturn
and shall no more until he come whose right it is
and will give it him What mighty and utterances
theseY How like the Supreme Almighty
Being who do what he will with his own The God of gor
steh upon the circle of the world and all its hrongng nhab
ants nothing before him The skm and mighty com
mander of Israel stood defiant in the midst of the Phsne
poweress until Jehovah neved for the victorious blow
when He put forth his powerful hand spake the word
fierce and terrible forces of wckednes rembed aud the breath
of his nosrils they hasted away"
This same God now regns and does his will among the armies Of
great events must be referred To Him now ever the
hons look and on his will must they wait
prosperity is that honor God and look him for help trial
for victory in battle Them that honor will they
that despse shall be lightly esteemed Here the key
national rise and national ruin In the early history of this republic
the fathers habtuy respected this great undeyn principle of
moral government They habtuay regarded the favor Of God
necessary national existence In these later ay of our history
we have rked and peried national life by losing sight of these
divine landmarks Happy day that for us which has
already dawned when God shall honoed both in defeat and
victory when him shall be referred sought
all our when in the dark and addened days
and disaster shall humble ourselves under his mighty hand
he
claim from grateful and reveren hearts, The Lord hath done great
things for us whereof we glad !"
is difficult for you the bearing of these
marks taken IN connection with my text present cum
stances and the condition country this time 1t but
yesterday since state of the intense and pain
ui excitement at the prospect OF immediate war at our very DOORS
The OF invasion sounded through Streets Mems hearts
failing them for fear of the things that coming sudden
y upon them Io Arms to Arms the raying call every
where The stiffness the day Of God broken the
well nigh deserted There hurryings and the
tramp of was heard heavy and rapid through our
hitherto peaceful city, preparation for defence and protection
against the expected assault nont and rebeous host But
few miles towards the setting quiet villages already being
paged and seemingly nothing opposed the conqueng armies of
naughty and cruel saveowr bent upon establishing their baba
and butazng institutions all the loyal territory of the
republic at the point of the baynet and sword The noble army
of the government often defeated was where In
the midst of all this confusion if to make the pail still darker
that fast settling down upon the expiring nation the
hander that army removed and his place supplied by
who while true and brave yet untied and unsked the lead
of great body of At rhest but few brief days hours
and he must meet large army of INVASION flushed with almost
checked successes How could the prospect be darker To what
hopeless straits could redueed Our nations natal day.
haowed by many joyful remembnces through than four
years peace and unexamped prosperity dawned length
upon the smoke and baethe clash and shock and deaf
ening of 100000 brave in deadly conflict Who could
predict the result?
We could not be joyful could shout victory and nde
endence for knew not but every moment should hear OF
dreadful and overwhelming defeat The curtain had yet been
lifted from that God held it with his strong hand 1t
stretched all the land from Fast West The wondrous
events that being enacted behold How very
painful that suspense The of hope almost totally