Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1863-08-14
4 HEN EENARKS ON INN PRESENT ISSUE I.
Delivered in Christ Church, Montpelier, on the
occasion Of the NdtiQnol Thanksgiving,
Augud 9th, 1868,
BY Rry. b NJ. snELroN

Augua 9th, 1868,
By REV. =. W. SHELTON
will make them one nation In the land, and one
king shall be King them all aud they shall be no mute
two nations. neither shall they be divided into two king
dOms any more at an and they all shall have one
ihephcd they shall also walk in my judgments and ob
serve my statues, aud do them. Moreover, will
make covenant Of 1esce with them 70 shal an ever
lasting covenant; aud will place them, and multiply
them, and will my sanctuary IN The midst u them
forevermore -kzEKiEL xxXvu' 22-26
The Hebrews split into two Kingdoms were
ruled by two separate kings people Of the same
blood, the same language, the same habits and the
same religion, yet with tribes first warning, after
ward divided Vastly weakened, they not only
made havoc Of one another. but were a prey to
their common foes Diyested Of strength, having
lost caste and respect among the nations the
thorough annihilation Of their respective govern
ments at no distant day was quickly tureseen, I'M
less their differences could be settled. The proph
ocy here made has respect to their reunion. This
was only partially accomplished after The Babylon
ish Captivity. Then all the lsraelites who return
ed with the jews from Babylon lived under one
government and formed one nation. But the
more remarkable and complete fulhllment of the
promise must be still looked for, when people
now dispersed like chat before the winds, through
every country under heaven, shall be brought to-
gether not only under one temporal ruler, but
shall own allegiance to one God, one Christ, and
one Saviour, Wonderful and standing miracle
are the Jewish race Scattered, they are not
lost; broken, they are not destroyed; though
bitter and long protracted the penalties they have
suffered, VIC believe that hereafter their cohesion
will De as strong their dissolution was abso-
lutte The sercssiou Of the ten tribes resulted ere
long in the total ruin OF both kingdoms 1t is "A
precedent which i,s been cNactly and closely fol-
lowed wherever the like circumstances have occur
red. IL is true pr0verb 90 Every Kingdom di-
yded against itself is brought to desolation. and
every city or house divided against itself shall
not stand
Passing from the words of the text, of which
the application TO our own case is sufficiently
plain, let us refer 10 the particular cause for
which we are assembled IL is day of religious
thanksgiving, no the observance of which we not
only pay respect 10 the earthly powers which are
set over us, and 90 which we owe allegiance. but
render homage TO the Lord of Hosts ctit is a
Thanksgiving Of very different nature from those
which proclaimed Ia quiet times, ct stated ,ea-
SONS. and n accordance with established custom
by the Chief Magistrate. IL is one To bee celebrate
ed IN subdued and pcnitenuai spirit toward the
God of battles, and not with any sci-asuipuons
of glory Ii is not that the seasons have been be-
nign, and have caused the earth to he prolific for
our sustcnance not that the crops have been
brought onward to perfection that the golden
harvest has been resped, and the sheaves have
been raid away rnd all the granaries are full .
There has been a harvest, but It was harvest of
Death. The reaper has gone forth, but 10 has
been the reaper OF Death. The st1rc-huuse is re-
plcnislcd, but 10 is the dark chamber of the grave
m which our friends and kindred have bceu laid
Nevertheless, We eau rejoice. ltrcbclliou against
the powers ordained of God bc unholy it this ut
all other. I'M tba rauoa of bistor, /. the most uu-
holy If tbi. foreshadowino In its suca,. tbe c.r-
tain ri,iu which must fan o,, d..III bou.,. has.
by the blessing OF Almighty God, received cru-h-
ing blow, wc may reloicc at the completion OF the
th, rr,pc~ is red with the COSTLY Ulood of our sons
The oa.rinr In sucb n holy i., il not too great
10 have been laid ON ti, altar of sacrifice. nor is
ths voi of tankst,ivin, di..or,iant tbon,,b min
gl.d ,yib tba cries of chose Who moirI Ne
como not then to r,,lt over n.ost.,tr foe. orr
the de,oLltion which has fallen upon once nanny
home. but to rpnJrr tb,u... tlat tle eue.nie, of
orr coinr,op coDutry lav,.. b.i, ,ortol I'm th.ir
strout,boli. and tbat Cod b,. rroNu,d ,iir arm.
with victory,
Tho ,irl,t .nirit il br,,thed forth b, ,,,r ,bi.f
ruler ia fb. d,,Yin,put if.t read II is nn bousst
and s,r,.r ,,tt.ra,, In tb, l,,,.,,,r t sol,ri.t,
and discretion his the ,znrs..,o,, of one who's,
b.,rt l. trnn +, tb,t coi,,,tr, of which b. IL tbo
,,yo,,l, ,,o;,tII.,d ,yb, b,l,. a., ,,s,,r.3 I'm,
thority but tb. trust committed TO him by the eo-
Die. and whcl, he is sworn To maintain inyioiate
1t IS YOURS 10 se. that he IS NOT hammered N, dis
.an4suns in tE e.ru,ftl. of iie AMI deatb As a
man, he is s,ole 70 errors and To weaknesses.
Placed where he is by the SURFACES OF the nation
he represents the majesty of this government, now
stronger than ever ia the hour OF calamity Now
while the scales turn, and dsmay is visible in the
opposing ranks il is yours to foster that LOYALTY
which has hitherto been so true, the vigorous cx-
ercise of which will suffice 90 maintain the mtcg-
rty of our institutions against domestic or foreign
foes.
If it were possible 10 consider in all MS bearings
the Indispensable nature of that agilv now im-
perilled, stIll no language can portray tic nagui-
tude OF those motives which should cause us ia
persevere until we have seen confirmed and estab-
lished before all the world, the Inheritance be-
,ueathed TO us hy our fathers. Whether this stu
alton OF affairs could at the start have been pre-
vented by wiser cuunsels, Is no more a question
The consequences OF all dclinquencies from what
ever side are upon us the enemy will listen to NO
oyertures, and has declared it from the first the
courss is plain we must all 20 down alike, OF
this contest must De conducted ON our part TO a
successful con,ummation. As with tie Jewish
kingdoms the severance Of us into two parts mus
result in the ruin OF both Those victories wo,dC
be baseless which merely shed glory on Northern
arms. 1t is ioral, and not for part that the bat
tie is for the conservation and salvation OF tn,
whole We are fighting for the foe although
against him We perish or survive together
Through the nsts which rise up from the abyss o
rebellion, may we discern this, "a certainty as in
eNitable as the rising or setting of the sun
Whence came the magnificent progress and de
i VplODmeut which We. had attained A. a nation n