The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1863-12-25

lr ming light that rests upon that hencefOr
d historic hill-crest speak of the glory th
= was upon Us in our early morning and Il
! radiance that shall rest upon and crown O.
|, latest days.
y III. Jehovah, as of old, is nations char
a pion and guide. He seeks to make evel
a nation his peculiar people. He gives it D
}. culiar and special mission, organizes
d about its controlling truth, and sends it for,
, upon its career to glorify Him in its speci
ministry 70 the world. He presents Hin
7 self as rs great Counsellor and Guide, an
COOKS ~ mingle Himself with the whol
course of its affairs. to INSPIRE win Wis
dom. to be its strength, its glory It's reIole
, inc even as to Israel of cid. As Moses Hi
chosen went into the mountain to consul
with Him concerning the great things OF In
neople. so even would He have the chosel
champions and representatives OF the nation
interest meet Him in the mount OF praye
.sceixe the divine communication tina
shall be the wisdom and power of all counci
and all administration. 4 nation has thi
breath OF mean ing. 1t has mission as pc
cuiir as the fact of IFS distinct historic exis
tence, Its end to unfold in its development
this central truth which God has LODGED
there. and to disclose to the world the reality
OF supernatural, controlling, guiding pond .nd
In and through all the outward forms
forces of its l:ie. mo-
How frivolous is that concep' .r;sm OF
ton that knows it only as an of the
material forces. No. 1t is a Ini"i H.;
highest truths of God. 1t is TO Ie'eai IN"
and illustrate His glory in its history, no'
only of necessity, but consciously and con-
secra,edly The fact that was true of the
Hebrew nation in very special way, Is also
true in less emphatic and demonstrative
but none the less real way of every nation
of history. He offers Himself its guide in
its cri,ic,l periods, and the nation that has
Him not for its leader he's cast Him off.
He.e is the special Significance of his
mar, hing order to nation in time of peril.
Il means that duty lies ahead in the course
He has marked out for it and He is pledge
of guidance, success, succor, safety. Here.
and here alone is safety for nations as for
i-divi,,uals. The order for movement in the
pa,h Of Providence must he Obeyed, though
a mighty sea lie fathoms deep before. For
ward. and the sea will give way and the dry
land arpear. Hen is the wonder of the di
vine and human co-working. Things iu-
nos>ible for human strength to accomplish
are commanded and God stands pledged
that the effort shall succeed whenever made
IN LOYALTY to duty and to Him, through His
all-efficient working. Stretch forth the with
cred hand. But it is withered. Stretch
forth the witheled hand. The effort is made
and behold the withered thing yields and is
made whole once more for the divine strength
is made perfect in weakness. Bring forth
the loaves and the fishes. But there are not
enough for the multitude. Bring them forth.
Aud now, when brought, the creative will
forward, But the sea-the sea. Go for
~ard !. And the column moves on and 10, !,
God is there and the sea divides. This is
one OF the great lessons of all critical periods
TO show forth the divine power in rescuing
from the evils and dangers that beset the
way OF duty. Thus it was with the Hebrew
nation. 1t is cf historic value also. The
very rescue from the peril, becomes a symbol
OF the presence and power of God in the
,,,,scue, and Is ever to remind the people of
him. Thus also with the Hebrew nation at the
sea Ana i.s-e is another sense in which
Tue heu sea pasSao- was historic memo
rial. 1t memorlalized hA- baptism, not only
the national conservation to th,;- new career.
TAT the efficient working and presSuce of
God therein. Thus YOU remember it stands
out y y prominently in the Hebrew Bible.
The people are ever reminded who it was
that brought them out of the land of Egypt
-.,d opt OF the house of bondage. And this
srea' historic r. demption stands the pledge
10 tiieh. tla' ''';~ same God will be their God
and guide even unto ~
There could be no doubt w., .u.,
as to who it was that led them tol1..N N ~ y,
the meaning of it with respect,to their tut ~
career. Hence the triumphal song, Thou
in Thy mercy hast led forth the people, which
thou hast redeemed Thou hast guided them
in Thy strength into Thy holy habita,ions.
Thou shalt bring them in and plant them in
the mountain of thine inheritance, in the
place, o Lord, which Thou hast made for
them to dwell in, in the sanctuary, o Lord.
which Thy hands have established. Tbs
| Lord shall reign over thee forever and ever.
| | have thought few nations-after the Jew
ish, have such historic memorials Of succor
and guidance in perilous times as our own.
! In this present national baptism | think We
see it more signallv than in the first in many
particulars. The divine side of this struggle
is the prominent feature, if we only have
eyes for it. In the first struggle there were
human clements We have not. Their mate
rial resources were not SO great perhaps, bu
their resources in great men were vastly
greater. The Republic, at TO one period
siEce, has produced so mary great men. L
it takes great nation to produce great men
certainly material greatness can not be largel,
in the case, for our representative men ar,
not the men the infant republic produced
We have no acknowledged second Wash
ington, and the wit of our senators is petit,
beside that of the founders OF the govern
ment. We have spent good portion o
two years in looking for the forthcomin.
chief captain of our armies. and find after al
that We have none that are irresistible a
destiny. God denies US this towering ant
overmastering greatness that We may be tn
| more signally reminded not to put ou
strength so greatly in princes, but in Him b
whom Kings rule and princes decree jus
) tice" This is the peoples conflict. tn
!, great commonality patronizingly so-called
, are chiefly in the case and not many wis
men after the flesh, not many mighty, no
/ many noble are called in the course of GU
troubled affairs. God is the great Captai
! and the great President.
, Again we have heard the glad tidings of viz
t tory Our hosts have moved triumphant
S on, and forward still is the order, and onwar
e press our champion columns Of liberty an
e law. | said it was another critical point
: Not, however, will respect to the peril, br
rather the decisiveaess and completeness {
= the Judgment hour. 1t is such a crisis 6
e may be of vast import and measure. or othe
k wise, according to the aacrity with whic
the marching order is obeyed. We hurl OIL