American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1851-1863, 1863-03-27
For The Citizen.
For The IltiZtn.
The day or Fasting, Humiliation and
praVpr

The Chief Magistrate of these Confederate States
mas appointed the 9th inst, as day of Fasting
Humiliation and Prayer-to be observed with
solemnity by all the people of the Confederacy-
This call to humiliation and prayer, awakens the
1veliest interest in every mind that is awake to the
perls OF country and that appreciates the value
or the favor of God How will it he observed We
confess to much <oiicitude this question.
when a great battle is imminent. deep and
Solemn interest pervades the mind Of the nation.
The fate of sacred is felt to be staked in
n measure. on every such engagement. Now we
called 10 look away from earthly resources. An
appeal Is &c be made in solemn form, to the Most
High who r,IIeth in the kingdom of men. and Civ
eth il to whoBsoever he will" We propose to
commit our cause to Him. We believe our cause is
Just. We have 10 hesitation in committing it to
the God of the Bible. If this be So our only solie
tude should be. that may appear before Him so
to be accepted. Are alive to the interests at
stiaes no believe that God : is, and that lie is
a rewarder OF them that diligently seek Him -? Are
willing to renounee personal sins, ard TO
mourn for them? Are hearts set upon this
matter? Upon the answer give to these
questions depends the issue of our appeal to God.
There is but one day appointed by divine author
ity To he kept boly-thc christian Sabbath. But
the scriptures warrant the observance of special
for fasting and prayer. And this. too both
in the case OF individuals and nations And are
eHIly su.tained by the scriptures in saying. that
whsa a special day is set apart by the proper au-
thnrties among any people. it becomes the daty Of
shat people to observe that " in the manner pre-
scribcd. The relations supsiStirg between a gov
eminent and its people ord lined of God. And
obedience tn ail the righteous orders of government
is enforced upon the conscience by the authority of
Cod.
As Fasting is an extraordinary religions service.
she question very naturally Al ises. whea IS fast
proper? In answering this question. are de
PENDENT wholly on scfiptural precedent Ent the
Bible is a sufficient rule of life. Wien We compare
the various examples of fasting given in the word
OF God. readily discover that there two oc-
cations where it Is proper to fast. First, when any
serious and difficult enterprise is to be undertaken
An interesting example sustaining this position is
found in the conduct of the Jews at the time of
Qaeeu E-thers intercession for them. The fate of
THE milton at stake. An ediet had gone forth,
commanding all the 5es's to he slain. Esther con-
scented 10 interoede in behalf of her conntrymer
and a solemn fast observed before the perilous
intercession commenced. Another eminent exam
pie is gwen us by the primitive church. When
Paul and Barnabas to be ordained To carry the
Gospel abroad to the Gentiles, a solemn fast was
observed. I'd. When the anger of God was to be
solemnly deprecated, had to fasting.
An example of this is found in the of Nineyeh
under the preaching of Jonah. Another will be
found in the prophecies of Joel. In the light of
these positions we must contend that the fast APP
pointed by President Davis is well timed. We are
engaged in a gigantic enterprise. The prize at
which we aim is Liberty and Independence. After
two years of blood and anguish our enemy still
threatens Our suhjugation seems so important
to them that they are willing lose their owa lib
erty drain their resources forget the interests
of their children. aud stoop TO any expedient to
effect it. 1t is conflict for national existence
They feel it.. aud we feel it. On such an errand
may not safely go TO God. The varcas props
on which We have leaned for peace have deceived
u.s. And then. have not cause to fast under the
second position? No man ciase his eyes 10 the
presence of the judgments of God War is Hi
scourge. God is dealing with for sins. We
are clear of the blood of our brother We did moi
seek this strife As towards the North we are abls
to justify ourselves at the bar of history. But be
fore God We are guilty Sin is rife throughout ths
land. And it is to be feared that general dsre
gard of the authority of God and contempt for Hi
gospel is on the increase. God is soiemnly admon
ishing as. and yet we rebel. Can we expect God.
favor in this way? If we desire the judgments re
moved, let us remove the cause of those judgments
Il would be sublime spectacle to see orr whols
people keep this fast. II cond speak to ever,
master. and to every man of business throughou
country. we would say-observe the day Inter
est, duty. patriotism. relgion-ali demand it. lie
there Be srork done the day. Let all eiasse
sancfify the fast. PASTOR.