Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1863-08-25

riches and grind them out Of the country ana
the pror. and watch cur Golfers when the ship
is in danger Of sinking: This a time 10 hate
and SANDER and backbi.s, to find fault and
foster dissansiohs, 70 cherish ~prejudices and
indulge the spirit Of envy and implacabiliry-
when all are ~inTolved in the same danger and
calamity: and the country calls On all 70
unite il one common purpose. one common
EFFORT Of sel.-denying steedtastness and sell
sacrificing deTotion- This the lime 20 snlrk
duty, and stay at home, when honor aud duty
and necessity csll:-to stay at home 10 guard
health and wealth and passinginterests-when
life, existence. all is in danger: This-to
seek ones own in any shape; and not in single
ness Of heart and purpose, the good Of the
country; and u cut Of the right hand and
pluck our the right eve (which thousands
are doing in their obedience 10 the call Of u"d
on the battlefield and on the post Q: duty 70
give up every private interest, ard se5E the
public good. ard the glory Of God:
All. the times tell a sad tale-sad Cor the
Ministers of God 10 record. We hare had
fast DAYS before and many were the hopes
which inspired our hearts, as We saw the Peo-
ole gather in their masses and in earnest
around the Throne Of Grace and humble them
selves, and come, in true contritlon Of heart.
humtl7, fe7vently TO seek His favor. Have
there been 80 many Of them that we weary OF
them? Hare the appeals Of the cause OF DO
lines, and Justice and Necessity worn them
selves cut: know not bow II Is; but there
is less heart in me than ever before. Not that
l think His hand is shortened that He cannot
help. or His ear dull that He cannot hear {;
no: that | think the circumstances Of the war
rre worse than they haze been before q, va
rious times: net that I despair of the justice
ri our cause. or have given up ms hope OF the
ultimate success Of truth and right: not that
l would give up you and tca. that you can no
more be reached by the chastisements Of God
and the appeals Of His Proyidences. No;
bu. q sad eclipse has come over our horizon, a
! palsy seems to have beiallen our people and
the spirit Of Gehazi is among u7, calling for
wrath and indignation, for suffering and con-
tinued woe. The fate Of the greatest
battles Of the var hang by q thread "a
hands turn, and q v;c=ory-such as
never yet accompanied our efforts, in its
decisive results, would hare crowned our
arms, and carried On the triumphant shout Of
our soldiers the hope Of peace: God wi!led it
otherwi=e-for We yet need the discipline Of
! trials. tn: chas:ening= of His rod. We were
not YET ripe for the possession and the bless
ings We contend ior; the lepr0sv Of sin vas
still in our hearts-an1 III the furnace Of al
il!ctiOn .wc must be purified. We shall be
saved, bre:h.en-but 80 a by fire. Never
before have | been 90 much depressed: moi
for what The enemy can DO Us who attacks
our armies and our cities, hut what The
enemy Of souh% Is doing in ON miast!' |
see 10 traces, or few traces Of genuine re-
rentance: 70 proofs Of 4 better and more
selfdenvinc spirit: the same Old wars Of sell
f-hncss and worldly conformity. and grasp
ing ~a,a1ice and goddess ambition. the same
vain hna.t;rincss in the day Of success. the
same faint-hc.riea despair when rcyerses be-
fall u. no real difference 10 God and t~rustful
perseverance, in the day Of trouble. no
greater readiness 70 rcncunce sell and let
rrerv thing give wav before the one great Oh
ice. which alone it is time at present for u T.
pursue: cur counsry'- salvation. Oh. il at
this moment the secret plague Of tie heart
could be made known and break Out in the
chastity leprn-y Of the hesh-how many
alas. how few among US. | must say, could
show clean hands: High and low, rich and
poor alika, would betruy the corruption that
i within
:Iy dear. my beloved brcthrcn-vc who are
to work out the future Of this countrT-5h !,
let this day appeal 70 al, and save u from
ruin hcrs and everlasting ruin hsrc1ft.r There
can be no heaven for us if We neglect our
duty here; no hope Of glory, if, from what
ever cause, personal ends, or love Of ease, or
cowerdice. from the spirit Of oppression and
envy, or the curse Of covetousness-we fail in
our duty here and no,ri
The Issue is plainly this Unless we seek
the Kingdom of God and his righteousness,
we must fail-and all our blood has been spill
ed for nought, all our treasures wasted, all our
trials been in vain: for even if q temporary
or apparent success could be secured by the
failure or the wickedness Of our enemies {:
Righteousness alonc craheM a nation, Unless
we turn from sin, sin Of every description, the
heart, the tongue, the hand sin Of pride and
envy, Of lust and case, O. filthy lucre and
dishonest gTeedincsS, VIC must fail: for sin
is a reproach 10 any yeGpie!! Single 'ndirii-
uals may repent and be saved by the grace Of,
God: nations must perish for national sins.
And it is Il sad conviction, forced from Us this
dav, that, young a. we are as a~natl0n, not yet
admitted BY recognition to the rank Of one Of
the nations'of the earth, still branded with the
false name Of Rcbcls-that even after we
have achieved our independence, we shall
never be truiyfrce truly great, truly success
fQl in Sling our appointed sphere, and enjoy
ing the blessings Of national prosperity, peace,
progress and honor, unless q ncm and betisr
spirit is infused in our people ct large: unless
repentance lead W 10 renOuncc that idol Of
self. which among the high and the low has
set W it, throne: and truly, sincerely. in our
lires and practices. we humble ourselves be-
fore God, give ourselves 10 His service in con-
fnrmiry with His holy law and the principles Of
HIS righteous gpvernmcnt-
COP has a controversy with Us, my broth.
7 ,,, ~, NJ irn,1p nr Mr. Sou.o r5-fhnv
are but ministers Of His Providence. Let our
cnnscienccs be clear towards God, let US honor
and obey Him, and we need not fear what
man will do unto u. Is this q time. then, to
receive money, and TO receive garments, and
olivc-yards, and vineyards, and sheep, and
oxen. and men-servants and maid-serrants: 10
CRAFTY self and seek honor, and indulge ease
and comfort? No. it is time for the exer-
else Of the sterncSt virtues, undivided single
ness Of purpose, and the practice Of the high
est selfdenial
Let rs not be deceived, brethren. Let us look
around and see. There are the tokens Of Gods
anger everywhere. The weak have been made
strong. to foil our strength and check our pro-
cress plans have failed and measures miscar-
riel. TO confornd our wisdom the stars in their
courses have tonight against ns, "a the ministers
of Gods disciplinc-and why7
As it was in the host Of Israel Of old, there
must be some Achan, some culprit, some sinner.
some secret lepcr in our midst-somc fearful sin
among ms. brethren.
Who is the .iehan that troubleth our camp =
our camp, which is. or should be, our whole
country? Who is he where is he! Alas /
find him everywhere and even in this house Of
God, and on this solemn day, Gods spirit is
upon me. and bids me point to every one and
say, ",hou art the man! -
I find him in the highest ranks and places Of
acknowledgements the will of God is mt the
rule of action, and wherever the heart is not
Urge enough IN embrace as the highest object Of
their ambition the welfare of the country and the
success Of orr cause. in the disinterested dis