Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1863-03-27

are made to those who love, serve an,
obey God, and such only are the trul,
cody. To them, he who cannot lie ha
promised-"I will never leave thee no
forsake thee" Christ said to bis disci
Piles, "Fear not, little flock, it is you
fathers good pleasure to give you tn
kingdom
Sd, The doctrine OF the text is abun
dainty confirmed by the many mean
employed by God, to lay foundation
for trust, confidence and hope, on tn,
part of his people. What could he hay,
done more? He so loved the world tina
he gave his only begotten Son out o
his own bosom, to redeem it, that who
soever believeth on him might not per
ish but have eternal life. He has moi
only done this, but has said "Knocl
and it shall be opened unto you" He
is more ready to give his Holy Spirit
unto them that ask him than parents are
to give good gifts unto their children
The doctrine then is proved beyond con-
troversy and beyond doubt.
4th, But, that we may derive the con-
ISOLATION resulting from this truth, let us
consider some calculations of it, as APP
piled to the cody 10 this land, and at the
present time.
Nothing has been more manifest, for
a few months past, than a disheartened
state Of feeling in many with regard to
national affairs, and this, the mighty
contest in which the nation has been en-
gagged, l. e., tie loyal portion of it-has
not been more prosperous, and rebel
lion has not been put down while there
has been so great sacrifice of life and
property. Many are cast down, but
should they be +? Have not all our re-
verses clearly been rebuke for sin, and
especially for dependence upon an arm
of flesh instead Of relying on God p
If God has planted this nation, is be not
able to preserve it #? One of the ablest
speakers at late anniversary, asks
"Has not God proved that he planted
this nation for great objects That it
is precious in his sightF" He says:
"A nation is precious in his sight when
he chooses it for himself. He does not
cnoos7 IL f,s -~L~. Il ia hut 10 make il
what he would have it. He was con.
stantly reminding the seed of Abraham
that they had not chosen him, but he
had chosen them when they we're few
and small. Ezekiel SO: 80.
God had great purpose in choosing
that nation. 1t was to be bis right hand
in his scheme of providence. When he
into covenant with it he proved
faithful to all his promises
A nation is precious to God when the
great principles for which it stands are
precious. If its going down be the down |
fall of those principles, be will preserve
t for the sake of those principles. Has
lot this nation been founded to illustrate |
treat principles in self-government and
eligious liberty? Do not all these unite
n the conditions of this nation Are
'ot these several strands braided into
he cord that holds us as a nation TO
lin! If ever Gods will may be read
y his ways, can we not read clearly that
lie chose our Puritan ancestry, our faith
hers, to be bis ? He called them ont
# bondage, he guided them in their ex-
dus through strange countries, and also
cross the more terrible wilderness of the
'intry sea, and planted them in the viz
in soil of fresh continent.
God had great purpose to serve to
purer church--to lead it forth
ut of the embrace OF superstition and
orruption, and open to it a refuge in a
ure air, and beneath the fresh shades of
new world.
God has expended prodigally upon ]
10 nation already. Never had nation t
Ich beginning, and so early such S
'owth of greatness and power and in :
lligence.
Our fathers were in covenant with =
m. They took possession of the land v
Christ and the church-they did this ;,
their Bonded knees. They hallowed 4
Sabbaths. They erected houses of g
'rship while they dwelt in novels Ii
hey made the support of religion first, d
d their own secondary. They made
ecember groves, where the fierce lem Il
SITS howled, musical with his praise; II
amidst the storm they sang,
And the stars heard and the sea, r
And the sounding aisles of the dim wood rang n
To the anthem of the Free" s.
They consecrated the hill tops to him. Is
lie spires of their first temples pro. :,
lined to earth and heaven that chris ~
n people had set up their banners in n