Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1863-06-24
For the Standard.
6ampson's Riddle..A Sermon by Bishop Elliott,
of GeOfKi0. s.; =

L = tOE inc 6tAnuAlVs
| 6ampson's Riddle..A Sermon by Bishop Elliott,
Of Georgia. - :
Texr-Judges II: IA, "And Sampson said unto them.
will now put forth riddle unto you ye con certainly
declare me within the seven days of the feast and lind
Of garments Bnt ye declare me- then shall ys
give me thirty Sheets and thirty change Of garments And
0at q the forth meat, and out o ths strong
came forth sweetness" ''''i'!G'' S''.
Bishop Elliott claims in this discourse, delivered in ST.
riddle prppounded to the Philisnes Of COURSE Therefore
in his opinion be is entitled to the fore His solution Of
the riddle is that out of this which is terrible ON
nivorous eater like all was there will in the end result
great and lasting benefits to the South whose separate
stence and Independence nation, he takes for
shall come forth meat out of the strong shall come forth
sweetness" - ;. . :.
The Bishop euumerates some Of the choice mo,seis Of
meat and some Of the h0neyed sweetness that shall como
forth out Of the neat Union. We admire his rhetoric and
style all along but convictions lave not accompanied
his conclusions and Illustrations. For instance lie says
that at the South heretofore personal eourags has
been idolzed He predicts that hereafter moral courage
and herosm will be held in chief admiration. We cannot
see how this follows in view Vt the language
of one OF the prooundest Dvnes of modern times that
in contemplating the influence of public morals it
would be objectionable not TO remark the effects never
fails to produce in those parts Of the world which are its
immediate seat The injury which the morals Of people
sustain from an invading army prodgiOus The agita-
ton and suspense universally prevalent are Incompatible
with every thing which requires calm thought serious
reflection In such situation, is it any wonder the du
ties OF piet tall into legec the sanctuary of God is for
saken and the gates Of Zion and desolate Fa
miarized with the sight of apne and slaughter, the
pie must acquire bard and unfeeng character The pre-
carious tenure by which every thing is held during the
absence Of laws, must impair confidence the sudden rev.
ouOnS fortune must be infinitely favorable to fraud and
injustice He who reflects these consequences will
think it too much affirm that the injury the virtue ofa
people sustains from INVASION greater than that which
particularly the illustration which the Bishop gives Of his
point in the destruction of the Merrmac by Com Tstna
which the Bishop regards as sublmely heroic. A much
more opposite Illustration might have been taken from the
beginning Of the war; when Ingrsham true to his
trust first deverednp to the authority that had co6ded
in l him bis ship then with honor bright t"0f his
mandant Of the Arsenal at Fayetteville n e. who first
made honorable terms for his then himself took them
to Washington City, and after that embarked in the ser
vice of the South Who does not feel the moral herosm
of such conduct and feel that such will be trust
worthy to the death in any cause which they espouse p
Contrast with the CONDUCT Of such men, the example Of
and other original secessionss, who with all the Obliga
tons of oath of Office upon them awaited the aseves
ss Of the Of their place Of Office to
get these things fw would? What has prospsred
prosper in the hands of such men? We lar from de-
nyng that great results to be achieved by this terri
Die war; but our hrm conviction is that nuthlng Subsan
TALLY good can astingy result to people, without
accepting this judgment from God upon the sins
Of The whole people and bowling down before HIM in the
become truly penitent We have laid the ground work Of
all virtue and prosperty-nt fire. We want our people
to believe this and to upon it. We want them to look
At this war in the light Of Holy Word declared
the Prophets And is folly to dictate to Almighty God
how this war shall end He has his purposes view
which must PREVAIL and the vision of will gradually
expand upon those purposes time advances Thus far
we are in inscrutable dal kuess This war; said lately
strongly feeling Southern to the writer "this
not Abe Liucolns JEFF Davis 1t is God Al
mightys war; once felt differently, but my feelings
have changed, especially since lost my and
this war must go on tin the purposes Of God Almighty
whatever they be, shall be accomplished" Whether this
people shall hereafter be one people before tOo
more 1t IS beyond human sagacy to predict but this
do know, that Code s0 not mars shall prevail What.
ever is most for Gods glory shall prevail And might
be easy TO deneate in different from that of e.
ceent Bishop Of Georgia how out of the rent carcass Of
tne Union taught by bitter experience and chastised into
humility and mutual love and reciprocal respect for local
feelings and interests might forth neat and out
strong Eagle might come forth There
Is tradition says M Curtis in his history Of the Con-
sttuton (vol il, p 4S7 that when Washington was about
sign the Instrument he from his seat and holding
WORDS "Shoud the States reject this excellent Cousu
tion tbe probability is that opportunity will never
again offer to- cancel another in peace-M nsrs yW Be
dfs''" I" t0od" (Read Jer xviii. 5-l0.)