Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1863-05-15
GODS puRposE 1N rHE wAR-

The war bas purpose in the Divine mind.
1t was permitted to accomplish an end and
till that end, whatever II is is reached, it will
continue. We would assert nothing here
no man has the right to--but we may rever.
emily inquire. Suppose, then, as thousands
believe, that end is the destruction, Immediate
or gradual, Of Anerican slavery, the eman l.
patton Of the millions Of bondmen In the
land, and 60 lift mp in the eyes Of the nations
the principles Of liberty. With this end be-
fore our minds, admitting il to be the grand
purpose Of the fearful conflict, does not the
course of Providence towards us-permitting
our deieats, protracting the struggle. causing
US TO be disappointed, when, TO human view.
on the very eve Of success enabling our ene-
mics TO recover from disaster, and to endure
thus iar-seem plain just successive steps
in the progress OF events toward the suppos-
ed end II is now nearly two years since the
hrst great battle at Bull Run. so disastrous
TO our arms and humliaNng to the nation
Had we been successful there, striking blow
from which the rebel forces had recoied and
could not recover, and so dsheartening lead
ers and people that the attempt had been a.
bandoned what would have been the result
The restoration Of the Union, perhaps, peace
it may be, but Union and peace, with slavery
as firmly established and commanding in its
influence as ever II, then, this institution
was TO be broken and swept away, the time
had not then come ior our success. And
from that day to this, every month Of the war
has done something to crvsh this system, and
yet the time has not come when victory could
crown our arms, and peace and union be re-
stored, and the system of human oppression
be crushed IT, them this is the purpose Of
Providence--if the great Ruler above means
the removal Of this system from the land--if
for this He has permitted the struggle and
guided it thus hr-if He has seen in this an
end sufficiently important to be reached by
such stearn measures and intense suffering
the war has not yet done its work Steps
toward it have been taken-measures unior-
seen. but forced on us by necessity, have been
adopted change in the general sentiment,
not by reasoning. bIt by the sterner logic Of
events, has been wrought-but the grand re-
suit is not yet Admitting, then, as possi-
bilty, or probability, or certainty, which
ever you choose, this is to be God purpose,
does It not shed clear and Ineligible light
on the course of events thus far Does it
not answer the questions Of my text. Why
standost Thou afar off, O Lord why hidest
luNA 4 ulttI III hluts Ol lIoHusts llt ehahun
alooi because the war has not yet cone its
work, the remedy has not yet cured the dis.
ease. the knife in the hands Of the surgeon
has not yet removed the cancer. God will
accomplish His purpose. rest here. From
all speoulations, from the roasonings Of states
men and the prophecies OF the wise, | come
back and repose here. The war has its mis-
sion 1t is in Gods great plan, and He looks
calmly down on it, with all its waste of for
tunes. and sacrifice of life, and bitter griefs
process terrible indeed, but necessary, by
reason Of human depravity, to the result
which He sees. The destinies Of individuals,
OF nations, of humanity, are in the bosom Of
God. Humanity has never yet been abandon
ed IN its course, aud it will not be abandoned.
History, which is the magnificent biography
OF humanity, relates the successive life Of
mankind in the world it is the perpetually
renewed hymn Of creation that which al
ready has been has come out of shadows and
darkness like those which shroud the pres
ent; but the darkness and the light are both
alike to Him !'-Dr. Lamsons Fast Sermon