New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-05-01
The Acceptable Fast.
SERMON BY THE REV. HENRY HIGHLAND GA
NET. IN SHILOH PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

SERMON by THE REV. HENRY HIGHLAND GAR
NET, IN SHILOH PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
TExr-who can tell II God will and repent and turn
away from his force anger that we perish not Jonah III
Mr.. Garnet introduced bis discourse by referring
TO the history Of Jonah's mission 10 the people Of
Nineveh, which be said was remarkable for the
illustrations which II furnished Of the prophets
,midity and disobedisnce, and Of Gods determine.
ton Of making him the instrument by which La.
ton was to 10 sav~a fjod works by means, and
whether they be sai 70 the eyes Of men.
DO inspires thsin q's5ou, and clothes them
with power, and ~ d ts aAcutes his sovereign
will. Sometimes h. Ia aings and rulers To tue
touches with halowed Ire, the tongues Of humble
and unknown men, ard sends them forth TO proclaim
his truth. He said that In many respects there /,
striking similarity between the people Of Nneveh
and our own ration. The Assyrisns wsro proud,
presumptuous luxurious, idoatrous, and oppressive
land 30 Is this people. They disclaimsd al alegi.
ance to the Throne Of Heaven, and in this fearful
sin we have too nearly initiated them. They
gave themselves up to the practice Of
Injustice, and TO the exercise Of national preju.
dces and profanely epslayed .heir fellow men, and
marred the sublime image OF God that shned In
their faces, and made them precious In the Divine
sight. And this is also our Gin, that towers 70 the
skies and cries for vengeance. Deaf and blind, the
Npsyites would not hear the voice OK God, nor se'
their peril until the threatening clouds Of destruc
ton Gathered over their heads, emitting lightning
snd 6urstina with thunder. Such, alec, has beer
our history IN regard to fearful SINS The Assy
risus awoke at last and saw the yawning gulf upor
the utmost verge of which they stood. The King IL
bis lofty place Of responsibility recognized q powe
higher than that which he welded, and proclaimed
a last for mao and beast, and with fear and tIsmD
ling FASTENED to repentance. Such q last the nine
yites had never before besn called to observe. Wb'
could imagine or describe the soemnisy OF the scene
A nation, q heather, and an idolatrous nation II
tears and In ashes beseechng God TO iorEve and u
blot DOT their traDsgressions. Our Chief Magistrate
TOO has proclaimed this fast, and while the anguag
Of his proclamation furnishes fdtfu! text Tor th'
pupits Of the land, 1t gives proof that he drawing
near to the irrev ocable command OF God :" TO undt
the heavy burdens aud TO let the oppressed 90 free
and that 20 break every yoke" In their last
doubtessly the Assyrians confessed oil their sins
and especially nourned over that particular On'
which they had cherished, and which had invoked
the Divine displsasure. He would call upon hi
hearers 70 decide in their minds what u the grea
sin Of this American people, IL 1t not tho trading Ii
the bodies and souls Of menf Yes, il II Slavery
The Rebellion 10 slavehoiders Rebellion. Slavery
| bias worked the widespread ruin which we behold
II has sbed every drop Of blood that has flowed IL
this war, and murdered every man who has fallen
on our bsttle-felds. The fast which God demands
requires that In connection with 1t this CORY monseI
shall b completely destroyed. Had our illussrioa'
magistrate taken one more step forward toward the
standard Of Gods word and will, to-day this nation
.lst 10 still 6gnIipg against G"o, would have placed