Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-11-28

lbs sermon IN TINS churcn was preached 70
8 full audience by the Rector, Rev. Lewis
Burton, from the following text:
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving and
into His courts with praise be thankful unto
him and bless his name. Psalm c: 4.
This psalm, whish is entitled one of praise
or rather Of Thanksgiving, was appointed TO
be sung when the sacrifices of thanksgiving
prescribed by the Law were offered.
Allusion is made to the "gates" and
20 courts" Of the Lords tabernacle, the plaza
solsmnly devoted - the public officers and
services of religion. The text, adapted to
the use of Christians, may mean that they
should offer the sacrifices of thanksgiving
the fruit of their lips publicly in the Gus
tOmary places Of divine worship, not as q
mere form, not eOldly nor as Of cOnstraint,
but willingly and in the very spirit of thank
fulness and praise.
The duty of thanksgiving is based upon
the fact that we are in the receipt Of benefits
| from the Lords bounty. Some Of these bene-
/ fits are personal, some are domestic, others
are peeniiar TO Gs as State, while the chief
are common to US IS 3 nstiOn. For msreies
peculiarly personal, private thanks to God
are due for domestic mercies, let God he
praised in the family bat for efmmOn, pub
/ lie and national blessings public thanks are
due The thanksgiving claimed from Us to-
day is eminsntly public thanksgiving.
We gather into the Lords house, to-day,
dear brethren, at the call Of our Bishop, the
head Of this diocese at the call of the Gov
srnoa, the chief IhleF Of the State and at
the call of the President, the civil head Of the
nation.
Ihe text, in harmony with the day and the
odeasiOn, calls from US . tribute of public
thauksgiving IN our usual place Of public
worship, and demands Of us 3 real, sincere
aud hearty service. 1t calls upon as, not
/ only TO render thanks, but to be thankful.
] While the service TO which the occasion in
v!tes us, is a most fitting and exalted service
and really pleasing and delightful when ron
dsred in the true spirit Of gratitude and
thaukfulness to God, we are cODstraind TO
believe that the true nature Os the services Is
but imperfeotly and vaguely aPprehended
by very msny who desire to be honest before
Cnd and TO honor him with an acceptable
services.
WIN q view to aid in the due performance
of the duty of the day and the occasion, II
| is proposed to show:
/ The true idea of thanksgiving.
| II The Lords peculiar claims to our
thanks, as GpeoPle, for the blessings Of The
year. .,
IL was then remarked, that the true idsa
Of thanksgiving ineludeS q right spprehen-
sion, q grateful remembrance, just esteem
a willing reception, and a due acknOWlOdg-
! msnt Of the Lords bent fits, q return proper
toned 10 our ability and opportunity, united
With the veneration and love Of our divine
| Bsnefaetor.
twas remarked, in treating the second
head Of discourse, that in one view, the past
year has been one of great afaiction, and, in
| this respect, it resembles the Two preceding
years. During this period, Gods afhieIing
hand has been heavily upon u.s. Not yet, 81
in Egypt, has there been One dead IN every
household; but widows and orphans have
been made by thousands. Our country may
raise the laments, like Jerusalem of old, and
say, "My young men are fallen by the
sword" Allusion was made to the suferings
experienced by our soldiers in marches, In
camps, in the bloody strife, In hospitals, and
in the prisons and dungeons Of crEsl and
Implying enemy. As regards some Of the
fairest portions Of the e0uatry, We may we'll
say, "Coms, behold the works of the Lord
what desoiation he hath made in the earth. /"
But surely in the midst Of wrath, the Lord
has remembered mercy. While the land has
tremblsd under ths tread Of mighty armiesi
while the sky has been overcast with the
smoke Of battle, Of burning towns and the
matsriel Of var, and while tho roar and fash
Of arms have We'd with the thunder and
lightning Of heaven, the sun has not Refused
to shine benignantly upon the labors Of The
husbAndman. The pastures have been clothed
with doeEs. The valleys also have been
covered over with corn. The Lord has Wis
tied the earth and Wztered it. he hassmilsd