American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1864-11-09

we should sag as qua tod ancient peo-
ple, "Coue and let US return unto the
Lord: for he hath torn, aud he will heal
us he hath smitten, and he will biud Us
up"
The first thought, clearly implied in the
woldsof the text is, chat that we have
departed from God. All men in their
natural state have departed from Cod
They have rebclled against his moral gov
ernment. They are sinners in heart, and
sinners in life. Alieuatcd aud enemies
to God, in their minds aud by wicked
works. And as The individuals are cor
rupt and deplaved, the whole mass Of hui
mauity must likewise be corrupt aud de-
generated. The call of Gods ancient
people one TO another 20 return TO him,
implied that they had wandered away
from him. And soalso we asa people have
Departed from God. God would not have
controversy with us as nation had we
not forsaken him. lie would not be cou-
tending with US had we not siuued against
him. We would not be called upon TO
return unto him, had we not departed
from him.
God has always been mindful Of us,
and greatly blessed US, and prospcred us
as nation. He has enlarged our bor-
ders. He has immensely increased our
wealth. He has augmented our power.
And the light of our national greatness
and glory, shone in every land on the sur
face of the globe But we had forgotten
him, and transglcssed against him. "We
have forgotten God that made us, and
lightly esteemed the Rock of our saliva
ton" a growing spirit of pride and ar
rogance has prevailed in our land. At
the commencement rthe ciyilwar which
is now casting gloom, desolation and sor-
row, all over our country, it was thought
by many that 5000 men would be suf-
fcient to crush out the rebellion. But
since chen one call after another has been
made. until now more than million and
a half of men have been maishaled on
the field of conflict; but with all this we
have not been able yet 10 subdue it,:
still the rebellion presents defiant b3nt
and threatens the very life of the Re
public. God is humblng our pride, and
showing us that Of ourselves we are pow
eiless. We have been scli-sutficient, and
vain-gloiious as nation. We have eS-
allied ourselves and conducted ourselves
as if there were no God, who had estab-
lished his throne in the heavens, and
who is The Sovereign Ruler among the
nations. We have failed distinctly to
recognise the existence and government
of God over US in our National Cons;i-
tuition. Aud we have generally been
criminally negligent to elect men OF
sound moral and religious principles to
rule over rs, to make laws for US, aud to
execute judgment and justice among us.
A bad party spirit that has left christian
patriotism out Of view almost altogether
has controlled our people. And an al
most entire want Of sound moral aud po-
liticaI principles, and a fearful degree OF
corruption has characterized the great
majority of our public men. And even
under the pressure of all our present ca
lamities, there seems TO be but little evil
hlence Of true national humility and re-
pentance in the sight Of God There
seems to be no real Improvement Of God 5
dealing with us, by the great mass OF
our people. Nay, on The other hand the
nation seems to be growing worse and
worse, and plunSing deeper into folly and
sin. Bribery aud corruption, fraud aud
extoition, speculation and swindling,
abound, and are permitted to go in a
great measure unpunished, Supreme
worldliness anda spirit Of wild and reck-
less speculation, is rushing like fierce
tornado over the land. Gold is the god
to which multitudes of our people are
bowiug down, with more than the devo-
ton of Hindoo idolatry. Ambition is
The phantom idol which others are fer
vently worshipins. Aud many more are
kneeliug in lowly homage at glory's daz-
zling shriue Yes, we have forsakeu
God the God Of our Fathers, who ha,
made us great, and raised US to be the
glory of all lands; and surely it is nc
wonder chat his wrath is aroused, and that
he is executing vengeance upon our gull
ty laud.
Aud then added to all ,his, the great
original and procuring cause of all oul
troubles; the wicked and detestable sys
tenn Of African Slavery: the dreadful
curse of human bondage; which hai
blighted and darkened this once fair an(
peaceful land of ours; and made it /;