Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1864-09-01
Danger Of ObstinaCy.

The New York ObScrrer, religious jour
nal, in referring TO the recent proclamation
issued by Mr.. Lincoln, makes some very
just and pertinent remarks on that part
which called on us to pray that we, as u
people might not be destroyed by an ''obsti-
nate adhesion to our councils, which may be
in conflict with His eternal purposes" The
Observer says
'"This is an extraordinary petition. We
think nothing of the kind was ever pro
posed before. 1t has some peculiar signili-
cancc to which we would do well to give
heed. Doubtless, nations, like individuals,
suffer from a blind adhesion to their fixed
opinions, when reason, circumstances and
duty demand their change 1t is hard to
acknowledge that we are wrong, and hard
to admit that we were mistaken, if we were
even honest in our intentions. And now
that we are praying over the great question
of war and Union, reunion and peace, we
are in danger of being obstinate in our ad-
herence to what in our excitement we had
regarded as Indispensable The President
and Congress ask us to pray that God would
not suffer us to be destroyed by this obsti-
macy that is, that we may not perish by
adhcring to our own opinions, when by time
ly yielding to the opinions of those that are
wiser and better than we are, the country
may be saved with Union and peace. If
there is any meaningin the President re-
quest, it is this we have indicated. And we
! regard the suggestion as one of incalcula-
| BILE value at this moment. The day OF
prayer is gone, butnot the time Of prayer.
That is always present. And this petition,
''savo us from ourselves" is never out Of
place.
We were talking recently with a member
of one of our Churches, on the war, and the
prospects Of its early termination, when he
remarked, during the course Of converse
ton: ''I have recently begun to doubt
whether | have been right according tC
God will and purpose in regard to us as 9
people, in giving my support to the admin
| istration and the war. At times, felt SC
disappointed after earnest prayer at the re
suit of battles, when L looked for success
that | felt inclined to denounce God himsel
for allowing the rebels to triumph. Indeed
my spirit more than once rcbelled againts it
Creator on account of my disappointments
But the continued bad results that have at
tended our arms for six months past, des
pitc the prayers Of the Churches, and tn,
myriads Of individual petitions that go vi
daily and nightly, all over the North, to th
Throne Of Grace, for our success, hav,
II staggered my 1altl, ana maze me ASK my
self: May | not be wrong ? Is my judg
ment inlalliblc ? May l not be wishing an'
praying against, not only the interests o
my country, but the eternal purposes of Jc
hovah AS | may be wrong. | shall no
regret the success of the ticket you ma
make at Chicago. A change of Admins
tration may develop the right road for us a
people to walk in. We do not seem no,
, TO be in it." We have no doubt simila
tens of thousands Of good, honest Chris
tians, who love God and their country, am
who have thought they were serving bot
by sustaining the administration and til
war. They want to do right, and have bee
constantly praying to be directed in the righ
path, yet, being fallible, consider they ma
be wrong-and if wrong in advocating tn
war, what terrible crime against God an
humanity they are unwittingly helpin
along