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

in the text, which we can but briefly CON
sider, is the reason why we should return
to God. 1t is this: "He hath torn, and
he will heal us: he hath smitten, and he
will bind us up" That God has torn us
sorely, andsmitten us with heavy stroke,
we know from sad and painful expert
ence. The graves of hundred thous-
and of our brave countrymen, who have
laid down their lives in defence of the
liberties, Constitution, and integrity Of
our loved country, abundantly attests this
A hundred battle fields, fattened with the
lifes blood Of our slain friends and fellow
citizens, gives ample evidence Of this
The families bereaved, the hearts bleed
ing, and crushed with anguish, and the
ten thousand happy homes made desolate,
affords ample evipence of this The lam
entation, weeping, aud great mourning,
all over our once smiling land, for hus-
bands, sons aud brothers, who will return
no more, until the grave shall become
tenantless, aud the sea shall give up her
dead abundantly attest this The wild
owed wives and fatherless children the
halt and the manned the fruitful fields
made desolate, and the pleasant towns
burned with fire, all show how severely
God hath torn us, and how hardly he hath
smitten us. But if we humbly repent
of our sins and return unto him, he will
freely forgive us he viii heal us, and
bind up our bleeding wounds God only
can save ua. Mono but the ayn Of Al
mighty Power can rescue us from the
dangers which imperil our natioual exis-
tance, and give us complete triumph over
rebellion, and an honorable aud righteous
peace. All human power aud human
means are and must he vain, without The
aid Of The Lord God of Hosts. We have
instrumcntalities in abundance, but they
of themselves will be of no avail. We
have vast armies, the power of our couu-
try, strong, noble, brave men, well equip.
cd and disciplined, and ready to dare aud
to die for Uni2g and Liberty, but this will
not suffice. We have a great and pow
erful Navy, irou-clad ships with skillful
and heroic commanders, and daring crews
rivaling and ready to compete with the
proud Navy Of Great Britain, once the
queen of the seas but this will not suf-
fee. We have munitions of war in great
abundance aud Of every kind, but these
will not suffice. We have military skill
of very high order, but this is moi
enough. We have vast resources Of men
and money and provisions, to defray the
expenses Of our Government, and sustain
our armies in the field, but all these viii
not suffice. "1he race is not TO the swift
nor the battle to the strong: God setteth
up one, and putteth down another" We
put too much confidence in men and in
means. We exalt human agency and
leave out Of view the supreme and all
controlling power Of the Most High. We
glorify our Generals and forget to give
glory to the Lord our God. Let us sin
cerely return from our wanderings unto
God, and put our trust iu him, and seek
help and safety from him only. The
voice of God calls us saying: "Return
ye backsliding children, return, aud will
heal your backslidings." God is infinite
ly kind and gracious, and willing to de.
liver US. If We truly humble ourselves
befose him, and repent of our sins and
return unto him, he will bave mercy up
on US He will say of US as of his people
of old How shall / give thee up, Eph
rain? how shall / deliver thee, Israel
how shall make thee as Admahe how
shall set thee as Zeboim? niue heart i,
turned within me, my repentin9s are kin
died together. l will not execute tht
ferceness Of mine anger" Hos. 1l-S,9
de is God, That pArdoneth iniquity
and passeth by the transgressions of the
remnant Of his heritage; he retaiueth no
his anger for ever, because he delighteth il
mercy He will turn again and have
compassion upon u.s." Micah, 8-lS,l9
If then We come to him with true humil
ity and submission, he will raise us up
and exalt us, and maks US yet great anC
good, a glorious and happy people. w
shall be his people, and God himself shal
be our God. And " Happy is that peo
pie that is in such case: yea, happy i
that people, whose God is the Lord"
say- A notice of recent steamboat ex
plosion ends as follows:
"The captain swan ashore. So di,