Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1864-12-03

will remember the maine of the Lord our God.
| PSALM 30.
In accordance with the proclamation oe oui
Chief Magistrate, and with the laudable and
time-hOnored custom of our country, we are
met to celebrate the day as one of thanks
giving and prayer.
Not as partizans of any political sect are
we assembled nor as seeming to favor or
| disfavor any political policy of the past, pre-
sent or future, but rs Christians and loyal
citizens of all parties.
As Christians we are met to thank God
for the gathered fruits of the earth for the
continuance of health; for the prosperity
of industry; for the preservation of order
and tranquility throughout our borders, and
for the manifold blessings God has heaped
upon us-unwcrthy.
AS loyal citizens of the Federal Govern
ment of the United States, we are met to
give thanks for the victories God has couch
safed us over armed traitors, and. moreover,
humbly to beseech Him to renew and in
crease His merciful favor toward us, during
| the year to come, so that Rebellion being
overthrown, peace may be restored to our
distracted country.
Such are the terms of the instrument put
forth 10y the Governor of our State and it
is to he hoped and presumed, that us law
abiding. patriotic, unA Christian people,
| your prayers and thanksgiving will ascend
accordinglv.
I | shall not not detain you with any nt-
tempted display OF oratory and patriotism,
with Il scrap of scripture tagged 20 it, as an
excuse nor shall be able to entertain you
with any highly finished and elaborate pro-
duciion on some curious subject, as is not
unircqurntly the order; but shall invite
your attention to the obvious teaching OF
our text adapted a. far as possible for the
occasion psalm 20, 7 :--"SOmc trust in
i chariotS. and some in horses, but ue will re-
member the name of the Lord our God
The use of horses and chariots in war, so
common in early ages, and still more com
mon D0ir. in the shape of cavalry, was pro-
hihitcd to the lsraelitcs. 1t was statute,
peculiar. | think. to the Mosaic Law; but
by no means, an arbitrary dictum ot their
Law -Givcr Moses II was founded on the
nature of their national policy.
.PEAcE WAS one the fundamental princi-
pies of their state. which was rcpugnant to
Il thirst for conquest for every man was II
landholdcr and light and darkness are not
more opposed IT, each other, than trdr and
husbnhd,P. Consequently. VIC find no other
army among them than the citizens them
selves, who held their land on the condition
of military service when required Hence,
cavalry and ehariots were prohibited, as they
are not only. the sF-rt of war, but also pro.
ductivc of the passion 10; wn~. With their
wild hcrsemcn sweeping along like n r.--;-
cane, and their iron, scythe-armed chariots,
rushing at full speed among the terrified
ranks of the enemy, the savage commanders
of the day carried on their warfare.
On these they were want to trust, as the
sacred history bears ample testimony, and
were as often defeated, when opposed to
that grander faith Ion the name of the Lord
our God"
When down-trnddcu Israel unorganized
and helpless, came out from Egypt, pursued
by Pharioh with his 600 chosen chariots,
ard all the horsemcn and chariots of the
land, Israel thought they had come out to
die.
But the exalted trust of their leader on
the name of the Great Il am" cried out
'stand still and see the salvation of the
Lord" BY the breath of heaven, the sea
was divided and Israel crossed; but the
Egyptians essaying to follow, wele cngulfeo
in the returning waters; and the next morn
ing, when the shore of the sea WAS covered
with Egyptian dead, Pharioh and his hos
destroyed, and Israel safe, how loyously
might the people have sung-"Some trus
in chariots, and some in horses, but We vii
remember the name of the Lord our Cod
Again: Long subsequent to this, wher
the Prophet Samuel gathers the people a
Mizpen to repent Of their sins, and endea
vor 10 break Philistia's fetters that haC
shocked them for them 30 years; they are
suddenly confronted 10y the harnessed armies
of their foes. But while the haf-armed
| l,olf foln halt
multitude cover IN their terrer. the Pro
phet prays to heaven; and the thunder anC
lightning of the Savior God hurl rout an,
ruin on the attacking squadrons; in answer
to that trust, which is not on horses anc
cnariots, but ON the name of the Lord.
But once more when Sennachcrib in
vades Judea, capturing all his cities, bu
Jerusalem, which he comes to last, with a
overwhelming force; his resistless powe
makes his terms intollerable, and his 'an
guage insulting To resist, either lingering
death by starvation, or frightful slaughte
. would be the result, and to surrender, gene
raj robbery, outrage, and servitude.
In this dilemma the good Hezekiah, re
pairing to the house of God, spreads th
latter before the Lord, and earnestly invoke
his aid The prayer is heard and that nigh
the angel of the Lord smites with his CLEAN
. ing weapon, the countless host of the be
seigers. Jerusalem is delivered, and th
! pride and power of Assyria destroyed; tt
while one trusted in chariots and horses, tn
other remembered the name o. the Lord, h
!. God. And now David himself, with the hi
tory of his country spread out, before hin
y. and reviewing his own eventful life, mo
70 glorious than all, adds His confirmation
st the efficacy of faith.
;. He whose profession was the practice
arms, who had used the argument OF Il
l. sword with the greatest success, who ha
b trodden in the dust the pride OF his enemie
: and conquered by his own right arm
p" the territory bestowed by God, on his pc
pie yet in the face of all, bears this mob
:. testimony.-'.Some trust in chariots al
70 some in horses, but We will remember Il
as name of the Lord our God.
g. And now, as to-day, we stand here befo
God, for the alleged purpose OF thanksgivii
with our own and our country's history |
u fore US, how better could we improve t
III occasion than by learning the same gre
lesson of trust
What better service can we do ourselv
or higher honor to God, than the establis
oy ment of this as rule OF action.-"The tr
"a u secret Of success, both as indiDsd,als, and
Ia a nation is supreme trust in God"
ar To accomplish this for ourselves as I'M
oh yiduals, we need only behold the particu