American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1864-11-02

Rev. william T.. Harrison.

Church. The AUTHOR.
sEHaNnDN
Rev. William Il. Harrison.
Text HosrA, 6-1. Come, aud let US return uuto
the Lord for he hath torn aud he will heal he hath
smitten, aud he will bind us up"
The true position of guilty sinners is
bowed in profound establishment aud
lowlness before Gods mercy seat. Aud
tie true characteristics by which they
should be marked, are coitfite spirits,
and broken aud penitent hearts, which
we are assured God will not despise.-
' The sacrifices Of God are broken spir-
it: broken and contrite heart, o God,
thou wilt not despise." Psal ol-l7.-
The words of the text are an expression
of sincere and genuine repentance, and
deep humiliation before God, on account
of stu and rebellion against him. 1n tue
preceding part Of this prophecy, and es-
pecially in the preceding chapter, the
prophet Hosea had predicted the terrible
desolations and dreadful calamities that
were coming on the people Of Israel and
Judah, by the invasion and ravases ofthe
Assyrians and ChaIdeans. Gods ancient
people had forgotten him, and rebelled
against him, aud he tells them that he
would visit them with his sore judgments
for their wickedness Though God great
ly delights in mercy, and generally dwells
with his people at the meIcy-seat; yet
sometimes he leaves his throne OF grace,
to execute vepgence upon them for their
iniquites.
God is represented in the preceding
chapter as saying, will be unto Ephram as
a Lion, and as young Lion to the house
of Judah: |, even |, will tear and go
away; | will take away, aud none sha
rescue him. | will 20 and return to my
place, till they acknowledge their offence,
and seek my face, in their atHlction they
will seek me early" Hos, OH, 10.
And having visited their transgressions
and their wickedness with his chastlse-
ments, and his judgments, he tells them
he would as 1t were return to his place,
and leave them under their punishment,
till they shoul3 repent, OF plead guilty,
aud confess their sins, and seek his favor
and protection" He knew that though
they had wandered far from him, yet their
Affections sanctlfed to them by his grace,
would be the means a leading them back
to hnu to seek his face aud favor, and
bow in humble penitenee at his feet
And having thus been brought to deep
sense of their sinluluess, aud their need
Of divine help, and dehverance, they are
represented in the text as saying Que 70
another, "Come and let us return unto
the Lord for he hath torn, aud he will
heal US; he hath smitten, aud he will
bind us up"
Aud the sentiment of the text is OF
universal application. 1t is appropriate
20 men in every age Of time; whether
consluered as individual persons, or states
and nations. And never was there in the
history of nations time when this Ian
euaoe was more fit to be used than by US
now And never was there nation
whom it more became to adopt this Ian
euage of penitence and humility before
God, than we of the United States We
have sinned grievousIy, we have done
very wickedly; we have transgressed
Gods righteous and holy laws; we have
abused his great and manifold mercies.--
The judgments of God are abroad IN the
land His hand is pressing heavily upon
us. The storm cloud of civil war which
has SO long enveloped us, is still hover
ing over US. 1t has long hurled upon
us tempestuous food of blood and car
mage aud death. And still this terrific
storm of civil strife RACES with even fer
Ger fury than before; scattering desola-
ton and sorrow all over this once happy
country.
Surely in the midst of all this darkness
and calamity; this streaming blood, these
shrieks of anguish and unutterable death
| .,.oa,,a. tb;s ,lss,,al wa II af mournino M nd