The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1865-03-08
PASTORAL LETTER.

Bishop JOhnS.haS written PASTORAL
Letter for the Lenten season, the follow
ing extracts from which are pertinent to
the approaching Fast Day:
ave need not inquire for great cons
mon offences which have exposed us to
this terrible expression Of the Divine
displeasurc. National guilt is formed
by individual sins, and to the mass Of
iniauityis $50 accumulated we have each /
fearfully contributed. The wonder is,
not that He has scourged, but that He
has not cut short the work in righteous
ness and consigned us to remediless ruin. |
But God assures us that He doth not |
willingly afilict or grieve the children of |
men. 1t is that they may examine and
try their ways and turn unto the Lord.
He has proclaimed and put it upon re-
cord, AT what instant / shall speak con-
cerninp nation-if that nation against !
which have pronounced turn from their |
evil, | will repent of the evil that |
thought to do unto them.
"Now. as the national guilt, which |
displeases God and calls for aff1iction, is
formed by individual sins, so the peni-
tence which must precede its removal is
not an affair of State, to be conducted
in our stead by those in authority, but
the personal penitence of the people who
constitute the nation, each individually
trsnsacting with God. Even the peni-
tential services of the House of God are
but the Joint utterance and open avowal
,of individual contrition, neither begin
ming nor ending there, but brought from
the solitude of the closet which has been
broken by it's moan, and deepened by
the social and sympathetic confessions
ia the sanctuary, and abiding in the
humble heart, not only as guard against
rclanse. but as an incentive to all duti-
fitness. And this, dear brethren, is the
verv exercise essential to the health and
salvation of the soul, to which, with ap
nropriate helps, the church calls us, at
this season, with special solemnity and
earnestness Borrowing the awakening
language of inspiration, che addresses
us: Therefore also now, saith the
lord turn We unto me with all your
heart. and with fasting, and with weep
ing. and with mourning, and rend your
hearts and not your garments; for he IS
gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and
Of great kindness, and repenteth Him Oh
the evil He spares US when we de-
serve punishment, and in His wrath
thinketh upon mercy
"What q combination Of motives IN
connection with this call! All that IS
v.lna 5le in the interests of the immortal
soul. and all that is precious in the pre-
servstion and prosperity Of this stricken
and struggling Confederacy! one ana I,
the same action bears on the welfare o.
both. For our own and for our country
sake. it behcoves us to maintain an hum
| ble and contrite spirit, which God will
; not despise. Piety and patriotism unit
in the requirement. The church and tn
[ country concur in the appeal. The cal
Of tho church has been rscited. Frou
! the earliest ages Of Christianity it ha
Z fallen at this season, and with specis
emphasis on the ears Of her children
and to those who have needed with bless
, | ed effect, as ministers and people testify
: This year it comes With peculiar concerr
. in view Of tho painful and protracte
! chsstisement which We arc enduring
8 ana With it W hsar The united voices /
/ the rsprsssutasivse of tbs psapl', and