The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1865-03-02

made by our enemy, in the late peace-cOnfer-
euce, humanity speaking, our ruin would have
been inevitable. But he offered no compromise
Ike even assumed that this war was, on our
part, treasonabe conspiracy, and promised
liberal use of the pardoning power for receiving
such as, on this principle, should be convicted
of high treason. The amount of which varies
very little from this: That every grown white
person in the Confederate States should be
hanged, except such as the President of the I.
States might, as an act of special mercy, permit
to linger in poverty and wretchedness, and all
the infamy of convicted traitors Of course
this annihilates every idea of reconstruction.
And scarcely is it more nantes, that God hard
ened the heart of the Egyptian Pharaoh, than
that he has hardened the heart of the Amer-
can Pharaoh or that the former was done in
mercy to Israel, than that the latter was done
in mercy to US.
o. Our req rises an aWar mt d c'uraJe-
m. nts-On the supposition that God will
make US, as a people, emiuently holy, and emf
nently useful to the cause of true religion
throughout the world, these are, so far as we
can see, absolutely Indispensable
For according to the established law OF
means and ends, no person, and, Of course, no
nation ever becomes eminent ia moral or reli-
cious worth, without the fundamentally Of re-
luarhaLlc ailli,tious- See Psalm 81 10, l3
Amos 8 2. Itmay perhaps be said that no
such fruit is as yet apparent. Admit it: then
we may expect 10 see it after these troubles
shall have passed away. The Jews were seut
into captivity in Babylon, expressly to form
them from idola,ry; but thu reformation did
not take place, or even bcgiu ill their return
Read carefully Eek. chap. SO.
And, as an essential particular included
in the remark Just made, if God will show
special mercy to us, in our religious inter.
est, we must expect that by means of deep af
fictious, and Of circumstances seemingly al.
most hopeless, or absolutely SO, he will turn us
from our iiolatrous confidence in creatures
and lead us to rely on himself alone. See Deut
81 96-4O
Again, be it remembered, that great trial,
are necessary that our example may be impress
sive and edifying. For the strength OF any
moral principle can be eyinced in no other way
than through the difficulties it SumOunts
These trials, it is true, occasion the exhibition
Of much wickednoss But, seeing such wicked.
ness exists, its exhibition is essential to the end
here contemplated partly because by its con.
nection with Gods corrective judgments, il
will serve the purpose Of warning to other
nations; and partly because it will display the
riches of divine mercy in reforming and bless
ing US Cor. 10 II. Ps. 80: 8.
The expectations which have been expressed
we shall cherish with great confidence. Iossi-
bly, however, we may be disappointed. But in
one thing we can never be disappointed Ouf
exalted Saviour will coutrol the progress and
the issue of this contest in such a manner as
shall rebound most TO the glory and honor Of
his own name, and to the ultimate good. of all
who trust in Him. With this we may well be
satisfied 1t suggests all the consolation we
need, or can reasonably desire.