The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1865-12-08
DIsCIPLES, CHURCH.
az d. .. 100.

Twill love Thee, o Lord, my strength. The
Lord Is my rock, and my fortress, and my de-
trust; my bucRlsr, and the horn OF my saliva
don, and my high tower. viii cali upon the
be saved rom my enemies. DPS. IS: Is.
The King of Israel sang these words
of praise and thanksgiving to God, af-
ter q great deliverance from his foes.
The special thought uttered by the
Psalmist, recognized indeed in all his
songs and in all the utterances of his
life Is, that all these acts of deliYerance,
from God, and not from us, and there
fore all honor and praise and thanks
giving are due to Him. With this con-
yiction and feeling alone Is it fitting for
us, as Christian people, in the house
of God, TO assemble to-day, in the SOL
thanksgiving for all that is embraced
in our great national deliverance.
Looking only in a general way at the
great events surrounding US, we are in
danger OF overlooking the full mean
ing and Significance of the occasion
that assemblies the pious of our nation
to-day in general act of thanksgiv-
ing. To appreciate fully the event be-
fore us, we must look at tin the special
elements oft. The following are some of
these special causes of rejoicing and
thanksgiving ~
Il 1NIt Gt6ES u ub GII8 JuLtOII q SGgltl-
nIent recognising God as the Supreme
DispOser Of events 0f the LtUes Of ma
tons as Of individuals. In the midst of
prevailing iutidelity, this is to us
Christians great cause of encourage
mentand joy. The simple fact that the
cause of our Government has conquer
ed is not all to-day,-is not a full cause
of hearty rejoicing to Christian peo-
pie, for some times tyranny also natur-
ally triumphs over Justice. 1t is the
deep conviction that this triumph is of
God that He has therein vindicated
the righteousness of His own name
against great iniquity sin one word,
that He has done It, and not ourselves,
that HIS purposes and ways have been
made victorious this is our high joy
to-day.
2. That our Government has endured
through this terrible trial. Whether a
Government like ours; bearing so
lightly upon the citizens, giving such
extended freedom of thought, speech
and action, SO free from all centraliz-
ed, consolidated powers, could pass
safely through the shocks of time, could
triumph over great, inevitable internal
conVulsions,-thts was a question of
doubt and fear ut home, and the sub
| iect of unbelief abroad. The statesmen
permanent endurance and safety OF our
Government. And to every thoughtful
man 1t Is a very great question, a deep
concern, whether the government under
which he lives, and which he loves, is
enduring. The great, we might almost
say. the greatest, trial has been made,
our fears are dissipated, and our hearts
assured. We believe now that God
loves this nation, and has saved it.
8. ne thank God for the deUotiOH ofthe
people of this nation TO its defence and
tPr0teetiOn. How great this devotion is,
was not so well known till before this
I great trial. 1t was widely doubted.
/ We have confidence now in the all
sacrificing love of the people for theiI
Government.
4. NE thank God that t0e hare been
sGUed from the fearful pesiLs of diSTup-
ton, and from The untold cdLdHitieS of an
drchy. All the evil forebodings and
prophecies at homeand abroad of a reigr
Of Wide spread anarchy, are dissipated
AS soon as the great armies ofthe rebel
Lion had laid down their arms, all
Through the wide extent of the field O.
war, as fast as the intelligence spread
all armed opposition ceased, and thu
arm of the nations power is felt anC
respected. This is a wonderful fact
scarcely paralleled in the history o
time.
S. It was predicted that the triumph
Of our Government would bring upoI
us, as a necessary result, an armed,
military despotism. This indeed woulC
have been a fearful end of our struggle
Men here and abroad, hostile TO on
cause, predicted all this as q certain
CONSEQUENCE But this prophecy, toe
has failed. God has saved US from this
l Our Government has in all things, espe
ciR1ly since the great victory, mani
tested precisely the opposite tendency