New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-12-08
Dr. II, III. Chapi.,s Church.

| Owing 10 the state OF the weather, winch
rendered walking exceedingly disagreeable non, OF
the churches yesterday were largely attended, and
even DR.. CHAINS sermon was listened 10 by com
paratively small congregation.
After reading selections from the Scriptures appro.
pirate 10 the occasion OF Thank.gi,iR DIR. CBArIs
took his text from Genesis H. - do set ny b9w in
the clouds
1t was promised BY the Almighty that the Delnse
should subsde and the the earth;
and token Of the promise lie set Bis bow 10 the
cloud. To-day our Thoughts may be exalted by CON
sidering the lesson Of the bow in the cloud which
teaches the moral and spirtusl .rilcance Of rhe
nomcna. Various raions associated deyout deos with
the rainbow Of these ons there is some
thing absurd physically but they all have moral or
spri,ua significance. AT the present time. we behold
the glory Of our lar,es the physical process Of which
is simple enough; bot who can grasp the subject
in its last religious analysis Our annual ihanis.
giving is religious service. 90 think God for
tie hRryesis springiDg out Of the earth, and
when We dwell upon our dependence % the earth
and the benefoence Of nature. feel that we owe
these blessings, not TO natural but 70 divine. power.
which we assemble in churches to thank; aud
when recognize this we can appreciate an It's truo
meaning the bow In the cloud. Let be consistent
ascrbe harvest H. mere natural forces or recognize
the moral eud spiritual Significance oil things:
from terrible war; have been blessed with pepti-
fu harvest; and IN this condition ct things God has
been very mercIfnl TO ns, and We shoud be thankful
that fam ne has not been added 20 burdens In this
trying crisis Many. however suffer to-day with
poverty and to-day can, at least. accord them our
pity and sympathy There are pouts manifested By
human agency, and other points manifested by divine
sgency-a great divine plan which runs through AL
ages H0rdly anything takes place a. we thonght II
would but ali history shows the results Of one mighty
omnipotent plan. This applies to our own National
history ago the prospect was cherries one.
| for we viewed IL from q Northern side; We have
| followed Grant and Sherman. and we gpze upon the
Nation from the Southern side, and see all The land a.
IL were bursting into the bloom Of peace restored ~
the earth after the deluge. President johnson Ia his
MESSAGE struck one chord IN every re'eren; breast
when he qnoted from Wsshi ton. as follows; Every
step by which the people Of the Uuited States have nd
yanced to the character Of an independent nation.
seems 20 have been distinguished by some token Of
nroyideptial agency IL ever nation led by God,
This nation has been led His hand is 10 be traced
from the revolution up TO the present time when the
whole continent ~ covered With great and glorious
neopIe And during the recent terrible how Omen
have many thou. ht and said that u could only end In
ruin but the hand 81 God was lending US on, and rum
was oossble We haye thrown off Slavery for the same
because an irresistible force carrying Us
forward to that end; and now We see the dawning az
II we're Of the bow in the coudthe promise that the
nuc grander Is the study of human luster than the
study OF human science; and II We feeogDne mat OIL
Things are dvney governed let US also recognize that
1.-The same thing prevails in the moral and intellectual
world The widest and most tumuuous time has
served truth and righteousness. For the last twenty
five wears we can the advancement Of the principles
Of Democratic liberty; and this Ia the way we must
regard ba, there is Irresistible tendency 10 eyepts
II is Gods world, and not the devils; and there ha.
never been anything for one moment TO shake orr fs
Not only are seed time and harvest promised III
the text but the liberty and happiness Of the human
r.ce on the earth and that promise sbenR fulfilled
Consider the corruption that preceded our deluge-
the people absorbed in material things our politics
yitsted-som ething the world before the days
Of the food Of Noah; ard not by force OF arms alons
have the results flowed for which we are today tbaek
drift in things which is the drift Of hnman action
alonethe drift Of divine purpose for welfare and
FOR this we are more thankful than anything else when
we stand as today with the Bow Of Promise breaking
from the clouds which still roll above the nation
and with let trust hankfolness in the breasts Of al
from the brightest In the land TO the meaneSt freedman
who looks hopefully 10 Heaven from the midst Of h
broken letters.