The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1865-03-02
LECTURE OF REV. MIR. SHEEP
PERSON.
AN OUTLINE.

u ~ - y l. ~
We proceed to give, as promised, synopsis of ,his
able production, only rcIuariug that what read in five
minutes in the newspaper is the condemnation Of very
orcbe argument which occupje about hours in th
delivery Il IS therefore impossible convey any thing
like the full Impression Of the address: still the reflect
ing reader will find it 'all of suggestion.
When that great aud good man, Jonathan
Edwards was dying, some around his bed were
lameutiug the loss which would be sustained
By the Church. His ear caught the express
sion, when opening once more his eyes he calm
" said ''Tut in Cod, and 5ou need not far"
Our independence is not to be ga nd as is
SO often and inaccurately Said, We gained that
long ugo: it is to be PRESCRIBED
Grounds of expectation that God means to
make us, as people, emineuty virtuous, pros.
porous, holy, happy and instrumental in ad-
vaucing his glory, and the welfare Of men,
l. AJoli!ioni m is the primary question in
this conflict: aud against it the authority of
revelation IS most empbatically staked. Care
ful exposition of Tim. Vi l-5. From this
the conclusion is drawn, that the war now waged
by our enemies is war against Christianity,
as thus presented by the Apostle: it Is nothing
short Of rersecut on against us for maiut4in-
ing this Christian doctrine. This accounts for
the maignity Of our enemies, passion which
always RACES more fercely against the true re-
Iig.on than in any other Gaze, It accounts also
for the remarkable outpouring of the Holy
Spirit q Peter jy; IA Public sentiment
throughout almost all nominal Christendom
has long been either literally or virtually aboli-
ton, aud that almost unanimously.
II. God will assuredly yindicate the teach,
ings of his word, and override the prevalence
of error to the establishment and enforcement
Of his truth. (Ps. lxxyi II; Is liv II;
Matt. xvi: 49,
Ill Since this question admits of being
brought to the test Of experience, the only mode
of refutation conceivable by us consists in rails
up a people eminently virtuous, and this in ,
direct connection with slavery, theyery insti-
tuition, whose lawfulness they impugn, contrary
to the word of God.
" Upon this supposition, it is reasonable
to expect that we are to be that people; for no
other nation owning slaves is prepared to vim
dictate this truth.
v God dealings with us fiom the com
mencement of the war till now. This il seen
o. As to our spir t@al Interests Look at
the wonderful outpouring of the Holy Spirit
on our soldiers. The history Of the world, in
all its wars, shows nothing equal to it. 1t may
be taken as proof that we are not to be given
up to our enemies. Jcr. IS: 7, 8. For ma
tioual reformation, though not consummated,
is in rapid progress And l ask, would Sodom
have been destroyed had such a reformation
commenced the night the two angels visited
Lot? 1t proves again, that God is providing
the Instruments for carrying forward this re-
formation, y raising up in our army those who
are to be, to an extent unexqmpled in modern
times. useful Christians aud efficient ministers
az As to TEMPORAL afairS.-How many sig
nal interpretations in our behalf; as in the first
battle of Manassas, &c Miracles excepted, our
successes, as compared with our material re-
sources, have been unexamped.
Then, too, notice how God has guarded US
against i9Olqtrous confidence in man, with care
which indicates an extraordinary religious de-
sign. We see the evidence of this III two facts.
One Is the singular reluctance Of foreign powers
to recognize our independence. Just as, for a
like purpose, the Jews were often rebuked and
punished for seeking foreign alliances in their
wars. The other Is that so many of those whose
interests were obviously with US, as in Mary
land, Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee and Mis-
souri, have taken part with the enemy. So
9ideon's army must be reduced to 800 before
10 could be permitted to deliver Israel from
he Midianites
81 The iaratuation Of our enemies The
greatest danger to which We have ever been ex-
.osed arose from the disposition of some of our
idzaus towards what is improperly called re-
obstruction. Had gome allpriDg offer been