Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1865-12-09

thanksgiving ever held in our land. There is no
account of a thanksgiving ever having been held
on any other day than Thursday. At first, it was
by State appointment; of late, 1t has been OBJ
served in accordance with the proclamation OF
the National Executive.
To-day. therefore in observing this time honor
ed custom we are not alone for, within His
courts thousands of hearts offer unto God thanks
giving for all his mercies. Let us thank God to-
gether for home and for health, for the friends he
has left Us as well as for those that are gone for
his fatherly bounty in giving us wealth, for his
merciful justice when wealth is Withdrawn.
"Oh let US pray that when life shall be Ger,
And the last earthly rites unto Us have been ven,
We may meet those we love on eternity's shore,
And give n more joyful Thanksgiving in Heaven
But as righteousness exaltS a nation, while
sin is reprOaeh to any people" 1T Is becoming
for us all this occasion, as the proclamation of
the President says, to make confession of our
tional sins against His infinite goodness, and i'm
plore the Divine guidance in the ways of nation
al virtue and holiness tod being the ruler over
us His providence extends equally TO nations and
individuals. The nation that hOnOrs Him, Obeys
his laws, and reverences his name, he blesses;
whilst the nation that sets at naught his counsel
and tramples under foot his word. he scourges.
As n national capacity ceases at death, nation
al sins are punished by national judgments in this
life 1t has always been so. 1t was so with the
with the Greeks, the Hebrews, and the Romans.
Europe verifies the same truth yearly. The ma
tons are reaping just what their fathers, their
rulers and themselves have sOwn. If they SOW
the wind they shall reap the whirlwind.
Nations being made up of individuals it is
therefore proper that we should feel our personal
responsibility. Now let examine our own
hearts. Do we find there nothingwrong that should
be made better? Is there not much requiring our
prompt attention, which has been sadly, wickedy
neglected? Have we not done much which it
would have been infSitely better to have left
done? Is our conduct not faulty towards the
poor, the needy, and the sOrrowing? Have we
harbored within our hearts envy or hatred. cher
ished pride. or followed after vanity? Looking at
our individual relations in the church and in SOci
ETY., should We not cry aloud; Miserable sinners
are we all God be mercful unto us?'
But. a nation, our sins are many, great, and
aggravated The catalogue is truly appalling in
gratitude pride, forgetfulness of God and OF his
son gesus thirst departure from the simplicity OF
the faith of our fathers grasping avarice; bound
less ambition; recklessness of human life; fierce
ness Of party spirit political corruption; blind
speculation reputation Of just obligations; vio-
lence; profane swearing: gambling; intemper-
ance; Righteousness fraud; dishonesty; fearful
neglect of the word and laws of God, and of the
means Of grace; and wicked Dissertation of his
holy day by the authority of the law. All these
are crying TO Heaven against us as individuals, as
states, and rs a nation. They demand at our
hands instant repentance towards God and faith
in the Lord Jesus Christ. Our national sins have
been heinous against Gods infinite goodness, and
unless out rulers have wisdom to guide them in
the fear of God, and our legislators have wisdom
from on high to enable them to enact wholesome
and equitable laws; unless our people have grace
to walk in the fear of the Lord and unless there
is national virtue and holiness, the wrath of that
T.
US. Already the pcstilcncc hangs IN the heavens
above US; it but awaits His bidding to spread its
black wings over our land; then, falling upon our
cities and towns the fearful carnival of death will
be naugurated. Shall we not heed the warning
voice? Shall we not reform and repent, or must
the sound Of weeping be heard throughout the ma
ton until SOrrOw-hcaTt-rc nding sOrrOw-shall fill
every house in our land?
Surely. my brethren, our duty is plain; We
should express gratitude to God, repent sincerely
Of all OHr SINS believe on the Lord Jesus Christ,
and show ferVent charity towards all men. We
should obey all lawful authority, support our ru-
lers, be faithful in the discharge Of all duties as
citizens, members of society, and Christians Then
should we be happy people, and the Con of Ja-
cob would be our God. Whilst We have, therefore,
the joys and the feowshps of home the blessings
and the friendships Of society, the privileges and
the enjoymbnts ofthe sanctuary, peace and health.
with the bib:e for chart, we should to-day Of
fer unto God Thanksgiving. Let us not forget, IN
this hour, these who deprived Of the blessings
which fill our hearts with joy and our homes with
gladn cSS-thOsc who are friendlcss. the needy and
the hungcring. the hOusccSs and the suffering,
those ruined n fortune and wrecked in ropes.
Look abroad and sec the thousands of once happy
homes that now are darkened withcs0rTOw, and
there you will lear the wall of the widow for help
and the orphans cry for bread. Let these not be
forgotten in QUE sympathies. our bcnefactiOns and
our prayers, when gathered comfortably around
our sparkling fires. The earth is yet fresh about
the graves of some who formerly Joined us IN
hearty thanksgiving, but who now sleep far away.
No loved one may tread softly around their lone,
narrow bed they sleep far away, with no kind
hand to plant n rose-treo to mark their last resting
place. In our social reunions, when our families
are one again, we should fondly cherish their
memory in our hearts, and drop the tear of sorrow
over their early death.
May Almighty God give you all happy thanks
giving day, and so incline our hearts and mi nds TO
keep his commandments, that your lives may be
long and joyous, and that you and yours may ALI
join at last, with the ransomed of all ages IN the
higher and nOhler service of Thanksgiving and
praise in the spirt-land, tho heavenly home.
Amen.