The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1866-12-01
C. B. HI. MARTIN, Pastor of the Vine
Street Presbyterian church:

| Obt ecu Il AOcOJ villa ~A
TsrE"I will mention the loving
kindness of the Lord. isaiah,
Kill
| In the proud city of Fhebes, on the
banks of the Nile, in the days of
Egypt's glory, there stood wondrous
/ structure. It was statue so won
1 drously wrought that when the early
sunbeanns fell upon it, its stony heart
Weakened into melody, and breathed
forth, low, sweet sounds, like the notes
of a hidden harp, swept by a viewless
hand. That statue was famed In
many lands. Strangers from afar,
scholars from the Euphrates, philoso-
piers from Athens, warriors from
Rome, came to gaze upon it, and if
possible solve the mystery it en-
4 shrined, and were amply recon-
pensed for atheir toll if they might
hear, but once, that strange morning
4 hymn as it trembled from the unseen
chords of the mystic harp.
| But to-day the sunbeams, coming
forth like angel fingers, have touched
nobler harp than Memnons, aud
walked grander anthem. IT'S the
Harp of the Union and the anthem of
STATIONS praise Rising away amidst
the granite hills Of New England, that
anthem rolls onward, echoing among
mountains, swelling along valleys,
ringing through forests, sweeping
across prairies, ever gathering
strength and volume as it passes, un-
til, like ." the voice of many waters
it mingles. with the roar of ocean,
as it breaks along the golden coast of
the Pacific. Nor even there shall the
mighty anthem stopl Merico shall
hear, and the sword of the brave shall
fash more brightly and cut more
keenly, as he. strikes to re-
deem his bleeding country from
the usurper's sway. Nay, all
lands shall hear, and , while
tyrants tremble, crushed hearts every
where, painting for deliverance, shall
again the altar fires. Of Freedomi
The harp Of Memnon has been for
ever silencedi Cambyces passed that
way, laid his ruthless hand upon the
statue and left it a ruin. From the |
broken body = the soul Of music fed"
and no earthly power can call it back |
or waken again its olden melody. |
Where that statue stood, instead of |
those glad strains which so charmed |
the listener, there is now heard only |
the signing of the desert winds, as |
they chant melancholy requiem over |
the gloomy monuments of departed |
grandeur. And so the harp Of our
Union-that harp which nations
heard entranced," was for season
silent. For a few mournful years its
glorious minstrelsey was hushed
amidst 81 the din of arms" But the
noble instrument was not shattered
in the conflict. Some chords were
displaced, and, for time, lost their
tone. But they shall be readjusted
and reattuned. Wisely, speedily, we
trust, the work of reconstruction
will proceed, until-each Jared string
is restored-through that many voiced
Harp, Eplvibus U'suna-there shall
flow that full tide of a nation spraise.
Then on each recurring festal day in
the nations life, the genius of the
Republic, taking up her wendrous
harp-no discord lingering on its
tuneful strings-shall pour forth, in
mellow numbers her divinest inspira-
tions-her theme the glory of that
land which God has given as the her
itage of her united and happy chill /
drenl goaea..5re re- .,ao+ $50 |
With hearts thrilling with these |
high hopes we come to-day to lay
upon God altarsour sacrifice of praise /
to thank Him for the past and i'm
plore His blessings for the future. 3
In attempting to direct your medi- |
tatiois, as We engage in this delightful |
duty, L ask you to think of the pro-
phetic words, II will mention the
loving kindnesses of the Lord" The
whole verse is a beautiful and COM
prchensive recapitulation of the rea-
sons for thanksgiving. Like pure
spring that sends forth its crystal
stream in gushing fullness, the pro-
phet's heart pours out its fervent
gratitude. He uses all the strong |
words he is master of to express the |
emotions struggling in his heart: L
will mention the loUing kindnesses of
the Lord and the praises of the Lord,
according to all that the Lord hath be-
slowed on us, and the great goodness
towards the house of Israel, which
He hath bestowed on them, accord |
ing to His mercies and according to
the multitude of His loving kind
nesses."
The terms of the text are COM
pound, and therefore the more en-
phatic. It is not love only, for love |
may be latent, and exhibit no positive !
benefcence: nor is it kindness only,
for, Kindness may spring from common
pity. but it is loUe and Kindness blend
ed: Kindness which is the fruit of |
love, and it is not loving kindness in
the singular, but loving kindnesses in
the plural, for in the golden chain of
mercy each link of blessing draws