The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-11-30
GODS GOODNESS CROWNS THE YEAR
A Sermon Delivered by the Rev. James
Cooper, at the Berean Baptist Church,
West philadelphia.

THANKSGIVING services We're held at this
church al 1890 A. H., conducted by the pastor,
Rev. James Cooper. The address was founded
upon the text. Psalm &C. llth verse;-"Ihou
CroWneet the year vita Thy goodness"
1t is matter OF gratItcation that the obser-
vance Of day OF jubilee thanksgiving Is becom-
ing national; that every year witnesses an in
creased number of States uniting in the same
day. The recognition OF Divine Benedcence
by great people is favorable symptom OF the
public morality, and is presage OF the endur-
ing life Of the republic. God will honor the
nation that fears Him.
The 65th Psalm Is an ode OF great beauty. 1T
commentaries the Providential mercles which
have been, bestowed by the Mighty Ruler ot the
skies. Wecan adopt its language, and can realize
the fgures which the inspired writer employs
10 describe the proofs OF tue goodness OF God as
manifested through the year. We can look back
9tDon the changing seasons, and now that tne
autumn has returned, with its prOfustOn OF bless
ings, we can JON with the Psalmist in the lofty
ascripton OF praise 10 Almighty God, "Tnou
hast crowned the year with Thy goodness
First 1t is worthy of note that every year i
favored with the goodness Of God. The original
language of the text indicates this TACT God
distinguishes every year with His benedcance.
The Apostle Paul gave an effective illustration
otits truth in his tervent appeal to the Lystrians
NOT to sacrifice unto himself and Barnabas, de-
Glazing that though God had abandoned the
heather for their idolatry. vet He left not Him.
self@ithout witness in that He did good, and
gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons,
tilliDg our hearts with tood and gladness." The
years, as tney come ana go, are OlStlng ulSleQ
with the tokens OF the Divine regard. There are
traditiGas OF seasons which were not favorable,
and OF comparatively meagre harvests secured;
but there have been no famine years i'll our
times. Eections OF country have experienced
failures pt crops: but their deficiencies have
been made up ny tine abundance Of other sec
tOns. Ram from heaven and fruitful seasons
have been the uaUkd allotment OF former and
recent years in this CHOSEN land.
Second. There are year, however, which Coo
crowns more especially with HIS goodness. The
present year is such au one. We have mao
special proofs of His favor.
The continuance of peace Calls for prOtoundest
gratitude 10 our Heavenly Father. Our most
sanguine anticpations have been realized. There
have been heart-burnings, political contentious,
and scenes of blood in some parts OF the land.
There have been fOrebodings OF sanguinary
struggle on a wider scale, bur God has brought
us through them all. His voice has stiled the
tempest OF mans wrath. How strange the pre-
sent as contrasted with the past, seems That
civil war which statesmen anticipated with
terror of mind, and which sooner than see some
of them desired to die, has come and passed
away. Sad were It's sights OF woe, fearful its
scenes of blood, and yet the nation breathes
Freer, ard we cannot but rejoice over the fact
1 lAat Il is born anew.
The material prosperity which we have en-
10y ed affords an occasion Of thanksgiving The
az sbOndment of a million OF men, pouring
the M forth into the fields and departments of
pea ce1ul industry, might have seemed too sudden
for the interests OF trade and OF mechanical pur-
suit But no shock has been felt. The anvil
and 4 he loom-the plouah and the axe--have
furnis he'd work for the increased numbers OF
our la te citizen soldiers and for hundreds OF
thOusan ds OF immigrants from the Old World.
-Tbe yolL me of the home and foreign trade may
not have been as large as in some former years
more On less distrust OF the future may have
checked the rush of busness-fortunes may MOI
have been ~ rapidly made as in the three OF
four years pfeceding-yet there has been nc
serious deraneemen. of business, no genera
breakdown TO affect the nations prosperity.
The abundance Of the hsrVests calls for tbsnks