The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-12-01

Dutch ChurC h. Believing that the whole dis
course will well repay perusal, we avail our
selves of the space which, wanting yesterday, is
to-day at our command, and give it to the public
in full.
The minister selected his text from the 18th
verse of the 32d chapter OF Isaiah:-"And the
work OF righteousness shall be peace" r-
At the call of our Chief Magistrate, -four whole
people engage in Thanksgiving to Almighty God
to-day.
For this excellent and becoming custom is,
happily, again made national. Happily, we
say, for this is as it should be. 1t belts us, as
aproiessedly Christian nation; and more than
this, 1t is in keeping vito our national origin,
and properly recognizes and keeps 1t in remem-
brance. Our origin rs in no sense accidental.
We are the offspring of the providence OF God.
Not that ordinary providence, by which He
upholds and regulates all things, but that
special providence by which He prepares the
way of His kingdom of righteousness and
peace, and establishes its sway in the world.
Men were educated to found this nation, ia the
school of conflict, for sacred principles. The
Spirit ef God awakened few minds to see and
appreciate the deadening influence of Rome, on
mind and heart, and social, moral, and civil
estate.
They saw, too, that in the great Bible doctrine
OF justification by faith in Christ, lay enwrapped
freedom of conscience in the Church of God;
and they set themselves, in the strength OF the
Lord, TO loose the Papal shackles from the
Church, and put away from between her and
her true Lord the soul-tyranny of Rome. And
thus came forth the Protestant Reformation,
whose special beauty and strength showed
themselves in the Netherlands, then province
of Spain. Philip II, inspired by his cruel heart
and his Romish prejudices, sought to crush out
this Heaveninspired spirit of liberty; and en-
ployed all the horrors of war and the Popish
Inqusiton TO effect his purpose. The Neither
lands, seeing that freedom, not only religious
but civil, was at stake, resisted. After long
and terrible struggle they triumphed, and reli.
gious and civil liberty was theirs. And now,
being independent, they must frame civil
Government winch would secure by its opera
ton these dear-bought benefits. The Reformed
Church-our Reformed Church--ltself the very
symbol aud the foster-mother of both, furnished,
in its framework, model which was initiated.
The result was the free Dutch Republic, which,
while it was the wonder of the age, afforded
safe asylum to the oppressed for conscience
sake. Nor were these wanting. Purltans and
Huguenots found occasion to seek temporary
asylum there; and while there, they learned the
connection between free republic and the sure
guarantee of free exercise of religious affections.
They came, and Hollan6ers came hither, and
brought these ideas with them, in addition to
the spirit OF the Reformation.
And when the mother-country put the heel of
oppression upon their descendants, she met that
spirit and these ideas in fnll life and vigor They
bore and forbore till endurance ceased to be a
virtue, and then they struck Tor independence
and not in vain.
For in Independence they designed only to
perpetuate to Church and State what had been
born in the Reformation, and brought 70 matu'
rity through much tribulation in the Neither
lands. And now they set into the soil OF tue
New World, and water with tears of pious graft
tude, and tertiiize with the prayer OF faith, the
precious "Plant of renown," which their fathers
had borne with them from their Old World
asylum. And it took root; and in our free insti-
tutions, baptized twice in blood, we have the
stately tree grown to strength, and spreading its
branches, and shelteriug by its genial shade the
representatives of every cline and nation. Now
see why it is often noted that the institutions of
our Reformed Church and our civil institutions
are similar. 1t is natural that the child should
be like its parent. Our Reformed Church Is,
root and branch, in every sense, an ecciesIastcal
republic.
through"the Dutch Republican, to the Reformed
Church, whose original is that great agency by
which God would reform and liberate the world
through the doctrines and blood OF HIS Son.
behold how imperative the duty of all American
citizens to labor to preserve intact these insttu-
aons of Gods own planting, by His special and
wonderful Providence.
While then to-day we give thanks for large
harvests and active industry, and preserved
health and peaceful foreign relations, 1t is mos
fitting that our minds take the direction OF con-
siderng what is necessary to effect the end, for
which 1t is clear we were brought into, and are
continued in existence, as people. Our text
furnishes us the necessary instruction, and leads
our minds in proper train. "The WORK OF
righteousness shall be peace" For in this term,
'peace," are contained all those elements which
can be conceived of as having place in the OBJ
ject for which we were made and are so signaly
preserved free republic. 1t pictures to US the
smooth working of the national machinery;
the complete harmony of all the departments OF
Government; the practical efficiency because o
the actual supremacy, OF law; the unjarring ad
iustment of the various interests and industries
of the nation; the brotherly union of all its sec
hOns; and the full recognition and enjoyment
OF all rights, civil, social, religious Throughout
our borders. Nay, brethren 1t pictures all ouI
present difficulties settled; all sectional bitter
ness cured, and the stream OF personal freedom
and safety, in the enjoyment OF high privileges
couTsng everywhere, and bearing upon it
bosom a happy busy, contented, law-abiding
prosperous people; and over them the brlgh
sun of Gods favor pouring down blessings, varied
as circumstances, abundant as necessities II
His rays. We may tnen express our gratitude
to-day, by carefully and deVoutly considering
the dIviney prescribed requisite to this peace.
Aud now, first, let me show you something o
the nature of this requisite. AS 1t was origt
nally plven, 1t was the promise OF what shoulC
be under given circumstances. IL was the pledge
of Divine honor and faithfulness that, wheI
ligh eousness Lad done its work, peace should b
enjoyed. But who cannot see enwrapped in i
fundamental principle to govern all human
action, and TO point the human mind to thu
attainment of valuable results Now Got
plainly tells us, by various means, that it is
principle underlying His personal and govern
mental action. "All the words OF His moutl
are in Righteousness" a. the Lord, have calleC
thee in riehteousness" And does He not sty
Himself " the righteous Lord, that lovetl
righteousness Yn He rules in Righteousness; I;
He shall Judge the world in righteousness;
and He "doeth Righteousness But, more still
10 our point:-"The kingdom of God is, first
righteousness, then peace" The title OF tn
great Redeemer is 'the Prince OF Peace.H Tn
issue of His conflict with the powers of dark
ness is ION earth peace" Yet "the sceptre o
His kingdom is a sceptre OF righteousness" an
IN the connection OF our text and at the yer
staringpoint OF the thought that is in it eS
pressed, He is styled "a King who shalt reig
in righteousnessn His work of sacrifice Is