Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1866-12-08

THE BLESSINGS OF THE
YEAR.

A THANKSGIVING DISCOURSE, PREACHED IN
THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, sUNBURY,
NOVEMBER BOTH, 1866, By THE PASTOR,
REV. s. W. REIGART. ......
TExr-Psalm L, IA" Offer unto God thanks
giving"
tom, and in compliance with the proclama
ton of the President of the United States
seconded by the Governor of this Common
wealth, we are assembled here to- day, to
"offer unto God thanksgiving" for His
blessings during the past year. In the Ian
guage OF the Presidents proclamation: AL
mighty God our Heavenly Father, has been
pleased to vouchsafe to US rs u people an
other year of that national life which is an
indispensable condition of peace, security,
and progress; that year, moreover, has been
crowned with many peculiar blessings
The civil war that was so recently among
US has not been anywhere re0peDed; foreign
intervention has ceased to excite alarm or
apprehension, intrusive pestilence has been
benignly mitigated, domestic tranquility
have improved, sentiments of conciliation
have largely prevailed, and the affections of
loyalty and patriotism have been widely
renewed. Our fields have yielded quite
abundantly, our mining industry has been
richly rewarded, and we have been allowed
to extend our railroad system into the in
terror recesscs OF the country, while our
commerce has resumed its customary ac
tivity in foreign seas. These great national
blessings demand national acknowledge
ment."
1t is eminently fitting, then, that the Chief
Executive of this Nation should call upon
the people of the several States and Terrific
RES to observe common day of thanksgiving
and praise to Almighty God, and that the peo-
pie come together in His temple to call to
Remembrance his goodness, and praise him
for His wonderful works. Even the hea.
then nations, ignorant though they were of
the true worship of Jehovah, were taught
by the light of Nature and Reason the duty
of acknowledging the goodness Of the Su-
preme Ruler of the Universe. Revelation
declares it everywhere, and gives specific
directions concerning the manner in which
the duty is 20 he performed. Guided by these
lights, the Fathers of the Republic set apart
a day in each year of the war of lHdepen-
dence, for public thanksgiving to God for
all their blessings and all their successes.
Their example. in this respect, has been fol
lowed by nearly all the States of the Union,
from that day 20 this. President Lincoln was
we believe, the first President of the United
States who appointed a National Thanksgiv-
ing on account of the signal victories Which
God had granted our armies. This was re-
sponded to by the Governors of all the loyal
States, and observed throughout the entire
North. To President johnson belongs the
privilege of calling upon the people of the
entire country-now happily reunited, to
observe the same day in this Festival of pub
lie rejoicing, and to day is witnessed the sub
lime spectacle of Nation engaged in the
duty of giving thanks to almighty God
our Heavenly Father, for His blessings upon
u.s." This day marks an epoch in the history
of the Republic which will henceforth he
quoted throughout the world as one of its
holest triumphs and highest honors. In
order suitably to discharge the duty we are
this day called upon to perform, we must
ponder the many fayors to which We are in
debted to kind Providence, and set in
order the mercies of the Lord. To aid the
people in this work is the duty of the min
lister of the Gospel. To accomplish this OBJ
ject. we have selected as the basis of our re.
marks, the command of the Psalmist; an
injunction appropriate at all times, but par
tculary on such an occasion as this :--"Oi-
fer unto God thanksgiving" l.
In the beginning of the Psalm the Divine
Majesty and glory are exhibited. So glori-
ous Being is worthy of the highest homage,
and the most ardent praise. But He will
not be mocked with mere formal services
Sacrifices, the most costly and splendid; of.
ferings the most munifcent an6 pompous,
presented to Him without the heart, are an
abomination in His sight. In praise, in
thanksgiving--in all worship, the heart is
demanded Bearing this in mind, let us
consider some of the reasons why we should
at this time ''offer unto God thanksgiving"
say some of the reasons, for to enumerate
all The mercies which call for gratitude
would be vain undertaking, au utter i'm
possibility More in number than the hairs
upon our head or the sands upon the sea
shore, are the blessings which We receive
from heaven. Every morning brings with
itnep mercies, and every moment We have
occasion to bless, God for his goodness to
us. For individual mercies, Se should Of
fer unto God thanksgiving every day of our
lives. lis praise should be continually upon
our lips. Pssniug by, then, at this time those