The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1866-12-01
THANKSGIVING DAY.
Synopsis OF Sermons Preached in the
Different Churches of Wheeling, on
Thursday, November 3Sth, 1866
Thanksgiving Day.

NONthUtE SVsHs ASOo
(Thnnbsgiving Day.
First Presby terinn Chureh-Revcrend
's''" ID. w. Fisher.
"Propare We the way ofthe Lord make straight
in the desert q highway for our. God Every
valley shall he exalted and every mountain and
hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall De
made straight, and the rongh places plain: and
the glory Of the Lord shall lie revealed. and all
flesh shall see it together: for the mouth OF the
Lord hath spoken it's. 10 3-5.
The subject suggested by this passage
is not related directly to the state OF
our own country, but TO the condition
of the world at large when viewed from
particular standpoint. 1t has been
selected, rather than other themes which
to some persons might seem more ap-
propriate, not because there is i'll the
dealings of providence WITH us rs peo-
pie during the past year nothing which
calls for gratitude to God. Besides the
continuation of the common mcrcieS of
life and of the ordinary means of grace,
He has bestowed special favors, such as
the staying of the pestilencee, reign OF
peace, and financial prosperity.
The subject is appropriate, however,
/ because of the wonderful changes when
have recently been occurring among the
nations of the earth. 1t has been eX-
pected that the year 1866 would be at
tended by u very remarkable state of
/ the world. A survey of it will show
that there is enough to call for our
earnest consideration and devOut thank
| fulneSS to God.
! The text received its direct fuliillment
in the preparation of the nations for the
covering of Christ when he was born.
1t also involves great princlple-that
God by His providence so controls all
men and all Kingdoms as to prepare the
way for the fuliilment of His promises
and the accomplishment of His designs.
His truth admits of wide and varied
application. There is one event OF such
sfnpendons magnitude and inestimable
Importance that it may with eminent
prOpriety be used concerning IT. inns
is the universal spread of at least the
principles Of Christianity as foretold III
the Scriptures.
Ifsuch an event is to come, God will by
His Providence prepare the way for It..
! While this preparation Is not now com.
plete, and we do not know when 1T shall
I be, yet there is enough i'll the present
condition of the world at large to call
for our devout gratitude to God.
/ |. The barriers in the way Of efforts for
| the spread of the truth are disappearing.
Less than century ago these bar
riers were of two kinds. One was the
practical Indifference of the masses OF
| Christian people in regard to the une-
qualized portions of the globe. AS late
as 1898 Sydney Smith sneered ut the
mjssi anarTIiGCo iGCoH,4YursS thasTo fffttif 'C:01fh-
pany refused to allow him to labor any
where within their dominions. Now
the church recognizes its duty to give
| the gospel to every creature, and the
men at-the head of commerce and gov
erment encourage the efforts OF the
missionaries. The other obstacle was
the impracticability Of the underta-
king. The doors of the nations were
closed against christianity. Now China,
India. Africa and indeed nearly all
nations are accessible. The change has
especially been wonderful among the
Roman Catholic nations. While the
system of Papacy remains as intolerant
as ever the governments OF these lands
are opening the way for the gospel.
Even Italy with its 81 100000 of people
! is free-frec from the Alps to the APP
pcnines-free not only in government
| hut also for the spread of the truth.
| The barriers arc almost gone through
ont the world.
=. The old systems arraycd in opposi-
ton 10 Christianity are in state OF de-
cay: and as consequence their sub-
iects are longing for and expecting
| something better than the husks upon
which they have been fed. Intercourse
with the more civilized portions of the
/ globe, and the introduction of modern
| arts and sciences. are surely undermin-
| ING such forms of error as Buddhism and
| Brahmanism. As an indicative of the
| tendency i'll these nations, the case OF Il
Young Brahman reformer i'll Calcutta,
of whom DIR. Duff recently gave an ac-
count. is highly interesting. Mahom-
mechanism has long ceased to make any
progress. Turkey, by which 1t
| is upheld, is notoriously the
sick man of Europe. The Papacy
so far rs its temporal power is concern
ed. is like n withered tree from which
the last sign of life is disappearing. 1t
has no longer any support from Its
crowned adherents. Napoleon will soon
withdraw his troops from Rome. Aus
tria was prostrated by the battle of Sa-
dowa. The Mexican empire is failure,
humiliating to the Pope, and to all It's
friends. Italy is free, and its King is
excommunicatcd by the Pope. Spain,
herself on the verge of a revolution,
and Portugal, alone talk Outstanding by
the old order of things. The masses OF
the Roman. Catholic people in Italy and
in other lands say that the Pope as n
/ temporal Prince is an organized ana
chronism" which, rs the great obstacle
to the progress of civilization and lib
erty, must be swept ont of existence.
In the meantime to all propositions of
compromise the Pope replies non pOssa-
mus, and rusheS blindly down to his fate.
Probably in short time he will be fu-
Citive from Rome. While the masses OF
the Roman Catholics in theseaands have
now no idea of breaking finally with the
church, yet it is probable that the
revolution will roll far beyond the linn
its which they have set for it. In any
case, the Roman Catholic Religion has
entered upon n new phase of its exist
tenee. Henceforth it must meet us. not
with fagots, but with the weapons OF
truth. 81.
Thus these systems are perishing. At
the same time there is general long
ing for, and expectation of, % world
wide Observation-Disclosures as there was
Mt the birth of Christ. The nations may
be represented as breathelossly waiting
to see what wonderful change God will
work upon them.
3. There is rapid progress in the
world towards a great unitication of all
nations and classes. They are becoIn-
ing moro really honiogenious,-more
truly one-than were the inhabitants
and provinces of single empire in past
ages. This work of unifcation is Of
two kinds-internal and external-or
national and international. Within
the limits of particular countries it
shows itself in the tendency towards O
removal of absolute monarchies, feudal
aristocracy, and any superiority Ly
birth, and in the rapid elevation OF the