Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1865-1872, 1867-12-06
THANKSGIVING.

people Of all religious denominations at
the M. Il. Church of this place on Thanks.
giving morning. when an able discourse
was preached by Rev. I. ii. Lynch Of that
ehu,sh. A synopsis Of the sermon is sub
jeined
Tsai-"who am I, o Lord God9 and
and what is my house, that thou hast
brought me hilherto9"-2d Sam. vii. Is.
The speaker stated that the text was
expressive Of the reflections OF David, af.
ter the prophet Nathan had been TO him
with a message Of Divine goodness con-
corning him aud his posterity. In the
midst Of high expectation David was still
as humble ss little child. Though de.
MED the privilege of building the house Of
God, he Is not in distress. He is still
overpowered with o sense Of infinite mer.
cy, heightened by view Of his personal
unworlhiness and Of tho imperfection of
bis nature. What were the mercies he
remembered, and which excited gratitude
in his heart?
/. He was thankful for renewing grace
10 early life. When Saul enquired for a
man who could play we'll upon an instru.
meni, and requested that he be brought
to him, a.servant replied that he had seen
a son Of Jesse tho Be,hlebemite, a mighty
man, valiant, p man Of war, comelY, pru.
dent, a19 NE 4ofd soas 9th him. s>nnI
2. lie was thankful for the special prov.
idepee of God in the midst of dangers and
exposures from which no human power
could rescue him. Here the speaker IL.
Illustrated, by many historical facts, tho
doctrine OF Gods general and special prov.
idence over the works of His hand, In the
intellectual, the moral, the spiritual and
physical world. In the case Of David he
instanecd his deliverance from the mouth
OF the lion and from the paw Of the bear
as he fed the flock Of his father. Second
His deliverance from the hand of Saul,
whose Jealousy was excited against him
whom tho women came forth in tho dance
and In the song, proclaiming, "Saul has
slain his thousands aud David his ten
thousands"
g. lie was thankful when he romem.
tered how God bowed tho hearts of the
people to make him king,--hrst, in Heb
ron; second, over all Israel; third, In the
perpetuity Of his throne as coyenanted in
the Messiah.
L. His sense OF the Divine goodness
was increased by recollection Of his hum.
bio origin. Some men are vain and proud
OF their origin. David was humble--"who
am IL and what IL my house2'
Let US now, said Mr.. Lynch, apply these
reflections TO few prominent facts in our
history as people aud see IL We have
not great reason to be glad aud give thanks
10 God.
l. In the discovery Of America by Co.
lumbus We read clear manifestation OF
Gods providence. For nearly four thou.
sand years after the ark rested on Mount
Arrarat, and the sons Of Noah began to
people the mountains aud vallies Of Arme.
MIA, the old world increase dto millions Of
inhabitants. Empires rose aud fell; king.
dom followed Kingdom in quick success
sion; republics rose, hourished, matured
and expired. During the long years OF
rather centuries Of Asiatic aud European
growth and commercial prosperity, the
American continent was inhabited by on
ly few hundred thousand benighted say.
ages. In solitude our rivers rolled their
waters TO tho ocean; In drearinesa our
lakes spread abroad their mighty food.
Columbus and his associates would seek
and find Western passage 10 tho rich
golden fields Of India, when lol new
world bursts upon the vision Of the bold
marinsrs Gods hand in this. How
mysterious are tho ways of the Most High!
2. Religious persecution drove the pill.
grim fathers from England to Plymouth
Rock; desire for gain caused the settle
ment on James River. la these settle.
ments In the wilderness, though far apart.
We find the germ Of the great American
empire. This was of God.
3. The American Revolution had its
origin, apparently, In the unjust measures
of the British Parliament. But when we
look ia upon the Congress assembled in
Philadelphia In 2776. We see there, upon
the venerable walls Of Independence Hall,
the handwriting Of God inspiring the
hearts and minds Of the patriots of that
day, when they proclaimed, as the organic
law OF new empire, Liberty through
out all the land to all the inhabitants
thereof" We read this upon the old bell.
The special providence Of God to us as
. people was illustrated by the history Of
The formation Of the Constitution of the
United States; by the political revolution Of
1901; by the defeat Of the ambitions and
designs Of Aaron Burr; by the
events Of the war Of 1912; by tho exciting
questions Of 1920; by the Tariff and
Notifications discussions Of 1888; and
astly by reference to the wonderful events
II the last seven years of impressive his
DRY 10 our existence as nation. In all
hese, God in His providence was mani
est.
While there are many wrongs among
Is, over which we may we'll lament, aud
which call for deep humiliation before
iod, there is nevertheless; abundant reason
N the goodness Of God for us to exclaim
With thanksgiving and praise, "The eter-
lal God is our refuge, aud underneath are
he everlasting arms"