New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-11-29
THE DOMINION OF GOD-THE OCCASION OF JCY
AND THANKSGIVING.


BURoHARD, D D.
In tho Thirteenth-st. Presbyterian Church.
Yesterday tho Rev DIR. Burchard took his text from
Psalm a. l. as follows: 1.-THE Lord reigneth, lot the
earth rejoice; let tho multitude Of Isles DO glad thereof
The speaker gan by abiding TO the Presidenps Proea
nation stating the more natural and obvious reasons
for thanksgivug But and above all other reasons
was that OF Gods dominion universal and stable being
the occasion Of JOY and gratitude to the believer when
doubt ana dseouragenent settled all earthly things
lett then object briefly To detail some OF lie Tes
sons for gratitude aud Joy IN view OF Gods relgp ana
6t the attributes that qualify him to reign should be
the source gratitude ana JOY The happiness anu pros
Tners when the wicked rule, the people mourn"
This principle fully developed and illustrated py te
speaker in tho history OF the past ON tae oeheI nn
righteous rulers Joy 20 people ana the pieege OF
safety aud renown In his eoDleSOn x H10 Sant
God, wise, mighty aud De heNOleht hnS was De"u.
fully skecaed and the hearts OF al men, OF FInees ana
Presidents In his hands and the Issues OF I'll events
speaker be joyful TO day. and not depressedi to De
hopeful good land as we look 70 God es cur
ruler aud not To men, or the mAnesla-
toDs OF parsas solve the great problem OF our oonn
Is safe, and we shall Be mighty ana no weapon
M Tne laws OF the Divine Government such
DO the occasion OF JOY aud gratitude to his creatures Inc
character Of a nations must affect the character
hanpness and prosperity Of the people. Some Of the
Governments of the earth have cruel ana
when tbe masses OF the people gIOaDlaws which keep
them serfs menals which forbid tae exercise "
their inahenable rights which frown at any elots az e
nghtenment, and 9ueneh all the generous ana Ioi Us
Of their hearts bucn laws uitNo
been limited Pagan and Monarchcal conAtIIes, Sut
they have been known in Christian lands ana even under
These are the laws Of Cod They all founded 10 the
eternal principles OF equity and truth Examine inc DEC
eiogueLthe very perfection OF Moral COdethe source
and basis OF al equitable Jurisprudence enJOng hrsJ
and above Oil things supreme love ana loyaI 70 the
King and strict and faithful performance or all duties
Growing ont of our relations to HIM; then proper IecOg
ton and observance OF the rights OF others whether
Waved In their great principles ennnclated by Moses
or elaborated and appedby Christ we are constrained
say that they simple just adapted 70 promote tns
-hatur of all ha
their perfection when he said, The law OF the Lord Is
snre making Use the simple the statutes OF the Lord
are right rejoicing the heart tie commandment OF the
sTs tbsJ than eod"yea than much fine gold sweeter
also, than honey and the honey,eom6. Moreover, by
Them h Thy servant warned and In Keeping OF them
there IA great reward" such is the testimony Of the M
spired bard1the King Of Isaed d Inc GnnTy ana
Of them In that remote age OF the world Is
equally true OF them now; filey are, are aasps9 70
the Very perfection OF wisdom and righteousness when
given, and need therefore no REVISION 20 SUIT we varying
condition of the different ages. HOt 30 WIN Huan Gy
StitutiOns But Gods laws. Ike himself are imnutable
and being @ can neSe nv all be Weight Of me anu
thOry Not OF them can be violated with IMMUNITY
written In the book Of the law to do them" Not with
human laws and governments Men may commit the
upon flag, at defiance her authority aud yet hope
for amnesty and laugh at any prospect OF trial or just
that weakens the sanctions Of governments and renders
our national fabric 50 insecure Crime should % pun
ished treason should be made odions," and traitors
disqualified 20 take part IN the responsibilities OF govern
eoYernnent Sustained such is Gods wisdom and Pur-
pose in relation 70 bis own The wicked shaii NOT 20
Se Counsel Of the Lord standeth sure No coHsidera
lions Of expedency permitted 10 turn aside the de-
mands OF Justice Whatever then, may be our deln-
gueneies and consequent epprehensOns as government
may rejoice to-day In the stability and permanently
OF the eternal The Lord rogneh let the earth
rejoice" III third Of Joy and gratitude s that
God reigns on a throne Of grace and ,il mercy II
present our offerings OF praise and THANKSGIVING In
this connection the speaker presented Chriss viearious
work as eectuay answering the claims OF justice and
hOnOrDg the violated law that God could be just and
Seioee aud give thanks to-day for all Gods proyidentia
blessings for tho fruits OF the earth for the golden har
borders for the progress of art the tTiumphs
learning but central and conspicuous as exciting grat
divine love and the means Of salvation 70 lost race In
this exhibition see tine only true and sale plan 81 ma
ing through all classes that the Government should DO
sustained that outraged and violated law should nave
been yndlcated In It's penalty that treason should not 80
nnpunished, and hence indiscIiminate disabilities have
been thrown upon the entire SOUTH ana S %gIK OF %
free aud republican government has been badly ana
start with the principle indispensable 70 the integrity
and safety OF any government, that law must
consequently must DO punished, and nasmnch "a
neither justice nor the honor OF the Govern
on the head OF every offender would have selected the
most notorious 10 DO DISTINGUISHED banished or executed
and the law In ITS penalty being thus sasled and the
Iuaiesty OF the Government upheld, would have pro-
claimed universal amnesty to the masses ON the condi
OF fcalty 70 tho Constitution and thus hasensd 70
fts contamination the reconstruction OF the STATES ihs,
fn the workings OF human government, rs under the
Divine Justice and mercy would have met together,
Righteousness and peace would have embraced each
other, ana should have rejOiced to-day IN a Union
cemented aud nseparabe. W. fourth reason OF graft
fude and 10y H. that God so regns as 70 bring good OUT OF
evil aud 10 cause tho wrath Of to praise him. The
Doctor by admitted that God was the Author OF
Egi but being here, against his w aud In violation OF
lis law he might override as 10 be- the occasion Of
FIN and adniring display OF his own PROJECTIONS,
aud more august destiny 70 MS creatures Ihis was
illustrated the broad arena Of sin and redemption.
Bnt look at this subject IN the light OF national evils The
Hebrews oppressed and cruelty treated Ina Egypt,
and yet their treatment made the means OF national
Development OF heroic traits, which they might
not have otherwise attained, aud yet which
seemed essential 10 their future mission ana work.
The Purtans we're prosecuted Ia England, but God made