The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1869-11-26

IL "That righteousness exalteth a ma
e ton This is the foundation of he
l. greatness, this gives permanenc
I and efficiency to her institution:
this guarantees to her q name an
. destiny, down through the genera
e tions of the earth. But this nation
II al righteousness must not be dea,
Y letter. 1t must be active. It's fore
q must be felt throughout the nation
AS the nation grows, it must grow
It must keep pace with every legiti
e mate national interest. 1t must Sc
: its face against everything evil t,
= the nation. 1t must be developed
g How is this done? We answer, B,
Gods OIoa soriten ,cOrd. "If ye vii
keep my statutes" was the law by
which the Jewish people were to.at
: tain to 4 name and position surpass
t ing that of all other nations. Il
ye will walk in my commandments,
= was the condition upon which was
promised every blessing conducive tC
their prosperity and happiness
whilst the law Of national disobedi-
ence worked out for them every pos
sible national evil.
The Bible is nations great chart
1t is a divine mapping out Of the
paths in the seas through Which the
lship of state must sail. Men are too
much inclined to think nations can
weather the rough seas without di-
vine direction. Proud of their own
reason, they have trusted to that.
\ Vain in their own conceits, they have
undertaken to pilot their ship to its
destined port. Though every thing
seemed prOsperous-thOugh great in
numbers, in political skill, in militia
ry proWess, great in wealth, great in
glory-yet bOdiless hand writes
their doom on the gilded walls Of
the kings palace-and Babylon the
great is fallen-in a moment her glory
is gone.
Paul seems to inculcate the princi-
pie, that Gods Word is of much i'm
pOrtance to a nation. In contrasting
the prerogatives of the Jews, with
those of the Gentle nations, he asks
"What advantage then hath the Jew?
Much every way; chiefly, because
that unto them we're committed the
oracles of God" It was these di-
vine oracles that gave to Israel her
superiority. 1t was these that gave
to her excellencies over all others.
They were written for church and
statc-for kings, and priest, and peo-
pie alike. They permeated all de-
partments from the cradle to the
throne, gave efficacy and permanen-
cy to all her institutions, and SO long
as Gods ancient people were mind
full of those heavenly utterances, so
long were they powerful, hOnored
and fearsd-prosperous and happy.
But when unfaithful, they were
shorn of their strength, their temple,
the glory of the nation and wonder
Of the world, razed by unholy hands
to its foundations, and the nation
scattered over the earth as a warning
to people against the rejection of
His word.
Our nation and state have been
greatly benefited by the rich fruit of
this precious gift to man. APPLY has
our worthy governor said-the first
who ever said it" And the
religion of the Bible has blessed and
cheered us ALL" All the Bible has
cheered us in our closets, at our
homes. 1t has cheered our loved
ones, our families and our kindred,
our sick and dying. 1t has eheered
us in our shops, at the bench, behind
the counter-when holding the
plough. 1t has cheered us on the
Sabbath in the sanctuary-at the
sweet hour of prayer. 1t has cheer
ed us in deep waters, when in trial,
and sorrow and weeping. 1t will
cheer US through life's weary jou:-
ney, through the dark valley and
shadow of death, and with firm re-
lance on Him who is the Author Of
the Bible, who maketh bare His arm
in time of need, with a knowledge
aud experience of its past blessings,
with the spirit and determination of
people who cherish Gods Word as
they cherish their liberties, vow that
it shall remain to cheer the children
in the schools.
Let us remember then, in entering
His gates to-day with thanksgiving
for the fruit of the field, for protec-
ton from the pestilence, for all TEN
poral mercies, to give our warmest
gratitude, our most devout thanks
for that spiritual benefit-a
blessed, free, and open Bible-as the
divine agency by which a nations
righteousness is made to appear fair
and bright as the sun.
By way of improvement let US con-
sider-
SECONDLY 4 fero lessons qohich
mag be learned from lohat has been
said. We should learn,
1. To hare faith an Gods OUerruL-
ing Providence. Men talk much
about the forces of Nature. They
have great deal to say concerning
the regular order of things. A5sum-
ing the functions of a prophet, they
predict of seasons, of times and of
crops. But very often, their regular
order of things, become quite irreg
ular. Their predictions fail. Then
they complain, murmur, lose conf
dence in everything. But all this is
far beneath the sublime character of
Him whose goodness and providence
control all things. Behind and above
nature, and natures forces, is the
Author of them all; greater than all
prophets is that God who, indepen-
dent of all things, sendeth the rain,
or withholdeth the shoWers-who
giveth the increase or Wasteth the
field, who smiteth with the pestilenee
or protects against the destruction
wasting at MONDAY.
Moses reminded ancient Israel of
Gods special providence towards
their land alt is a land which the
Lord thy God careth for; the eyes of
the Lord thy God are always upon,
from the beginning of the year un-
to the end of the year" 1t was not
only a land governed by natures
laws, land of summer and winter,
of wet and dry, of wheat and barley,
of vines and fg-trees, but land and
nation over which the Lord God mani
tested a special concern, and exerci-
sed a watchful providence.
Let, then, the enjoyment and strik-
ing evidences of Gods bountiful
goodness which we must acknowl-
edge to-day, incite to a stronger,
purer, higher faith in Him who car
eth for our land. Let it rise to that
sublime hight that takes in the in
spired truth, that God, the ever pre-
seut-hath, through all the year,