The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-11-23
,rpht sunlight Of real peace and substantial pros

whom all blessings n"w,' and revcrently implore
His pTovidcntial guidance for the futnrc.'
In accordance with the spirit OF THIS pr"cllinH-
tior. and In response t. your request. "h!cN
could not well decline. have selected as an appro-
nrinte theme for our meditation NJ thls t'Ine
I" the blessings FOR which we should he THANKFUL
When the proclamation Of olr Governor was
read in the presence Of lady Of refinement. ana
high social position surrounded by BY ecmtnrd cn1nad
With m air Of triumph What have to be thank
full for ?''
Is there one In this assembly, however poor and
humble he may be however oppressed With n
sense of sin and sorrow. who viii not confess that
he has much for which he shoild be thankful: IL
he were to attempt IN Gnumeratc his blessings ana
to estimate them at their full value his pow' rs OF
mind and body would he exhausted. He would, II
fully impressed with their MAGNITUDE ana vaIue.
adopt the language Of the PsilmlSt. and call upon
all the powers Of heaven and earth. both animate
and inanimatc, to Join IN praise Of God ana IN
thank sgiylng for His numbcrlcSs blessings lie
90 give thanks unto the God Of Heaven, for I HIS
mercy endureth forever. Q give thanks ~ hiIi IN
VIII" alone d0cth great wonders; r. nun NV , ny
wisdom made the heavens; to Him that stretcneu
out tho earth above the waters: to him 'll1t .pI
great lghts-thc to rule by day, the moon anu
low estate. and hath redeemed Us from our ehe-
mics; TOR His mercy cndurcth t"reLcr' ,,,h VOL,
What. then. arc the blessings for whlch you
should be thankful: All will ;,d'nIt thai ynn en-
joy many blessings. both temporal anu s1
IS there thanklrss heart In the lini verse .!
II So he deserves your pit: MhtoG {""r compar
son with In Sc enjoyed by others outside o - r., -,
sons wall, yet they arc greater than we're eve. o
fore enjoyed by the Inmates of this in>t'tnIioh'
Of you 1t cannot now be said as of Others,
~ he coodly earth and air ,,,,-,,
Are bann'd and barr 'd--rorbsdden f"Ts'
No longer do the mute implements Of torture
the dungeon and the ra"k--with YOU "appc'l rom
tyranny tn God.n In this institution Il mo sthumanc
policy has been adopted. The handcuf and the
whipping-pnst have been suppanted by the kibt"
and rlc Sabbath school. 1mstead Of blasphcmv
and imprecations, the sound Of prayer ana praise
Is heard. The fear Of punishment has h'en i",nd
to be less eflicacous In promoting discipline than
the hope nf reward aud appeals to lie n"hier In
stincfs of our nature. The pcnitenf larry instead
Of being college where diplomas In crime are
annually vcn,-whcrr her alumni are trained as
missionaries of vice and infdclity-mav now be-
come. as-its name imports, a house Of pcnancc "r
correction: It. Inmates IRE rc,n%Ycd t,%m IN, many
crime they subjected to n discipline at once
firm and humane, and ample opportunity Is af,
fordcd for the cultivation of the mind and
heart. Your physical wants arc we'll supplied.
while habits of industry and obedience to law
are taught. and very soon acquired. When
Won le1ve this place you may illustrate In Your
lives the benefits Of n humane system OF laws
administered with kindness and Justice. Your
temporal blessings are seen and felt by ALL ~ nnd
God. But yoir spiritual blessings. which arc un-
.crn and eternal. are far higher and n"hler: and
they should fiji your hearts with dcvout gratitude
and love to God. Whence come these sriritilal
blessings which you enjoy In common with the
whole Christian Church? Are they the gtt of any
human institution or system Of laws3 Can the
power of man either give or take them away? Can
chains dungeons bind or darkcn the light OF the
blessed Gospel of Christ when has once illumi ined
the sinners heart? What influence has sent these
ladies as ministering spirits to break To Won the
bread Of life. and point you t. The living w.tcrs
The 9Te % Chrit c nG h tnm s IS pTb
fore them. When tie King shall saw unto t"em on
his RICH: han?, Come yc blessed ofmy Father, To-
herit the Kingdom prepared for v0u from the
Tou n pf thp world | q huuTprpt,
and &c gave me meat; was thirsty, ard ye
gave me drink; / was n stranger. and ye
was sick, and ye visited me; | was in, prison
and ve came unto me- When the King shall ac-
rcpt service rendered to one Of the least Of these
His brethren rs done unto Him. then shall these de-
voted teachers receive their reward, and Wear rs
Jewels in their crowns the tears which have been
she'd by rcpcntrnt sinners.
If we would trace t. their origin the spiritual
blessings which We en- JOY, "" must ascend to the
throne Of 6 cd III the councils o' eternity. The
Eternal Son gave himself for us before the world
began. and the Holy Spirit was ever ready To re-
generate and sanctify the heirs of glory. What
IRE the means provided hy the infinite power, wis
vati0n? This world was designed as q grand thea
tre for the display" Of Chrt.t's atonemcnt and the
angelic host who had not lost their first estate were
employed rs ministering spirits to those who are
the heirs Of salvation. Holy men oI old spake rs
thnv were moved ny the Spirit; and the Bible. 4
lamp unto our feet and i&t unto path II tnc
blessed Instrument In th- hands of tn people OF
G for the conversion of the world. Miraculous
p0wcr over the material aud spiritual laws OF the
Universe were exercised by Christ and his apos-
tns ~ an :tiestzti0n of the truth of divine rcve-
long and i!ustrious line, appeared rs types Of the
great Prophet. Priest, and King, who should come
to proclaim the truth Of the gospel. to Nuke inter
cesslon and sacrifice for his people and to cStab
liSh an everlasting kiE cdom. Ever means rcccs-
saryior the salvation ofslncrs la been provided.
The marriage surrcr Of the Lamb has b. en- pre-
,ttnl 70 i-i
md the bride say come. And let him III Il hcarcth
say come. An. let him TINT Is mthj-st come. And
~hoSocvcr will, let him take the water OF life free
ly.-' Ircjnlcc in tn" belief that of you hay
tccclicd this invitation, and tlt you are now IN
the ,njo, mcnt OF the blessed hope of lite eternal.
Your Superintendent has stated that not
pon of any sort Is permitted within the sacred
walls Of this chapel. For the first time, AIN told,
the experiment has been successfully made "i
assembling all The conyiGts at pcnitenIiary in u
room for public worship without weapon being
H. the possession Of Il guard. Can this he true
Would any OF You ladies' BE- willing to trust v"nr
persons III such Il company II no weapons, "itcil-
i've uI. d, lensyc, were here: This is grcIt mis-
sivc here and ready for use at a moments lnticc
Many of you prisoners are armed: aud all oi
YOU teachers, | trust have put "n the whole
armour Of God. Stand, therefore. having our
loins girt about With truth. and having on tie
nrcastplate of rlghtco. sness, aud your feet shof
with tie preparation Of the gospel Of peace above
all, taking the shield Of faith. whcrewith ye shal
he able t. qucnch all the fiery darts Of the wicked
And take tie helmet Of salvation and the sword oi
the Spirit, which la the Word of Cod
of what avail all Of our temporal and spi-
ritual blessings except they lead Us onward and
upward 10 thtt heavenly mans ton where AL truth.
order, beauty. love, and joy, dwell forever under
TIE perfected law and will OF the God Of our sal
ylJiUu:
The Kingdom Of Heaven must begin IN the heart
the believer in this life 1.-The would rea!izc its lu
fruitiGn in the world TO come.
OF ali persons. the Christian should be the most
Joyous anu thankful. The voice OF inspiration
has said, "Rcjoicc in the Lord always; .ant
again say unit, you reJoiccn The fruits Of IN,
JOY, Contentmcnt, Peace. Need l remind those
who are heirs Of salvation, heirs Of God, anC
Joint heirs with Christ of the blessed inherit,nc,
which Is reserved for them? Need l tell YOU tha
all things shall work together for good To thost
who love the Lord: Who shall separate us iron
the love of Christ? Shall tribul l;ti0n or distress
or persecution, or famine, or naHedness or peril
or sword. Nay. In all these things we are moro
than conquerors through Him that loved Us: for
am persuaded that neither DEATH nor life, nor an
gels. nor principalities, nor powers, nor thing
present things to come. nor height, nor depth
nor any other creature. shall be able to separate
MS from the love of God. which is III Christ Jcsu
our Lord.n The blessings for which the Christian
should be thankful are boundless In extent ant
| endless In duration. Let us for moment glanct
IL 4 lew OF these blessings:
Justiicrti0n is the ontal blessing. 1t IS the act
OF Gods free grace in pardonng al our sins, ant
accepting Us rs righteous through talth In Christ
Ii Is the ground OF all other blessings. In the Wor,
of God its blessings are thus expressed God vii
impress his laws upon our minds and il'arto: liz
VIII DC our NIbu, kIIlc We SIhd!I
shall kuow God from the least tn the greatest. An,
lie will pardon 0nd blot out al our sins from tin
book OF his rememvraEcc.' IL delivers us enircl.
from the penalty of sin or spiritual death, and eli
titles Us 10 lie eternal. ..rhc Jl$t shall live b.
faith
Ihe righteousness OF Christ can Eever cease o.
change. \ justiflcd person, then. cln never come
into condemnation. "Wh ho shtli lay anything &
the charge OF Gods elect 1t l. God that jusiiie Ii
Who Is he that cnndcmueth: II Is Christ that died
YEA rather that Is risen again, who IS at tin
right hand oil God, who also makcth interccssloi
for u.s.
THIS leading blessing OF the covenant Of grace
Is cu-axtensiyc with the curse brought upon Ms bN
the fail. This doctrine Of Justification by iaitl,
since II rests on the perfect righteousness o
Christ and Gods covenant OF grace, affords 4
once the strongest ground oi assurance and tn
most powerful motive 10 holiness.
Efrrctual calling IS blessing bestowed by 81
wing grace In cfTccting the whole change In ou
nature from the trst entrance OF grace unit