The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1870-11-26
THANKsGTVfNG DAY.

We present our readers tthisl morning
brief abstracts Of sermons preached in
our city on Thanksgiving Day. We re.
gretthal gug pacegNili not permit slsaQ
give reports q al.the dseodfs deliver.
ed, not only here, but in the neighbOring
towns, on that day, Is they were all meri'
tOrious and might be read with profit
Abstract Or a sermon Preached in
the First Presbyterian Church, on
Thanksgiving Day, by Rev. d. w.
Fisher. M taF I-Is-a -IaHi'E 20 h-'H
Gratitude to God.
TRxT,-WhAt ShAIl render unto the Lord SoI
ali hls benefits toward mel PSalm ll6:lG!
This passage Is q declaration Of graft
tude to God. Il recognizes him as the
source OF rich mercies toward US, and ex'
presses desire in return to do something
which will be pleasing TO him.
The duty Of gratitude TO q benetactoE
does not require 10 DO established by ar.
gumenL We instinctively feel that it is
obligatory. Tt iSG sentiment also which
we are as truly bound to entertain to.
ward God as toward men. 1t ought to be
q prominent element in our worship, and
especially 70 enter largely into the services
Of this occasion. We are not here to con.
slider topics which lie in the underlined re.
gions between religion and politics, or
even principally for penitence and huni.
liation, but rather to thank the Lord for
his goodness during the present year.
We may, look, first, OF the Lords ,bene-
fits toward us. 1t would be as vain 70 ut.
tempt to enumerate them, as to endeavor
10 count the sunbeams or TO catalogue
the leaves Of the forest They are Of the
most widely varied character, We, how.
ever, may specify that, as a nation, we
have been free from the rayages otpestt'
lence, famine, and war. We should con-
trsst our condition with what It was when
civil war ragged among us afew years ago,
or with that, Of France at the present
time, The Church also has reason for
special gratitude. As denomination we
rejoice over the consummAtiOn OF the re-
union. In the Church at large there has
been a steady advance along the whole
line. In the wonderful series Of events
which are occurring on the continent Of
Europe, We may recognize the Master
planting His footsteps on the sea and rid
ing on the storm, 10 accomplish His pur-
poses with reference 10 His kingdom.
It will help US to appreciate our debt OF
gratitude II we reflect that ehave not
deserved any of the benefits received, but
rather the opposite. II any persons feel
that their experience during The year has
been such as has fit them rather for hu
initiation and fasting than for thanksgiv.
inc, they may learn a profitable lesson
from the story Of the origin OF this testi-
val Il II was founded by the early settlers
of New England in the midst Of their dit.
ticulties, ind when many were utterly dis
heartened. ;,.-=,.r- .-,-----,- ----,-,---.-----
We may look, in The sec6hd place, ut
the return which we ought to render to
the Lord. It's impossible for US TO repay
the debt which VIC owe, When we have
done all that is possible we have only dis
charged our duty Still, like a child, who
can never cancel the1debt which he owes
10 his mother, we may at least manifest
the disposition 10 requite IL we could.
/. We ought 70 feel gratefully This is
an element which, Whatever else may be
lacking, should not be omitted. Without
this the sacrifice, however, costly, will be
an abominatiOn 70. the Lord, .sg-,.'.,,r,,.-
9. We ought 10 nOwledge our debt
1t is noble for the recipient Of u! favor,
without anyservile Obsequi0usness, 10 tell
his benefactOf how much he appreciates
his kindness Let expressions of graft
tude mlngle with both your petitions and
your praises. 4'.l.'' 2. ,a..7" v. rf1r.a
3. We ought to show. our gratitude by
our deeds. Acts heteare as important as
words. If ye love God, because either OF
what He is, or what Hchas been, keep His
commandments. Unless the nation fol-
lows itBs day with u higher respect for
divine law, L Will only by these services
aggravate the Ofeice Of itSingratitude.
Deeds ofCharity to the poor performed
from right motives, sFeespecially fitting,
for in the day Of Judgment they will be
recognized as done TO Christi T. 1nasmuch
as re have doneis unto ono Of The least Of
these ny brett tsn, 1!ye have done II into
me- bus iU-fF sif 10 sIUGEtsoi'i s55ag n
uni ss.E' l. FHf# ftR