Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1870-12-07
A THANKSGIVING SERMON.

Preached 6y ReU. ". p. Bailey, pastor
Of khe First Pres5yterian church IN
Warren, o., at q union service Of
the lfethOdistS, Bdptists, Disciples
and PrssbyteridHS, on NoU. 24thi 20.
TExr.-LUKE l2ls, '.For unto whomsoey-
er much is given, Of him shall be much re-
quired: and 70 whom men have committed
much, OF him they viii ask the more"
Our God is not hard master, reap
ing where he has not sown, and gath
ering where he has not strewn.-
Neither is He a careless bestower Of
benefaetions, nor a ftful exactOr Of
obligations, by giving to one and 70
another as he pleases, and then hold
ing the one responsible, and suffering
the other TO escape responsibility. On
the contrary, His ways are just and
equal. He distributes His talents to
his servants according to their several
ability, and then holds each responsi-
BILE for that which he has received,
whether it be ten talents or one
Hence we are taught by the text, that,
great endoWments and opportunities
carry with them corresponding obli-
cations and duties. This law Of the
divine government applies with equal
force to individuals, families, states
and nations. These endOwments and
OPPORTUNITIES, whatever they may be,
are but so many talents, which are to
be used; the time, the mode and the
extent OF use, to be determined by the
possibilities Of the opportunity.
Rut gifts and opportunities are COM
mensurate with the needs Of the hu-
man race in all parts of the world
The one is always the complement of
the other. The providence Of God
nowhere gives rise to national,
family or an individual need without
also causing 10 exist the proper means
of supplying that need. And the
converse OF this proposition is also
true. The providence OF God never
creates means and opportunities OF
usefulness without also creating
somewhere q need for the employ
ment of those means and the exercise
of that usefulness. If there is a fam
inc in Canaan, there is corn in Egypt.
If there is a cry from Macedonia, there
is a Paul to hear it. If there is a
Luther burning with the spirit OF re-
form, there is a corrupt church and re-
ligion needing reformation. If the
reformed churches begin TO manifest
a slight degree Of the defusive spirit
of christianity, a slight opening is
made on heather ground, and Mills,
a Judson and a Newell are ready to
occupy that ground. Thus through
out the whole sweep Of providence we
find nothing is made in vain, nothing
for itself. The law of compensation
and complement runs through the
whole, binding all together in mutual
dependence and helpfulness, no mat
ter though the parts be separated by
seas or continents. For God does not
always placein juxtaposition the parts
most Immediately dependent upon
each other for mutual aid. The cot
ton may grow in Alabama, the loom
NAV be in Manchester, and the Weav-
er in the Celestial Empire. The
Advise One develops the need and the
supply at such points and in cOnnec-
ton with such circumstances as seem
best to him; and then leaves it to man
to discover and bring together the
need and the supply, the disease and
remedy. In this bringing together
uarts supplemental of eacli other, so
as to secure the largest measure OF
good, is developed the spirit of Obedi-
enee and benevolence. Hence every
good received from the Great GiyeI
brings with it corresponding duty.
The ten talents bring the tenfold sb-
legation.
Let US now apply the doctrine Of
the text, not only TO ourselves individ-
uaIly, but in our national capacity
While, therefore, we are called upon
both by the Chief Magistrate OF the
Nation and by the Governor Of our
State, to render thanks to Almighty
God for the many and great blessings
bestowed upon US as people, it is
proper that we also take a survey OF
the field of duty opened up by these
blessings. And this duty viii be pro-
portioned to our blessings. "For unto
whomsoever much is given, of him
shall be much required
While then / attempt to lead forth
YOUR minds to the contemplation of
duty, it shall be my object to rise
above the lower and narrower platform
bounded by the individual, the family,
or even the national need, to that
higher, broader, grander platform
bounded only by a worlds need. Nor
shall / be content with noting merely
those duties which find their end and
accomplishment in the material and
temporal interests of the race; but
shall combine with these, those other
duties, which have for their end the
moral and religious well-being OF
mankind. There are such worldwide
duties imposed upon somebody, be-