Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1870-12-03
WHOLE NUMBER 1902.

Hood God sits, upon every outpourine OF
judgment, Jehovah reigns, upon every
bitter working out of mans wrath and
wickedncss he holds his throne-"Tbe
Lord stitch King forever" There il n
quiet emphasis in this word "sitteth." It
is different from the expression-The
Lord maintains his throne, or holds fast
his kingdom. These latter intimate Di-
vine effort against opporition. "The
Lord sitteth on the flood" expresses the
DIVINE quietude-the serene majesty
which is undisturbed by the clash of ma
ture and the war of men-which puts
forth no effort of aggrandizement and
uses no measure of defense, because there
is no Obstruction 10 be added to the uni
versal kingdom, and no power that can
reach the exalted throne.
1t is the privilege, therefore, of Gods
people to keep perpetual thanksgiving
day. Not on one select day of the year.
neither on some occasion of special Di-
vine favor, but on all days and in all cir
cumstances. "R' joice in the Lord al
ways, "Is the comprehensive counsel. "En-
ter his courts with thanksgiving" is the
divine proclamation sounding throughout
the ages. 1t needs no Presidential procla-
nation, it needs no scrmon.review of his
mercies 10 eviden"e that we should thank
God. The Psalm of individual gratitude,
ere single blessing is specified, begins,
"Bless the Lord, Oh my soul" And
the Psalm of national or worldwide
thanks, ere it makes any review of Gods
goodness, breaks forth, "The Lord reign
eth +; let the earth rejoice; let the multi.
tudes OF the isles be glad thereof" o
The thought, it seems to me, is pre-
cious one as we keep our national thanks
giving. 1t is not something with which
we are privileged through an unusual
providence it is our continual posses.
sion. Our fathers kept it in the olden
time our children, to the end of the
latter days, shall observe it. No yicissi-
tude of veal or woe can affect its per-
petuity. We kept our feast i'll those dark
years when our land was rent with strife.
and the nation, in blood and agony.
struggled for existence; we keep it now
i'll the glorious years which have dawn
ed upon us, IN the broad, regenerated
land which God has saved for us. We
keep it not only for ourselves, but for
this sinning,s suffering world, though
Gods judgments are to-day shifting the
nations. And by Gods grace, we will
keep it while we have any being, howev-
er wide those judgments may extend;
whether in our own or other lands, the
commissioned angels pour out their walls;
We will keep it though the last day
comes,- though the last battle Is
joined, though He who rideth on the
white horse.smites the nations with his
sword and treads the winepress of the
wrath of Almighty God-we will keep
it, because on the vesture ofthe conquer
er the name is written, "King of Kings
and Lord of Lords, and he sitteth King
forever"
1t is customary and very proper on
this occasion, as the thanksgiving is ma.
tional, to look chiefly at our national
blessings. Yet in reviewing the history
of the year, find but little which is spe-
cial or unusual. The old blessings re-
main to US; the blessings Ct freedom,
good government, prosperity, peace and
Christianity. And these old blessings de-
mand every year new praise. AS in indi-
vidual, so in national life, the richest
blessings are, usually, those which are
most constant. There are occasions
when nation can praise God, as did our
people four years ago, that he has
brought to an end an overwhelming ca
lamity, and saved them from distructiep,
But thanksgiving proclamations general,
ly, must read in substance, very much
alike. AS the morning and evening
prayer of the household is for the daily
bread and the fatherly protection, SO the
annual thanksgiving of the worshiping
nation is for another year crowned with
Gods goodness. There has been during
the year steady national advance in re.
moving the evils resultant from the fear
full struggle for the Union, and in esiab-
shi ,g On substantial. basis the benefits
gal el by it. There has been an en-
ceuraging progress toward more per,
feet and hearty union aud moro sure
and solid prosperity. 1t is not indeed. 10
be questioned, that our country is still
exposed to danger, and that to secure Q
prosperous future for this broad land,
with the hapdrad millions ofpeople that
shall, ere many years, inhabit it, there is
required the highest craftsmanship and
the most energetic Christianity, Some
OF these dangers are inherent in corrupt
human natures, some of them are incident
to Republican form ofgovernment;
and others are naturally attendant upon