Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-12-02

At the union service on Thanksgiving Day
held at the Free Baptist church, Rev. c. +.
Penney preached sermon from the word:
"Be Thankful"
The speaker remarked, at the outset, thai
the text includes both the inner emotion and
its outward expression. He would consider
the hindrances, the helps, and the reasons
for thapkfulness. We are surprised that there
should be any hindrances. AS We can by nc
equivalent recompense God for his mercies,
it seems positively unnatural not to feel crate
full. But the spirit of unthankfulness was
manifest even in Eden-Eve fretting and
grumbling about the forbidden tree in the
midst of the garden. This spirit has been
transmitted to her posterty. The infant in
its mothers arms, the schoolboy on his way
to school, the husbandman at the weather,
the doctor at the night call, the merchant
about the markets, the lawyer about retain
ing fees, and even the parson about his salary.
Physicians tell us that the bodily exercise OF
crying and groaning are grand operations,
whereby nature mtigates and allays anguish
an excellent medicine. But it degenerates
almost universally into downright, malignant,
everlasting fault finding; and then, like all
medicine taken as daily aliment it becomes
positively hurtful producing fretfulness and
inducing morbid, rheumatic, neuralgia moods
of thought. Very much of our disconten,
arises from consideration of our neighbor.
Others are richer or more honorable, or beau
tiful, or successful than ourselves. Our poor
life bark laden with other mems wares. la
bors at sea, with signals of distress flying at
the masthead. If the poor man would throw
overheard all but his own peculiar cares and
troubles, and sit down to feast on the rich
viands God has gathered as his sea-stores, his
lightened bark would float buoyantly on the
waters.
We are accustomed to let the mind dwell
upon the dark side of experience. 1t is the
spots upon the sun that the astronomer talks
of; it is when under an eclipse that the moon
and stars are most carefully observed; it is
the one river with the cataract, and moi
the thousand rivers with their unbroken
water-courses, that tourists throng to. 1t is
impossible that year should pass without its
shadows. But we dwell upon these. We
think more of one beloved friend dead, than
of the many beloved yet living; more of the
mournful silence in the one sepulchre than OF
all the sweet voices of our happy households
Reverse these things, and our homes and
hearts would flash again with festal lustre and
resound with festal songs. Another hindrance
to thankfulness was found in our failure to
regard preservation as positively a constant
creation.
The helps to thankfulness were next con-
sidered. We must entertain just and philos
ophic views of life's nature and mission. We
are now in transition state; we need not
have all the splendid surroundings, but rather
a tent that can be pitched and struck at pleas
ure, and provisions of a style and kind tina,
can be carried in journeyings. We mus,
dwell much in thought upon these Divine
mercies, present and actual, and not indulge
too much in building airy castles during day
dreams and reveries. A lesson to the point
was drawn from the origin of the festival
when the colonists turned from their sorrows
and fasts to their joys and thanksgiving.
In order to be thankful, we must also make
the best of our misfortunes. This was
beautifully illustrated by the bee that could not
gather honey from the over-matured flower
but was satisfied with the wax; and by an
incident i'll the life of good king George, who
| appointed thanksgiving, not on account OF
sad reverses, but because matters were nc
worse. We have reason to be thankful in al
| circumstances, since it is never so bad with
us as it might be. We must learn to look
upon the very evils of life as Gods disguised
blessings. AS part of the special providence
of wise and loving Father, they cannot be
otherwise. All are determined by one who
cannot err. AmlctOhs even, produce IN the
| soul the peaceable fruits of righteousness
| they ale but the storms on the water, driving
| the bark towards the haven; but the darkness
of midnight, making glorious heavens stars
| To be truly thankful, one must become 9
Christian. Religion makes a man humble
and humility as grace lies at the foundater
of contentment. If the christians lot be
| low if his daily merces seem small, if hi.
condition be humble, he is contented. He
understands how his present life is a sojourn
an exodus, and as a true-hearted traveller
he expects not home comforts on journey
Religion moderates his desires. Diogenes
was happier in his tub than Alexander on tn.
throne OF his empire, because the tub helt
the wishes of the philosopher, but the worlt
was too small for those Of the couquorer
The real necessities of our nature are few ant
simple and easily satisfied; and all beyont
this, is the tyranny of fancy. The waite
drank by the beggar from the wayside spring
is as sweet as when lifted to the kings lips il
a golden cup. The true want is relieved b.
the draught, but the fancied want not even b,