The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1871-12-07

Delivered by the Rev. e. B. Stevens,
at the 1st Presby terrain Church. in
tie City CT EIanitowoc, Nov. 3Oth.
Psalms, CIV: II. ''The Lord hath
been mindful Of us he will bless u.s.
BY The proclamation of both the chief
executive of orr State and the chief exc
cuive Of the United States, Thurday the
8 OF November instant, is appointed
for u. as a day on which to express our
Thanksgiving to Almighty God for the
me:cies OF the past year. In conformity
with this appointment, we are assembled
here to-day, and while here. it is fitting,
that by artayin- bcf.r our minds the
many occasions we have for Thanksgiving
we make our gratitude to the Giver Of
all As real AMI unfeigned as possible.
And here | beg leaye to say, that the
text seems to me to suggest just the form
of expression which our occasions fer
Thanksgiving should assume. The Lord
hath been mindful of us He will bless
us. You will notice, my hearers, thai
declares f,ct, THE Lord hath been
mindful Of us; - and it declares an &c
pectatioa, if | should not rather say an
omJaay, based upon the fact, that in
time to come the Lord will continue to be
mindful and to bless.
1t now | am asked in what respects
these occasions for the thankfulness can
no al
In almost every aspect of our personal
and genera! interests, which we can take
First, Let US consider our occasion for
thanksgiving on account of Gods mercies
to us IN our personal interests.
1t was quaint remark recorded, I do
not know how many years ago by pious
English divine. 1 think that whatever
other OCCASION for thanksgiving We might
not have this occasion certainly We all
have--ou1 sous are ont of Hell. Our
souls, my hearers are out of he'll (; and
we have to thank God for it. And more.
our lives have been mercifuly prolonged,
although justly forfeited, a thousand
times. For tits mercy, We should thank
God.i The common blessings of a Divine
Providence. food and raiment, have been
bestowed upon US all, probably in a lib
eral abundance. The blessings of Divine
Grace have been placed within the reach
OF US all, week after week, BY the ambas-
sailors for Christ, been urged upon us
Tor acceptance; and upon MANY of us if
not upon all the blessings have been urg-
cd by the divine Office of the Holy Spirit.
we have occasion for thanksgiving that
we still have been and are within the
pale OF Gods mercy. Some of us enter
tam the hope, with what just reason God
knows that we have been made the VIII
bag subjects of the Spirits work-that we
nave been born again-that we have be.
come new creatures in Christ Jesus =
and that we have become the heirs of
an inheritance incorruptible, and undo-
fled aud that fade,h not awav. reserved
IN Heaven for US, If this hope is indeed
based IN reality that will not disan-
point. if wo are the partakers with All
saints in the rich precious BLESSINGS
bought Ly our Redeemer's blood; then
ne lave occasion for deyout thanksRiv-
lng..Though we may have seen our wealt
take to issaif wings-thoush dear ones
may have been laid in the grave. amidst
anguish OF heart unuttera5ie-,houeh
our bodies may have been wasted by sick
ness, or may now be the prey of disease
that soon will bring US to the tomb, vet
If VIC are the children of our Fathers
lore, the redeemed of our Sayior's sacri-
fce; the objects of the Spirits renew
ing, sanctifying work. We are unsreaka-
bly, blessed; aud have occasion to ill our
mouths to-day with thaakssiyinss, and
to turn our lips to the pre.ade OF tina,
eternal anthem Of pr2;se which those