The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1873-04-15
Fast Day Sermon.

The Congregational and Methods
churches in Middlebury held union ser
vices at the Nethodist ohnroh, on Ias
day, Rev A. +. Bailey preaching tn
discourse. The following is a brief sum
mary:
Text, Psalms 2:1,-Givc the kim
thy judgments o God, and thy righteous
ness unto the kings sen
This was the language of David King
of Israel. He knew WELL by deep anC
varied experience, his need of that grac,
which involved knowledge, authority
ability to execute the judgments, or the
laws of God. In his declining years
and amid the difficulties which gathered
around his throne in the last years of hi.
reign, he felt the need, more than ever
of the help of heaven. But not for him.
self alone did he ask it. He was natur.
ally and deeply interested for his success.
scr. He would have him clothed, in the
administration ofjustice, with righteous.
ness divine that he may represent God
as ruler Of Israel. Such was the ma.
turc, in brief Of the petition of the text.
Such sentiment as. this text contains
is applicable to US as people, which,
according to the fiction of our govern
mental theory, are called the sovereign
people ; just as if it were really true
that the people, or even a majority of
them, were the real rulers Of the repub-
lie But to-day the preacher would as.
sumo it to be true, and apply the text
accordingly. Is is appropriate both
for our personal good, and also for public
security
For irst. Is there no dagger Of cur
failing, as a nation, in the righteous adj
ministration Of government failing to
reflect the righteous government of God 4?
LIST. From corrupting prosperity. "a
A dcpraved literature, Sd. Public cor.
ruption. 4th. Intemperance 9th. A
willy and aggressive superstition. 9th.
A widespread and insidious scepticism.
9TH. From self.seeking politicians. Sth.
Decline Of confidence in the government
and its franchises, by mutitudes Of the
most cultured and respectable POI ton
of our population, These points were
expounded aud commented on, and illus
trated by variety of examples and facts
from ancien. and modern history.
Secondly, Christianity is our Only
hope. And Christianity is nothing
more nor less than Gods government
adapted to the circumstances, and de-
signed for the salvation and RELIGIOUS
culture Of man. as fallen being 1t
is the embodiment of divine righteous.
ness 1t is the nations safeguard.
America needs religion as her only Sc.
curity; needs it not as form, nor as
heated fanaticism, or frenzied supersti-
ton, but as reformative, spiritual force !;
and needs it in all its fulness.
Third. And because Christianity can
only lead to a genuine and hearty repent
ance, it is a necessity of our times
God threatens the impenitent nation as
really as the impenitent individual. OF
this we have abundant historical veriica-
tons have had such of most marked
character in our own history Gods
judgment on account of slavery.
Fourth, The practical espousal of
Christianity is the truest patriotism. We
are too apt to think Of patriotism, as on
ly associated with the use of the sword
in our country's defense. But patriot
ism is as really displayed elsewhere as
in Senatorial halls and on the fields Of
blood. Why is not the medical art pat.
riotic, when represented by one, who,