St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1874-05-15
Fast-Day Sermon.
BY THE REV. J. L. LElTCII, McINDOE
FALLS, VERMONT, APRIL 3. 1874.

BY THE REV. J. L. LEITC1I, McINDOEs
FALLS, VERMONT, APRIL 3. 1874.
TFXr.-"Wherefore have We tasted say they
and thou seest not Wherefore have afflicted
our soul and thou takest Ii" know ledge Isaiah
lviii. 3.
Our excellent Governor, Julius Con
verse. in setting this day apart as IL day
of fasting and praNe has used these
words: Il recommend the people of
this state on that day. to abstain from
their accustomed business and pleasure.
and to assemble in their respective
places of worship. there unitcdly to ask
al Almighty God for pardon for past
offences and humbly to pray for the
continuance of his blessings to this
state and nation. for the sake and III
the name of Jesus Christ. such sup
plicatiOn well becomes those who have
abundant reason to feel their utter de
pcndence upon the arm of the Almighty,
Il being who has well been termed 1.-THE
God of nations: = for every event in
our history as il state. and certainly as
Il nation has indicated his overruling
Supcrntendenre and care. Hence it is
fitting that. in all the affairs of state,
as in the interests of the nation. & Od
should he acknowledged us the supreme
source of all our prosperity. and his
anger deprecated and pardon implored,
for the sake and in the name of Jesus
Christ" fo; past offences and present
sins.
The idea of fast us taught i'll Gods
word is that OF an expression OF WWud
SoITOr. by OutUdrd forms.
Just lis ..thankSgiviug' has always
been accompanied by feasting upon the
good things which God has provided.
by which the body was shown to par
take in the souls rejoicing i'll heavenly
food, the two natures each rejoicing in
their proper aliment; so by abstinence.
the body is shown to parlake i'll that
heart felt sorrow, and to unite in those
pIavers. by which the soul deprecateS
the divine anger. and implorcs the di-
vine blessing. Fasts, are thus almost
always associated with thoughts of
misfortune, evils of various kinds.
sins. and all untoward occurrences,
whose lessons we'll learned should lead
us to God in humble contrition.
The question now naturally presents
itself, Have we, as state or nation,
any sins to repent of, and over which
question only needs to he put to receive
an affirmative answer.
When a general would inspect the
lines of his adversary. in order to form
some estimate of his forces, and the
availability of his material for war, etc
| if he can gain some safe emlnence al
fording view of the enemies works
and forces, his object is at least partly
accomplished. What cannot be seel
from the plain. can be seen from the
eminence. So with the man who woult
obtain il correct estimate OF the sins o
his time he needs to go above the plan
of human judgments and crlterlons. IL
order to gain a clear and commanding
view of what he desires. He must Judg'
from the eminence of Gods revealed
law. For unless there be law Whlcl
defines there can he no sin and unles
God defines, as human Judgments vary
as affected 10y selfish considerations
there can be no uniformity or certalnt!
in the law: but when he defines Ill
will, whether by allusiOn, 10y precept
or by example. that law stands, as th'
highest expression of right, and from
there can be no appeal. If, then, W.
would ascertain our sins, let us not at
tempt to Judge from considerations o
policy. or human expediency, but iron
Gods lau. Judging from this, what al
array of offences do we find darkenln'
our national record, and threatening IL
with ruin with ruin, we say, TOR neltne
individuals or nations can sin with lih
punity Every transgresslon mas IL