Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1876-12-08
THANKSGIVING SERMON.
Obedience TO God the Source Of Ma.
tiOual Prosperity.
nv HEv. ,. ~. nErnAnBs.

least national recognition OF Tact
which is plainly written on the pages Of
Revelation, and chroniclcd in the history
of the woSld namely, that God is the eter-
nal sovereign Of nations as well as Of in
dividuals.
The christian church in all time, and
under every form Of government is to "ren
der unto Cesar the things that are Cesar's,
and unto Gcl the things that are Gods"
And for the churches Of this land, in their
nssemblages, to bend the knee before God,
their sovereign nnd king, and devoutly
thank Him for unmolested christian homes,
an open Bible, earthly temples in which
to worship God, the Sabbath, the holy
principles OF our federal constitution, the
Of States, and our peace and
prosperity rs nation is nothing new
These are things which belong to her serv-
Ives. They breathe in her anthems of
praise. They are found in the incense of
her prayers. They blend in her pulpit
themes; are born Of the Gospel, and find
their ultimtte source in the God that rules
the world, and before whom the Worship
ers OF earth aud heaven bow in filal fear.
But for the executive of this nation to call
on the churches of the lnnl To thus assem-
bic, Is different thing. II Is CUsar,
whether he means II or not, speaking and
procluiming his dependence on God. 1t is
the nation acknowledging that God is the
ordainer, the corner stone Of all govern
ment and the great source Of all blessings
and prosperity. In this call the United
States Of America, in name il not III fact,
bows in humble submission and adoring
gratitude to Almighty God us her ordainer
and king and az the ultimate source of all
her peace and prosperity. In this call and
others like it our nation docs more than
this. She recognizes the church and those
who commune at her altaIs as belonging to,
and holding communion with, the God OF
the nation. Her prayers avail. Her
Thanksgiving is accepted OF God, and is a
fact in which there rests real potency M
4 pieanS of access to Him whose blessings
this bending of knees and bowling Of hearts
in Thanksgiving are to bring upon us as
people. II is even more, il is the nation
recognizing the christian religion, and
owning that in real christianity is to be
found the Eight of the world" and in il
rests the salt Of the earth" We are here
then not rs we meet on other days to wor-
ship God. In the closet where the true
sheds his tears of joy and pours
out his soul to God in PRAYER and thanks
giving for the presencc, the power, and the
girdings Of his salvation, he stands alone,
aud when in the church he wresiles and
pleads with God in behalf of lost and
ruined world, he does it at the command
Ut God, and out OF an overhowing heart
asking the lost to give up their sins, and to
clasp the outstretched hands Of Jesus and
be saved.
But to-day at the call OF the nation, we
meet to render thanks to God on her be-
half for blessings that she has received from
Him whose sovereign power holds within
lts grasp the destinies OF our national do
main. lt is mine then to bring this ma
ton and God face to face.
We have reason to thank God that in the
past year we have had peace ut home and
abroad, that no pestilence has swept like n
over the land, and that
though yet resting under the shadow and
dreadful stagnation which now blights our
land as result OF our civil conflict and
prohigate life, we yet have prosperity at
home and worthy name abroad. With
humble reverence and adoring gratitude
we should devoutly thank God to-day for
his mercies TO us Fs people. Ours is
glorious land From her Northern boun-
Diary where the rainbow OF promise glOri-
iies Niagara's cliffs, to the sea-girt shore
of Florida; and from Plymouth Rock of the
East where in songs Of praise and humble
PRAYER this land was consecrated to God,
to the far-off West where that grand old
ocean washes our golden shore, the eye
rests on magnificent scenery and fertile
soil, inviting the oppressed of earth to find
n home in land which equals, il not sur
passes, that which flowed with milk and
honey"
Ours is blessed land for God is her
Lord. This isthe centennial thanksgiving
OF American Independence, and in it we
blend the glories OF hundred years.
The text reminds us that God is the
Father of Nations. And elsewhere in di-
vine truth we lead Let every soul be
subject unto the higher powers; for there is
no power but of God the powers that be
are ordained of God. Whosoever there
fore resisteth the power r.sisteth the ordi-
nance of God; and they that resist shall
receive to themselves damnation. For
rulers are not n terror to good works, but to
the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the
power? Do that which is good and thou
shalt have praise Of the same; for he is
the minister OF God to thee Tor good. But
il thou do that which Is evil be afraid /;
for he beareth not the sword in vain, for he
Is the minister Of God, u revenger to exc
cute wrath npon him that doeth evil.
Wherefore we must be subject not only for
wrath but also for conscience sake. For
this CAUSE also pay we tribute, for they
are Gods ministers attending continually
upon this very thing. Render therefore
to all their dues; tribute to whom tribute
is due, custom to whom custom; fear to
whom fear, honor to whom honor" Lam
guage could not be palmer settling for
ever the question Of the origin of govern
mcnt, her powers and the duties of her
rulers. We have never appeared to real
ize the bonded connection between God
and this government under which we live
nor have the citizenship of this land felt
and obeyed the behest of duties they owed
to the nation and to God. The question
which hung pendant in the mind of the
early christian church and cradled them
in doubt and perplexity was this: What
shall we do with the human governments
of the world? They were all pagan and
had despots for their heads. In Daniel
these governments were represented as
beasts. In these prophcsies, too, there was
a king to arise whose reign was to be one
of righteousness and whose spread.
ing Kingdom was to cover the
whole earth, crush despotism and sweep il
from the world. With them il was a aues-
ton, therefore, whether they should sub.
nit to pagan authority. "Paul here" says
DIR. WhedOn, furnishes the divine reply
Bad as human governments are, brutal and
ferocious as is often their spirit. they have
benign side to them. Government is or.
dained of God, Society is not formed by
fabled social compact. On the contrary
God has formed man for society, and gov.
ernment is the form into which he has
obliged society to throw itself for It's own
peace and conservation. Hence at III times
every government thattrulyis government
is ordained Of God and entitled to our obe
dience." Government Is Just as much q
divinely ordained thing, settled fixed and
established in the eternal councils of the
Almighty, AZ is the family. And such ia
the intimate union between God and gov.
ernments that inspiration declares, that
whatsoever resisteth the power, resistetl
the ordinance of God and they that resist
shall receive to themselves damnation.' ,
Human governments therefore are not insti,
tutions independent OF the Almighty. Like
tho hun,au nnul fla Al.