Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1877-06-07

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THANKSGIVING SERMON,
Delivered by Rev. DR.. J: p!
SmsltzDr. in the Lutheran
Church, at Walhalla, s. G., May
"a, 1877. ieo.
IN obedience to Gov Hampton's request,
Fe are hore, 10 this sanctuary this morning
It is right, il becomes the recipient Of
lIeaveu's bleabings, it rejoices the hearts of
the good, that those jn. authority acknow-
lodge the hand Of Jehovah, and reuder
suitable worohip to tho Lord, who has
hitherto defended and blessed us. Sin is
9 disgrace to any people Ingratitude is
base crime. 1t would, indeed, be sin, aud
would manifest, the blacklist iugratitude, if
South Carolina would acknowledge no
iptorposition of Providence, aud render no
suitsblo public worship to Him, who has so
inercifully remembered and blest us. Let
Us, then, recount His mcrcies acknowledge
His blessings, aud bcseech Him, still, to
femon,ber us iu love, ond to lift upon us
the light Of His countenance rcconciIed.
M order that our thoughts may be prof.
tably directed, i have chosen passage Of
Pcribtate, as tho basis of sops practical
temarks, found ia the prophecy of Isaiah,
2lst chapter, lltt aud 10th verses.
"Wato(itnab. What Of the night? Watch.
man, aphat Of. tie Ntdiir? The watchman
said, THE MORNING cOMETH, aud also the
night: if ye vii! inquire, anQxtrc 20, return,
come'." .n,
This ia tho burden of Dumoh. These
words reveal prophecy Of ttreatcning-
the disaster and calamity, which ldumea,
the land Of the Ishmaeltcs would soon
experience. Tho passage is bot ony
short, but enigmatical. 1t has greatly
perplexed commentators. Vafiuus cx-
plsontious have been given, but all, more
or less, liable to objections. The reason of
this difficulty is, tho exceeding bteSity of
the passage, its prophetical nature, ohd the
want of history to eiucidatc its meaaiog.
No doubt, Isaiah, standing on the sublme
heights Of prophecy, understood it we'll.
lts meaning seems to be this: Tho prophet,
placed as q watchman upon the walis Of
Zion, hears voice, coming up on the whge
of the wind from ldun,ea, o country hostile
to the lsrselitcs, at time when udah was
oppressed with captivity, tauntingly in
quiring: "Wntehiuun, what Of the uight"2
%Nhat is the prospect, now, Of this dire culami.
ty coming to an end? What arc the signs of
tho times in reference 10 this deep distress?
The watchman answers: "rho morning
cometh," light is breaking, the golden rays
arc illuminating the political horizon, this
dark night Of distress will soon be over
But also tho night comcth, trouble aud
distress to the opprcstor. The watchman
continues: If you are in earnest in your
Enquiries, humble yourself 10 the dust of
repentcncc, forsake your SINS. and, then,
come and inquire of tho Lord
History throws but little light upon this
prophecy. 1t stunds isolated. We are
bniy left to accept as true, that tho vision of
Isaiah YVES not only correctly stated, but the
morning came, and also the night.--morning
TO the oppressed Israelites, and dark night
to their enemies.
How earnest has been the cry, in this our
Gay, and for the past two years. sincerely
ihquiring by friends, aud tuuntingly mock
Ing hy foes; watchulau, what Of this night2
Does the sane answer now comfort the
troubled sou:: the morning cometh! Docs
Che same apswer carry CONSERVATION to the
laquirers, and also tho night7 In reference
to the civilization of tho world, the ap-
pointed mission of the church, and the
political condition of our beloved State,
Watchman, what of the night? Our
subject is;
SoRE ATTRACTION, DIRE CALAMITIEs,
UNTOLD EVILS, GENERAL, ECCLESIASTICAL
AND ,NATIoNAL, INSTEAD OF PRODUCING
DESPAIR, LEAD TO THE INQUIRY, now
LONG! :aj.
Or wc might discuss the theme:
Inquiries, taunhnyy made, are severely
sebuked.
Either subject will answer our purpose
this morning.
Watchmen were placed upon high towers,
10 announce the time Of the night, and to
Sivatsto alarm when tho enemy approached
From ,watdhtower to watohtowor, the we'll
Known, "All's wen, might bo heard, end
IN hailing distance, weFe tho rheh stationed.
to sound the alarm should anything nusual
6oour The prophet III represented on
%atchtower, unxiousiy looking Gr tho issue.
It is night--a time Of distre6s. Some one
calls to him from Idumea, "Watcknihn,
what of Che night" and he gives the cheer
ing answer to'tke oppressed-"tbe morning
cometh;" and tho 7oico Of warnipg to tho
6ppressor, and "also tho Dight."
So are Gods prophets and ministers
&atchmen On the Walls Of Zion They
sound the alarm when efforts arc made to
turn back the tide Of civilization, when
ihfidelity assals tho church, add when
corruption, disorder and anarchy threaten
the State. From tho days of tho prophets
to the present HOUR, they Have been ,ssked,
10 reference to the dirk nights Of afiiction,
That NAV nerchanoe envclGns tfa world tba