The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1878-01-16
THE ELECT NATION.
A THANKSGIVING SERMON PREACH
EDRY REV. \ LUccocK. OF THE
NJ Z. CHURCH SOMERSET, Pa.
Pubiished by Request OF Many
Citizens

7 oO1Attt'o "
Citizens.
"He hoth not deoH so ,rih am
! Nation "-Psa l47-20
We are assembled to.day, at tht
request of the Chief Executive of ouI
Nation, to engage 10 public worship
4 The Invitation Mug from the
sou c., and 10 The manner in which il
does, is al once worthy recognition
of, and tribute of re-peet to. our
Holy Christianity. This is, in fact
the National Sabbath Our greal
empire, with its vast and varied in
terests, and teeming millions dwell
ing in security between the seas, and
fiouri-hlng under the smiles o.
heaven. calls a halt in the hurrying
march Of events, and summons heI
subjscls TO the house Of prayer. that
with grateful hearts and joyful song:
they NAV "offer unto Gid thanksgiv
inr, aud pay their vows untO the
Most High "
In ac,s like this we find the high
est evidence Of the Christian char.
ac,er Of our country. For | submit
that il is better far, that the thoashr
aud fear If God should ever 6Well il
the nations mind aud heart; that
be truth and justice of God should
ever be found in its law and legisla
tion, than that the empty name oi
G ID should stand meaningless and
alone in It's written constitution
This truth, that above all human
law there is lawgiyer, that above
all earthly potentates, there is one
" who sit,eth in the centre of the heav
ems Lord of LORDS and King If Kings
and that to him all NATIONS owe
allegiance, has been recognized al
wavs, in every age and country
The ideas Of the Ancients were in
distinct, and some of their pracTices
absurd, vet nowhere in human histo-
ry do we fad nation without a G ID
temple and religious services
France alune, Of all the kiDgd n ui
rhe world, undertook to de'hrnne Je
huvah. Yet even herein the fierce yer.
gance that scourged her. in the d nd
OF wrath and death that deluged her,
10 the burning fiery furnace of her of.
fiction. may the nations Of the earth
h, bold mure viviuly than in tbe
CDaldean hell, "'he furm of the fourIh b
like unto the Son of God"
The Ancieuts of every age esteem
ed The blessing OF their G d a.
sb We price, aud sought il first Of all
Tue Jews recognized the Divine fs
var a. the secret of all their pr ,soer
| / v, M obedience u the Divine viii
as he true palh # prngr' -. 1t is
eminenlly appropriate, therefore,
haf we If this later time. with the
clearer light true fai b. and higher
tav Of rg.day, should come bet re
u G d with ", and
Crowd his gates with grateful praise"
Fui il ,he history of the pas, tescbes
any thing, it teaches this, that right
eou- ness exslieth nation. but thar
sin i reproach to anv people "
As appropriate TO the day ard
-,ryice | would Impress upon you
the special obligations we are under
to God a. a nation, aud the pecnlisr
motives hat should inspire our wur
-bip. Nv theme, is therefore, The
Elect Nation" aud mv tex, she 20 b
verse # The l47 be Palm, He hath
cot dealt 80 win any nation" And
here let me explaiu The use of the
term "Eleci Nation" a. applied tn
"ur Own eountry, and indicate the
/ lipe Of thought wish TO pursue
Civil governments are of g ID .ordain
rd nv HIM, established by His decree
commissioned With holy trusts. guar
diaus of ruth and justice. and If hu.
man interests. and like individuals are
responsible to Him fer Gdeliiy tn
their obligations, and are perma
nent and prosperous a. they are faith
ful to tie Divine purpose Of their ex
i-ience
Every great nation Of the earth
seems to have beeu commissioned
- Mith some important step 10 human
progress The Jews gave theology
20 the world The Greeks gave let
ers and literature. the Il Rmaus law
United States Civil and Religious
! liberty The Psalmist Is here re
viewing the exceilencs Of th Il
inheritance, snd iu looking back on
Moriahs, Sinais and Pisgahs Of their
history, still radiant with divine gln
Try, 10 reviewing the present prosper
Inv, be realizes the superiority OF
be possessions aud exultant exclsims.
He bath not dealt SO with any nation
) we. standing to-day AZ the close Of
one century # our tistory, and upon
{ be thres bold Of new one. surveying
the provideDces and prosperity of the
past, and the wider opportunities of
ne future, may in trner. broader
seuse exclaim, He barh not dealt so
with anv nariou Nv thought is
this: that History is but the record
{ the advancing steps Of God thar
ds&n lhe line Of centuries 10 the rise
and fall II empires we may trace he
march Of human progress and The
tTiumphs of eternal truth that in
every bautle, in every crisis at rhe
nead OF every advancing column there
j. he ever present "pillar of cloud by
day AID f FIRE by night" that results
have always b en- progressive, each
step au upward oae hat as The last
and highest point of this ascending Sc
ries siauds our owu Columbia, ,"havibg q
c..me up through great tribalation, y
liuied by more careful training, and
by more liberal endowment to work
Ut gronder results 10 human history
han a1y which have been achieved
b,f re. Surely God speak- 70 her
as be did to Cyrus, Il girded thee
,huugh thou has not known me -
By virtue of special endowmen,s.
priviler es, and opp ,rruDiIies be hath
made Ger indeed the elect Of all the
nations of the earth" This thought
| will eadesvor to expand and illus
trsre in three considerations which
shall offer
lst By glance at the superi 7
resources Of our couutry.
Cd By brief study Of some OF