New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-11-25
OF WHAT THANKFCLNEss CONSISTS.
me Rev. Dr. gIlia " Taylor at Gs Broaacay HabsaeIe
Congregational.

me Rev. Dr. JglaIa " Taylor at the BToddWdy LGosrdes
Congregational.
At the Broadway Tabernacle the Rev. DR..
william NJ Taylor took his text Psalm LXXV; L;
Unto Thee. o God do we give thanks unto Thee do
we give thanks"
What is thanksgiyingl the speaker said. Negatively
Il is not apathy indifference The ancient stole, who
did his best perify the heart, could not he termed
thankful man. That cannot be styled thanksgiving
which accepts what happens Inevitable. Fatahsm
has nothing OF gratitude in Its composition That Is not
20 be- mistaken for thanksgiving, which has nothing Of
consciousness in IT, no recognition OF love and care.
Thaukuness is the expression OF personal ODnSauon 10
some over benefits which have been received from
him. and TO which he had no claim right Ono is not
disposed to be grateful for Justice We do not give
thanks for wages But we are grateful for favors.
When one gives avors for which are entirely be-
holden to his kindness give thanks 10 express our
pleasure
For one thing we must have faith in personal God.
We cannot be thankful to perhaps." We cannot DO
grateful 10 m abstraction. Hence, those who see moth
ing in the universe except law cannot be thankful II
tho upiverse Is the result blind force then gratitude
Tn Il would be absurd In these times, when so many
in mis- cali Of the President OF the United States. The
instinct which recognizes the APPROPRIATENESS OF
must also recognize the personal too fOr
thonkness there must be faith IN the universally OF
Gods personal presence n,
some have held that the notion OF personal Pr0vl-
dence is incompatible with Gods laws This Is nurs
assumption We say that the laws OF Mature tel ns
nntli
ton He may have laws operating behind these.
Hence there il nothing inconsistent with them when
(od acts on secondary above human observation
Or we NAV say God has adjusted the laws OF Nature
thot through them, and not by interfering,
lie can execute his wishes. " The greatest miracle
of cod ia that works without miracles at all as isaac
TayIor saws. For thankulness there must, TOO, De
sense of personal unwOrthness Unless we realize that
God IL better to us than deserve, we can not Do
thankful for what receive. Some affirm that II we
obey the laws of hygiene shall escape sickness; IL
The iaws of agriculture, shall be sure or crops II tho
laws OF political economy, nothing can hinder our De-
canning wealthy. But they overlook the uncertainty
lyinp beyond, over which have no control mere
God ia as omnipotent In the matter OF heatn,
how many contingencies cannot possibly aEoidI
There are accidents. These within the adminstIa-
lion OF God In agriculture can farmer command inc
sunshine the rain and the forest fires There Is re-
| gion outside these known laws which God rules. -
BLESSINGS come by the favor OF the providence OF 600,
| and uuto Him we should give thanks But some say
har i'm the last year have had many events for which
we cannot he thankful, great and good man ~ tho
RAD m his peone has been shot by dasardly assassin
and after weeks suffering has been carried 10 us
rave amid the tears the whole Nation There nave
5een oissers and Hoods and bereavementst How theh
can we 1--WE thanksf But may be grateful anna snch
anictions we need faith IN the ALLOWING Cod lie Mn9
sar,d moi Ills own Son changes not. He II the TREND
I"veI nv affection for The belief or the realy OF
@ In Jesus Christ enables us 20 say; NOT
NV will int Thine be done" He who believes IN G1dS
ny G NAV be thankful for allct0n This De-
LEI ia the divine elixir which turns eVll INTO good