Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1883-11-29
Give Thanks To-day.

al custom of our land ever since the adj
ministration of President Lincoln, to
celebrate one day in the year as a day
of Thanksgiving to God, for not only
national, but for Individual blessings.
1t is Christian holiday. 1t had its
first celebration many centuries ago,
away back under the Mosaic economy.
Before the Israelites entered the land
ofpromise they were instructed through
Moses to celebrate day as "harvest
festival" They We're to offer the first
fruits of the field, besides burnt offer
ing, as thank offering to God. And
why should they not, when God gave
them bread from heaven, and water
from the rock in their wilderness wan
derings? Such thanksgiving festival
would manifest their gratitude to God.
and be a.public acknowledgment of his
providential blessings.
We, as Gods pensioners, have also
felt the beneticence of his open hands;
and had an earthly benefactor bestowed
the gifts Of the past year on us, it would
Sou pS Wiz iuIolcii VI our
hearts in song, in praise, and in thanks
giving to him, for such generosity.
Why then, not equally voluntary ac-
acknowledgement of these from Him, who
not only gave, but who has permitted
us to live to enjoy them. We can
count the gifts of an earthly friend, but
the bounties of God has been as mani
fold as the drops of rain, and the rays
of the sun. Truly God has been good
to us and visited us with his blessings.
Our heritage is one, rich in its advan-
tages and possibilities. We inhabit a
country, parts of which have been
called the garden of the world. para
disc. Our farms are capable of large re-
turns to the husbandman; there were
the many hills and small valleys of
Palestlne. We have greater variety
OF cerals and esculent roots and lus-
clous fruits than the hills of Judea,, or
the valley of the Jordan.
God has smiled on the labors of the
husbandman whose increase has been
some thirty, some sixty, and some an
hundred fold. The product of fruits,
grain and vegetables though not so
abundant as last year, will yet be suffi-
cient, while if we lack a luxury, or a
necessity, the facilities of importation
are so advantageous, that in a fortnight
we can exchange commodities with our
brethren across the sea.
For all these manifold blessings, we
owe recompense. But what can we
offer to Him, that is not his own?
What have we that He did not first
give? If we would come to him with
the firstlings of our fiocks, behold He
says, ''The cattle on thousand hills
are mine" Would we give Him the
fruits of the. vinyard, or of the field?
These, too, are His. "Every good, and
every perfect gift is from above.n Since
our heavenly father has been so benefi-
cent to us, 1T not fitting that we give
honor as well as thanksgiving to God?
This we may do in three ways. First
by industry. This we owe to God no
less than to ourselves. We can not rob
| God by neglect or Incidence without in
curing his censure. 1t is evident that
the industrious are those who prosper
and have plenty. "God helps those
who help themselves Food and raj
ment do not depend on tact or talent,
but on persevering industry.
Secondly, we ought to be more trust
full. We may plant and SOW but God
only can send the harvest. Without a
trust in providence, man must be con-
tent to remain miserable. We must
sow in hope. In view of the benef-
cense of the past year, let us humbly
trust God without murmur or COM
plant.
Lastly, let us not be so ungrateful as
to enjoy all these blessings, both tenn
poral and spiritual, without a due ac-
knowledgment of their source, and let
us receive them with sincere gratitude.
Let the feeling of every heart find ex-
preston in the words of the Psalmist,
BLESS the Lord, o my soul, and forget
not all his benetits.n