Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-11-27
un.tsd Prssnr,erlan Chu,eh.

Rev. d; Cooke, pastor OF the Second
Presbyterian church. preached yesterday
morning in the United Presbyterian
church, to a very large congregation, made
up of the members Of the First aud Second
Presbyterian churches and the United
Presbyterian church. He took for bis
text-psalm l26, verse 3.
The Lord hath done great things Tor ui, whereof
We are glad"
He began By alludiog to the improve
ments recently made By the United Pres
byterian congregation upon their church
building, as a reason for glsdness, for
what God bad enabled them to do.
This church had an additional cause for
deep gratitude in the continued services of
Dr.. McClare, who had been their pastor
for so many years; aud who was still able
10 give them the benefits Of the ripe fruits
Of his experience of lifelong study Of
the word Of God, and Of an established
character as q minister Of Christ.
Let Us look at come Of the great things
the Lord hes done for Us in the past year.
DR.. Cooke showed how every man was
connected though his physical nature with
the materiA universe in all Its paris.
During the year this connection had
been maintained By the power Of God, and
we were the recipients Of vast and minute
benefits making physical life possible and
desirable. What wouid not man give in
exchange for sunlight, or the atmosphere
if threatened with their loss?
By an intellectual nature, with its power
to discriminate between truta and false
hood, we are in contact with God and the
expression of Gods thoughts everywhere.
In the past yesr God has kept our natural
faculties from decay. What all We not
give for sanity? Though our conscience
enlightened by the spirit and word Of God
we know the good. We are oapabls OF
moral action. Otherwise we are moral
God has continued to us during the past
IL months our moral being audwell being.
DR.. Cooke then pointed cut how we were
indebted 10 the general laws OF God, toe
established hsbits and methods OF action
of all things; the reign Of Law so.called.
Study has made us thankful for the stsbil-
ity and persisteney Of the works and ways
Of God.
These did not hiude; the operation Of
special Provideuces which in the past year
have blessed our lives. In the Bible we
see these Providences working for good OF
men as in the life Of Joseph; as 10 the case
of Hag4r. These, We see as it were, be-
hind the scenes; we behold the machinery; |
We see the hand; We hear the voice, now
We only see the result. But the special
kno sledge of God of oil his creatures, BIS
interest 10 oil that concerns them, aud his
interposi;ion in their behalf is rs elective
and as equal as ever.
In the reign Of God, il the method of
special proVidences there is completely,
ou. no confusion. We thank God 10 day
or the blessings we have in the past de.
lived from both sources.
DR.. Cooke proceeded to say how God
lad maintained the family; the State;
Christianity; civilization. Yet men may
hink that TsveISes in busluess may excuse
hem from thanksgiving. Bat the ca;a-
ogue of our blessings is fer larger than
be items of our adversities.
We may even make these cause of re-.
oicipg by their proper use. Then if st1jc.
ion has been our lot we cen rejoice with
bose who DO rejoice, for our departed on
be mount Of sa eternal .rausf aurstion are
lsd indeed. We can rejoice for wba, Gcd
SIS done for them.
Milton represented England as a mighty t
ian standing in uneonquerahle strength
ebay this great people stands as Bor
lipper, and with uplitted hands and voice
hanks God and cries: He hath done great :
,ings for US, whereof We ere glad
The other psrls Of the service we're con.
uOted by DR.. Mcclure end By DR.. Cah-
inghsn.