The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1886-11-26

lusts of the flesh have had their vulgar
{ triumph over the things of the spirit
( We shall be true to our Christian faith
in refusing to empty any day of sol
emnity and worship OF its significance
and meaning
As society is elevated and Christian
civilization advances, men come to a
higher appreciation OF the reasons for
gratitude. The Thanksgiving Day is not
for return Of praise to God for the
fruits of the earth alone. Ii we are at
all thankful to God for the blessings Of
this life, We viii reflect upon the com
parative worth of the several ingredients
which satisfy Us, and for which We toll
We must take into consideration as call
ing for devout acknowledgment many
things which three generations ago no
sermon could have mentioned, which the
sun had not ripened, nor the IN ventive
genius OF man discovered, nor the ex-
plOrer found, nor the earth widened to
give them room.
The devout and well-instructed Christ
ian will in his Thanksgiving include a
special recognition of what science has
done to unfold the wOndrous secret Of
the constant connection between the
creation and the Creator whom We
adore, as the all-wise, all-powerful, all
loving personal God, whose mercy is
over all His works. We give God thanks
that after period OF jealousy and panic.
the reconciliation Of faith and science has
begun and that, every day, science is
aftording to faith, in every department
of investigation, from the least TO the
greatest, magnificent Illustrations OF the
ceaseless working of God in the things
that He has made. For every good
book which gives added clearness to the
demonstration that the divine author of
nature is the God of grace; for every dis
covery in the healing art whereby
for every addition to knowledge
OF the laws of health, whereby physical
living is made sWeeter and cleaner; for
the clearer comprehension of the true
of capital and labor for the in
creased mutual knowledge of the nations /
and races of men on earth, whereby ami /
mOsities are sOOthed, wrongs redreSsed, /
removed, civilization /
advanced and Christianity promoted, /.
We render thanks to God. There are in
deed many voices in the world that in .
this wonderful time are telling of the |
high hopes of the future extension of /
the Kingdom of God, in the growing de- /
sire for Christian unity and the mission /
airy activity of all Christendom. None
OF these voices is without significance,
and the wise worshipper who thinks .
upon these things will find a new mean |
ing in his psalms and hymns of praise. |
Most of all We thank the Tri-une God |
for the graces and benefits which are in |
Christ Jesus. Thanksgiving Day is es-
pecially a day of blessing God for the |
things OF the body and the material life. /
The Son of God took human body, en-
tered into an humanity and sanctifed !
our common life. Therefore we look to |
the Incarnation, the primal mystery of our
religion. We look to Jesus Christ for the /
rue law of righteousness to sanctify mar.
rage, to purify domestic life, to dispel |
he decisions of unbelief, to forbid and .
check the denominations of intemperance |
and RIGHTEOUSNESS, dishonesty and fraud, |
Oy the faith that conquers the worldli- |
ness and materialism which prepare the |
hearts of men for every evil work. Our |
souls, our minds, our bodies are to be .
by the exercise OF their high |
capacities in Him. Our homes and our
pursuits shall be blessed when He is in .
hem and with them. The nations of
he great world, whether in Europe or
America, in Africa, Asia or Polynesia,
whether they be great or small, must
Use to glory and honor, or perish for
ever, as they accept or reject the rule of
Him who is King OF Kings and Lord OF
lords, to whom with the Eternal Father
md the Sanctifying Spirit be ascribed
blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and
and honor, and power,
md might, for ever and ever. Amen.