The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-12-01
psalmists eXhortation: "forget not oil HIS
OUR DEBT OF GRATITUDE TO THE CoVENAN-
TER, THE PURITAN, AND TIE HUGUENoT.

OCR DEBT OF GRATITUDE To THE CONENAN'
TER, THE PURITAN, AND TIE HUGUENoT.
tt surely is matter Of gratitude that It's
foundations were laid, in large measure nj
least, by men Of decided Christian character
by men of heroic mould, witnesses 1or INC
truth-w!o sought In the wild forests OF TINS
continent an asylum from the persecntlonS o.
The old world! If men point with pleasure to
an iIluStrious pedigree, much more SO may
this Republic. Much of the blood which M llrst
Dulsatcd through its veins was derived from
the Puritan, the Covenanter, and the Hngnc
not! Higher types of manhood IL would he
hard to find. or them 1t may he written, rs
of the ancient worthless in the eleventh chap,
ter OF HcbrewS-''of whom the world was not
worthy" Many, unable to appreciate thoSe
higher qualities of soul which may be hidden
in u rugged exterior. those principles which 70
an earnest and sensitive conscience are rs lie
ITSELF speak dcridingly OF the Puritan. IhcS
pitch upon some few palpable defects or cnar'
acter, and from these condemn the whole
forgetful that such blemiShcs. are almost IN
separable. under certain conditions, from n;l.
lures really great and noble. put II q tree is
to be judged by its fruit, the Puritan is not IN
he condemned. Where c, er he soi0urned-in
Britain, Holland, New England-he was II VIII
ness bearer for the truth and like the phoS'
phorcsccnt glow which marks the wake OF o
Ship, so freedom of conscience, civil and rcii.
cions liberty, follow in his path. He lived in
a lime when the rugged qualities of soul, ra'
ther than the finer, we've In demand; wnen
the Willingness to do ana die lor conscience
sake were the prime essentials required; He
had &; mission to perform, and grandly ulu he
perform 1t! Would that his mantle rested up
on more in our own day Would that MS
uess to abide by 1t even to the death, bis In.
vinciblc faith in God and rugged integrity O.
character, had more Of q following in the
present! God be praised for the life ana ia.
bors of The good old Puritan! So also OF the
CovenanIcr and the Husucnot, those twin OK
the one from the heaths
and moors of Scotland, and the other from
the "vinc-clad hills of sunny France" They
brought with them all that was best and wor
thiest In their own lands-principlcs, whose
growth and development have lett their mark
on the character of our young Republtc. For
the effect of their lives and influence here
for the gift of such an ancestry, God DG
praised! "Forget not all His benefits"
Gop's PROTECTING CARE OF THIS COUNTRY
Time would fail me to recount the mercies
of God which have attended the growth OF
this great country: the signal Providenccs
that have preserved it through all It's perils
the place to which 1t baS attained In the fhmi-
~ of nations: Its past, present ana prospec.
i've Influence npUn the W0".S. 10 narratc
Them all. would be the province Of The hiStori-
m; to refer TO them alone simply rs matters Of
gratitude and thanksgiving to God. the pro
vince of the preacher. Pointing you, then, tn
that great chart of Gods PrOvidcnces where
they are all spread out in iuii. Wonid say
Win Sisl'Siui SA'o''o"'
A review of the year now nearing IFS close
exhibits also an array OF mrrcicS. fc.lce
relgns throughout our borders. Neither for
cipn nor domestic war has disturbed Its tram
guilty. II surely is matter Of gratitude that
our gallant YOU ig sOdiery, whose presence
here in their military attire lends Interest 10
the OCCASION are not Today on the tented helu:
that the voices that q ect them arc those of
and praise, and not the deep
boom of the cannon and the roar Gf the Dat-
tie. For this signal mercy God be praised.
From the "pcstilence that wulkcih In dark
ness" we have been graciOuSly spared The
scourse OF cholera which has tlcsolatcd other
lands has not yet invaded ours The very air
We breathe has been preserved 10 us IN us
purity, free from the germs OF infectious dis'
ease DeIiverancc also was vOuchsaf"d on the
night of tl'at terrible earthquake, when etcr-
nifty seemed jnst upon us; when in sore tra-
vail Of soul we called rlion God, and lie was
ul, ast'u to hear us, and delivered us from all
our fears ''BlrSS the Lord, D my soul, ana
.orget not al His benefits"
THE BLESSING OF DIVINE GRACE.
RESPONSE sc 10 His blessing the fields a'so
have yielded generous returns for the EtDors
bestowed upon them. Fair harvcsts have
been gathered, and the huSDandman rests IN
the enjoyment of plenty.
But above all these temporal dement's, which
are "eXcecdng great and precious" Is one
which demands even hcarticr recognition.
II Is TIC messing Oh l)lNlnc S'a"e. nc plcS-
cnt year has been one of signal spiritual mcr-
cies. The Gospel has had free course among
our people. Jesus Christ has bccn preached.
The demonstration of the Spirit has been
witnessed in many communities, and consc-
qucntly the sound of ''revival' has been watt
cd to us on many n breeze. The numbers
converted and hopefully saved have been uE-
usually large. They are such as to lend fresh
power TO that oft-praycd petition ",thy Ring
dom come" and to encourage our hone for
still larger displays Of grace in the years to
come. For this, all praise to God.
Let us. then, In conclusion, recognize His
good hand In all the events OF lifc-to trust
him more and serve him better-to strive ear.
nrstly that ours may he the Blessing of that
people whose God is tile Lord. Let uS receive
his benefits with all due humility, that we as.
cribe them not to the wrong source, nor lifted
up with pride 10 say, lis not this great Baby
lon that we have built" Let us the rather
"praise lin in the armament OF His power.
Praise Him for His mighty acts. Praise Him
according to His excellent greatness" "ln'
everything that hath breath praise the Lord
Praise yc the Lord "-"and forget not all His
benefits"