Bridgeton pioneer. (Bridgeton, N.J.) 1884-1919, 1888-05-31
TO THE VETERANS.
Rev. G.. @. Stanger's Sermon
to A. L. Robson Post

Post No. AZ. g. A. R., marched in a
body to Commerce st. NJ. E. Church
Sunday morning, and listened to an
eloquent sermon by Rev. G. G. Stanger
The pulpit was draped with flowers,
making beautiful appearance. The
choir sang that beautiful anthem
I'VE have set watchmen upon thy
Walls" and after Scripture reading,
the sermon was delivered from the
text taken from the latter part of the
32d verse of the 18th chapter of Genisis.
And he said, will not destroy it for
tens ssake." This, said the speaker, was
remarkable instance of encouragement
and the power of prayer. But laying
aside that thought, l want to notice
for my first thought the history of
nations, as the providence of God. 1t
is not enough if we study history Alright
that we listen to the wall of the van
auished and the cheers of victory.
We must find God in it. We must
recognize the Diety that governs the
affairs of nations. This and this only
we think is the only light in which to
study history.
The speaker reviewed the history OF
the Children of Israel, and how all
their affairs We're directed by God.
No danger beset them from which He
did not deliver them. God was al
ways present and pointed out their
deliverance. 1t was the successive de
velopment of the power of God.
These, he continued, are the princi-
pies of all nations and must be SO re-
garded Even in this rebellious city
of Sodom, God was lenient, and would
have saved it for the sake of the ten
praying righteous people. So then fol-
lows this principle and one that we
accept, and prayers and righteous
ness governs all the worlds history,
and all the wars upon which the
future of a nation may rest.
Even in this day and generation we
can read in the history of nations that
Gods people are the salt of the earth.
If this precept is true the fact remains
that Christian men are the supporters
of this the grandest nations under the
sun. God will prosper in proportion
to the righteousness of the people.
Practically we notice, first, who are
the righteous men in the sight of God.
They are those who are good men.
Those who are holy and have the
strength and power of character and
prayer. He who sees no compromise
with the world, or the devil. He who
teaches men the duties of their country
and their god These are the men
who are the strength of the nation.
This is Christian country and so
recognized. Our liberties and princi-
piles are Christian, our Government is
Christian, and yet amid all this there
is a daily practice of misbelief and
skepticism. There is great danger of
leading men estray. Are we strangers
to the fact of the misery and havoc to
our country caused by rum; to the fact
of the pernicious literature which
poisons the minds of the young; to the
many who are Indifferent to the faith
of God? Brethren there is a RESPONSE
bility resting upon us. We must
equip ourselves like men that we may
stand against the power of satan.
The Grand Army of theRepublic, in
time of our nations peril, put on the
armor and marched to the front to bat
tie for the flag which we so love. Ye
soldiers of God, put on the armor of
faith, the helmet of salvation and the
sword of spirit and step forth and dare
strike for God and the truth. God is
for us, and He is more than the thou
sands that be against us, The struggle
for God and truth is desperate, and if
we can battle as in'the late war cannot
we do as we'll? We cannot stop; we
must push the battle on against the
devil and hell There is much to gain,
and we must fight desperately for God
and truth.
The second thought is the effects
which we are warranted will follow in
this battle. We are sure to win. In
other battles victory is not certain, but
we are. Our text illustrates it. God
preserves nations for the righteous.
The future destiny of this United
States rests upon the Righteousness of
our people. True, our Government is
the grandest, our educational system
the best, and our Courts, one of justice.
Our navy and army did we'll in the
civil war, but back of all this, there is
a power greater than all this-the
power of prayer. If the people would
cease to pray, what right would we
have to expect more than Sodom
Amid the storm and strife of our battle,
amid the dying of men, Gods people
are praying, and we win.
Wednesday is Memorial day, and
while the nation bends over the
mOund Of our sOl,1ier dead to miami tho