Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1888-12-06
GIVING THANKS.
"Rejjoice With Trembling
SERMON PREACHED BY REV. THOMAS
BALPH ON THANKSGIVING DAY.

The United Presbyterian, Presbyterl-
an and Methodist Episcopal Churches,
in this place, held union Thanksgiving
services in Court House Hall, November
%. There was a fair-siZed audience,
and the sermon, which was preached by
Rev. Thos. Balph, D. D., of the United
Presbyterian Church, elected the closest
attention. The following is a very full
abstract of the sermon:
PSALM H-n-Rejoice with trembling.
The author of this Psalm was David
Acts 4-25. 1t is didactic and prophet
ic, vet not altogether prophecy properly
so called, but rather prophetic promise,
finding its fulillment, not at any speci-
fic period, but during the successive ages
of the Church until the sacramental host
shall be gathered out of every nation
and kindred and tongue and people.
There is the clearest evidence for assert
ing that the Psalm is Messianic: the King,
the Amounted, the Son, is the Lord Je-
sus Christ. This evidence is external and
internal-the external evidence is found
in other Scriptures, Acts 4-25 and 26,
and 1888, Heb Is and SIS, also plain
illusions to this Psalm in Rev. 2-27 and
1875 and 1915. The internal evidence
is found within the Psalm itself, in
which many traits present themselves
which can be applicable to none but
Christ. The poetic form of the Psalm
warrants a fourfold division: 1st, the
nations are raging; I'd, the Lord in heav-
en- divides them; Sd, the Son proclaims
the decree; 4th, the Kings are admon-
ished to yield obedience to the Lords
Amounted. OF this admonition the text
forms t-"Rejoice with trembling"
While these words are primarily ad-
dressed to kings and rulers, they are not
to be considered exclusive, but inclusive,
and may be regarded as of universal ap-
plication, and hence fitting admOnition
to us in this occasion as indicating the
spirit by which we should be character
lied ''when we enter into his gates with
thanksgiving and into his courts with
praise"
In conformity with the recommends
ton of the Chief Magistrate of this ma
ton, as, also of this Commonwealth, we
are assembled to "praise the Lord for his
goodness" and to "sing praises unto thy
name, O Most High" "For thou, Lord,
hast made me glad through thy work. "
Let US essay the performance of this
duty in the spirit of this injunction of the
text, and 'rejoice with trembling" To
aid you in this thanksgiving service to-
day, the following considerations are
presented:
1st-We should be thankful for day
of National Thanksgiving. 1t may, it
ought to be, a day hailed with joy and
gladness. 1t may, it ought to be, day
ladened with benefits to the soul and
blessings to the Nation. If it be OBJ
served, as it ought, as day of religious
worship, in which we draw near to God
with true heart, and worship him in
the beauty of holiness toward his holy
temple, it will afford true joy and peace
and genuine happiness to the soul. Its
design is to draw the people near to God
to the contemplation of that which is
refining and elevating and purifying
To the Source and Fountain whence al
our blessings come-to recognition OF
Gods providence, by whom all things
consist, in whom we live and move and
have our being, and from whom we re-
ceive life and breath and all things. TIC
the acknowledgement of national de
pendence for peace and prosperity and
greatness, and individual accountability
for the improvement or misimprOvement
of the high privileges we enjoy; to &
confession of the Lord Jesus Christ az
the Savior of sinners Governor
among the nations, by whom king:
reign and princes decree justice-th(
head over all things-to the Church
which is his bOdy-to whom all powel
in heaven and earth is given, and wh'
must reign until his enemies are pu
under his feet.
What a grand thought! What sub
lime idea! The whole nation to CONF
together annually to engage in th'
hearty, devotional, spiritual thanksgiv
ing to the God of all our mereies. Ant
what a cause for thanksgiving that thi
high privilege is afforded us. But /
becomes us to rejoice with trembling.
hulIlGuuCo lCOOSLlAO AO'iO VI 'hS
things. professors and the irrelig
, ious have not God in their thoughts to
day, nor acknowledge him in their ways
Many, who give some kind of recogni
tion to the day, have no more exalte
view of it than to afford an Opportunit
for the indulgence and qualification o
the lusts of the flesh, the lust of the ey
and the pride of life. Others take
sensuous and materialistic view of tn
requirements of the day, and regard it
= behests as fulfilled when the sensuou
enjoyments of life are intensified; an