The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1889-12-11
i SERMON.
Preached BY Rev. w. A. NJ.
Plaxco, at Shiloh Church, on
Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 2Sth
1889.

TExT-"Wherefore doth u living
man complain, n man for the punish
| ment of his sins?
Let us search and try our ways, and
turn again to the Lord"
Iamentation, 1888, 40.
This is day set part by the chief
executive Of these United States ss
day of national thanksgiving. 1t is
a standing, would-be,hunored Gus,
tom. And good thing might it be-
for the nation were 1t but observed in
the proper spirit. But instead of
thus observing 1t, it has passed into
a day Of licence upon which every one
feels At liberty to do just as he pIeases
How sad thus To pervert a day that
might made of inenlculable benefit,
socially, civally and morally.
This year is a day calling for special
expressions Of gratitude, not only
that God has preserved the natioua !
existence fee from external aud in
ternnl commotiun; but has so buunti-
fully crowned with success the labors
Of the husbandman. Far aud all
around the cheering and heart-rejoicing
news come of abundant harvests.
While there have been some local
devastatioDs, the nation as whole has
enjoyed, may we not say, unprec
edented peace and prosperity. For
this there is every reason calling for
un',ed and concerted outbursts OF
thanksgiving To the great Givsr Of all
good, aud prayer for the continuance
Of his benefactions. While We ha
not been so abundantly blessed a,
others yet, we too, have reason for
great thanksgiving to God. Let us
then seAd our united voices along
with the voices Of Gods favored peo,
pie up to the throne Of grace, bur
dened with gratitude and fervent sup
plication. While the vu,ces Of others
ascend in expressions of gratitude
for the abundance which God has he
slowed upon them, let our VOICES rs,
cend also thilher in gratitude fnr
what he has giuen US. While he ha.
not so bountifully res,unerated the
toll Of our hands /; stiII we have nc
reason TO be sullen, hing do,rn eu,
hps'and complain.
Wherefore doth living man com
plain? All Gods works are done IN
verify and truth. And tho text i, al
inference drawn from Gods suveripgut,
aud universal providence asserted ia
the foregoing context. Since there.
fore God !. sovereign aud his prov
Idence performed in verify aed truth
IL follows that mans circumstances
and situation are the orderings Of
Gods providence. Man proposes, ba,
God disposes. Hence they that com
plain Of their lot, reproach Him who
allotted it. Now man is mao and not
brute. As such he is endowed with
intelligence and ought to act intelli.
gently. Reason therefore would sug.
gest that whatever mans lot in prsvi-
dence be, il 10 his condition by design
aHd mt by chance. And since Gnd
Is sovereign and exerts a universal
providence. reason would suggest tha /
man look upward and forward aud he
as dumb. opening not bis mouth be.
cause God has done il. What can
man hope to accomplish by complain.
ingf Were God mutabl., limited IN
bis power and his providence hap.
hazard there might be some hope in
complaint gainst the result of HE
providence. But since none Of these
conditions is true but the reverse, hi.
providence is desigsed to accomplish
a certain end. Being sovereign and
omnipo,ent he hss the right and pow.
er To accomplish his will. Therefore
when man rs an intelligent being re.
members that God 10 sovereign, i'm
mutsbie, omnipetent and that there is
m eternity approaching in which he
must he subject to Gods eternal fiat,
is IT not the height Of folly consum-
mate to complain against Gods provi.
dence' Then when disposed to com
plais at God, let Us, as men, look
upward and forward. The recollec-
tion Of Gods sovereignty and the Ii
ability Of the future may suggest con-
siderauons enough IN aienoe our
complaint and forever place holy
restraint upon even the motions ni
out murmeriogs.
Bot, Wherefore doth a living mar
oomplain' While perhaps. the toll.
Of his hands have net been SO abund
aHtly remunsrsted as those of hi.
seighbors; yet by the mercy Of his
God he 10 still living. Shall a living
1 ma m aan,,,l.;. H. -. 49,