Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1890-04-18
THE NINTH DECADE OF THE 18TH
CENTURY,; OR. CHANCES AT
THE PRESENT.
FAST DAY SERMON PREACHED BY REV. A.
F.kElTH, APRIL a, 1890.

As an optimist | behold all things
working together for good-for realiza-
ton of the great and perfect end design
ed by God. The universe will not
prove failure the end for which this
world was created will not be defeated.
A strong hand, controlled by an Omnp-
tent will, is upon the helm; the port of
eternal security lies yonder the passage
thither may be stormy, threatening dis
aster; nevertheless the anchor will ere
long be dropped in good anchorage, and
the storm-beaten craft ride safely in the
haven for which at the beginning her
sails were set and her course laid.
1t is not so much the future that we
are to look at today,-the end of all
things completed-as it is the present
hour, the stage in our journey to which
we have now come. We are simply to
take an observation, if indeed the sun of
knowledge will shine for us one brief
half hour. While ascertaining our lati-
tude and longitude, we seem to see, in
the midst of clouds that skirt the holi-
zon, IA national form, somewhat dimlv
outlined. 1t is our nation as it was ia
years ago, when it proclaimed indepen-
dence, and took its place among the an
tons of the earth Life in it then was
not full, but quick. Ambition strong
fired the new life. Purity was the watch
word. Crime was not hoodwinked.
Men, brave hearted and true, united in
solid ranks to meet aud attack every
foe, every evil, every sin, as they were
made clear to their understanding.
do not say that these men of our cOun-
try's early history attacked every evil
that existed, but simply this, they were
men of courage and faithfulness in places
of responsibility. AS the nation advanc-
ed, it found itself surrounded and crowd
ed by social and political evils, yea,
found within its borders the beginning
of those immoralties which in the adj
vancing years have eaten like canlker in
to the very vitals of the national body.
Standing as we do today near the end
of the ninth decade of the 10th century,
what do we find our latitude and longi-
tude to be, and what course shall we
take as we continue our voyage across
the unknown sea that lies directly be-
fore us? Fixing our eyes on the zenith
of the present, what is there that ar
rests attention and engages thought:
Here stands a nation-y Dung under its
crown of century of years. Its or
ganization is complete, its constitutions
al charter a model. Upon its brow are
war. var r. stands with eyidonce Of life
and yiigor II lives tbough manv lonv
ago nronbesiod ire sneeJ, deaib
We see the different departments of ma
tional legislature well arranged for the
conrts of ;ust;ce from the hirbast 70 the
lowast and ara nrond of tho svstem ne
If stands in ire nreseut rel.tion to law
we SEQ hv mis- GLANCE of the owe tbous.
ands of cbnrnb snirns nointing beaven.
,,ar, .burnh hnildinnl IN v'1i.h oor.
grnr,ie wool, bv ,reni, nuit;tmdas of ou,
sS,it;11a,C osta,siIIv for sanred unr
Shin r. n,I, thei,. Vows unto The God
Of lie n,tion. sunday schools teamino
,ri, tn' hn"V lifo in rnnny and old. MI
sinnar, or,r,niln,innS for tIo d;strih,,
t;nm ~ t,u,i h,, thn ,,rintod nnro or tb,
,nnn,h Of ,ho Ivin, rrra,charr.7 ~ hom,
nnI ahro.d imSt;t,,t;pnS 'rra.t,' n,ui,i
,l;ad ,bat ,s,iro tn snr,.ico fn tbo nnod,,
r ranl,iais friondloSs and last tomnthss,
win nnIIil and ,,rivotn cb.ritiss in nnn,