The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-02-10

the autumn comes and ths harvests are in,
ard the eprernors make proclamation, we
assemble In churches aud we ara very thank.
full. But every day ought to be thanks-
giving day. We DO not recognizs the com.
mon mercies Of life. We have to see
blind man led by his dog before
we begin to bethink ourselves OF what
grand thing it Is tohave eyesight. We have
to see some one afflicted with st. Vitus's
dance before we are ready to thank God for
the control Of our physical energies We
have to see some wounded man hobb1ng on
his crutch or with his empty coat-sleeva
pinned UP before we learn to think what
grand thing God did for lrs when He gave
us healthy use OF our limbs
Weare so stupid that nothing but the mis-
fortunes Of others can arouss US up to our
blessings. As the OK grazes In the pasture
up to its eyes in clover. yet never thinking
up the worm from the furrow not know wing
that 1t is God who makes everything, from
the animalcuia in the sod to the seraph on
the throne, so we 60 on eating, drinking and
ENJOYING. but never thanking or seldom
thanking: or, II thanking at all, with only
half heart.
compare our indifference to the brute;
but perhaps wronged the brute. do not
know but that, among its other instincts, 1t
may nave au luStluCt w HnlCu ~ EeCOSulzoS
the divine hand that feeds it. I do not know
but that God Is, through 1t, holding COM
munication with what We call Irrational
creation" The cow that stands under the
willow by the water course chewing its cud
looks very thankful. and who can tell how
.,nch a bird means by its song.
The aroma Of flowers smells like incense.
and the mist arising from the river looks
like the smoke of q morning sacrifice. Oh,
hat
God for the water that gushes up in the
well, and that foams in the cascade and
that laughs over the rocks and that patters
in the showers, and that clasps its hands In
the sea! Who thanks God Tor the air, the
fountain Of life, the bridge Of sunbeams,
the path Of sound, the great fan ON.
O. hot summers daye Who thanks God for
this wonderful physical organism-this
sweep Of the vision, this chime Of harmony
myriad delights over the nervous tissue, this
rolling Of the crimson tide through artery
and vein, this drumming Of the heart on our
march to Immortality? We tsike all these
things as matter Of course.
But suppose God should withdraw these
common blessingst You body would be-
come an inquisition Of torture the cloud
would refuse rain, every green thing would
crumple up, and the earth would crack open
under your feet. The air would cease its
heslthful circulation. pestileuce would
swoop, and every house would become q
place of skulls. Streams would first swim
with vernin and then dry up, and thirst
and hunger and anguish and despair
would lift their sceptsrs. Oh, compare such
. life as that with the life you live this
morning with your families about youi Is
it not time that, with every word Of our lips
and with every action Of our life, we began
TO acknowledge these everyday mercless
'Whether ye eat or drink, or whatsoever ye
dress man or a woman this morning who
has not rendered TO God one single Offering
Of thanks?
Twas preaching one Thanksgiving day
and announced my text, "Oh, give thanks
unto the Lord, for He Is good; for Bis
mercy endureth forever" I do not know
whether there was any blessing on the SER
mon or not but the text went straight to
asyouug mans heart. He said to himself,
as read the text: "'Oh, give thanks unto
the Lord, for he is good Why. l have
an migrate I have beenw Can 1t be. my
brother, that you have been fed by the good
hand of God all these days-that you have
had clothing and shelter and all beneacent
surroundings, and yet have never. offered
your heart to God?
Oh, let a sense Of the divine goodness
shown you in. the everyday blessings melt
your heart, and If you have never bsfore
uttered one earnest note Of thanksgiving
let this be the day which shall bear your
song. What say to one say to all OF this
audience. Take this practical religion
have recommended into your everyday Inc.
Make every day a Sabbath and every meal
a sacrament and every room you enter q holy
of holies. We all have work to do; let US
be willing to do it. We all have sorrows to
bear; let us cheerfully bear them. We all
have battles to fight; let US courageously
fight them.
II you want to die right you must live
right. Negligence and incidence will win
the hiss OF everlasting scorn. while faithful.
ness will gather its garlands and wave its
scspter and sit upon its throne long after
this earth has put on ashes and eternal
ages have begun their march. You
20 home to-day and attend to your little
sphere Of duties. will 60 home and attend
to my little sphere of duties. Every one in
his own place. So every step in Life shall be
triumphal march, and tae humblest foot
stool on which we are called to sit will be
conQueror's throne.