The Somerset reporter., 1897-12-02
Thanksgiving Day Service.

AhHhhskhVhnB Lay oCIViCc'
Union services were hello In Bethany
church, Thursday evening last, attended
by an audience rather above the average,
although the snow storm OF the day
doubtless kept some at home who would
otherwise have been present. Three Of
the pastors of churches IN town spent
the day with friends away from home
and Rev. c. V. Hanson and Rev. A. \.
Dairy were the only clergymen present.
The sermon was by Rev. A. y. Diary
of the First Baptist church, who preach
ed a discourse of much interest and upon
our request favored us with the follow
ing abstract:
Psalm l16 :12-14.-"What shall rem
der unto the Lord for all his benefits
toward me? will take the cup of sal
walton and call upon the name of the
Lord. | will pay my vows unto the
Lord, now, in the presence of all his
people,
The theme for this evening is not
national one, tho that would be apDro-
pirate for this annual, national feast day.
We shall not dwell upon the largeness of
our country; its history, resources,
government, industries. prosperity, not
even its educational or religious prog
ress. The object of this discourse is to
aid in cultivating spirit Of gratitude to
God for his blessings to US personally.
by emphasizing the fact that He is the
source and giver of them all also to aid
in securing proper expression of such
gratitude, in our daily lives. For the
purpose OF this day is not fully attained
unless it secures for US a permanent
spirit of gratitude, as well as a periodic,
formal expression of thanksgiving. Our
hearts are not music box, to be wound
up for single day but piano to be
tuned for the year.
We need therefore:
First To recognize God as the per-
sonal giver of all our blessings. ard
never was there a time when this fact
needed more to be urged than today.
(d) Because of the emphasis now put
upon force and law. While the atheist
recognizes nothing but blind force in
operation, and the deist SO far removes
God from his universe as practically not
to recognize him in nature and provi.
dence, we all by the stress we lay upon
natural cause and effect are liable TO fail
in seeing the personal, imminent hand of
God iu all our blessings. But EVERY
good gift aud every perfect gift is from
above, and cometh down from the Father
of lights" "Fhou openest thine hand
and satisfiest the desire of every living
thing. (b) Because If the multiplied
ton of industries. Few receive their
supplies as directly from the hand OF
God as the farmer. Most people secure
their provisions by purchase from OF hers,
and that, after they have been modified
and changed by human hands. 1t is
therefore not so easy TO recognize the
original Giver. (c) Because of the per-
versity of society. BY dishonesty and
fraud many of Gods blessings have been
corrupted aud even destroyed before
reaching us. The gift, however, was in
tended by God for us. God deserves the
praise. ca Because of our failure to rec
ognizs real blessing in apparent evil. Ia
many cases adversely may be a greater
blessing than prosperity, failure than
success, pain than ease.
We need secondly:
To consider our proper attitude toward
God our benefactor, or the expression of
our gratitude most pleasing to God.
1t should be (d) one of thankfulness,
because all of Gods blessings are gifts
of his grace, undeserved by what we are,
and unbought by what we do; because
even the commonest blessings of God
are of inestimable worth to us aud es-
pecially the blessing of salvation in the
gospel of his son; because this greatest
of all our blessings cost God initiate suf-
fering; and because it is unnatural, at
least abnormal, not to express thankful
ness toa benefactor. 90 OF trustful-
ness. Since our needs are constant and
Gods love is unctasing and his resources
are unfailng, then Gods past favors are
guarantee of future blessings. A 10y
ing trust in God is an act well pleasing
to him and therefore a proper expression
of gratitude. ~ OF taithfulness in
the service of God. Il will pay my
vows unto the Lord now" Think OF
the service you owe God, today, rs you
recall your VOWS yet unpaid. Remem-
Der the vows you made God, upon your
knees, as you first sought his pardon :;
the vows you made in public as you be-
came member of the Christian church
the vows you made upon sick bed, in
danger, or in threatened atiliction. Paw
them now, upon this Thanksgiving day
as the fitting expression of genuine
gratitude.