The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1898-11-29

:, ia. dav. the Rubric. prescribing
~. Observance of the first 1hursua! III
%.vombrr would in that case be blnollis
,,on III the clergy Of our III
this country.
Tins. as is evident, We owe Tue dP-
continent of rIc day not 70 the stat
Lnt 10 the church, and III observing 1t
we are o6cying first OF all the summons
~ IN. church. And hence it i that we
La,,. from the pulpits Of our communion
IN This day comparatively few political
| horangues and National glorlflcltloli>'
I'M rather and with far more prophet!
,ra ,iIr thoughts directed 10 those con
.+.n+ and permanent causes OF thanks
a;vino 10 Almighty God for the return OF
.eed-time and harvest. for the fruits OF
rbn earth. by which our lives are pre-
snryed and all the other blessings ol
his Mcrciful Providence.
And as we look back over the year
now fast drawing 70 4 close. brtlllltH'
what abundant cause Of deVout tlaLks
Giving to the Giver Of all good do we
find for the countless blessings OF iiis
Ncrciful Providence. i'll whom we live
and move and have our being. How
Freely" and ~abundantly of all good
| things have we received of our God. as q
npople. as Christians and rs individuals.
We enjoy peace and almost uneN-
| amplc.. prosperity. while other nations
are troubled with internal connexions
TINT threaten their very existence or
are already suffering from the dIreful
effects of war and rumors of wars. How
Gods good providence has led us ana
blessed us as Il Nation III the last few
months,
How were the hearts Of all peace
loving Christian people throughout the
~ +.,,I1,J ahnI-n rnaa cIIrp SlN months
AGO when the war with Spain that they
so earnestly deprecated was declared.
and hurried preparations for its lndefln-
lie continuance were heard III every dl-
| ~rpction, But of what surprisingly short
duration has it been. and with what few
| casualties and loss of life has it been at
| tended and how marvellous the results III
opening up to Christian civilization and
Enlightenment millions of priest-ridden
hpnighted souls for whom Christ died.
Surely the ways of Goo are past finding
out. and as Il nation we have abundant
cause to say with the Psalmist-"O that
men Would therefore praise the Lord for
His goodneS and declare the wonders
that He doeth for the children Of men,
Such in small part are our blessings Of
peace and prosperity as i people to-day.
while there is scarcely 4 power in Con-
tinental Europe where peace holds her
easy sway and man forgets his brother
man to Stay
Crowned heads hold their thrones with
very uneasy and very uncertain tenure.
Internal dissensions and violent agita-
tons. threatened revolt and uprising of
the governed or conflict irrespective or
actualD. With the n~eichboring powers are
the rule. And the far East presents
very much the same melancholy aspect
with the addition of gaunt famine in
some parts rs Il conspicuous figure in the
picture.
These things. brethren. are so far from
us and one so often sounding in our ears
as a twice told tale. thai we do not by
contrast appreciate rs we should our
blessings as 4 people.
Then how greatly have we been bless
cd-how freely and abundantly have
We received of God in basket and in
store during this current year. The Ia
bors of the husbandman-on which our
prosperity depends-have been abundant
~ rewarded in the return of most bounti-
ful haryeStS. so much so that in the
popular phlascology Of the day. America
Is faSt becoming the Sranary Of the
world.
What marvellous strides in prosperity
and wealth has this country made in the
last decade. We may we'll nigh say
with the Psalmist Of Old (f only we do
it IN no vainglorious spirit. 1.-THE Lord
hath not so dealth with any nation
Then as Christians how 'freely'' hay
we received" of God. How abundan
ana superior are our privileges Of wor
shin. Churches dot the land.
Bibles are translated in every Ian
@uaGe. We have 4 free gospel Cat lcas
in his sense} and none is so poor tina
he may not claim rs his own. and in hi
own tongue the word of God. Institu
tons Of learning. of Christian bcnevo
fence and OF charity-not q few of them
literally and permanently endowed are
to be seen i'll every direction. even il
inhospitablc heather lands. where bu
for the influence Of the Gospel of Chris
the life Of the missionary would be con
stantly endangered.
L the poor the Gospel is preached
AT no period in the history of til
church at least in this country. wa |
there ever such q manifestation of tn
missionary spirit and that in the very
face Of the boosted increase and prog
ress Of modern skepticism and infidelity
W hat q glorious awakening of thi
blessed spirit of the Master did our lat
General Convention show, How WEI
they gathered. Bishops and Presbytar
and missionaries from the end of til
world. and with what burning word
did they testify of the love of Christ il
heather lands. and how new doors wer
being opened and new fields conquered
10 the peaceful power of the Gross.
but Brethren. we must narrow dow
vet more this. but most superficial and
imperfect review of the signal blessings
.cf God Merciful Providence, if we
would in any degree apnrpciatp and dis |
charge our consequent duties.
How freely have we received of God
as individuals. Count up your personal
blessings-(if YOU cam. Your health.
wealth, friends, food, happiness or means
of happiness. Contrast the result with
the sickness, poverty, want, neglect and
misery of many about You.
All! it is i'll individual life that the
ways of God with men seem truly past
finding out.
Why should that man or woman-the |