The Penn's Grove record., 1923-11-30
Thanksgiving Service
Largely Attended In The Baptist
Church

There was a large a~congregation in
the Baptist Church Wednesday even
ing.
Rev. Francis A. Smith, of Mariners
Bethel Methodist Protestant Church.
preached the Thanksgiving sermon
Wednesday evening, before the Union
congregation. His text from the 95th
Psalm, the first three verses of which
are as follows:
1. Oh come, let US sing unto Jeho-
yah;
Let us make a joyful noise to the
rock of our salvation.
2. Let us come before his presence
with thanksgiving;
Let US make a joyful noise with
psalms.
8. For Jehovah is a great God.
And a great King above all gods.
Rev. Smith said in part:
The glorious of revelation is not
only that there is one true God, whom
the Jews designated by the word
Jehovah, but He may be approached by
Me Men, " rz,soa j might, Jame to a
belief in a first cause, but by the
might of intellect they could not dis
V those facts regarding Him that
most interest them.
Revelation makes known to US not
only His being but His nature and
other great facts which make US glad.
We may come before the Lord and
present to Him as offerings the things
we prize most.
More acceptable to Him than the
lamb or the first fruits, is that we give
ourselves, which we do when we ap-
pear in Gods house, to recognize his
benefits with our thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving is not a mere gift from
field OF the flock, or the bank. 1t is
a gift from the mind, the heart with
an af~fectionate love for his goodness.
l.. God is imminent and active in His
universe and is the source of all hu-
man good.
When God made all things He did
not withdraw to a place of observation
to watch their movements. He did
not make laws to be His vice regent
and leave them to run things without
His supervision or interference.
MOI God is in His Empire and
controls all activities. We are under
Gods sovereignty, rather than under
law. Their phenomena are but the
things God brings to pass.
God reigns over mems minds. He
is in the movement of nations. Napo-
leon and Wellington clashed at water
loo; but peace to Europe for 100 years
follows. North and South met in civil
strife. A more united nation under
one flag is the glorious result. There
is law everywhere; but is God back OF
it?
2. God should be acknowledged as
the giver of every good and perfect
gift. Man is the only n who can
recognize God by his intelligence. The
beasts and birds are fed by God but
they know Him not. The wonderful
| gifts of God in nature should draw
mems attention to Him, the creator OF
all things. The study of nature should
give men a larger conception of His
attributes. The gifts which meet the
necessities of our lives, the provi-
dences which bring betterments to u
families, society and nations should
make us think of Gods interest IN us
and His care to conserve and promote
our good. 1t is soul %elevating to &C
knowledge Gods gifts and should
make Him real to us in u spirit
lives.
We should do more than acknowl-
edge Him as the giver. We should be
thankful to Him for His gifts. We
have no claim to- Him for His favors
bestowed.
Gods gifts are bestowed unselfishly.
The gift which is a bride or batter is
not worthy of any expression of graft
tude. God gives His good things that
He may Bless and uplift us.
His greatest gift was that of Jesus,
the Christ, a %personiied expression OF
the Spirit, Jehovah.
Let us then come before Him with
Thanksgiving and unto His house OF
worship with songs of praise.
8. Let us not think more OF the
things to be be thankful for than the
Giver. Simple blessings are usually
the best.
A good nights sleep, after a day of
toll. What a miracle of mercy it is.
The awakening in a new day with
health and vigor is enough to make us