Year: 1862




1t is not, general thing from the most favored
and prosperous that the sncerest thanks returned
to the Giver of all good. The altar, from which the
most fragrant incense of praise ascends to heaven is
not commonly erected in the halls of luxury The men
who receive most at the hands of God not usually
the men that render most. The envied Of earth are
not often the grateful For worldly prosperity, if there
be not real grace to couneraet its tendency renders the
heart callous and cold, and the who has never
known adversity grows proud and sefsuficient,
crlbes his blessings to his own ability and prudence
and presents cordial tribute OF praise to divine
benefactor.


upon higher power. If God be not in all our thoughts
we can experience no such noble and delightful emo
ton. If look upon all my comforts and possessions
as procured by my efforts or aserbe my compe-
tence, peace and security to good fortune and luck,
shall never bring oblaton with great JOY into tile
house of the Lord But if have been led to feel my
self poor, helpless, dependant creature, if have been
painfully taught the instability of this worlds treasures
and joys, if have been brought to that my daily
bread is just truly from God if it received
morning by morning from the hand OF angels, then my
heart overows with gratitude for the goodness of the
Lord. Gifts OF which else should have taken little
note become precious in my eyes, and in the event that
would once have awakened repning and discomfort |
discover goodness and love. And great of ad-
versy is to bring lis to this of dependence, this
recognition of God in all that here prize and enjoy


1t is therefore no mistimed, inappropriate summons
that to-day invites unitedy to pour out hearts i'll
thanksgiving, and to magnify the goodness OF the Lord
IN MS noly LII is true lnQeeu tnaC we are as Il
people still distressed and somowing. Our night of
heaviness and agony is not ended. Still wars stern
clarion is sounding and not far off from cannon are
booming, and armed hosts pressing on to the CON
tct. During the last twelvemonth many battle fields
have been reddened-many brave men have fallen
many graves have been opened-many households have
been stripped of their pride and hope. Still is the land
mourning The hearts of wives and mothers beat quick
and anXiously: trembling hands seze and teardmmed
eyes the daily sheet with its fresh dings from the
seat of war; uncertain what dear may be found i'll
its columns of the wounded the slain. This tre-
mendous reality cannot forget What matters it
that not spectators of the terrific conflict that
we do not hear the thunder of the fight that own
fields untrodden by contending armies soil
uncrimsoned and unwasted? We cannot but sympa-
thse in what is transpiring U.S. cannot for
get the beloved who facing death at the
mons mouth. We cannot but feel that the future des-
tiny of country is poised in this balance, and that
issues of amazing magnitude are now dependant And
yet these sad and startling facts reason tor with
holding from God that homage of solemn public thanks
giving which it has been delight to render i'll past
and peaceful years. 1t may be that richer and more
acceptable offering of praise will go up to-day from
sorrowing hearts, than in bygone of unbroken
serenity. A people, like an individua may swell with
truer gratitude in the dark and cloudy day, than in the
dazzling noon-tde. II hearts have been softened
and solemnized by the trial through which we are
passing, we shall not fail to see abundant for
thanksgiving. Merces that escaped our notice i'll the
glare, may come forth to view i'll the shadow and
the hand that ustan preserves and guards may be
~
mountain seemed to stand strong "Wherefore
gory ye the Lord III the fires. Though the fires OF
devastating still burning iiercey, though
the flames glow urid and red from many hilltop crest
the summit of the Aleghanes, glare upon the urbid
current of the Mississippi flash along the shores Of the
Atlantic and sweep DER the praTies of the West YET
still gorfy the Lord. Magnify him, who "hath his
way in the whirlwnd and in the Storm and the clouds
are the dust of his feet The Lord reigneth let the
earth rejoice" He reigneth certainly in the humi-
in the calm, in the confagraon and the earth
quake, in the mild summer g the Lord, form


light and create darkness, make peace and create evil
l. the Lord do all these things" Still does it become
MS to own his Providence to put trust under the
shadow of his wings, to acknowledge his benefits, to
confess that it is of his mercies not consumed
1t must be indeed a somewhat different strain of praise
that rises from our congregations not loudly exul
tant and ubiant, but subdued and paintive and yet
it may be even purer, DEEPER fuller, sweeter more
reverent and more acceptable. We do not meet to
glorfy the Lord just in years past, when all was
plenty prosperity security and peace but still let us
g glorify him even in the fires"


Thus did Isaiah, in prophetic spirit call upon the
afflicted remnant of his people, after predicting series
of desoating judgments, such as we trust are not in
store for us, judgments whereby the land TO be