Year: 1869

after Righteousness. On a nations


righteousness depends its prosperity
God said to the prophet, "Son Of man


when the land sinneth against me BY


trespassing grievously, then will


stretch out mine hand upon it, and


will break the staff of the bread oi


life thereof, and will send famine up


on it, and will cut of man and beas;


from it."


"CiVil government is ordained OF
God. 1t is meant for good, and when
framed upon principles of righteous


ness, earth knows no higher blessing.


1t is a defence for the weak, a re-


straint upon Out-breaking passion, a


handmade to social dignity, the bull


Wark to freedom, the grand regula-


tor of the outward world" But sin


destroys a nation. 1t eats out, as in


the individual, its very life. As a


punishment, the Almighty sends upon


the Inhabitants evils Of a fearful


character. Every thing is blighted.


The whole land is consumed. The


people mourn as in ancient times be-
cause "The seed is rotten under the
clOds, the garners are laid waste, the


barns ARE broken down, for the corn is


wlthered. The tiller of the soil
feels the cutting words Of the proph-
ct, "Be ye ashamed, o, ye husband
men, for the wheat and for the bar
ley, because the harvest of the field
is perishsd.


Then in view of the goodness of
God, in view of the benefits bestowed
during the year, in view of our na-
lional prosperity, let US enter into
His gates with thanksgiving. Let us to
picture ourselves God ancient people,
vast in numbers, going up to the holy
hill of Zion, and entering the courts
Of His house. Listen as they, with
one voice, chant their psalm of praise,
opening it with an invitation to all
the earth "tO make joyful noise un-
to the Lord for He is good, His
mercy is from everlasting-and from
that scene, learn the glory and gran
deur of national thanksgiving. Let
Us not fail to implore and trust Him
for the same divine protection, and
blessings so constantly enjoyed. Let
us learn righteousness, needing the
promise long ago uttered, "If ye
walk in my statutes and keep my com
mandments, then will l give you rain
in due season, and the land shall yield
her increase, and the trees of the
field their fruit. Let US loose the
bands of wickedness, and delight our
selves in the Lord. Then shall it be
as the prophet hath said, "Thy light
shall break forth as the morning, and |
thy health shall spring forth speedily, |
and thy righteousness shall go before
thee, and the glory Of the Lord shall
be thy reward 1t will be univer-
sally said, "And they shall be of thee,
shall build the old waste places, thou
shalt raise up the foundations of
many generations, thou shalt be call
ed the repairer Of the breach, the re-
storer of the paths to dwell in
Then shall be fulfilled that grand old
promise, then shall be reached that
pinnacle of national greatness, II will
cause thee to ride upon the high
places of the earth" and the banner
Of free and happy people, with the
banner of the cross, shall, together,
wave over land and sea, aud when the
end of all things shall come, then
amid the general wreck shall we rise
to newer, higher life-will walk up
lion's hill, enter Zion'S gates with
sladness, and offer to Zion's Lord, as
\ people redeemed, the thanksgivings
of our hearts.