Year: 1861

| Sed; yet one may tremblc when every sacred
! and valuable interest is committed to the arbi-
| tration, not of wisdom, and love, and justice,
| but of force, and the sword. Who can tell the
issue Who can predict the wants of day or the
| results that shall be carved out by the instru-


ments tnat are used to destroy rather than to


benefit and to build! When contemplate this


boiling sea of passion, that is to be passed by


us under the lowering clouds and u darkencd


sky, find refuge and comfort in his presence


who has assured us that " AS thy days, 50 shall


thy strength be- Armed with that assurance,


commit my country, my church, and my fam
lly to the tenpestuous waves L fear not the


evils that thicken in the air. that rise from the


depths. Like Bunyan's pilgrim who walked


through the valley of the shadow Of death,


while every step of his way was licked by forked


tongues Of flame, and from the darkness over


head poercd the grinning visages, or was heard


the seductive Tyres of tempting tends, so as VIC


60 through this mazy, fiery path Of conflict


with those who have forgotten and spurned all


fraternal obligation which we are forced to


tread, may our feet be shod with iron and brass,
and our strength be animated by the in-dweling
God Refusing all thoughts. feelings, passions,


purposes, that are evil and sinful, REFRESHING all


tendencies that are doubtful, striving and strik


ing only Tor the ends, and in the SPIRIT which
Il holy and pure and merciful God will Justify,


praying for our enemies, even while we contend
against them, then shall the evils we fear be
mtigated, and our strength become equal, nay,
superior to our necessity. Our strength is finite.
The strength Of God is infinite, and unless our
strength is supplemented by His right hand and
His holy name, our triumphs Will be disastrous,
and our defeats will be remediless The strength
of the Almighty arm can come to us, only
when we trust in the omnpotent name
And so in the midst Of evil days, we should


be faithful, watchful, more alert in the cultiva-
ton Of every religious, generous, Christian
affection, and in the performance of every sa-
cred and charitable duty. We need not fear
that our strength will fail when it is upheld by
right principles, augmented by heavenly pur-
poses and sentiments, and enhanced by the
blessing Of God.


fear, my friends, that we may be inclined to
justify remissness in Christian duty, benefcence,
and responsibility, by the troubles Of The days
that are come upon u.s. But let us remember,
that Christian strength does not thus wane and
fail AS the exigency comes, SO that strength
is renewed and doubled. Hence, if we would
have our strength as our days, we should care
fully watch our own religious state. Instead
of feeling that war dissolves the sacredness and
obligations Of the duties of Christian life, we
should feel that it ought to press them more
closely and tenderly upon every Christian heart.
The excitements and perils, instead of sending
US away from God, ought to bring us nearer to
Him. Now are the days, when the place of
prayer should be thronged- the house of
God should be filled with penitent, earnest, sol
emn worshippers. Now should the Divine
Word be preached with a heartier faithfulness
than ever, exposing all sin and guiding to all
truth and holiness. The Gospel Of peace should
lay its mild hand upon the throbbing brow and
fevcrish pulse Of the nation 1t is no time for
relaxing religious restraints, Or the disregard of
religious services. Never should purer, more
fragrant offerings be made on domestic altars
than now Never should the closet be more
faithfully found and kept. Never should the
of Christian charity be more sa
credlJ observed. Never should the outposts of
Christ's kingdom be more stdulousy guarded.
Never should benevolent enterprises be more lib
orally sustained. Our Sunday schools should
gather a more intent and prayerful band of
teachers, more numerous and docile class of
scholars. Our Church should have more than
its usual congregations. Our Sabbaths should
be more perfectly guarded against any interfer-
ence with their sacredness which is not necessa-
~ to meet the exigency before US. If the fires
of patriotism burn high so much the more need
that the fires of religion should burn higher.
God will surely bless Il people. that in strug-
Cling for their own Institutions, forget not the
care and work and upbuilding of His kingdom
who, amid all the excitements of conflict. keep
burning still more brightly on all the altars of
religion the pure flames of Christian faith, love,
and conservation. Then g as their days so shall
their strength be-"