Year: 1869


tance of using trancient life in pre-
pairing a history of ourselves which
we can bequeath to those who shall
come after, and for the retributions of
eternity just before US. Let us re-
member that though we have escaped
during the year past, we may not the
one to come. The good habit of de-
vout reflection can not be Overestima-
ted. r.-.l r. ....r


AS the nation, yea! the world is
made up of individuals, so that each
one is a component part of the whole !;
and, in proportion to the influence,
each one is exerting these in a down
ward or upward tendency of the
whole. A single particle of matter
attracts every practicle of matter in
the universe, and likewise is attracted
by every other Then, it is no strange
thing for a single individual to effect
all the millions of our world.


Here, move this Bible before me.
Do l not thereby in some sense
change the gravity of the world :?
Then may not each individual
increase or lessen the virtue or
vice, truth or error, the pity or sin of
the moral world, which is filled with
these Opposites I? The moral world,
like the air, hates a vacuum. If the
principle of evil is destroyed, the va
cancy will be supplied by its opposite,
namely, good. Let a sinner be con-
verted and there will be one less to do
wrong, and one more to do right,
one less to augment divine displeasure,
and one more to increase divine pow
er, one less to curse and one more to
bless.


It may be that some present may be
of this class, who, during this year,
have been illuminated by divine grace,
and their darkness has receeded before
the rising "sun of righteousness" "
so that, to-day, they can thank God
that they are not as they once were.


Such can join in this Thanksgiving
with a heart renewed by the love of
God, new life received and a new,
good, yea! glorious hope obtained.
All earth is effected by this. Heaven
has held already a thanksgiving on
account of it, for there has been 1.joy
in heaven over" each one that has re-
pented.


The religious experience of others
has been greatly enriched the past
year. They have pleasing evidence
that they have been increasing their
treasure on high, "where moth and
rust do not corrupt" and the thief
never enters. And he is rich who has
such treasure, whether he has earth
ly wealth or not, for that bank never
breaks and the treasure is enduring
riches" such as God himself esteems.
Then if you have been growing rich
in heaven this year, you feel more
than ever inclined, and will take
purer delight in offering "untO God
thanksgiving" for this is infinitely
better than the increase of gold
and silver, flocks and heards, horses
andlands.


Great is the disparity between
heavenly and earthly treasure; new
ertheless, we have many reasons why
we should 'OffeT unto God thanksgiV-
ing" for the la ter.


These TEMPORAL blessings, with
which God has SO abundantly sup
piled US, arc never to be deSpiSed,
though we may look upon them as
''meaner things" for ''they are not
our God" Each has had his wants
redressed, and received an ample sup
ply. There is no occasion of any being
pinched with hunger or distressed
from want this year. Each is saved
from far of want. The bare necessa-
ries of life are more than met,
for there is an abundance, and even
luxuries are not wanting: to which
the wardrobe, the larder, the full cell
lar, the flowing vine and cider press,
the groaning graineries, the bleating
flocks and loOing herds, give their
most convincing testimony. The
rich pastures and meadows have
abundantly supplied our beasts with
grass and hay the fruitful fields have
presented to us their offering in grain,
SO that the grain growing States have
millions of bushels as a surplus for
envious, naughty Europe, while our
productive orchards in the northern
States have been less bOuntiful than
usual.


But what we need to eat we can
have. For this, are we not bound to
give thanks to God? To a starving
man a single crust would be received
with sincere thankfulness then how
much warmer our gratitude should be
and higher our thanks arise, for a
divinely supplied abundance. If,
when pinching want has been re-
moved, there is an occasion for heart
felt gratitude; how much more when
that want has been prevented. How
highly would we prize food if only
deprived of it for a few hours, especial
ly days. The richest earthly treasure
would be no comparison with it. This
has found an illustration in the sad
experience of many. We instance a
case Once there was company eros
sing a desert, as many had done before.
When famished and lost, and ready
to lay down in disl air to die, small
sack, filled with something, supposed
to be dates, was seen at a. little dis
tance. Hope revived, and one hasten
ed forward to grasp the precious boon,
but on opening it he exclaimed: "Alas,
alas, it is only pearls ~ Earth con-
tains nothing so much to be desired
after all as raiment food and drink.


Within a few years, a company of
Immigrants to Oregon were stripped
of their food and clothing by savage
Indians, and when found, after a
number of days, by squad of soldiers,
they were so raving with hunger that
both sexes appeared innOccntly desti-
tute of shame. Their supreme desire
was for food, and until this was graft
fed they were but little concerned
about any thing else. In Libby Prison
our starved soldiers would weep like
infants for a crust of bread. Then
how favored is our lot how gracious
has been our God.


Health. Some have counted that
this is the choicest earthly blessing.
This may OF be exactly true, yet it is
a priceless boon. Good health is what
none can dispise, and all must covet ;
it cannot be esteemed too highly nor
preserved too carefully. If you have
this as an earthly Inheritance, you are
rich nevertheless, you are indebted to
God for it. Few can boast of being in
a more healthy climate, and cOmmu-
nifty grave yard, with as large a popu-
lation as this, is seldom filed so slow
ly as yours But has your health
been suffering a decline this year ?
1t may be even a nierciful voice OF
Cod IN x-Ot1 with mn fatal phuco Nh III