Year: 1861

nal overthrow and dispersion. the same is true


To this rsry day the Jewish history plainly ex


hibts the dealings of God with a nation-a


much favored-a Stiff-necked-a sorely pun.
ished nation.


But the Jews we are told were an exception


Their experience is no criterion for other ma
tions.


The Jews tCeTe an exception, for they were


singled out for particular purpose special


dispensation was revealed for their benefit and


a special result was arrived at But is there
any proof that other nations are not equally
under the divine government? Is there an y
proof that other nations are not held to as
strict an account for their advantages as the
Jews were for theirs? There is no proof of
any such freedom from divine authority or
control. The dreams of Pharaoh which led to
| Joseph's exaltation were as much from God as
were his own which led his brethren to sell
him into bondage. In their deliverance from
Egypt there was as much control exercised
over the affairs of their enemy and oppressors
as over theirs. In their settlement in the prom.
ised land, Israel was no more under the divine
government than were the seven nations of Ca
naan whom they suppanted. The chiet diff
ference is that God did more for Israel, that
they sinned more, and are punished more
And the fact that the descendants of Abra-
ham are at this moment scattered and yet
distinct people-fulfing the divine decree con-
corning them, is a standing admonition TO other
nations that there is God that ru!sM over
nations, and holds them accountable for their
national as we'll as individual character and
conduct.


God has done much for US as nation His
favor marked the origin of our national exist
ence, and his government over US has marked
our progress. The present crisis in our affairs
| is the legitimate result Of former conduct-the
! proper fruit of our own doiugs. This it is fol-
! ~ to deny.


Different individuals would no doubt point
ont different items in an attempted catalogue
of our crimes We propose to refer to few
which we suppose no clear head and true heart
can reject, as among those which justly call for
rebnke from GoG


The mere circumstance that our country is
SO extremely diversified in climate, soil, pro-
ductions and interests, we do not consider any
cause whatever of the present difficulty. These
diversites are what adapt the different parts
of the body to each other-each producing
what the other needs What then is the cause
1t is our failure to acknowledge God, and to
make his will our rule of action. In too many
instances we elect men to responsible positions
without regard to their religious sentiments or
moral character Political viany is openly
! advocated as no derecton Of moral duty =
/ 1t is fearful experiment to trust the destinies


of nation in the hands of those who fear not
| God, and regard not their own word. How
| can we pretend to trust in his protection as
! indiriduals when in our collective capacity we


disown him t.? We desire to give offence to no


man. We are speaking of principles which it


is useless to dispute. Principles work out their


own results 10 spite Of US. A man that does
not fear God and seek his direction and aid


should shrink from a responsible Office in the
/ State as earnestly as Moses shrank from the
| duty of conducting the Israeltes out of Egypt,
and much mare. 1t is a bold step to cast off
reliance upon divine aid and trust to our own
understanding.


But this is often done by those who profess
to fear God What shall we say of those
| who profess love to God while they are viola
ting most solemn obligations The apostle
speaks o. those who having not the law are
law unto themselves but in our day men are
not wanting who hare "the law" but cast it
aside and choose to be "a law unto themselves"
They adopt some hobby and every man and
every thing that does not fall in with that hob
by must be tramped under foot. If the Bible
cannot be made to uphold the hobby the Bible
is repudiateo as recklesSly as the opinions OF
any frail man. Their own views are supreme,
and whatever does not harmonic with them
is denounced as dscordant with the harmony
of the universe.


Something like this is the propensity to med
die with the mote in our brothers eye while a
beam is unmoested in our own. Charity be-
gins at home. Thou hypocrite First cast
the beam out of thine own eye 1t was a
matter of lamentation with one "They made
me keeper of the vineyards, but mine own vine
yard have not kept !" Cant. l. 6 If the
zeal and nervous influence that have been ex-
pended by different parts of our country
against each other had been employed in cor.
recting evils among themselves, the evils which
now distract our country had been avoided -
Study to be quiet. and to do your own busi-
ness" is divine admonition.


Among the sins of Israel which provoked
the Lord to anger was that of corenamt break
ing. And when we consider what Solemnity
attaches to the whole subject of covenants
we shall not be surprised that it is so soloemnly
guarded in the word of God. What else holds
society together What else gives security or
happiness any1eheTe ? What else than the in
volatility of the cOrenant-'the better cove
nant"-can give any assurance to men of the
bessedneSs of heaven Faithfulness to ell
gagements is indispensable to safety. A
breach of covenant is treason!


Now it is we'll known that the several States
of this Union agreed 10 let each manage its
own concerns except in such matters as by the
constitution were given up to the general gov
ernment Any interference of one State with
the institutions of another, is an offence against