Year: 1865

voice through him. Men spoke o.
his plans, of has frmness, of has kindly
policy, and waited for the will of the
nation to utter itself in his actions
The blow that struck through him
was like blow at tho heart, felt in
an instant and fearfully through every
nerve and fibre. No other life was
so linked in with all others; no other
death could thus have reused every
heart.


Consider again, the time. The time
of triumph. -Four years of long,
wasting, and at times doubtful war
just crowned by perhaps the most
overwhelming victory of modern
times. -Four years of opposition al
home from those who differed from
him in their views of policy; opposi-
ton at times coming near to victory,
seeming to shake his own friends, and
to shake even himself, subdued at
last into willing acquieseence, and an
acknowledgement of the justice and
wisdom of his plans. 4Iis own heart
was glad. The nations heart was
glad. The bonfres for victory were
ready to be lighted; the whole land
was preparing for the out-pouring of
its Joy, when one instant, one wicked
heart, one bloody hand changes this
swelling Of joy into the thrill OF
chilling horror.


Yet another consideration. Over
doubt, distrust, and an opposition per-
haps never surpassed in its bitterness,
be had just won his way as it were to
the confidence of the whole country.
Even those who but few months
ago opposed most earnestly his re-
election, now had been drawn toward
him, acknowledged the liberality and
conciliatory spirit of his actions, and
expressed their growing hopefulness
of the future, while those who had
always sustained him, upheld him now
more warmly than ever. 1t seemed
as if the nation leaned upon him,
looked to him, trusted in him, counted
on his firmness, his prudence, has gen
tleness, has patriotism, and ju't then, as
II to bring home to every heart the
utter feebleness of man, the utter in
security of any trust, save faith in
God Himself, came the blow. 1t is
almost as if Gods own voice uttered
the words from Heaven. "Put not
your trust in princes, nor in any child
of man, for there is no help in them.
For when the breath Of man goeth
forth, he shall turn again to his earth,
and then all his thoughts perish"


Yot ono consideration moro; to my
mind sublimely awful. The instan-
taneous communication of tho sad
tidings to all parts of the land, and
the unbroken unanimity, with which,
without possibility of consultation,
every city, town and country village,
in East and West, from Maine TO
California, was clad in mourning
Not many years since, it would have
taken days and weeks for all to learn
it, and some distant towns would be
Just receiving the news with its first
terrible shock, when other parts had
long recovered from it, and resumed
their usual ways. But now God has
lenthi lightnings to be mans servants,
and never did they flash with heavier
weight of woe. 1t was near midnight
when the murder was done. Before
the sun rose, the thousand bells of
New York and Boston and other
Northern Cities were tolling forth
their lamentations, and the dawning
day awolle every town to bitter sor-
row. 1t needed no formal call, no
appointment of civil authority Mems
own hearts impelled them. All bust
ness was at an end, every house near
ly was clad in mourning. Gods voice
had spoken, the whole land heard it
on tho instant.


Brethren shall we own It his? Shall
we hear what it has to say to us9---
Shall we see if there be not some
meaning for us, some lesson worthy
of such an utterance? 1t may have
manifold meanings, and doubt not
will be felt in its influence on tho ma
ton in many ways. Let me choose
ont however for our present study,
one point, one fault, in regard to
which its bearing seems uaquestion-
able. q a''


Brethren, I count this terrible stroke
to be Gods own vindication and as
sertion of the honor and reverence
dueto earthly rulers; His rebulse of us
for sinful violations of our Christian
duty in this respect. Does it seem
contradiction to you that he should
claim our reverence for President,
through the very act of the Presi-
dents assassination? Vindicate au-
thority, by the very blow which as
sailed it? Teach us the lessen, "honor
to whom honor is due" by laying our
honor in the dust9 How else could
He so elFectually have done it? If
there be a weak spot in a line of de-
fence, an attack there calls attention,
and gathers instantly the forces for its
defence. Strike but blow upon the
pale cheek, and the blood rushes
thither from all other parts to protest
against the insult So as if the nation
were but one living being, the blow
struck ut its honor in some instance
Of which it may itself have been too
careless, summons to the spot assailed,
in an instant, the full tide of the whole
nations angry life, and swells all its
being with burning Indignation. 's


Brethren, Gods word has told us
plainly, that national governments
and human rVles are something more
than merely the invention or creation
of man. They are from God, made
by Him to be necessary points in
human society, continuation on
earth, in . lower degree, Of that same
vast system which prevails in Heaven,
whore Himself is the Almighty Gov
ernor, tho Eternal Autocrat; and, rank
below rank, Thrones and Dominions,