Year: 1866




to the subject, and keep US from forgsttin


no praise for what il did, because it wa


only its duty. = 1t does claim, however tina


men will regard it in the light Of God


in the world. II does its good, not only i


the days of peace, but also amid the con


vulsions Of war, 1t is equal to any emer


pency 1t has the same faith, the same uH


changing desire to do good in calns and il


storms. Jealous only fer that which is jus
and true, it is ready at all times 10 he OF


the side of those who are contending for o.


helping on with the principles of the wore


Of God. And through all time il has beer


known that that for which tho church con


tended was for human good.-was for spread


ing light and happiness, and makiog the


world better. Just as plainly has it beer


true that that which the church has opposed
1 and fought was something that disturhed
/ pleasant and harmonious relations in the


world, and which, if successful, would cast


blight over all society. 1t was 50 in the


late war; and now, when we look back and
see rebellion put down, we count it a vic.
tory of the church of Christ. as well as Of
the general government. And when We see
four millions Of slaves disenthralled and
free, and see. theirformer masters compelled
TO treat them ashuman beings possessed Of
inalienable fights, we regard that also as
victory Of the church over the enemies Of
the truth. Has, then, the church done its
duty? Not its whole duty, Of course. -
Having done much, it might have done more.
Mainlv loyal, it ought to have been entirely
so. Finally on the side of liberty. it ought
to have been so at the outset. Chiefly free
to speak out in the interest of liberty and
righteousness, it ought to have been so with
out any exception. In after years it will be
an unpleasant reflection that even a small
part of the church of Christ North, lent its
influence to the perpetuation Of the greatest
Of modern crimes, and to the justification
Of the blackest modern treason. 1t will be
narrowing thought that some ministers
stood still without speaking out, when rebels
were pounding against the gates of our gov.
eminent, and even planting guns against the
church itself Still more will it be disagree
able to recollect that, even when the war
was over, there was ministry who refused
to thank God for its successful close. All
these things will be very unpleasant to re-
trospect on, but they will be regarded as the
exceptions. They will be seen as spots on
what was otherwise fair and untaruished.
They will be regarded as marks which will
tell, not only of the Christian detection in
time of trial, but of its imperfection in its
militant state on the earth. Hereafter,
when it is the church triumphant on high,
it will be without spot, glorious church,
rejoicing in all its illustrious achievements.
Meantime let us be thankful for what the
church of Christ has done for us and the
country, not forgetting that it has its work
still to do. as important as that Of the past
New duties devolve on it as the years roll
on. And though the battle sound is hush
ed and the desolation of war is ended, she
must still be loaking after the salvation of
the truth, which may be sold for naught,
after having been maintained at such a cost.
And let the members of the church of
Christ, by living lives demanded of them
by their profession, add additional lustre to
it, and maksit potential for all future coed. |
Let them by their godIy walk and conver-
sation, commend it to the world, and by
their activity and zeal cause its power to be
felt in every department of life, so that its
eaven will leaven.the whole lump its light
shine in blessing on every side, and its steady
advancement soon cause the whole earth TO
be filled with the glory of God.