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St VMA ' THE COUNTRY'S .TROUBLE AHD ®, 8flii| (ipt)[i!)tinn'ii (l^iifiaMon: ■ ^•»- A DISCOURSE SUGGESTED BY THE LATE LAWLESS INVASION OF CANADA, AND PSEACHED IN TUE BAPTIST CHAPEL, BRANTFORD, C. W., O.N TUB MORNING OF SABBATH, JUNE 10th, 1866, ET [■' ilEY. WILLIAM STEWART^ B. A. (PUBLISHED BY BEQUEST^) BRANTFORD: PRINTED AT THE OFFICE OF THE BRANTFORD *' COURIER." 1866. ® ® The following discourse, delivered last Satbatli to ond of tlie largest Coti- grcgations ever assembled for public worship in Brantford, is published at the earnest and unanimous request of the Church, over which the writer presides as Pastor. It is printed almost word for word aa it was preached,, the writer having no time for mere verbal emendations. If some may b® inclined to tMnk that the strictures on the Government of the United States are too severe, his answer is that they are true ; and that it was Be- cessary to make them in a community where a few sympathisers, from whom better things might be expected, evidently imagine that that Govern- ment " can do no wrong." The writer claims to be as true a friend of the neighboring Republic, as when he preached his sermon oil "' The Presi- dent's Death" a little more than a yeur ago: certainly none the lesa % friend, that he has fiiithfuUy pointed out its sins, both of omissiou and commission. Brantford, June 12th. 1866. ® THE COUJ^TKl'S TROUBLE AND 10 ltrg6sf (3oti» published at h ilie writer ivas preached,, ome may hs ; the United lat it -was ne- thisers, from t that Govern- friend of the ^'The Presi- e the less » amission and S(k (l{Iirij)tian*s (l{0ns0Mun: *' God i5 our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble : Therefore win not we fear though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be car- ried into the midst of the sea. • * * * Be still and know that I am God : I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. The Lord of hosts is with us ; the God of Jacob is our refuge." —Psalm xlvi., 1, 2, 10, 11. It h one striking proof of the divinity of the Word of God, that there are no circumstances in which men can be place;!, either as nations or as individuals, but it furnishes themes for instruction, meditation, and im- provement. Be it joy or sorrow, prosperity or adversity, through which we pass, the devout reader will ever find in Holy Scripture, appropriate truth in appropriate language, for every condition in which human beings can be placed. What more suitable, for example, to the present crisis of our country, than these sublime verses, just read in your hearing ? How could the good man's consolation in troublous times be more strikingly in- dicated? " God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trou- ble: therefore will not we fear." So sang David, on the occasion of some great deliverance having been effected for him ; and so may every child of God sing, when danger threatens or when foes alarm. It is in no sense my intention this morning to prostitute the influence of the pulpit to mere political partizanship. I hold it, however, to be both the privilege and the duty of the Christian teacher to state what he believes to be the teachings of God's Holy Book on the rights and wrongs, the duties and sins of his country and his times. True, he is the servant of a Master whose "kingdom is not of this world ;" and to him who possesses the true spirit of his oflice, the conversion of a single soul must ever be of greater luomcnt than ftiiy mcTe question oF party or of politic*. But tie tlicughts and anxieties tliat have filled and Larrasscd our minds for tie last ten days, lave risen ligli above tie lew oinl ruirrow eplcrr of party gtrife. '< Our Cotintry " las lecn tie watclwovd ; Hud "cur coundy ^ safety" la5 leen tie x\isl of every man wortly of tie name of Canadian citizen. It' for & few lours tt tie beginning of tie fray, tlere wei-e anxious fears lest for a time tic lands of lawless men should prevail, quickly were tleso followed It feelings of admiration at the indomitable courage, that in spite of official inexperience or blundering.', animated our volunteers, and by the heartfelt sorrow of a nation for licr noble slain. A jurlect vortex of emotions, in fact, hus been boiling within our breasts—anxiety and alarm, gratitude and grief by turns, and these have sometimes been so strong as to threaten, for the moment to destroy all right thought and nil Christian principle. Let it be ours this morning, men and brethren, to rise above these intense and varying feelings, and listen to the voice of God, fpcaking to 113 terrible thini-s and saying to every thinking man in a voice clear and unmistaka- ble " Be still and know that I am Godt I Jvill bo exalted among the na- tions, I will be oxaltcd in the earth." And may the Spirit of wisdom and holiness so order our thoughts and so purify our hearts from all unworthy and unchristian motives, that the truth alone shall be spoken, and heard, and believed, and that lessons of lasting proSt may be learned fvom this calamitous crisis. If the verses of my text speak of trouble, they suggest to «9 also a source of consolation. Let us turn our thoughts to these two points, and likewise to the duties devolving upon us as a people, accommodating, of course, our remarks to the circumstances in whicli wc are at present placed. I. First then, of our trouhle. It is by no means either necessary or dasirable that I should refer at length to the miserable and misguided men ■who have been the chief causes of our present national trouble. Their lopes and plans, their eflforts and failures are known to us all. For over six years they have been organizing and conspiring for what they call the liberation of Ireland from British domination. Woe worth the day to poor Ireland, should men of their stamp ever gain the ascendancy in that green island of the sea 1 Their rule would be her ruin 1 For years, then, these men have openly held meetings, collected money, drilled men, and amassed arms to accomplish tlieir Quixotic task. They have done all this throu<^hout the length and breadth of the territory, and with the full know- led 'e of the government of a professedly friendly nation. The statute ji. T5n( tlic s for thr last party -ti'il'e. citizen. It' Icai's lest for leso followed ite o£ official the heartfelt emotions, in ratitudc and threaten, for nciple. Let f intense and \ 113 terrible 1 unmistaka- nong the na- \visdom and all unworthy I, and heardj ed fi'om this also a source and likewise if course, our d. necessary or isguided men uble. Their II. For over thoy call the Lh the day to tancy in that r years, then, lied men, and done all this the full know- The statute book of that country pronounced their proceedings a violation of all inter- national law, just as the moral sens^e of every right-thinking man declared them contrary alike to justice and equity. Yet during all these years of plotting and preparation, their government gate no sign. S!cribed of their ^vealth to their cause. They were petted atiil itronizcd by tho leading newspapers of the Union, with a few honorable except ion!»j * and even the President himself not many months ago received a deputation fr(»m tho mock Fenian fc?enate, who tendered him their thanks fot' having granted their petition for the liberation of a notorious dema- gogue. What ironJer that the misguided men, fiurrounded by such helpers and synipathli^erfl, s.!iould iaingiuo that they luid on their nside, both the ma- terial A\\<1 moral support of tho nation ? Wliat wonder if they thought that with impunity they iiught resort to measures the most lawless and extreme ? The pour vi etches artj not only misguided, but guilty to the last degree : yet who dare .say thiit tin? Govcriimcat that winked at their doings is en- tirely guiltless ? At its door, Diany v/ill b(3 inclined to lay the blood of bur murdered patriotic ?Ieii talk of retvlbuiloa for the St, Albans' raid, but tha parallel cutircly fail'. Had tliat Presidential proclamation that was issued the other day, beou issued, as it ought to' have been, years or even montlis ago, v;culd our country have ever been invaded, or our soil dcsecr.itcd by a lawless liorde ? Would the commerce of our land have been obstructed, or our frontier towns have this day boon teeming and bristling witli armed men? Would the dark shadow of carnage, and the darkey dcsolatloa of death, have ever crossed the threshhold of some of the lately happy homei? of our Province ? I deliberately ask these questions and make these charges, not for the purpose of stirring up strifo between two neighboviag nations, but to lay the guilt of our troubles at the eloor of those to whom, in part at least, it is Justly chargeable. The conclusion • Amid tliG shart?ft*'ul utterances of tlia great majority of tlie United Slates nev/spapersoii lliis subject, it i.s refresliiir^' to nnid in the New York Examiner and Ckronide, of tho 7th Jane, the leaJiii^' li-iptist orj^aa on this continent, a denunciation of thu Foniaii invasion as "a ra juotrons crime,"' and "a fi.igrant and atrocious outrage upon uli laiv and civilization."- It is more than insinuated nlso that tlie Government has I)rought disgraca on the American name, Aftef such a confession, we can altbrd to smile at th3 remark that " the luitish have nothing to complain of." cannot bo resisted, that had nut Fenian votes bmn r<>;^^^rded by the place- seekers and politicians of the great Ilopublic as ol more vn\w than justice and law and morality, the blood of Canadians would hcmp Inv,' stained tho battle-field of Lime Ilidge. Nor can wo wonder, if numy an- inclined to suppose that tho tardy action oftlu^ (Jovcrnnioiit ol' \\h- linitcl States in suppressing the outlaws, way niily taken when it l.tv.iuir .^ id.Mit that a perseverance' in their (Ic-iiotiiing and .synipathi/.iii;: i.oUcy wur.ld array against them not only tlie whole material resources of the British Kmpirt', but tho moral sense of the civilized world. Encouraged by tho sympathy and aid they thus received, need we won- der thut these lawless men should have crossed over intc. our territory, and in pursuance of their plan, as wild as it was u-lcked. ha\e engaged in their piratical work ? The «iuestion of the nujral lawfulness of war has frequent- ly been raised ; but there cannot be two opinions ass to the nation's duty at tho present emergency. When a territory is openly invaded, and tho inha- bitants of a peaceful country are ruthlessly plundered, armed resistance and opposition to the invaders becomes an imperative necessity. No doubt every true Christian loves peace, and will ever pray for it; but every true Chris- tian loves justice too, and will ever assert it. War is a trcmondous cviJ, a last and terrible rosDrt. Poetry has framed some of its finest stanzas out of " the pomp and circumstance" of war ; it has chosen the nodding plumes and gleaming lielmets, the deadly charge and tho murderous volley as its favorite themes. But ah I when we remember the devastation and bloodshed, the outrage and carnage, the orphanage and widowhood that war involves, we cannot fail to perceive, that even when most mercifully manag- ed, it is a dreadful necessity. On the principles ot the New Testament, it can be defended and tolerated, only when it is physical might sustaining moral right. The Spirit of inspiration expressly teaches that tlie civil ruler is not to " bear the sword in vain." Justly dear as human life is,.good or- der and strict justice are dearer still. Surely it is for some high and useful purpose that God has implanted the instinct of self-preservation deeply in the breast of man. To allow miscreants to kill us without resisting them, would be to be little less than guilty of suicide, ' God has given to human government the authority to sustain right by force, and without that autho- rity human government would be an utter impossibility. If a criminal has been pronounced guilty of a capital crime, hv forfeits his life to justice ; simply because justice should be regarded by us as dearer than life; and when a number of criminals, a mob of marauders, in defiance of both right and '1 by tlio place- iiii thiin justice ■ivr stained the ail' iiiollned ti> iiiif'l States* in t-'vidciit tliat u y wiir.ld ;iiT;iy Sritish Kiiipiix', , need irewon- tcrntory, and ii^nged in their r has froquent- atioii's duty at , and the inha- re.sistanco and No doubt every 3ry ti-uc Chris- londous evil, a jst stanzas out the noddinf' trdcrous volley iVastation and k'hood that war •ci fully manag- Tcstanicnt, it i^ht sustaining the civil ruler ifeiSj.good or- igh and useful tion deeply in "Csisting them, ven to human )ut that autho- a criminal has ife to justice ; life; and when loth right and reason, conspire to deprive peaceful citizens of their liberties and lives, tho principle is precisely the same, and the duty of the citizens and the Govern ment is just as clear in the latter case as in the former. A\e may be told that the grand design of the Gospel, under whose blessed dispensation wo now live, is tu produce " peace on earth and good will to men;" and yet even the Lord Jesus himself, the Ilighteous Governor, is represented in the New Testament record as *' in righteousness judging and makin«- war." Need wo point to Abraham and Joshua, to David and Jonathan, and other Old Testament Saints, who were all men of war ? When John the Baptist exhorted the soldiers of his day, he did not urge them to lay down their arms, but to bo •' content with tlicir wagc:4."' When the Gentile Centurion and devout soldier Cornelius, wau converted, he was not required by the Holy Spirit to abandon his military post. iUchavd Baxter held the position of army Chaplain, Avhen he wrote the " Saint's Everlasting Rest,"— the book that tells us of that better land v.-hcrc the peace will be as perfect as tho purity. John Hampden died tha death of a Christian as well a patriot when he fell mortally wounded in defending his country's liberties. One of the noblest Christian classics in our language is tho sermon of our own elo- quent Kobert Hall, in which ho urges the Volunteers of his day to arm in resistance of the threatened French Invasion. Time would fail me to tell of Col Hutchison, a Baptist, in tho days of Cromwell, at once a hero and a soldier of the cross ; of Col. Blackudder, a Scotch officer, as renowned for Lis piety as for his prowess; of Col. Gardiner, the story of whose remarka- ble conversion 18 known to most, and who believed himself as really serving God when fighting against Popish persecution, as he was when bowing the knee in private prayer to his Heavenly Father. '' Turn out the saints," was the order of Lord Gough in India, " Havelock's men are always to be depended on." " I wish," said Lord Wm. Bentinck to Gen. Havelock's wife, '< that your husband could make Baptists of tho whole army." When we read of these and of other military men, who, braving both sneers and opposition, have, like Captains Hammond and Hedley Vicars, declared un- hesitatingly their allegiance to King Jesus, we can no longer affirm that the two positions of soldier tmd of saint are incompatible in the same per- son. And who would be bold enough to deny that in the ranks of Canada's gallant defenders of the present day, there are many who are both good sol- diers of Britain's Queen, and good soldiers of Jesus Christ ? Still, necessary and justifiable though armed resistance is, when put forth n a righteous cause, it cannot be denied that it brings with it terrible ca- a lann'tiofl. Not the least of these, in our present troublt, It the loss of the bravo Volunteers, which wo this morning so (leo{»ly deplore. Only • few (lays ago they v,crn hale and happy in tho pursuit of their peaceful callinf^s. Sorno were nt iheir t'h-ms, and others at their mcrchandin'— sonic ;if their mcchanicjil .^raft, and others tu tlit'r literary studios. Tli< iiivnlcr eimiP, and forth they wnnt to meet Mm at their country's call. The inniiiin invader came, ^ho iTinrning of battle's iiiauni- m aliituile, six he Bli'in ard of tho length and I hnst fctn tbc tlrcn at the lo?s a» rcail with a ft'ith his bravo io array of hlsi V gadu'ifd " a ^!it niako their ■nu was mado. ^an were to bo of tho 2nd f»f rrow is'iicncrul CSS cIiiMron— hi, refusini,' to r.s arisen, that bind up the the oil of con- ho dio on the 1 alm<>st cruel » error. But 1 shed on the on Calvary's c carnal mind 1 fundamental CO the Lord." by the deadly uro, and com- 9 mitting his spirit to his Saviour, like a true soldier of tlic cross, foil nslctp in Josn8, Whether tho rest were equally well prepared we cannot tell. They h&^e gone to their account ; and the Judge of all the earth will do right. With ono of tliem, tlio Irto Private 3?alpolm McKenzie, of tho University lliflcs, F was brought into close and intimate relationship lor a period of nearly iwn vears. During that time he studied the J^atin and rjrcek Classics under my tuition in tho Literary Tnstitnte at Woodstock.— IIo was possessed of mof(^ than ordinary naturrd abiiitifs, and was in a marked "Jogreo exemplary cind -ncoessful as ;i student. He was strictly moral in hi ?onduct, am? amiablo in his deportment. Thfrc was no more interested attendant en tho f-'fibbsth afternoon Bible t'lr.sLi than hu was. llo was the subject of deep rc'igin\is i.-nprossions ; and I am not without hopes that these had issued in iiii genuine conversion to ?lod. He was brouLrlit up in tho Presbyterian persuasion, and was a faithful attendant on the public means of grace. Often have I observed him in our Baptist Chapel, at Woodstock, listening with eager interest, as in days gone by, I wu!^ privileged to stand up there and ".speak to the people the words of this life." A course of usefulness and success in life seemed to lie btfi)re him. Already ho had taken somo of tho highest honors in the University of Toronto ; and only tho Wednesday before his death ho was busy with his annual ex- amination at tho Hall, ai^l was gathering fresh laurels on his way to tho profession of Law which he had cho.«cn. Those who knew him best were certain that if an indefatigable and enthusiastic love of study would ensure success, /. !** SUCCOS.S was certain. But " man proposes, and God disposes.' ' After the fatal fray was over, his body was found in the woods pierced through by the bullet, at a point where only the ralvauced skirmishers, tho very " fore-front of the battle" had reached. ! it was sad to fall, and by such a foe t ILid they been honorablo warriors, foe-men worthy of our steel, our grief had not been .so great. But that tho best and bravest of our young country's sons sliould bo .shot down by an armed band of despe- radoes,— it is this thought that renders our Indignation all the more in- tense, and our sorrow all the more heart-rending. We will give gratitude to^heir patriotism, adniiratiou to their bravery, and honor to their name. Yes. " AVith us their names shall live, Throiigh long succeeding years ; Embalmed with all our hearts can give, Our praises and our tears," --.-< I 10 My dear hearers, arc you ready for this great change ? It may como on the distant field of battle, or in the home-chamber of sickness,— when and where we cannot tell. But come it must and will. •■ that wo were wise that we understood this, that we would consider our latter end," And as we individually humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God,and recog- nize his terrible doings among the children of men ; as we hoar liis voice eaying to each of us, " Be still and know that I am God ;" may there also be implanted in our souls that unswerving faith that will enable us to say, " God is our refuge and our stronsjth, a very present help in trouble; there- fore will not wc fear." For this is TI, The true source of Consolation . There is no night so dark, but it might have been darker ; no storm so heavy, but it might have been heavier. So it i.', brethren, at the present crisis. We do not need to paint thtt thunder-cloud ; for it has been dark and lowering enough, Yet deep as is our sorrow this day, we have abundant reason for gratitude and better than all, we have a never failing source of consolation. Ilavewc not cause to rejoice and give God thanks that the fears of many have not been realized, that the invading band has been driven from our soil ; and that fearful as is the list of killed and wounded,so many have escaped ? Is there not reason for congratulation in the fiict that at suoh terrible disadvantages our brave Volunteers so gallantly met the foe, and proved themselves equal to the occasion ? Did not the cloud Avear i\ silver lining, when wc thought of die unanimity that pervaded our Province, of the alacrity with which every Company of our brave defenders turned out at the call of duty, of tlic readiness with which help of every kind has been accorded, — and above all, of the strong British arm that wc were assured, if need be, would be raised in our defence ? Should wc not be grateful, too, that the storm is bidding fair to pass over, and that by the vigorous, though tardy efforts of the neighboring Government, its worst elements are being controlled? Nay more ; can we not already see, that as one of the best results of the present commotion, a sentiment of nationality that will shortly bind the Provinces of British North America in one grand Confederation, and a feeling of loy- alty and love to British Institutions and to Britain's Gracious Queen, are being evoked iii a more marked degree than ever ; and that these will prove the best sheet-anchor to our country in all future storms ? For these things let us this day give thanks to Ilim " from wliom all blessings flow," who out of evil still educes good, and in whose hands, the darkest cloud is re- plete with showers cf blessing. if It may como on 3SS, — when and it Avc Avci'c wise, end," And as God,and rccog- ! hear liis voico may thci'e also lable us to say, I trouble; tlierc- i so dark, but ght have been »t need to paint igh. Yet deep jratitude, — and . Have we not r have not been soil ; and that apod ? Is there ) disadvantages lemselves equal len we thought ty with which lil of duty, of id, — and above i be, would be it tlio storm is tardv efforts of )n trolled? Nay of the present the Provinces , feeling of loy- us Queen, are hese will prove tr these things 5s flow," who it cloud is re- 11 Yet cheering as thefe thoughts are, they are not the chief source of our consolation. " The Lord of Hosts is with us, the God of Jacob is our re- fuge ;" this is the encouraging assurance. The Christian has a liigher and better dependence than the st.enpth of our forces, the bravery of our troops, or the resources of our country and Empire. He knows that if God will? the preservation of our Province, none can destroy it. If it is his pleasure that the sound of war do not again reach our borders, no enemy shall ever approach us. In his strength we arc invincible ; w ith him on our side we are safe. Even if all, and more than all that v-c ever dreaded, Avere real- ized, would there be really room for alarm in tlie soul of the earnestly reli- gious ? By no means. Christianity was made for trial ; and its grand peculiarity is this, that when other systems vacillate, and are proved to bo utterly worthless, it stands firm amid the most trying circumstances and painful scones. Kight worthily might this triumphant song of my text ring through the Churches of Canada this day," God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble ; therefore will not we fear." And wliy ? Because •' God is in tlie midst of us, we shall not be moved ; God will help us, and that right early." Oh, then, '' let us sing together, let us make a joyful noise unto the rock of our salvation." Be our watchword, our batth^ cry, the expression of our hope and joy and confidence— these noble words that ought to bring strength td every soul,—'- The Lord of Hosts is with us, the God of Jacob Is our refuge." It is worthy of even more special and emphatic remark that He is the only true source of refuge and strength at the present, and at every crisis. Not for a single moment would I seek to denationalize the patriotic spirit called forth by the present troubles. Apart from the higher consolation to which I point you, there is nothing to make a true Canadian cower down with craven fear. Not for a single moment would I disparage the prepara- tions that have been deemed necessary for our country's defence, though, as a Minister of the Gospel of Jesus, I pray God that the further effusion of blood may be stayed. But looking calmly at all the contingencies which may happen, and at all the resources we possess, at the courage of our war- riors, and the loyalty of our citizens, let me solemnly remind yau that God alone can preserve us in peace, and that God alone can give us the victory, if again called forth to the conflict. The uncertainty of all human resour- ces and appliances is proverbial. Politicians have planned, and rulers have threatened, and armies have gone forth to battle ; but all their skill, and authority, and bravery have often been like chaff before the wind. -' Some 12 tnist in chariots and some in horses, but we will remember tlio name of tho Lord our Uod." Let others trust if they will, to the wisdom that has so often erred, and to the authority that has so easily been overthrown • but knowing that -vain is the help of man," let mo exhort you to rise 'to a higher and repose on a surer hope, to say and believe that " God is our re- fugeand strengtli, a very present help in trouble." But God is to be trv.stecUox refuge and strength ere these blessin-s can bo enjoyed. It is on^y when we ''• acknowledge him in all our ways," tliat ho has promised to - direct our steps." It is only - to them that tru.t i.i him," tiat he has engaged himself to bo "a buckler." It is only when "we trust in the Lord and do good," that we have the assurance of « dwelling in tho and." The arrangement is a riglit one. Need we wonder that God should leave to their folly the men who act as if He did not live, and whose con- duct seems to indicate that tlioy deem themselves entirely above and beyond his control ? If moa depend on their own devices, or confide in any arm of flesh, need we marvel if God should lead them to the discovery of their own weakness ? Unconverted men stand aloof from God ; but is Jehovah, tiie Hock of Ilefuge, trusted as he should be by his own people? Kven among Christian men, tlierc is the too constant boast of what we nre, ;ind of what we can do, apart from him. Wo accustom ourselves to spe::k one and another class of agency with only the vaQuest rocognltiou of the sublime truth embodied in tho text. Brethren, it will not do ; It ought not so to bo. Our trust must bo more than an article of our creed. It must be earnestly grasped and vividly realized, till it thrill our very being, and glow in all its comprehensiveness in our inmost souls. It must abide'with us continually. It must carry us tuvay beyond tho regions of diplomacy and the clash of arms, till prostrate at tlio feet of the God of all the nations of the earth, we learn to exclaim, » God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble; therefore will not we fear. ^ The Lord of Hosts is with us, tho God of Jacob is our refuge." III. It only remains for mo to indicate briefly some of the duties devolv- ing upon us at the present period, and suggested by the two points we have considered— the country's trouble and the Christian's consolation. Every Canadian who fears God and honours the Queen, should give his country all the moral and material aid ho can at this pressing emergency. It must be regarded by every patriot as strikingly providential, that never at any previous period was there less of the strife of party in the Province than there is at the present moment. All are equally prepared to rally around the name of tlio lom that has so vcr thrown ; but on to rise to a ' God is our rc- blessinji'S can bo W;iys," tliat he ; trust in him," when "wc trust dwelling in the hat God should ind wliof^c con- oveand beyond de in any arra icovcry of their lut IS Jcliovah, lonplc? Kven lat wc are, and res to spe:!k Dgnliiou of the 3 ; it oniilit not ced. h mu.^t ery being, and ust abide with i of diplomacy all tlie nations rength, a very I'd of Hosts is duties devolv- )oints we have ition. Every his country/ .cy. It must never at any 'rovincc than 3 rally around 13 the Constituiion and the Government. Our greatest English historian tells us tliat in the earl) days of Ilomc,when danger threatened the seven-hilled city, '' Then none was for a party, Then all were for the state," So should it be, so it is at the present jiour. Those that have been le- reaved, and those that have been ivoundcd too, alike claim our sympathy and aid. Let the wounds both of battle And bereavement be bound up, as much as by human help they can. Nor must our gallant defenders be forgotten. Let them want for nothing that is necessary to their utmost comfort and efficiency; aijd let ample provision be made during the time they may be under arms, for the families and friends depending upon them for a maintenance. Wc arc summoned to defend our just laws, our civil liberty, and our rightful rulers : wc are CAlled on by the consideration of everything that is dear to us in the family tie and of everything that is eacrcd in out holy religion, to give beart and hand, property and life if need be, to our country's cause. And obove all, no Christian in Canada must forget his duty to his GoD. To ail that trust in him, he seems to be saying, " Come, my people, ctitcr tthoa into Chy chambcys, aiid shut thy doors about thee : hide thyself as it were for e little moment, until the in- dignation be overpast." Never yet kas the power of prayer been fully proved. ** The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." One praying man can mvo a nation, ^eed I remind you of the Old Tes- tament saints, those men miglity in prayer ? Daniel prayed and made supplication to his God, und angelic visitation indicated his success. Jacob, lite a Prince, had po',Ter with God in prnyer, and prevailed. Abraham's petition would have been heard, an4 even guilty Sodom would have been spared, had the conditions of his request been found existing. let Chris- tians especially foel the importance and necessity of making this time of trouble a period of earnest and humble prayer. Pray for our Sovereio-n Lady the Queen, that her throne may be established in righteousness and the integrity of her empire be preserved unimpaired. Pray for her Majes- ty's Representative in this Province, that the spirit of wisdom and of a sound mind may be given both to him and to his advi^^ers. Pray fax our Volunteers, that if yet they should go forth to battle, God would give th© victory to the right and the true. Pray, in short, for our beloved Canada, that God would be her "refuge and strength—