Class Book_ ' 3s&r^sBEsmESSKBKS9ar,s: £%& mM EB&E?*i on T I! <-: <■ ■ . \ • ! o \ (i y t n i: ii ;. T n F President Lincoln; >eliver :d ;-\ -i.'j. ^. (! ; . ^imontou, it a speoii I Divine s?iric3 held May 21" 1865, AND PUBLISIIEi) AT TH" REQUEST OF THE AMERICAN RESIDENTS IN RIO DE JANEIRO. po &e |;wc!ro, & Printed by George Letisai > er ! 65, Ecsasgz: 7^mr%&^M®£?2sr--z E!HKiSi'::.*r-.:. _~z "".sasaEti /. ON T II K OCCASION OF THE DEATH (»K President Lincoln; DKMVEKKD BY $tb. %. §. Simonton, at a special Divine service held May 21 st 1865, AND PUBLISHED AT' THE REQUEST OF THE AMERICAN RESIDENTS IN UK) DK JANEIRO. 1'rinletl by (ieome Leuzing< 186S. ments are otld AM ° £T' " S " eaI ^P*^ and *•*■ . *«, a n dT h ^rt:r: n :; e :f\T deIiip8 are acknowledged It i. ,t , " affln,t ->' are alo »e himself, a?d hi' 1 1 l 8 "!? t"7 *"' a m!m lea ™ t0 ka ™ personal, i t w Ve n Ti "tt t ° T™ "V* * P ™ te a »" nearest to the one wh„ • Z ^ ° f Um who staad * friend will be asked t ™ g " '^^S' N ° -**»« by deep II 17 9 eV 7 "• A heaH P° W6rft % ex- ercise d in its sear eh aft ; 11 h ^* " in,tin<,t alm °<" ">«"«»'» is sca,.ee, y « ded o f'^r 7"*"?* ** """"^ •"-*»«• »*» ^ rer :^rtn: of t* a " or interest, Where th.« i * lvacled b ^ one great emotion - smu o f ,.„x:: :::;;— ^ s r ng is *— be national in its character, then w 111 he L , T*™* " j ° 7 of that ringota tie, which binds ", S "'° ng dr * wU « 4 real between men who truly love their country, as is parental or filial affection, in that family where love rules in the hearts of I'oth parents and children. My countrymen, as it seems to me. this is the true inter- pretation of our meeting to da}*. The feeling or instinct of natio- nality is stirred to its depths, and Ave meet to give expression to emotions common to us all. The selection of this place and hour, and the request that I speak to you from this desk, is a distinct recognition of the hand of God in what has happened to us as a nation; and an expression of our desire to seek in Him. all that we need as individuals, and as forming part of that nation. This in itself is an omen for good. No one who forms any proper conception of the importance attaching to events now transpiring in the United States, and who has obser- ved how that often the greatest interests depend upon the ageney of a single master Will, can fail to see the gravity of the startling news that has reached us, and to recognise that nothing can he more appropriate than to seek to comfort and strengthen ourselves in God. It is a proper time to be still, in recognition that God rules. Or if our voices make themselves heard, let it be in con- fession that lie is the Lord, and that his judgment's hoAvever mysterious are right — in thanksgiving for the faithfulness and o-oodness Avhich ever accompany His sorest strokes, and in fer- vent supplications for our beloved country, still in peril — per- haps iioav. more than ever, needing the gracious interposition of the «Lord of Hosts » and the « God of Jacobs. By so doing, I believe avc shall strike a chord in perfect unison with the pur- est and hest expressions of national attachment, and most thor- oughly identity ourselves Avith those interests, which (Jod him- >r\\' is really consulting, in all this long and fearful struggle. It is related of Martin Luther, who of all men that have ever Kved, had most often occasion to seek superhuman strength and consolation, that Avhemwer neAvs reached him unfaA'orable to the reformation, he was accustomed to say to those around him h let u> yftig tlu 1 46** Psalm, » Here lay the secret of his strength and of his whole life. Here his soul found anchorage, Avhen for many days of storm and tempest, neither sun. moon, nor stars once appeared. Here the great in all ages have found refuge and strength and help in time of trouble. If the sublime faith of this Psalm be ours, neither shall we fear, « though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea, though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, . though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. » No one surely will hesitate to admit, that the times re- quire such confidence. The strong and figurative language in which the author of this Psalm describes the dangers threatening himself; and the City of God, or Jerusalem, the capital of Judea, is not too bold, to be accomodated to the present circumstances of our country. The actual revolution in full progress, whether judged superficially by the roaring and swelling of struggling hosts, and excited millions of interested spectators : or by a profounder examination of the permanent traces which it will leave upon the whole face of society, aptly described by the shaking of mountains, and their being removed and cast into the midst of the sea, has about it a magnitude and importance that warrants such an accomodation. We have reached a crisis in our national history, when not only christian men, but all men capable of seeing the disparity between man's strength, and the tossings of the troubled sea of national affairs, must know and feel — though they may not so express themselves — that our only adequate security is in the presence with us of the « Lord of Hosts, » as our refuge and strength. It is not my wont to introduce topics of the day into the pulpit, nor to devote any part of time sacred to God's wor- ship, to the discussion of measures, even of vital national inte- rest. I have no lights to guide me in forming a judgment upon such subjects any more likely to be correct, than the judgment of any other person, equally well informed: and' the pulpit is no place for the discussion of doubtful questions, which cannot be subjected to the authority of the written word. Yet on this occasion it would only be affectation, not to speak plainly of our national sorrow and loss. It is the burden of every heart and we come here to roll it upon Him who has said, « Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and He shall sustain thee. » A few days ago each one of us was startled and shocked 6 by the rumour that President Lincoln was dead, having fallen by the hand of an assassin. It was such a rumour as one refu- ses to believe. Our horror at the thought of such a crime, and instinctive shrinking from the possible consequences to the coun- try, of so sudden a removal of him who for four eventful years has been the leader of the people — him whom they trusted when distrust had reached almost every one else — presented to every one's mind such forms of terror, that we tried to discredit the horrible rumour. But it was not possible long to doubt. It is verified beyond any reasonable doubt, that on the night of the 14 th of April — a day of all others most deeply stained by secret conspiracy a- gainst our national life — President Lincoln received a mortal wound from an assassin, from the effects of which he is believ- ed to have died the next day. It is at least certain that the wound received was such, that only direct divine interposition could prevent its mortal effect. A similar attempt was made upon the life of Secretary Seward, who was at that time confi- ned to his bed by sickness. Though severely wounded, it is ho- ped that none of his wounds will prove mortal, and that the nation will be spared this double bereavement. This is the news that is deeply stirring every American heart, and has drawn us together to day. What is its meaning ? What are the lessons God would reach us. by means of this great calamity? We know that no- thing happens in vain in the course of His providence. Especi- ally are we assured that an event of such national importance, is intended either to discipline, or punish us, as a nation. We ought not to be stupid under such a visitation. Even the ac- knowledged difficulty of interpreting the acts of a wonder wor- king God, should not dissuade us from reverently seeking, to learn and improve the lessons He would teach us. In this very thing, lies an important part of the discipline, to which He sub- jects us in this life. He speaks to us in His word with all plainness, of the true way of life through his Son Jesus Christ. He sends his Spirit to all humble and devout students of the word, to seal upon their inmost hearts its saving truths. These truths sire the constant theme of the pulpit. They come with authority, challenging the belief of all men in the name of Him, who is the Way, the Truth and the Life. He who has ears to hear, is commanded to hear, and live. He who will not hear nor believe, gives a melancholy proof that the truth is not in him. But besides the voice of the written word, plain and in- fallible in its teachings, God speaks to us almost daily, by His providence towards us as individuals, and as associated with each other in forming part of a community, or of a great na- tion. The voice of God heard in His providential acts is much like that same voice speaking in the prophetical portion of the written word. The meaning is often obscure, and purposely obs- cure. Yet there is always deep and important meaning, which God himself will in due time make plain. God oftentimes will be His own sole interpreter making plain by the event, what man's feeble sense had pronounced inextricably confused. He will teach us by the discipline of patient waiting. He will impress upon us the wholesome lesson, that St. Augustin would teach when he says « Let us grant that God can do some things that we can- not understand. » Yet it is still true, that God speaks to us in His Pro- vidence, and that He designs to be heard. This is taught by individual christian experience. No Christian who walks by faith has any doubt upon this subject: while at the same time few are so enthusiastic, as to claim infallibility for their inter- pretations of God's providential purposes. The safe course and the course actually pursued by every christian duly conscious both of God's nearness to him, and of the mystery of His doings, avoids on the one hand all indifference to the events of God's providence — for such indifference is simply practical atheism — and on the other hand the dangerous error of foolish enthusiasts who would be as wise as Gpd himself. If in this spirit we seek to profit by the teachings of God's providence in our present distress, our errors will prove harmless, and our hearts will be comforted by the consolations of God's word, which are neither few nor small. And first, let us lament over this great national bereave- ment, for we all feel that it has these proportions. I can in all sincerity accomodate to our present circumstances, the lamenta- 8 tion of king David, over the body of Abner, murdered just when the war between Israel and Judah had been brought to a close by their reunion under their anointed and rightful king. Know ye not, said king David unto his servants, that « there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel. As a man falleth lie- fore wicked men, so did he fall. » The history adds « the king lifted up his voice, and wept at the grave of Aimer, and all the people wept. » A nation's tears are now being shed, for Pre- sident Lincoln. If the watering of tears can keep green the sod that now covers his resting place, greenness will long be its garment even though that spot be like the mountains of GilbOa where Saul and Jonathan fell — without the watering of the • lews and rains of heaven. It is no prophecy to say that that spot wherever it may be, will become a place of pilgrimage, and that there, as at Mount Vernon every one will receive a fuller inspi- ration of unselfish patriotism, and resolve anew, never to let go his faith in God, nor betray the Eepublic. Others will treat of the life, and character of Abraham Lincoln. It is unnecessary for me to do so. I believe he is un- derstood already, by all who wish to understand him. His im- perfections especially are known to the whole world. His virtues are known to the great mass of those for whom he has toiled and died. The lapse of time, I am confident, will bring no rever- sal of the popular verdict, for the people have always understood President Lincoln and trusted him. The people will mourn his loss, for they have always felt that he understood them, and regarded himself as holding in trust for them, and their posterity, the liberties, immunities, and blessings, of citizens of the United States of North America. No one can say that he betrayed his trust, up to the fatal hour when he was struck down by the hand of an assassin. And America will never lose the high po- sition she has gained among the nations, so long as men of Abraham Lincoln's temper are to be found clearing her forests ami tilling her broad fields, satisfied with the simple pleasures of domestic life, yet read} r at their country's call to take any poii ion of honorable service, and dare any thing to guard the -acred deposit of the Nation's life and liberties. Here lies our true national strength and glorv. It lies not as so many have 9 foolishly imagined, in the boasted perfections of our Government, and Constitution. No such perfection belongs to our Institutions and Form of Government, and if national virtue and morality be undermined by a process long unhappily at work — the propaga- tion of corruption from a class of our public men who are with- out principle, through individuals to the great mass of the nation — the national strength will be gone and the Eepublic will beco- me effete, without a single blot or erasure upon her Constitu- tion. If this process be not checked — if politics become a sy- nonym for • dishonesty and trickery, and national morality be offered "up as a holocaust to the ambition and greed of those who aspire to office — then may God give us the wisdom and grace to submit to some arm and will strong enough to tear the Constitution into a thousand shreds, for it was made for a people fit to be free. Its authors never designed it to outlive the virtues of the nation. The dream of the ancients which as- cribed this world, so full of beauty, order, and adaptations infi- nite, to a fortuituos concourse of atoms revolving in space, is not more baseless, than any dream of liberty, order, and well- being in the Republic of the United-States, when intelligence integrity, and morality, have ceased to characterise the mass of her people. In such case the very material resources of the na tion, will so aggravate the mischief of her example and influ- ence, that soon some power will be raised up by God to abate the monstrous nuisance; and to establish a government of physi- cal force, upon the ruins of the Eepublic of Washington. It is to be hoped that the career of Abraham Lincoln, and the memory of his moral purity and political integrity will rebuke the dege- neracy and corruption of the times, and warn the people nevcr- to put public trust in men who keep no private faith. One lesson we have been learning by the many painful experiences of the past four years, and now enforced upon us by the intelligence just received, is the value of individual men to the public welfare. It now seems probable, that the indivi- dual will and judgment of a comparatively few men, have gi- ven direction and character to a struggle of unexampled mag- nitude, in which the combatants have been millions. History teaches the same lesson. The world's history is but the biogra- 10 pby of a comparatively few individuals. All great events and revolutions, naturally group themselves around a few historic names. Yet in times of quiet and peace, this is forgotten or igno- red. The people of the United States needed to be taught this lesson. Great men, and great statesmen seemed to abound. It was difficult to find fit offices for all who were fit to fill them, without a blind system of rotation in office, that deposed alike good and bad, usually to elevate bad and worse. Statesmanship was becoming rapidly impossible by the stupidity of the people in allowing faithful and able public servants, to be displaced by men unfit for trust. Forwardness in courting popular favor pas- sed for merit, and was nearly sure, sooner or later, to be re- warded. Talents of high order made their possessor the common enemy of mediocre men, and their united and persistent oppo- sition seldom failed to blast bis prospects of high preferment. But the da}* of trial came. The storm beat over the ship of state, and nearly swept her clean of her public men. Few proved both honest and capable to the full extent of the nation- al requirements; and to-day if I mistake not, all who truly love their country feel for those who have been faithful and capable, an affection never before felt for our public men. We have none to spare. This feeling of apprehended danger to the country, it was that so startled. every one when it was first whispered, tbat both President Lincoln and his chief Secretary had been assassi- nated. The national loss, more even than horror at so horrible a crime, paled men's faces. If it be possible that such a deed has given pleasure to any man, it is because the hope is nour- ished, tbat upon the lives of these two men, the salvation of the Union depends. Would that the whole nation may learn to value, true merit, to sustain the reputation of our public men, to reward their services with honorable independence while they live, and when they die to pay to their memories that tribute of gratitude and affection, which in the minds of all ingenuous youth, is the most powerful and noble incentive to great deeds in tbe service of their country. I have heard so much invective against public men, such wholesale defamation of character, that it is a grateful task even to share in tbe nation's tears over the grave ot'a dead patriot, as we are called to do to-day. (Uxl grant 11 that this sense of loss felt by the nation, when a single man is suddenly removed, may have a lasting and salutary effect upon all our countrymen. Yet the principal truth that we need to learn, that which both nations and individuals are so prone to forget, is that Cod is the « refuge and strength » of nations as well as of individuals. His best gifts may not be too long possessed and enjoyed lest we forget the giver, in our satisfaction with the gift. Pride is perhaps our greatest national sin. It is as deeply seated as the marrow in our bones. Solomon has said: « Though thou shouldst bray a fool in a mortar among wheat with a pestle, yet will not his foolishness depart from him. » Self esteem in an inordi- nate degree is our foil}' in the sight of Gfod. Has He not truly brayed us in a mortar with pestle for four long years, yet who will say that our folly has departed from us. Perhaps at the very hour when this stroke came, the nation was dizzy with self ela- tion and self glorification. Now, if God has a controversy with us in this respect — if He is to be exalted by us as a people, this sin and folly must be confessed and repented of. If our national life and hopes beat high this day, it is because He has been our help, and strength in our time of trouble. How often were we not made to feel our dependence upon Him when bitter defeats came thick upon us ! AVhen this danger is nearly past, another appears, and by it we are admonished that some vul- nerable part is always exposed — that whether in peace or war, God alone is our strength and our shield. His purpose shall stand fast, and the only security for human interests, is found in iden- tifying them with the higher interests of Christ's Kingdom. These and these alone, are secured by a pledge beyond recall. Our nation and our present institutions will stand, so long as they are in harmony with, and tributary to, the interests of the King- dom of Christ, which alone is pledged to stand forever. So long as Biblical and inspired history runs parallel with profane history, we are distinctly informed, that the fortunes of empires were determined by their relation to God's chosen people. Since the day of the Apostles, the key has been lost by which to interpret, without danger of error, God's purpose respec- ting His people and the world. Yet it is as true of modern Em- 12 pines and Republics — that their