E440 
 
 Copy 2 
 
 LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 
 
 DD0017HD7fl7 
 
^luiflii llatioiial Jfast gan ^ernwiu 
 
 BY 
 
 in:v. T. P. imoTiER, A.M. 
 
UNION 
 
 NATION^AL FAST DAY 
 
 SERMON 
 
 DELIVERED IN THE 
 
 UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 
 
 GETTYSBURG; PA., 
 
 FRIDAY, JANUARY 4, A. D. 1861. 
 
 BY 
 
 REV. T. P. BUCHER, A. M., 
 
 PASTOR OF THE GERMAN REFORMED CONGREGATION. 
 
 GETTYSBURG : 
 
 PRINTED BY H. C. NEINSTEDT, CHAMBERSBURG ST. 
 1861. 
 
e4^ 
 
 ^ 
 
 ^ 
 
 613J2 
 
 '05 
 
GETTYSBURG; Jan. II, I8Gr, 
 Rev. T. p. Bucher : 
 
 Dear Sir : We, the nndernamed citizens, respectfully request for pub- 
 lication, a copy of the Sernaon delivered by you on the 4th of Jan. inst., 
 on the occasion of the observance of the day appointed by the Chief 
 Magistrate for National Humiliation, Fasting and Prayer. 
 By acceding to our request, you. will oMige 
 
 Your friends, &c, 
 
 S. S, FORNEY, 
 ROBERT G. HATIPES, 
 WM. McCLEAN, 
 GEORGE SWOPE, 
 DAVID WILLS, 
 W. A. DUNCAN, 
 
 Gettysburg, Jan. 17, I86L 
 Friends: 
 
 Calling to mind the various creeds, parties and interests you repre- 
 sent, I yield my manuscripts for publication. . 
 
 Yours Truly, 
 
 T. P. BUCHER. 
 Messrs. Forney, 
 Harper, 
 McCleak, 
 
 SWOPE, 
 
 Wills, 
 Dunx'an, 
 
SERMON. 
 
 Text: "Howbeit, this kind goeth not out, but by prayer and fast- 
 ing."— Matt. XVII : 21, 
 
 Men and Brethren : 
 
 This is a very solemn occasion which brings us 
 of various creeds and parties together in this holy 
 temple. 
 
 God the Father Almighty is to be worshipped 
 through Jesus Christ his Son our Lord, in beseem- 
 ing devotions, in view of the troubled and threaten- 
 ing aspect of our national affairs. 
 
 An inward consciousness guided by the teachings 
 of Holy Writ has brought us, as a people, to make 
 humble recognition of the Divine Sovereignty, that 
 the Lord, who is God, visits individuals and nations 
 with His just judgments for their sins ; that to those 
 who fear His name. He is both merciful and good. 
 
 And from thousands of christian altars, when Sab- 
 bath worship fills the Sanctuary, prayers have been 
 ascendmg to God, and daily prayers from millions of 
 pious hearts, in behalf of our Country in this hour 
 of her extremity. 
 
But as a nation we are dismayed ; as a nation then 
 we must acknowledge our sins, and by fastmg and 
 jymyer sue for pardon, and that direction which will 
 bring deliverance from present dangers. Such hum- 
 blings under the mighty hand of God and such plead- 
 ings are suggested not only by the bibhcal page, but 
 also by incidents in our own past history. 
 
 During the revolutionary struggle when hope seem- 
 ed to fail, and unnerving destitution stared the soldi- 
 ery, the Revolutionary Congress appointed a season 
 to be observed in fasting and prayer. 
 
 The Convention, which had met to frame a Consti- 
 tution for the United States, in the midst of its labors 
 came to a dead stand. This cessation in business 
 threatened disruption, when Franklin proposed that 
 there be an adjournment for prayer and friendly con- 
 ference, and that, hereafter, the Convention be open- 
 ed each day with an address to the Throne of Grace 
 for wisdom and direction in the duties before it. The 
 motion prevailed unanimously, and to that eminently 
 prudent suggestion we know not how far we are in- 
 debted for that noble compact which has bound the 
 States together in peace and prosperity for nearly 
 four score years. 
 
 Then, in this present gloomy state of the nation, 
 when political madness seems to prevail, and so few 
 Statesmen effort to pour oil on the boiling deep, when 
 all human wisdom is at fault, when our counsellors 
 err from the cliicfest down, when hope almost has 
 
deserted the minds of men, it is very proper, yea, 
 and grateful to tliose who love their country, who 
 love the union for the sake of what has been achiev- 
 ed under it in the past, and the high hopes of the 
 future — that a day has been set apart for humilia- 
 tion^ fasting and lyi^ayer by the President^ that we, in 
 our national capacity, may flee to Jehovah, our only 
 hope and refuge, "a very present help in time of 
 trouble." 
 
 Our devotions therefore assume this serious, and 
 heart-throbbing character. I tremble in view of my 
 position, in view of the delicacy and responsibility 
 of the pulpit. I assure you it has not been cov- 
 eted. 
 
 The force of circumstances, and the illness of sev- 
 eral of my ministerial brethren have constrained me 
 to speak to my countrymen and for my country in 
 this solemn place. To-day, who would stand between 
 God and man should be an Eli of long experience 
 before the altar, and not a youthful Samuel. To- 
 day is needed sober thoughtfulness, calm judgment, 
 and grave christian counsel. Men of impassion- 
 ed minds and feelings are demanded. And now, 
 where do we turn for these, but to grey heads who 
 can look serenely over the boisterous sea of our trou- 
 bles, discerning the lowering storm, and who, in the 
 might and wisdom of their age, can lead most rever- 
 ently our worship to Him whose favor, when se- 
 cured, will temper judgment with mercy. 
 
But in our capacity to-day we are also pares inter 
 pares. We are all mutually interested, and equal- 
 ly responsible. A weighty duty presses upon every 
 good citizen and Christian patriot of our land. For 
 each must feel that never in the history of our con- 
 federacy was the help of God more needed, never 
 was there such occasion for humiliation, for fast- 
 mg^ FOR PRAYER, that He, who alone is mighty, 
 would rebuke the evils which disturb our body po- 
 htic, and come, and bless us. 
 
 The history of our text, selected from the words of 
 
 the Lord Jesus, is briefly a narrative of the miracle 
 
 performed by him, when he rebuked a devil that had 
 
 possessed a youth of Galilee. The lad had first 
 
 been brought to the disciples by his father, but the 
 
 case was such an aggravated one, and the faith of 
 
 both parties so wavering, that they could not cure 
 
 him. After the miracle by the Great Master, the 
 
 disciples came inquiring of him why they could not 
 
 cast out the evil spirit, when the pith of the reply 
 
 was, "this kind goeth not out, but by prayer and fast- 
 is • 
 mg. 
 
 In the apphcation of these words to our present 
 
 circumstances we are led to remark : 
 
 I. Upon the aggravated Evils which have be- 
 come INCORPORATE IN OUR BODY POLITIC, AND NOW 
 
 DISTRESS US ; and that 
 
 II. Humiliation, Fasting and Prayer are means 
 FOR THEIR removal. In Other words, if our abase- 
 
ment be sincere^ if our repentance be ivhole^ God will 
 send us relief from tlie ajjlictions which our sins have 
 brought^ and give peace and prosperity to all our 
 borders. 
 
 There can be no questioning the propriety of set- 
 ting forth the causes of our present distress, if the 
 end aimed at be proper. That humihation which is 
 deepest, and which the wonder-working God will 
 have respect to, comes from a clear consciousness 
 of guilt. Then let us advert to the evij.s, evil spirits 
 they should be called, which afflict our body pohtic. 
 These are 
 
 SUPREME DEVOTION TO MATERIAL INTERESTS. 
 
 This is one of the leading sins of the American 
 people. If we lift up the curtain that veils the mo- 
 tives of men in any of the professions and trades, in 
 all the walks of life, the over-ruhng propensity dis- 
 covered will be this — an excessive, unremitting devo- 
 tion to mammon, and other material interests. It 
 amounts to idolatry. The worshippers exhibit 
 the greatest ardency. They brave all sorts of 
 dangers. They risk life, health and happiness. No 
 difficulties are insurmountable. Every possible sac- 
 rifice is made, if it will further success, if it will 
 only conduct along the golden avenues to the palace 
 where their El Dorado is enshrined. Corporations 
 are frequently formed of the most heterogeneous ele- 
 ments, with no bond of sympathy but that of worldly 
 
10 
 
 interest. Utilitarianism invests everything. Almost 
 every project, every enterprise, moral, social, politi- 
 cal or religious, is subjected to the test question, 
 "Will it pay ?" Not whether it will improve society, 
 advance the arts of peace, and build up the tranquil 
 reign of righteousness, but whether it will pay. In- 
 deed it has come to this, that the lust for gain pre- 
 vails over almost every noble impulse ; it ignores the 
 high and holy interests of humanity, and the honor 
 of God 5 and in this hour of danger, restrains the 
 ardor of that patriotism necessary to the preserva- 
 tion of our common country. Have you not heard 
 of the calculations made of the material value of 
 the Union ? The South has spoken out, "We'll 
 make money by disunion, and the establishment of 
 independent sovereignties, and the North saying "Let 
 these cotton States secede, the government will save 
 millions by their withdrawal." Money has become 
 the paramount interest which subordinates our love 
 of country, the rights and privileges enjoyed under 
 the constitution, the progress of good government, 
 and the influence which a united, free and virtuous 
 people must exert upon the nations of the earth ; 
 yea, completely subordinates them all to the suprem- 
 acy of mere material interests. 
 
 This explains the sordid selfishness underlying the 
 expressions reverberating not in our quiet vales and 
 hamlets, but in the halls of Congress, even: Cotton 
 is King! Commerce is King ! Corn is King! Rice is 
 
11 
 
 King ! Iron is King ! consummated in the dynasty to 
 which all belong, Money is King ! ! Yea, as if it 
 were to follow : Mammon is King and God his sub- 
 ject. 
 
 Very true, that a high degree of energy in the 
 acquisition of wealth is not incompatible with the 
 true progress of a nation. Laziness can never be 
 approbated, nor indolence reckoned one of the vir- 
 tues. By no means. Schemes of accumulating for- 
 tunes, efforts and enterprises necessary to break our 
 prairies, and cut down our forests, to explore our 
 mines, and develop our national resources, are not 
 to be exchanged for beds of ease, nor for masterly 
 inactivity. But what I mean to say, is, that our 
 supreme devotion to material interests is wrong ; that 
 it prostitutes mind and heart, our moral and physical 
 powers to objects beneath those to which we may 
 nominally aspire ; that it tends to blunt the finer sen- 
 sibilities of the soul, to weaken the restraints of con- 
 science, to destroy the might of motives to intellec- 
 tual and moral attainments, defeating thereby the high 
 purpose for which God has raised us up as a nation ; 
 that it strengthens the baser passions of man's na- 
 ture so as to render it possible, yea, probable, that it 
 is such a dangerous evil proclivity in our national life 
 as eventually to undermine the whole fabric of our 
 institutions, and cause this last experiment of a free 
 government to fall by its own covetousncss and lux- 
 ury, like some noted republics of old. 
 
n 
 
 Such IS one of the first and leading evils to be 
 bewailed by our afflicted nation at this time. It 
 militates against her internal harmony, and checks 
 her wonted progress and true greatness. 
 
 EXCESSIVE PARTY SPIRIT. 
 
 In a government like ours Party Spirit in a tem- 
 perate form is of great practical importance. It not 
 only contributes to watchfulness on the part of those 
 who may be intrusted with the affairs of the nation, 
 but urges the adoption of such measures as will ad- 
 vance the public good. Where the people are sov- 
 ereign, there is continual need of interest and re- 
 flection on questions affecting the common weal. 
 Parties promote these by their rival policies ; they 
 tend to stir up the popular mind, to increase intelli- 
 gence and give energy to the administration of gov- 
 ernment. But Party Spirit when excessive, when it 
 exists to the extent it does amongst us, is rather a 
 curse than a blessing, Facts bear out this strong 
 assertion. 
 
 1. Political partisans hate each other. 
 
 a. They disregard the obligations due to each oth- 
 er as fellow-citizens. 
 
 b. They depreciate rights and opinions entitled to 
 equal weight with their own. 
 
 c. They assail each others' character to an unwar- 
 ranted degree and bcmcan themselves before God 
 fuid man. 
 
13 
 
 % Is not our ^arty spirit entirely too proscriiitive 
 for the general good ? a.) When a man's business 
 suffers and his patronage decreases : h.) When his 
 character as a citizen and his religious standing are 
 at a discount, simply by belonging to an opposite 
 party : is there not then a tendency current which 
 must disturb the order of things, embitter social 
 relations, and undermine the interests of both church 
 and State ? A spirit, by the way, altogether incon- 
 sistent with personal freedom, and sadly destructive, 
 in the end, of our boasted national liberty. 
 
 Look at Party Spirit breathing out through the 
 press of the land ! What is its character and bear- 
 ing ? It stoops to conquer. With noble exceptions, 
 it is often characterized by a malignant and unhal- 
 lowed spirit of personal abuse. Public men and 
 candidates for public station are subject to the sever- 
 est animadversions. Every little foible in a man's 
 character is magnified into a most serious defect. 
 This cannot help but weigh with men of modest 
 worth, deterring them from entering the lists for 
 office ; whilst it elevates obscure men of mediocre 
 talents and fitness to responsible positions, to become 
 our law-makers and guardians in State and National 
 councils. This is a very sore evil— felt to-day- 
 patent this hour in the halls of Congress. 
 
 But the immoral character of the partisan press 
 lies not entirely in its too often low vulgarity and 
 unworthy detraction. When it rises into earnest 
 
14 
 
 discussion of political questions it is bitter, vindic 
 tive and uncompromising in the extreme. It knows 
 no higher aim than party, and with its potent influence 
 resists the true progress of the nation. Why ? Be- 
 cause its motive is self and party aggrandizement. 
 This is the pent-up Utica within which it dwells, and 
 which hinders any far sweeping view of the sublime 
 interests of the race and nation. Except in a few 
 instances it is controlled by no christian mind and 
 has no christian heart pulsating through its opinions. 
 It repudiates anything like deference for religion and 
 man's high destiny. Yea, it looks contemptuously 
 upon the church of Jesus Christ, for the reason that 
 it will not prostitute its more comprehensive mission 
 to the constrained level of becoming an abettor of 
 the particular ism of this, or that political journal. 
 
 Look again at party spirit finding its way out 
 through the pulpits of the land, of New England 
 mostly. There are preachers of politics as well as 
 of the gospel. There are those who are not satis- 
 fied with proclaiming the written scripture, in its own 
 gentle, all persuasive mission, but who go out of the 
 Bible, into the sphere of politics, for themes ; who 
 make their pulpits the place to echo their partisan 
 predilections as well as their evangel of love and 
 mercy to a perishing world, caught up from the book 
 of inspiration. This sensational-political preaching 
 may attract crowds and sell pews, but it may also mar 
 the peace of Zion, and injure the cause of Christ, 
 
15 
 
 Great and good men of all creeds and parties are 
 beginning to look upon this as wholesale pulpit dese- 
 cration and very mischcivous, and as retarding the 
 true interests of man. 
 
 SECTIONAL HATRED. 
 
 This is now the dark cloud overhanging our bor- 
 ders, brooding secession and disunion. How por- 
 tentously black and appalling ! See ye any traces 
 of a silver lining? Truly, it becomes every man 
 who loves the land of his birth, and his race, to 
 dwell with the deepest solicitude upon this most 
 fearful evil of all with which we are threatened. 
 The spirit of sectionalism was born in our country 
 years ago. But there have always been conserva- 
 tive men enough to crush its risings before it come 
 to be so fearful an evil as it now appears both North 
 and South. 
 
 "Our fathers when they devised measures for pro- 
 moting their country's welfare had reference to every 
 section. They wished to be just to each and to all. 
 It was literally true of them that they knew no 
 North, no South, no East, no West. They did not 
 interfere with the particular institutions of any part 
 of the Union. They did not indulge in invective 
 language that was only calculated to embitter one 
 portion of the Union against the other. Their 
 object was to bind together in indissoluble bonds 
 their entire country. They knew that every part 
 
10 
 
 was dependent on the other, and that each was de- 
 rived from the union of all." 
 
 Having done their part faithfully and in the spirit of 
 mutual concession and brotherly love, they hoped to 
 bequeath to posterity a precious boon. And the sol- 
 emn compact of States thus happily wedded together, 
 was not a marriage for a day, but for aye. It was 
 expected to become more vigorous, and more closely 
 inter-united, and, gradually, to approach perfection 
 with the strength of years. 
 
 This was the spirit of our fathers. What is the 
 spirit now dwelling in many of their sons .'' Is it the 
 same loyal devotion to the ideas underlying the con- 
 structed government .'' — To the charity which bound 
 each component part ? Does enlightened conserva- 
 tism prevail now, as then ? 
 
 This may be the reason. The christian element 
 in civilization has not kept pace with the growth of 
 fanaticism. The former moves in the quiet sphere 
 of sanctified life ; the latter appealing to the natural 
 emotions, runs with accelerated speed, until by its 
 vantage it has endangered the perpetuity of our 
 whole fabric by creating the most violent of antagon- 
 i sms. 
 
 But are anti-slavery and pro-slavery so irreconcil- 
 able ? Must they necessarily array one State against 
 another ? — be the bone of contention continually ? — 
 and excite sectional hatred.'^ Can it be, that all the 
 precious interests of the Union, political and rehg- 
 
17 
 
 loiis must be jeopardized by that which our Fathers 
 were entirely silent over ? Morally, slavery is not 
 incompatible with Christianity, just as little as anti- 
 slavery, politically, must be subversive of equal rights. 
 Christianity* is both slavery and anti-slavery, 
 and yet it is neither. Its mission is broader, higher, 
 holier. How can it be made the hand-maid of 
 sectionalism, when it knows no North, nor South, no 
 East, nor West. Life, Light^ and Love is the spirit 
 it carries wherever its peaceful sway extends. 
 
 On the one hand, it puts forth proper efforts for 
 the oppressed ; on the other, it sanctifies the rela- 
 tions of master and slave, making the master hu- 
 mane, and the slave faithful and obedient.f Christi- 
 anity does not propose any change in the outward 
 relations, in which God has placed man by birth, ed- 
 ucation, or fortune.J It does not encourage dissen- 
 sion and sedition, sectionalism and revolution, but 
 quietly makes better whatever institutions it may 
 find existing among men, until by their own free mil 
 and accord they prefer, because they are prepared to 
 enjoy, a different order of things. Where, then, is 
 the necessity for this excitement, this bitter vitupera- 
 tion, this unbrotherly hatred, which disturb the 
 peace and harmony of our beloved land, and lead to 
 civil war ? 
 
 *In this, and several other places, I have taken the privilege of sta- 
 ting the idea intended to be conveyed more definitely, than the hurry of 
 my preparation for the pulpit allowed. 
 
 fEph. G:5— 9. JlTim. 6: 1— 6. 
 
18 
 
 To correct the evils of slavery, preach Christ 
 crucified, "to the Jews a stumbling block, and to the 
 Greeks foolishness." For, where Christ is all and 
 in all, there will be "neither Jew nor Greek, bond nor 
 free^ male, nor female." To restrain the aggressive 
 spirit of anti-slavery, let evangelical piety temper 
 both presses and societies with the charity of the 
 Gospel. If the power of a positive Christkmity 
 could prevail, it would be like oil on the troubled 
 waters. Then the hearts and minds of the people 
 would be filled with the mind that was in Christ ; 
 then would they be as one, Cnmination and recri- 
 mination would cease, and the spirit of mutual for- 
 bearance and brotherly kindness would soon adjust 
 the difficulties which now impede our prosperity, as 
 well as disturb our peace. 
 
 Sectionalism has reigned long enough. It has di- 
 vided churches — destroyed the peace and unity of 
 families— embarrassed all kinds of business — 
 distracted the whole country. See what we, as 
 a nation, have already lost by it ; and think of the 
 religious interests of milhons of the race of man 
 that may yet be jeopardized by it. In connection 
 with this, look at the picture of a dismembered con- 
 federacy, where civil war reigns, and brethren of a 
 once happy land have taken arms to fight against 
 their kindred with the fury of demons ! Think of the 
 houses made desolate ; of the widows and orphans 
 left in grief ! Think of the anarchy that would de - 
 
19 
 
 luge our fertile vallies with fraternal blood ! Think 
 of every possible interest, whether of a civil, or reli- 
 gious kind, completely prostrated ; and of the con- 
 temned^God of Heaven laughing at our calamity ! 
 
 The heart of the true patriot, already faint, sick- 
 ens at the thought ; and all the work of this evil 
 spirit of sectionahsm. For our country's sake, for 
 humanity's sake, let us bury our differences, and 
 humble ourselves at the foot of the Cross. Let 
 us plead for mercy and peace of Him, who can 
 bring order out of confusion, before that disastrous 
 day come, when it shall lay our hopes in the loath- 
 some dust, and write Ichabod on the walls of our 
 skies. 
 
 IRRELIGIOUS, OR UNCHRISTIAN ELEMENT. 
 
 This is one of the deplorable evils in respect to 
 which some leading points only can be mentioned. 
 
 Is there irreligion in politics ? Does an unchris- 
 tian element show itself to any alarming extent .? 
 Solemn questions to the American citizen ! Let us 
 attempt their consideration. Politics^ in a general 
 way, is so corrupt, that good men are advised to 
 keep out of it. Unless, when you are in Rome, you 
 can do as Rome does, 'twere better not to aspire to 
 political preferment. In order to get the nomination, 
 and then the political office, a man is compelled to 
 compromise his christian standing. He must do it 
 either directly, or be in complicity with those, who 
 
*20 
 
 have few conscientious scruples to respect, if lie 
 wishes to succeed. And then, when the post is gain- 
 ed, the immorahties of our public men embarrass him, 
 and modify his sentiments at every point. As much 
 as possible, if he is decidedly pious, he must be kept 
 out of party organization, and repelled from such 
 places of trust where his sway would be felt, be- 
 cause religious and conscientious scruples are at va- 
 riance with the general irreligion of political life, 
 and distasteful to corrupt pubhc men. 
 
 The neutrality of politicians and statesmen with 
 respect to religion in its proper sense is obvious. 
 They do not wish, even if they feel it to be right 
 and duty, to identify themselves with any thoroughly 
 Christian denomination. It is said, that our Chief 
 Executive, the President, keeps aloof from form- 
 al church-membership until he retires from office. 
 Though he, of all other men, needs the grace of 
 God in the discharge of his high duties and trusts, 
 yet he must forego this, as it is enjoyed in the church 
 by the humblest citizen. Biblical principles under- 
 lie the structure of government, yet it is considered 
 improper to recognize the fact, or those administra- 
 ting it, that they should be religious ! The State Con- 
 stitutions of Missouri and Texas contain clauses hos- 
 tile to Christianity ;* only those of North Carolina 
 and New Jersey recognize the christian faith, and 
 are formed after the model of Christian States. As 
 
 *Dr. Miilvaiiie on a, ''Nulioa's llijht lo Wurship God." 
 
n 
 
 a nation, we do not acknowledge Jesus Christ to be 
 king. Look at our State and National Thanksgiving 
 and Fast proclamations, how carefully, they refrain 
 from giving honor to Christ. His name is not only 
 omitted, but the least reference to his mediatorship 
 is avoided. To all intents and purposes, therefore, 
 are not these infidel papers? Omit the name of 
 Christ because Jew, or Mahommedan, or infidel ob- 
 jects? Surely we are more a Christian nation than 
 Jew or infidel ? Here then we may sin grievously 
 in not rendering faithful and sincere homage to 
 Christ, respecting the opinions of men more than 
 the plain dictates of right, and teachings of truth. 
 
 There may be some offsets to these statements 
 found in the liberal policy of our government, but 
 then, at this juncture, and in view of the design of 
 this day's devotions, it is well, if we would be up- 
 right and sincere, to acknowledge the plain facts set 
 forth. 
 
 Lifidelity^ already wide-spread, is extending itself 
 more and more, and silently poisoning the pure 
 morality of the Bible to which it is opposed. This 
 IS done under the garb of philanthropy and would- 
 be reforms. There are scores of these reform pub- 
 lications, and thousands of these philanthropists pen- 
 etrating every nook and corner of our social rekv- 
 tions^ and diffusing their infidel principles, by projec- 
 ting modes of living, etc., conducive to the temporal 
 welfare of human life, which in every way ignore 
 
22 
 
 any reference to man's eternal destiny. In this way 
 the various schemes of the sociahsts, et id getius 
 omne^ are industriously propagated. See how old 
 established theories of government are repudiated ! 
 At the late Puritan Festival in Philadelphia on Fore- 
 fathers' day, an eloquent orator* spoke these words 
 amid applause : "Men need governments of restraint 
 only as they are not developed, and not free. As 
 the individual becomes strong in his whole nature he 
 needs no government, the human soul is competent 
 to entire sovereignty." These statements are put 
 forth as the cardinal doctrines of Puritan Ethics and 
 Puritan Politics. Their teaching is simply to leave 
 each man to do that which is right in his own 
 eyes. Now is this biblical } Is it not blasphemy ? 
 Arrogating to poor sinful humanity that to which the 
 angels in heaven dare not aspire ! 
 
 There is irreligion also in our moral relations. 
 That creed is prevailing everywhere, that "a man's 
 moral character does not constitute the basis on 
 which his external destiny is decided — that all are re- 
 warded alike — that the laws of God and man may be 
 violated with impunity." According' to this theory 
 either there is no future state at all, or else it is one 
 of felicity for all. Religion is merely negative, if 
 there be any such state of moral relation. Such is 
 its monstrous doctrine ! It is nothino; for the soul's 
 enjoyment, or the life's peace, or death's hope. No, 
 
 ^Rev. Henry Ward Beecher, 
 
23 
 
 none of this. And these irrehgious theories are 
 flowing hke streams all over our land, blighting its 
 fairest prospects, and undermining the very founda- 
 tions of our moral relations and ultimate greatness. 
 Many, many are decoyed, and unhinged as to their 
 true interests, who might be numbered among the 
 virtuous and the good, the noblest of our enlighten- 
 ed country. 
 
 OTHER EVILS. 
 
 How can we close our eyes to the growing evils 
 of Sabbath-breaking, Intemperance and Gambling.'* 
 Look at the myriads of Sunday desecrators and 
 their forwardness ! Look at the tens of thousands 
 of victims of Intemperance annually going to ruin! 
 Look at the rapidly increasing number of political^ 
 social and private gamblers^ who reap treasures at 
 the expense of those who make no pretensions to 
 control the stocks, who stuff the ballot boxes, or 
 who are in league with the conscienceless proprietors 
 of the faro. 
 
 There is also the evil spirit of pride. This is 
 named last, but it is by no means the least We 
 lack not in those who will extravagantly glorify their 
 country, and boast in startling impiety of our institu- 
 tions ; nor in those who glorify themselves— Herod- 
 like— as if there were no Supreme One to whom all 
 homage must be paid. 
 
 These, my brethren, are some of the sins which 
 characterize our people, and arc, per consequence, 
 
24 
 
 reigning in our national life, in our body politic, like 
 the evil one prevailed in the youth of Galilee. Are 
 they not of an aggravated character ? Our country 
 too is but youngs yet these are her sore afflictions 
 which disturb and distress her, prostrating her, as it 
 were, to the ground, and tearing her in every joint 
 and member. 
 
 OUR DUTY. 
 
 To whom now shall we look for relief? Who is 
 able to rebuke the evils which threaten her destruc- 
 tion, who to restore her to health, activity and pros- 
 perity again ? 
 
 To men! No, the exigency is too great for 
 human help. The crisis which has come upon us 
 like a thunder-clap in a clear sky has confused and 
 turned the counsels of men to naught. Without di- 
 vine interposition we have but little hope. This our 
 calamity can only be averted by 
 
 HUxMILIATION, FASTING AND PRAYER. 
 
 If we humble ourselves in deep contrition. If 
 we, by fasting and prayer, implore the Divine 
 help — He may have compassion upon us and 
 come to our relief If we acknowledge the justness 
 of our punishment for past sins and heartily forsake 
 them — He will exalt us to our wonted position. If 
 this nation, like Nineveh of old, clothes^ itself in the 
 sackcloth of repentance, wc need have no fear but 
 
*25 
 
 that God will remove our affliction, and bid peace 
 and happiness smile upon our borders. 
 
 By fasting and prayer the whole heart of the na- 
 tion may be turned to God in sincere trust and confi- 
 dence. These, verily, may be the two wings of 
 her repenting soul, by the help of which she may 
 ascend to Heaven and secure the peace of God. 
 This is what we so much need, the favor of Almigthy 
 God. His peace is our peace. Enjoying it, we will 
 forget past differences, rise above that which now dis- 
 tracts and divides, leaving what evils we lament to be 
 overthrown by Jehovah, and what justice we wish to 
 see prevailing, firmly established by his powerful 
 hand. By it we will be filled with the oiie spirit of 
 his charity, and be united in the mission of free- 
 dom and righteousness to the nations of earth. 
 
 May our abasement to-day be of that sincere and 
 whole kind which is the forerunner of our exaltation ! 
 May it move Him who holds the destinies of nations 
 in his hands, to bring speedy relief, and before many 
 more bright suns may blush at our confusion, permit 
 us to witness the return of peace and good will, of 
 order, harmony and prosperity rising and reigning 
 from Maine to California, from the Lakes to the 
 Gulfs, in the beautiful resplendency of their counter- 
 parts of plenty, happhiess and true greatness. 
 
 And, as we compass God's holy altar at this time, 
 and in the exercises of this evening,* let it be our 
 
 *The Union Meeting of Prayer for our Country was held in the eve- 
 ning in the German Reformed Church. 
 
26 
 
 sincere purpose to look away from ourselves — from 
 our sins — from the material interests to which we 
 have heen so supremely devoted, and from partisan 
 politics, which seems to have subordinated our love 
 of country to the love of party : let us cease magni- 
 fying the diiferences between ourselves, and our 
 brethren of any other section : let it be foremost in 
 our minds to repudiate the irreligion of our day, 
 and nation, and to honor and acknowledge Jesus 
 Christ to be King of Nations, as well as Kmg of 
 Saints : Yea, and as forming part of the great 
 assembly of the millions of our countrymen congre- 
 gated to-day within the various churches of the land, 
 let us be moved in deep earnestness, and with un- 
 feigned lips, to worship Him, as theLord^ our God ; 
 that it may please Him to cause His face to shine 
 upon us, and to UNITE US in the fulfillment of tlie 
 great purpose for ivhich He has raised us up as a 
 nation ! 
 
 Let our prayer be 
 
 "Oh Lord ! Look down upon our land thou hast loved so well, 
 And grant that in unbroken peace, her children still may dwell. 
 
 ******** 
 Oh Lord, keep her penitent, grateful, the happiest 'neath the sun, 
 Our Country, our whole Country, and our COUNTRY ONE." 
 
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