II 
 
 SERMON, 
 
 OCCASIONED BY THE DEATH OF 
 
 WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON, 
 
 LATE PRESIDENT OF THE U. STATES, 
 
 DELIVERED IN THE 
 
 CEDAR ST. PRESBYTERIAN CIIURCIT, 
 
 ON SABBATH, APRIL IITH, 1841. 
 
 From Jeremiah 9 : 31, 
 
 BY REV. WILLIAM RAMSEY 
 
 PUBLISHED BY REQUEST. 
 
 PllllifTED AT THE OfFICE OF THE CHRISTIAN OflSEnrER. 
 
 1S41. 
 
Glass. 
 
 ^ r. 
 
 Book '^SJlZ^ 
 
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 n: 
 
 
 SERMON, 
 
 OCCASIONED BY THE DEATH OF 
 
 WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON, 
 
 LATE PRESIDENT OF THE U. STATES, 
 
 DELIVERED IN THE 
 
 CEDAR ST. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, 
 
 ON SABBATH, APRIL IITH, 1841. 
 
 From Jeremiah 9 : 21. 
 
 BY REV. WILLIAM RAMSEY. 
 
 i ■* ^ . « J 
 
 
 * ^ . ■> ™ > 
 
 PUBLISHED BY REQUEST. 
 
 Printed at the Office of the Christiak Observer. 
 
 1841. 
 
A SERMON 
 
 "For death — is entered into our Palaces." — Jeremiah 9: 21. 
 
 The sudden and unexpected death of the Chief Magistrate of these 
 United States, has cast a mantle of gloom over the whole nation. But 
 God hath done it, and it therefore becomes us to bow in meek submis- 
 sion to His righteous will ; for the Judge of all the earth cannot but do 
 right. This afflictive dispensation of Divine Providence has come 
 upon us, when we least expected it. God grant that the peculiarity of 
 the means, by which He has chosen to chastise us as a nation, may 
 lead us to deep repentance for our national sins ; to amendment of life ; 
 and a more explicit acknowledgment of our dependence upon Him for 
 the future. 
 
 The great political struggle of this nation had just passed over. And 
 the man of the people's choice, respected for his grey hairs, and for 
 what adorns the gentleman, the husband and the father ; honored for 
 his heroic valor on the field of battle, and his unwavering republican- 
 ism in the day of his country's distress ; revered for his stern integrity, 
 and manly adherence to the principles of the constitution of our gov- 
 ernment, and who had been raised to the highest office in the gift of a 
 free and noble people ; having taken the helm of government into his 
 hands, and in an acknowledged dependence upon the God of heaven 
 for wisdom, had entered upon the arduous duty of guiding the affairs 
 of this increasingly great and prosperous nation. 
 
 Thousands of his fellow-citizens had just listened with profound at- 
 tention, and joyous hearts, while he marked out before them the path- 
 way of constitutional republicanism in which he purposed to tread, 
 and solemnly avowed the manner in which he intended, through di- 
 vine aid, to fulfil the high and responsible duties of his office. 
 
 Expectations were raised high, that under his administration our 
 country would be greatly advanced in her temporal prosperity. Joy 
 was spread throughout the land. And all were constrained to say that 
 
(4 ) 
 
 if the principles thus avowed shall be maintained, the nation has naught 
 to fear from this source. His administration will be one of peace to this 
 nation, and of good will to others. The Hero will then be permitted to 
 return, with additional honors, to his peaceful home — end his days in 
 the quietness of domestic life — die in the bosom of his family ; and, 
 like the Father of our country, leave a grateful people to testify, that 
 from boyhood to grey hairs, he had been a friend of liberty, and con- 
 stitutional republicanism, and a devoted servant of his country. 
 
 Fame's loud trumpet sounded in all our borders the joyful news, as 
 contained in his first, and last message, that he had actually entered 
 upon the duties of his office, as President of the United States. Men 
 met their fellow men, and exchanged congratulations in prospect of a 
 brighter era in the history of the American nation. The smile of joy 
 had not yet left the cheek, nor had the sound of congratulation died 
 upon the ear, when, lo ! a messenger clad in the habiliments of mourn- 
 ing, arrives in haste to announce the afflictive news that 
 
 WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON, 
 
 The President of the United States of America, is Dead !* 
 
 Consternation seizes the minds of all. The nation is dumb. Jus- 
 tice in her halls of legislation drops, in a moment, her poised scales, to 
 shed the tear of sorrow over the condition of an afflicted people, and 
 to weep that the mighty have fallen. Industry, in her shops, and in her 
 fields, lays down her implements of labor, to mourn that a cloud has 
 overcast her sky. Religion, too, in her ecclesiastical councils, in the 
 sanctuary, in the family, and in the closet, bows the knee to the King 
 of kings, to acknowledge the sins of the people, which have brought 
 down upon them his displeasure, and to pray that the judgments of 
 his hand may be stayed. 
 
 " A voice of wailing is heard out of Zion. — How are we spoiled ! We 
 are greatly confounded." Like Israel of old, we, as a people, have sin- 
 ned against the Lord. We have not been valiant for the truth upon the 
 earth. We have proceeded from evil to evil. Through deceit we 
 have refused to acknowledge God. We have forsaken the law of the 
 Lord, and have not obeyed his voice ; but have walked after the 
 imagination of our own hearts. " Shall I not visit them for these things ? 
 
 *His death occurred on Sunday morning, April 4th, 1811 — ^just a month after 
 his inauguration. 
 
(5) 
 
 saith the Lord : Shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as 
 this?" Therefore it is that the badges of mourning have come up into 
 our windows, and death is entered into our palaces. 
 
 In the chapter from which the text is taken, the prophet Jeremiah la- 
 ments, in the most pathetic language, the terrible judgments which were 
 about to come upon his nation. As God does not afflict willingly, nor 
 grieve the children of men without a cause; he specifies some of the sins 
 of which they were nationally guilty, and in consequence of which they 
 had incurred the divine displeasure. In this catalogue of crimes he af- 
 firms that adultery and treachery abounded ; that public confidence was 
 gone ; that neighbours were suspicious one of another ; that brother 
 would supplant brother ; that they had tauglit their tongues to speak 
 lies, and wearied themselves to commit iniquity. He predicts that Ju- 
 dea shall be utterly wasted; and that the inhabitants shall be carried 
 captives into heathen countries, and the land become a desolation. In 
 allusion to an ancient custom, which is still observed in the East, he 
 calls for a band of mourning women to lament over Jerusalem. The 
 funeral dirge of the nation's happiness and peace, which was sung on 
 the occasion, and of which our text forms a part, is expressed in lan- 
 guage peculiarly pathetic. "A voice of wailing is heard out of ZIon. 
 How are we spoiled! we are greatly confounded. For death is come 
 up into our windows, and is entered into our palaces." The Prophet 
 then makes known to them, that, as God is the fountain of all good, and 
 man merely the instrument in his hand, by which a portion of that 
 good is distributed on the earth, it is, therefore, highly improper for 
 men to glory in their wisdom, might, or riches, which can come alone 
 from Him. Thus saith the Lord, " Let not the wise man glory in his 
 wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich 
 man glory in his riches." For riches cannot deliver a man from the 
 shaft of death ; individual or national strength cannot withstand the 
 purposes of God ; nor can our wisdom, which is foolishness in his 
 sight,, shield us against the inflictions of his judgments, when he visits 
 a people for their transgressions. But, if men will glory, let them 
 glory in this, that they understand and know the Lord ; and that it is 
 he who exerciseih loving kindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the 
 earth. — The chapter then concludes with a declaration, that when the 
 judgments of God shall come upon the land, they will fall not only upon 
 the circumcised, but also upon the uncircumcised ; that is, not only 
 
( 6 ) 
 
 upon the Jewish people, who were in covenant with God. but, upon those 
 also who were connected with them. It has always been so. When 
 the judgments of God fall upon a people, the innocent suffer with the 
 guilty, and the righteous share, in some degree, in the calamities which 
 the iniquities of the people have brought upon themselves. 
 
 It is not my intention in this discourse to dwell upon the history of 
 the honoured dead ; nor, is this the place. There are many, I doubt 
 not, who, from their intimate acquaintance with the political affairs of 
 our country for the last fifty years — from their personal knowledge of 
 the worth and excellence of our departed President, in the domestic, 
 social, and public walks of life, as well as his undaunted heroism on the 
 field of battle, in the day of our national struggle against oppression, 
 when men's souls were tried, are thus better qualified than I am, to 
 render to his memory that tribute of praise which he, as an instrument 
 in the hand of God, deserves from us. To them 1 leave the perform- 
 ance of this duty, and feel confident that it will be well done. 
 
 But, while we make this acknowledgment, we are not willing to grant 
 that we are behind any others in our zeal to express our sincere sym- 
 pathy for the bereaved family of the deceased, or our heart-felt interest 
 in the welfare of this nation, which has been so suddenly, and so mys- 
 teriously deprived of its chief ruler. God looks not at the external 
 badges of mourning that we may assume on this occasion. He looks 
 at the heart. If the heart of this congregation and of this nation be 
 not humbled under the chastening hand of God, the sorrowful expres- 
 sions of our lips will be of no avail. Our halls of Justice may be hung 
 in black ; our churches may be clad in mourning ; the banners of our 
 associations may move in solemn procession ; the American Eagle, 
 perched upon the crape-wreathed staff of our national flag, as it waves 
 in mournful attire, may droop in token of sadness of heart ; the moun- 
 tains, the hills, and the vales ; the cities, the hamlets, and the habita- 
 tions of the wilderness may unite in one general note of lamentation ; 
 but, unless the hand of God be acknowledged in this afflictive dispen- 
 sation of his Providence, our mourning will be vain, and our lamenta- 
 tions will only be a prelude to other sorrows, which God will bring 
 upon those who bow not under his chastisements, and acknowledge 
 not the operations of his hand. 
 
 God has a controversy with this nation, and he would teach us this, 
 by what he has done, and is doing. It, therefore, becomes us, like 
 
( n 
 
 Ninevah of old, to put on not only the badges of mouiniug, but, to 
 rend the heart; to acknowledge our transgressions, and to return to the 
 Lord. "For who can tell if God will turn, and repent, and turn away 
 froni his fierce anger, that we perish not." 
 
 My object is briefly to turn your attention to the moral history of our 
 nation. And while we contrast the present with the past, we shall, no 
 doubt, see some of the reasons why God is chastening us ; and what 
 it becomes us, as a nation, and as Christians, to do. May God give 
 us grace to look at this whole subject in the light of divine truth, and 
 to act, as it becomes us, in the fear of God. 
 
 In looking back upon the history of this country, we find that there 
 were numerous settlements of European emigrants in different parts of 
 it, before the arrival of the Puritans in New England. And, although 
 religion was established by them in their respective colonies, yet the 
 influence, which wrought for us our civil and religious liberty as a peo- 
 ple, emanated from the little colony, consisting of nineteen families, 
 that landed upon Plymouth Rock, Dec. 22d, 1620. They had fled 
 from the influence of kingly and priestly power in the Old World, and 
 had determined, by the grace of God, to seek, in the unexplored re- 
 gions of the New, an asylum from oppression, where, as they said, " they 
 might enjoy a purer worship, and greater liberty of conscience." It 
 was with such feelings as these, that the seeds of Religion and Liberty 
 were planted in this happy soil. They were watered by the tears and 
 the prayers of God's people. And they have sprung up, under the 
 fostering care of our Heavenly Father, as two majestic trees, whose 
 branches gracefully intertwine; whose shade is a shelter from the 
 blighting rays of the sun of Despotism ; and whose fruit has been, and 
 is for the temporal and spiritual prosperity of the nation. 
 
 The principles of civil and religious liberty, which characterized so 
 strongly the colonies of the Pilgrim Fathers, and which they had drawn 
 directly from the word of God, spread themselves far and wide among 
 the inhabitants of the land. They grew stronger by their u^e, and be- 
 came endeared to the hearts of all by their purity and their truth. The 
 time, however, drew near, when the soundness and stability of these 
 principles were to be tested. The men who had escaped from the 
 mandate of kings, and had braved the dangers of the deep, and the 
 terrors of the howling waste, were to be called upon to prove, by their 
 acts, that their souls were sincere in the declarations which their lips 
 
( 8 ) 
 
 had made. The contest came. The struggle was severe. Truth 
 and righteousness triumphed. America was free. 
 
 In the bond of union which united these free States together, the 
 principles of civil and religious liberty, first promulged by our Pilgrim 
 Fathers, and which had triumphed over all opposition from selfishness 
 and oppression, held the most conspicuous place. Delaware first, and 
 Pennsylvania next ; and, subsequently, all the States ratified the Consti- 
 tution, as prepared by the Convention and recommended by Con- 
 gress. And although our territory has extended her borders, and new 
 States have been added to the original thirteen, yet there is not one of 
 them, save the State of Louisiana, which in her constitution does not 
 guarantee to every man the right of worshipping his God without mo- 
 lestation, according to the dictates of his own conscience. Louisiana 
 had no part in that conflict for truth ; but was purchased in 1803 from 
 the French, for die stipulated sum of sixty millions of francs. The 
 majority of the citizens were then of the Roman Catholic faith ; arid 
 they, either unwittingly or designedly, left out of her constitution this 
 fundamental article of the political faith of this Protestant nation. 
 
 Notwithstanding this exception, this nation stands forth before the 
 world, in the glorious attitude of having her constitution, not only 
 based upon, but, in these respects, in accordance with the word of 
 God. We are then, in our national capacity, a Religious nation. Our 
 laws are based upon the Bible ; and the Old and New Testaments are 
 acknowledged, in every Court of Justice, as of Divine authority, and 
 of binding obligation upon the conscience of every man. This is the 
 view of the subject as entertained by the framers of our National Con- 
 stitution, and also by the framers of all our State Constitutions, with 
 only the exception of the one already named. 
 
 It would be needless here to enumerate the private opinions of those 
 who have borne the highest oflices in the land from that day to this, 
 in reference to the importance of vital godliness in a nation. Then- 
 united testimony is, that it is essential to the well being of any people. 
 But, I cannot forbear to repeat to you a portion of the Farewell Ad- 
 dress of Washington to this nation, touching this point. He thus re- 
 marks : 
 
 " Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperi- 
 ty, Religion and Morality are indispensable supports. In vain would 
 that man claim the tribute of patriotism, who should labour to subvert 
 
( 0) 
 
 these great pillars of human happiness — these firmest props of the 
 clulies of men and citizens. The mere politician, equally with the 
 pious man, ought to respect and cherish them. A volume could 
 not trace all their cooneciions with publ'c and private felicity. Let 
 it simply be asked, whei-e is the secuiiiy for property, for reputation, 
 for life, if the sense of religious oh'iga'tion desert the oaths which are 
 the instruments of investigation in Courts of Justice ? And let us with 
 caution indulge the suppos'iion that morality can be maintained without 
 religion. Whaiever may be conceded to >he influence of refined edu- 
 cation, or morals of peculiar structure, reason and experience both 
 forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of 
 religious principles." 
 
 "It is substaniial'y true, that virtue or moral'ty is a necessary spring 
 of popL'lar.government. The rule, indeed, extends with more or less 
 force to every species of free government. Who, that is a sincere 
 h-iend .o it, can look wiih indifference upon atiempts to shake the foun- 
 dations of the fabric. — Can it be that Providence has not connected 
 the permanent fe'icity of a nation with its virtue? The experiment^ 
 at least, is recommended by eveiy sentiment which ennobles human 
 nature. Alas ! it is render ed impossible by its vices." 
 
 Such was the pub'ished opinion of him, whom we are proud to call 
 the " Father of our Country." Nor was his private conduct at vari- 
 ance with these declarations. He was a man who feared God, 
 and ende^oured to walk humbly be/o- e Him. He was a man of 
 prayer.*' 
 
 These were not the sentiments of Washington alone, but of the Con- 
 gress also in that day, as is very manifest from the resolution they 
 passed Sept. lOdi, 1782, in which they approve of an edition of 
 
 * The anecdote related CO.: ccinin^Wrshington and the Friend is, no doubt, 
 true. While Washington and the American army uere encamped at Valley 
 Foro-e, an aof;d Friend hpd oClcn exprcbscd his doubts as to the possibility of a 
 soldier being a Christian. As he av?s walking one day through a wood, a short 
 distance nom the encampment, he discovered Washington, on his knees, engaged 
 in prayer to God for his blessing to rest upon the nation, and to bring them 
 safely through all their trials. His doubts were all gone. He could then believe 
 that a man may fear God, and yet defend his country against the invasion of 
 others. He had, perhaps, never heard of Colonel Gardner, who died in Europe 
 about the year 1725. 
 
 2 
 
( 10 ) 
 
 the Bible published by Mr. Robert Aitken, and recommend it to the 
 inhabitants of the United States.* li is also stated that each member 
 of Congress was furnished with a cotiy of the sacred Sc.'iptures, which 
 lay upon the desk befo'e hhri. There were then two chaplains to 
 Congress, and da'ly p«-ayer w<-s ofTeied up to God in their legislative 
 Hal's, for wisdom to guide tbe*Ti in their deliberations, and for the 
 blessing of God to rest upoa the country. The Sabbaths of the Lord 
 were then obse:ved. " Respect for the authoiity of government, com- 
 pliance wiih its laws, and ?cqi''escence in its measures, those funda- 
 mental maxims of true liberty," were enjoined as duties upon the peo- 
 ple, and they were observed in a great degree. In the memorable 
 Convention which formed the Constitution of the United States, when 
 its members, arrayed aga'nsi each other on a quesiion deemed vitally 
 important, and were involved in difficulties apparently inextricable, 
 Franklin perceived their error, and at the same lime the remedy. He 
 proposed that the business of the house should be suspended, for the 
 purpose of looking up to God by piayc, for that wisdom which they 
 needed to bring them out of their present perplexities. Prayer was 
 offered, and answered too: and the business of the house then went 
 on without confusion. 
 
 The men of that day felt that there is a God, who rules in the 
 affairs of the nation, and they were not ashamed to acknowledge it, 
 
 * The frets in this ccs3 are tlicse : — Mr. Robert Aitken, an enterprising Prin- 
 ter in this city, undertook, at his own expense, o publish an edition of the Bible 
 during the Revolutioiary War. Feaiiifg that he might become bankrupt in con- 
 sequence of the grCc.t expense of the work, he applied to Congress for assistance. 
 Mr. Aitken's meniori;.l to Coiioress was p.esenicd, and a committee, of which Mr. 
 Duane was chairmrn, was appointed to report on the same. The committee con- 
 sult?d the chaplains of Congress, viz. the Rev. Dr. (subsequently Bishop) White, 
 and the Rev. Geo ge Duffield, D. D., as to the coirectness of the edition. Their 
 opinion belrg commendatory, the committee accordingly reported in favor of Mr. 
 Aitken's m.enorial. W:_ cupon it was " Resolved, That the United States, in 
 Congress assembled, highly approve the pious and laudable undertaking of 
 Mr. Aitken, as subseivient to the interests of religion, as well as an instance of 
 the progress of the a.is in this country, and being satisfied from the above report, 
 of his care and accuracy in the execution of the work, they recommend this edi- 
 tion of the Bible to the inhabitants of the United States, and hereby authorize 
 him to publish this Recommendation in the manner he shall think proper. 
 
 Charles Thompson, Secretary." 
 
( 11 ) 
 
 or their dependence upon him. But those giant minds and grace- 
 touched spirits rest from their labors on earth. Their mantle has fallen 
 as they ascended to God ; but, alas ! who of their children have found 
 it? May God raise up in our land, other Elijahs who shall possess the 
 spirit of thbse who have gone up from us, and who shall, by their holy 
 example, as well as righteous precepts, lead this nation forward in the 
 paths of righteousness and peace. 
 
 It would seem that a poriion, at least, of that spirit had fallen upon 
 our late chief mag'sl 'ate. In h's inaugu -al address, he thus speaks : — 
 "I deem the present occasion su^xiciiJy impoi'tant and solemn to jus- 
 tify me in expi-essing to my fel]ow-citizen?, a profound reverence for 
 the Christian re'ig'on, and a thorough conviction that sound morals, 
 religious liberty, and a just sense of religious responsiljllity, are essen- 
 t'ally connected with all irue and lasting happiness. And to diat good 
 Being who has blessed us by the gifts of civil and religious freedom, 
 who watched over and prospered the labors of our fathers, and has 
 hitherio preserved to us institut'oas far exceeding in excellence those 
 of any olher people, let us fervently unite in commending every inter- 
 est of our beloved couniry in all future time.'" 
 
 That these sentiments were the honest expressions of a heart that 
 felt them, we are left without any doubt. More than one minister tes- 
 tifies that he fully intended to unite himself with the Episcopal Church 
 in Washington City, at their next communion season. A member of 
 his own family testifies that for many months previous to his death, he 
 never omitted reading the Scrij)tures every night before retiring to rest. 
 And while lying upon his dying bed, he deeply regretted that he had 
 not connected himself with the church of Christ as a communicant. — 
 We can only add, we regret it also. It would seem that he had post- 
 poned this duty till after his election, lest many should take occasion 
 from it to say that his public profession of faith in the Lord Jesus 
 Christ, was designed for political purposes. Some might have said 
 so. But our rulers should learn to regard the commands of God more 
 than the opinions of men. May others be admonished by this. 
 
 Now, while a sense of religious obligation may have been acknowl- 
 edged by all our chief magistrates, and in the councils of the nation, 
 what, alas ! has been the practice of the great mass of the rulers of 
 this nation ? What comment do we write upon the test of our faith ? 
 It is written as with a sunbeam. All may read it. Yea, all who do 
 
( 12 ) 
 
 read it, must be compelled to acknowledge that our national foith in 
 the matters of religion, and our national liractice, are perfect anti- 
 podes, the one to the other. 
 
 Oaths of allegiance, in our halls of legislation, and in our Senate 
 chambers, are taken to support the constitution of our country, whose 
 pillars, says Washington, are Religion and Morality. And yet how 
 few are to be found of those who have been, and are now set for the 
 defence of our liberties, who do not violate their allegiance to God, 
 by profaning i)is most holy name ? We can tri'^y say with Jeremiah, 
 " because of swearing the land mournelh ; wherefore their way shall 
 be unto them as slippery w.iys in the darkness ; they sh?ll be driven on, 
 and fall therein ; for I wiU bring evil on Uiem, sailh the Lord." 
 
 " In vain would that man claim the i';Jbule of patriotism,'" adds 
 Washington, "who would labor to sabvert these great pillars of human 
 happiness." If this be so, what then niusi; we think of the high sound- 
 ing pretensions of many in our day, to this noble virtue? Their pa- 
 triotism is but a name ; ihe-r Ciirisiianity but a lie. Who can doubt 
 for a moment, that our national regard for religion and moral'iy, has 
 not degenerated in an awful degree ? Like Israel, as we have increas- 
 ed, so have we sinned against God, and our glory he will turn into 
 shame. If it be not so, then tell me, what means the effort that was 
 made in Congress a year ago, to dispense with the wholesome, though 
 old fashioned practice, of appointing a chaplain to Congress, to pray 
 that God might make our rulers and coursellors a blessing to the 
 nation, and to impart to them wisdom in their deliberations? Was 
 there no need of o/ie, when in the days of Washington there were two ? 
 What means the effort made in New York State, to discard the use of 
 the Bible from all the publ'c schools in the State ? What means the 
 Infidel petition to the Legislature of this State, to abolish the Sabbath 
 of the Lord? What means this open violation of the Sabbath, by the 
 angry debates of maddened, wine heated politicians in the councils 
 of the nation? What means this daring wickedness of men, in legis- 
 lating away the law of God, by giving the sanction of law, by charter- 
 ing companies to break the Sabbath, seeing that the Lord uttered 
 amidst the thunders of Sinai his command, " Remem'^er the Sabbath 
 day to keep it holy ?" What means the national violation of our cove- 
 nants made with the red man of the forest, and our forcing them 
 from the graves of their fathers, because we were mightier than diey ? 
 
( 13 ) 
 
 What means this crushing down of three millions of immortal beings 
 from the dignity of man, made in the image of God, to the level of a 
 beast — to a mere chattel — a thing of merchandize and of speculation ? 
 What means this system of outhicry that stacks abroad in our land, 
 that by v'o'ence and threats, sets at open defiance the laws of God 
 and of man ? What means the wail'ng, and tl e cf'es that ascend from 
 yonder dwell-ng, to the God of the widow ard of the falhedess, from 
 the wife and children of the i?ivrdercd C.'lley? What means the vo-ce 
 of blood which cres to God for vengeance, fiom the Senate 
 chamber of this nation? We'l may we as'v, what do ibese things 
 mean ? Ah ! they mean that we as a natioa, have departed from 
 God. We have not been valiant for the truth. — And how far the 
 worc's of the prophet against the people of Judea are applicable 
 to us, I leave you to judge. "They proceed fro.n evil to eril, and 
 acknowledge not me, sailh t' c Led ; they have taught their tongue to 
 speak lies, and weary themselves to commit in'q.iHy. Therefore, saith 
 the Lord, shall I not vis"t the.ii for these tilings ? Shall not my soid 
 be avenged on such a nation as this ?" 
 
 It is a fixed principle in the government of God, that nations which sin 
 shall be punished, as such, in this world. As this is the case, we can 
 easily understand now that " the Lord has a controversy witli the in- 
 habitants of the land. — By swearing, and lying, and kill'ug, and steal- 
 ing, and committing adul ery, they break out, and blood toucheth 
 blood. Therefore shall the land mourn, and every one diat dwellcth 
 therein shall languish." 
 
 God's judgments are abroad in the land, and it therefore becomes 
 the people to learn righteousness. You may see the chastening hand 
 of God, in the lon^ and broad line of blood that girds the southern 
 borders of our country. See it in the devouring fires that have gone 
 through the land ; in the desolating floods ; in the insurrectionary spirit 
 that exists in some pans of our land; and in the perfect contempt for 
 righteousness, law, and order, throughout the whole of it: in the com- 
 plete prostration of national credit; in the want of confidence between 
 man and man; in the distress that exists in the nation with perplexity ; 
 in men's hearts' failing them for fear, and for looking after those things 
 which are coming upon the earth, for the powers of heaven shall be 
 shaken. See it also in the shaking of the powers that be in this nation, 
 
( 14 ) 
 
 for God has brouglit to naught the wisdom of the wise, and the counsel 
 of the prudent. 
 
 Every man, in this assembly, Is fully aware of the great politi- 
 cal conflict that has agitated this nation for years past. That contest 
 was over for a season. But how has God disposed of it? He has dis- 
 appointed the whole nation. He has removed the chief ruler of the 
 people, and has raised up over them a man, who, however good he may 
 be, and however well qualified for the office he now fills, was not rais- 
 ed by the people to the siat'on he now occupies. God has put him 
 there, at the head of this nation, and he designs it for weal or for 
 wo. What a change in the affairs of this nation, in the space of one short 
 month ! Has the present Chief JNIagisti-ate a lease of h's life from God ? 
 Should he, too, be removed from us, with our volcanic feel'ng within, 
 and the muttering sounds of th-ealened or dreaded warwithodt, what 
 may not another year bring forth? The hand of God is upon us. Oli ! 
 that he may bestow upon us grrce, to repent of our individual and 
 national sins, so that we may not fal' under his avenging hand. 
 
 We have sinned grievously as a nation, and God has laid upon 
 us his afflictive rod, so that in church and in state, we feel that he is 
 chastening us. Slill I trust that our case is not beyond the reach of 
 hope, or of mercy from God. The universal acknowledgment of the 
 nation, that the hand of God has afflicted them ; the merging of all 
 party feeling in the general spirit of sorrow that prevails; the breaking 
 down of every political barrier that may have separated man from his 
 fel ow man ; and their uniting their hearts, in the sanctuary, and in the 
 convo^L.'iion to acknowledge their affliction; to supplicate the favor of 
 God, and to deprecate his wrath; give signs of hope, that the con- 
 science of this nation has yet a voice to speak, and that the people have 
 a heart to respond to its solemn warnings. 
 
 Oil! that this death, £0 sudden, so mysterious, and so anomalous in 
 die dealings of God wiJi this n..lion, may not pass by unimproved. — 
 We are taught by it, how vain is popu ar applause; how sinful is politi- 
 cal strife, and how unbecoming are local jea ousies, in this united peo- 
 ple. God would teach us " to cease from man, whose breath is in his 
 nostrils," and lead us to place our dependence alone on him. " The 
 lofty looks of man shall be humbled ; and the haughtiness of man sho'I 
 be bowed down ; and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day." In 
 
( 15 ) 
 
 our covetousness, and pride, and adoration of men, and dependence 
 upon measures, we have forgotten God. It is well, if this affliction 
 bring us to our sober re?son, so that we may understand that " cursed 
 is the man (or people,) th?t trusieth in man, or maketh flesh his arm, 
 and whose heart dep?rteth from the Lord." 
 
 May our ru'ers be brought to fear God, who casteth down and rais- 
 eth up whom he u'll, and to m?ke their peace with Him, before it be 
 too late. " Be wise now, therefore, O ye kings; be instructed, ye 
 judges of the e..rth. Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trem- 
 bling. Kiss the Son lesi he be angry, and ye perish from the way 
 when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put 
 their trust in Him." 
 
 And may the Church remember that when the judgments of God 
 fall upon a land, the righteous and the wicked share them together. — 
 Let us, then, pray earnestly to God, thai our officers may be Peace, 
 and our exactors Righteousness, so that God may stay the judgments 
 of his hand, and bless us with his grace. Then shall " righteousness 
 go before us, and the glory of the Lord shall be our -re- ward." 
 

 LB Jr. '12 
 
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