LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 
 
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 RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED TO A GRATEFUL PEOPLE 
 
 Jn JHcmnri) of tijc WoxH\ 
 
 OP 
 
 OUR LAMENTED CHIEF MAGISTRATE, 
 
 DELIVERED APRIL 21st, 1865, 
 
 BY 
 
 Rev. Abraham Grater. 
 
 Copied \>y several German Newspapers and trans- 
 » lated from the Grerman. 
 
 SKIPPACKVILLE, Pa., 
 
 Printed by J. M. Schuenemann. 
 
 1865. 
 
 For Sale : By I. Kohler, No. 202 North 4th St., Philadelphia. 
 Neutralist Office, Skippackville, Montg. County, Pa. 
 
 Price : Single copy 5 cts. ; 30 copies $1 ;— send to any 
 address free of postage. 
 
Ann 
 
% tfulijp 
 
 ON THE 
 
 LIFE AND DEATH OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN'. 
 
 '« Ye knon- nothing at alienor consider that it is expedient fo)- us, that one 
 man should, die for the people, and the whole nation perish not."" 
 
 John XI., part of the -10. and 50. v. 
 
 'he disciples of Jesus could not at first realize that it was 
 better for them that the Saviour should be crucified by his 
 enemies : so the friends of Abraham Lincoln, have as yet not 
 understood that it vras better that he should lose his life at the 
 hands of his murderous enemies. "We have realized what Christ 
 told his disciples shortly before his suffering : — " Ye shall weep 
 and mourn, but the world will rejoice ; ye shall be sorrowful, 
 but your sorrow shall be turned into, joy." 
 
 "While thousands are now weeping and mourning on account 
 (if the loss of our honored chief magistrate, Secessionists and 
 blackhearted traitors are secretly exulting over his death. The 
 (liristian, iu con.sidering the sentiments of the text, knows full 
 well that it is better for him to believe in the death, burial 
 and resurrection of Christ, tlian that he had never died. The 
 death of our lamented President may be viewed similarly iu 
 many respects as the Saviour of his people. 
 
~ 4 — 
 
 The Saviour as the head of the Church upon earth, came to 
 destroy the power of the devil, and to set up the kingdom of 
 God : Abraham Lincoln, as the head of this nation, was ordained 
 in the Providence of God, to stay the tide of rebellion and to 
 restore the Union. 
 
 The Saviour and his Apostles were ever contending with the 
 powers of darkness and sin ; by the aid of the sword of the 
 spirit and the word of God they gained the victory. Abraham 
 Lincoln and the brave patriots of our nation, with the sword 
 and the help of God, conquered the rebels. Christ fell a 
 victim to his malefactors, poured out his blood, and gave him- 
 self a sacrifice to redeem the whole human famil}'. On the same 
 day of the year, in chronological order that Christ was crucified, 
 Abraham Lincoln was assassinated, and poured out his blood, 
 and gave his life for the nation and the freedom of the oppressed 
 blacks. 
 
 When Christ on earth triumphed over his enemies, his dis- 
 ciples sang praises and shouted for joy, believing that he was 
 about to set up his kingdom on earth ; but their joy was soon 
 turned into sorrow when they heard of his death ; but his ene- 
 mies rejoiced, wishing he had died long before. When Abraham 
 Lincoln was victorious, his friends rejoiced and sang praises of 
 joy, for they believed that the government was saved and the 
 Union restored : but their joy was soon turned into mourning 
 as they heard the sad intelligence of his death. His enemies, 
 however, gloated in evident satisfaction over the murderous act, 
 and had wished it long before. 
 
 What, I ask, occurred as Christ suffered and hung dying upon 
 the cross ? Darkness covered the whole land from the sixth to 
 the ninth hour, the sun was darkened and the veil of the temple 
 was rent in twain. When the centurion saw what had happened, 
 he said: — " Truly, this was a good man." What took place 
 when Abraham Lincoln suff'ered and died ? A sudden and deep 
 gloom was spread over the nation, and his friends clothed tliem- 
 
— 5 — 
 
 selves in tlic habiliments of mourning ; the flags so lately floating 
 in the breeze in demonstration of joy and triumph for late vic- 
 tories won, are suddenly draped in black. 
 
 The glorious news coming to us from Washington, announcing 
 victory upon victory, was destined soon to be obscured by the 
 gloom and sadness so soon following. The veil of the nation's 
 heart is rent in twain in the removal of our good President. 
 The heads of department and others witnessing these scene 
 were constrained to say : — " Truly, he was a good man." 
 
 What were some of the acts of Christ during his short minis- 
 try upon earth ? He caused the blind to see, the deaf to hear 
 the lame to walk ; uncleaa spirits to be cast out ; lepers to be 
 cleansed, and even the dead were brought to life again. 
 What did Abraham Lincoln do during his short administration ? 
 He caused many blindly and stubbornly opposed to his policy 
 to see, many disaffected ones to be reconciled, many possessed 
 of the worst spirit of secession to be restored to the Union. 
 Even many apparently dead to the cause of justice and liberty 
 have been marvellously called to life, and are now battling nobly 
 for the right. Christ was made an offering about the fourth year 
 of his ministry ; our late President in like manner fell a sacri- 
 fice about the fourth year of his administration. The high 
 priest* covenanted with Judas for thirty pieces of silver, to be- 
 tray Christ to be crucified. What amount the arch-traitors of 
 this rebellion agreed to pay the assassin of President Lincoln, 
 we have not yet learned. 
 
 In considering the sense of our text, the question may be 
 asked, — What good was secured to the human family by the 
 death of our Saviour ? We answer, according to the Scriptures, 
 that millions of souls, fettered and chained by sin, that believed 
 in Christ, are redeemed, and made to enjoy not only temporal, 
 but eternal good. The benefits of a Saviour slain shall avail 
 for millions in coming time, who believe on him, and praise and 
 adore his name for ever. 
 
— 6 — 
 
 What has resulted to the people of the United States through 
 the death of our President ? "VVe reply, many millions of slaves^ 
 by the help of God, have had the shackles and manacles of 
 bondage broken off, and many millions of beings, black and white, 
 shall hereafter enjoy the benefits of freedom to his honor and 
 glory forever, and praise God that in the sacrifice of Abraham 
 Lincoln the slaves -were set free, and the Union, as we trust, 
 ])ermanently restored. If we should inquire of the enemies of 
 Jjiiicoln, what sin or unjust act he had done during his adminis- 
 tration against his country or the nation, the}' could hardly 
 point to a single one, as the Saviour said to the Jews, John 
 ViiJ., 4(3. • 
 
 Yet I do not wish to imply that Abraham Lincoln was imma- 
 culate, or that he needed no Saviour ; — far from it. This is ad- 
 mitted in the fact that he deemed it proper and necessary that 
 (lays for national fasting, humiliation and prayer be set apart 
 for observance by the people. 
 
 Since his death certain censorious, self-righteous persons have 
 rashly criticised the motives of his being in the theatre on the 
 occasion of his assassination, and would have no other evidence 
 to prove the- bad character of the man. It was also said of our 
 Saviour, that he Avas not of God, because he associated with 
 ])ublicans and sinners. We affirm that a man is ever a*man 
 in every situation of 111x3 ; so a Christian, as such, placed in any 
 cf»ndition, exercises a Christian influence in every place and 
 midcr all circumstances. Placo of itself does not sanctify or 
 iinsancliry a man, provided he wills no wrong, or indulges in 
 \i\) sin ; or else the wicked in attendance on public worship in 
 tlie House of God would be Saints. The motives always give 
 color to the act. AVhy, in the Providence of God, he was pcr- 
 miitcd to lose his life in the theatre at Washington in the pre- 
 Mt-nce of so many people, is alone known to the searcher of 
 licavts, who always employs such means and instrumentalities 
 to win wavward &ouls as suits him. 
 
— 7 — 
 
 AVe do assert, without fear of contradiction, that never in the 
 history of our GoTcrmncnt was the loss of an}" man bo deeply de- 
 plored and generally lamented as that of our late beloved Chief 
 ■3Iagistrate. His qualities of mind and heart had latterly so 
 endeared themselves to many of his friends, that their admira- 
 tion of them amounted almost to adoration, evidencing almost 
 an idolizing passion for his character. When, on the contrary, 
 we contemplate the change so suddenly made, the friends and 
 admirers of the President, hearing of his sad death, put on the 
 weeds of mourning, and in the grief and sorrow of their hearts 
 inquired of God : Why hast thou permitted us to he thus bereft 
 of our good President by murderous hands, inasmuch as he had 
 just triumphed over his enemies, and, as was supposed, was 
 about to restore to us the Union, and to ratify peace. But he 
 is gone. Lord, what can be thy object in permitting this ca- 
 lamity 1 Many such and similar prayers have been olfered be- 
 fore God, not by single individuals only, but, as it were by mil- 
 lions of people. 
 
 In conclusion I would again say, in the language of our text : 
 " Ye know nothing at all, nor consider that it is expedient for 
 us, that the President should die,— the slaves be set free, man 
 be brought to worship the Lord,— the Union restored; than 
 that he should live, and slavery still exist, and the Union be 
 divided, and the nation unhappy. 
 
 Finally, I implore Thee, our Heavenly Father, who beholdest 
 the many hearts made sad by the removal of our lamented Pre- 
 sident, that thou suffer us not to mourn as those who have no 
 hope. Our Father, have mercy on the enemies of our Govern- 
 ment. Graciously grant that they may no longer rebel against 
 it. Have mercy on the vile assassin of our late President. 
 Bless our soldiers, especially the sick and wounded. Father, 
 I beseech Thee to endue the successor of our late President with 
 wisdom and ability in a two-fold measure more than his prede- 
 cessor during his administration. God bless the whole Cabinet. 
 
— 8 — 
 
 Have mercy on the afflicted friends and relatives of the deceased. 
 Comfort them, I pray Thee, with the consolation that he fell a 
 victim to his enemies without cause like an innocent lamb, 
 and that his soul now rests in Abraham's bosom. God grant 
 that this sad dispensation may be sanctified not only to our 
 good, but also to the temporal and eternal welfare of posterity. 
 Amen. 
 
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