A SERMON
1'REINCHED IN THE
FLATBIUSH, L. I.,
ON THANKSGIVING DAY, NOV. 24, 1864.
REV. CORNELIUS L. WELLS, PASTOR.
[PUBLISHED BY REQUEST OF THE CONSISTORY.]
NEW  YORK:
RIC IHARD  BRINKERHOFF,
No. 48 Fulton Street.
1864.




IH1sr DIiscourse is printed  sillly i)ecause many of those
for whom  it was prepared, desired  its paublication.   The
Church of God hlas but one lille of dutlll  in this m:lonmentous
struggle. Loyally is to be her watcllword d  Pcatr.iolis;m her shining' virtue.  If I hlave, in these words of praise: succeecled in
quickening tlhe pulses of a single beart, so that its throbs are
mnore in harmony with the nmulsic of UL/izln. and N-\d2,iO2a.Cll?/,
it is all I ask.  Let us, mny belovedc people,- be true to Godbe true to.man.
C. L. W.




SERMON.
" 4 fQ ~i Hm   -therefore  tet sTe o-57-e the scicfire ofpcE7tCise to, (ood conreirn —
lyZZ, thcat is the frtuit of o07.&7' t1p, g tiving t.cmL,7  -to HiO nams e."
ilsmm.Pws  13: 15i.
K KNOW   not how  better to begin the attempt to excite in
your hearts emotions of grTatitude to Godl, -fbr the mercies
of the past year, than by reacding  the mnost excellent proclamation  of our wortlhy  President, b)y  whose altlloritvy Ave assemble to day:
By thle Pr'esidenz-t of the Tnji etecl States of' A;meica:
PROCLAMATION.
It has pleased Almiig hty God to prolong our National life another year, defending us with his guardian care against unfriiendly lesigns from abroad
and vouchsafingl to us in'his mercy many and signal victories over the enelmy
AwNho is of our own household.  It has also pleased our Heavenly Father to
favor as well our citizens in their homes, as our soldiers in their camps, and
our sailors on the seas, witlh unusual health.  I-e has largely auglmented 6ur
free population, by emancipation and by immigration, while he has opened to
us new sources of wealth, and has crowned the labor of our working-men, in
every department of industry, with abundant reiward.  Moreover, he has been




4           THE  SACRIFICE  OF CONTINUAL  PRAISE.
pleased to animate and inspire our minds and hearts with fortitude, courage,
and resolution, sufficient for the great trial of civil war into which we have
been brought, by our adherence as a. nation to the cause of freedom and humanity, and to afford to us reasonable hopes of an ultimate and happy deliverance from all our dangers and afflictions.
Now -t;he refore I, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, do ]-ereby appoint and set apart the last Thursday in November next. as a day whichl I
desire to be observed by all my fellow-citizens, wherever they may then be, as
a day of thanksgiving and prayer to Almighty God, the beneficent Creator and
Ruler of the universe; and I do further recommend to my fellow-citizens aforesaid, that on that occasion they do reverently humble themselves in the d(lst,
and from thence offer up penitent and fervent prayers and supplications to the
Great Disposer of events for a return of the inestimable blessings of peace,
unioll, and harmonyo throughout the land which it has pleased him to assign als
a dwelling-place for ourselves anid our posterity throughout all generations.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of
the United States to be affixed.
Done at the City of Washington, this 20th day of October, in the year of our
Lord 1864, and of the Independence of the United States the eighty-ninth.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
By the President:
WLr. H. SEWAVARD Secretary of State.
The spirit of the text and the spirit of this proclamation are
the same.  The text enjoins the duty of continual praise to
God, at all times and under all circustaTnces; the proclain-ation utters words of praise, and calls upon the people to acknowledge the Divine hand in the midst of National calamity.
In " such a time as this' such words as these are emiune itly
proper.  It is true, we do not conie to the celebration ofi oul




THE SACRIFICE OF CONTINUAL PRAISE.                 5
Annual National Thanksgiving, as it has been ourlwonlt, in
times past, with banners streanming,  witll trlumpets of jubilee
sounding, our hearts exultant, gratitude, joy'and praise ourl
only theme.  A mighty, overwhelminig,- irresistible solrrow is
upon us.  For the fourth time the return of our alinual (lay
of praise finds our nation, but yestelda, on thle hligh Iload
to prosperity, with a glorious fitulre openilig before us, enoigaed in a terrible civil war.  No honest -lman can fbir:a nornelt
strive to disguise the liact that we:lave fallen upon evil times.
Black clouds have gathered in the clear skV, filled wvith terril)le tempest; they have broken, and now send fortlh in filrious torrents the woe with whkic, they are surchariged.  I
have no disposition, not even on this da y set apa't for p)raise
and thanlc'sgivizg, to cover up, or in any, way hide, disaster.
To say, peace, peace, when God has not spoken peace, is not
only useless but Tabsolnutelv sinful.  What then? Settillg the
disaster before us, in all its dread terror, counting ulp all the
noble heroes who ]have fallen il battle, marshalling before
you all the widows and orphans who mourn comfortless in
their bereavement, renembering whole regions of country
that teemed  with  plenty now  laid waste, ligurinlg up the
enormous debt that day by dlay steadily piles itself up, as a,
burden upon our own, and future generations, not fborgettillg
the heavy taxation. thati so presses, and must long continue to
press, upon the industry of the land; taking even that most
lugubrious view of national affitirs taken and p)romiulgate d
byi quasi traitors and habitual grumlblers of every sort, still
I ask, /Wha7 then?  Shall we forego our annual tribute of
thankstgivia-ig t)o AinVy1 ht(j'od, the giver of every good and
Z-)~, m~h, (:nd thel  vet




6        THE SACRIFICE OF CONTINUAL PRAISE.
of every perfect gift?  As christian patriots we are bound to
recognize the hand of God in all events.  We do not believe
the affairs of nations are outside of His government. On the
other hand we know, by even the most superficial study of
our Bibles, that in no department of the vast scheme of His
Iroviclence, is God represented as more directly working than
in the rise and fall of nations.  "Times of wide-spread and
sanguinary disaster are upon our beloved landc, but they do
not come unsent; the hand of God is in all this conflict.
Convulsion, revolution, and war, are but the footsteps of
His universal providence in its march through the world."
There is therefore no duty more frequently urged in the Bible,
than that of continued thanc/ksgiving.  This is the whole idea
of the text; at the same time it is just this disposition that
we, as believers in this universal providence, should ever cultivate. The gospel always uses the loving kindness of God,
His multiplied mercies, new  every morning, repeated every
evening, as its crowning argument for repentance.  Our own
experience has surely often taught us that, in the very heaviest
trials we are called upon to endure, we gain our richest consolation from a contemplation of Divinfe love.  We are to meet
the events of life, not as heathens, but as christians. The old
philosophers, groping in the dark, could only see, in the
course of events, either a blind chance or inexorable fate.
But not thus do we, as christians, come to the discharge of
our duty at this hour; but rather by Christ Jesus, the Savior
of sinners. " By Him," Jesus, " who sanctifies His people with
His own blood," let us offer sacrifice of praise continually.
Now, more than ever, since we bow beneath the rod in our




THE SACRIFICE OF CONTINUAL PRAISE.              7
Father's hand, do we need, as we approach the Throne of God,
to keep clearly between ourselves and the great Jehovah, C(i/.it
our advocate.  When we see clouds of j udgment gather dark
and threatening, when the storm pours out its fury, when the
very foundations seem unsettled, then it is as at no other tilme
that we feel the presence of our llediator. Christ Jesus and
His cause is the central pivot on which all other events turn.
Centuries ago, recorded on the pages of prophecy, stands an
injunction, to which all the nations of the earth do well to
take good heed:  "Be wise now, therefore, oh! ye cings, be instructecl, oh! ye judges of the earthl.  Serve the Lord uwith fear,
and'rejoice wzith t rembling.  Kiss the Son, lest lie be angry, and
ye perish firon the way, when His twrath is kindled but a little."
Because I firmly believe in this principle of interpretation,
and because in these events of terror, in which we have so
deep an interest, I see the hand of God stretched forth to lift
up, out of the dust, heaven-born truth, I hail this day of
festival and praise with profound gratitude.
If you go forth into a burial-ground you walk over the
graves at every step.  There is no turmoil here, all is peaceful.  The quiet sleepers heed not the sounds of life above
them.  But this quiet is the quiet of death and festering cotrruption; to remain thus unbroken until the resurrection
trumpet shall awaken the sleepers: then there will be commotion, yawning graves and rising forms, wails of woe and
songs of joy.  So once there was comparative quiet in our
land; peace reigned undisturbed; under her fostering care the
arts and sciences flourished, literature advanced, while in




8'rITHE SACRIFICE OF (CONTINrUAL PRAISE.
every departl:ent the nation. mlade rapid progress towards
permallent preenminence amon the nation t h e the earth, (tlank
God that even yet in spite of disaster she holds upon her upVarld (way,) but we were as those who walked over graves
iand slept above festering corruption; beneath our. feet hunmal lity lay buried; justice, and truth, and purity were crushed
(Iowan into the very bowels of the earth, by the most gigantic:olit.ical wrong of modern centuries.  There was a stirring in
the graves-the life-giving resurrection-bearing power of the
gos]lel of Christ Jesus, proclaiming the rights of man to his
life, his person, and his liberty, was sent forth over the laind;
atnd as, when in spring the south Awind blows upon1 the trees,
the buds appear iand signs of life are seen, so the nation began
to arlouse itself under the incitemnent of this mighty power.
The years roll on, years of crime and wrong, until the signs
fuilled,the way prepalred,the resurrection trumpet sounded —
its blast a blast of woe-then the nation,with a noble heroism
unparalleled in history, resolved that, rather- than live longer
in peace, at the expense of justice and liberty, she would
gTrasp the sword; to do and dare, aund if she must, to die,- but
to perish nobly struggling for the right.  We called it
lnight; it was the resurrection morning, though we knew it.
not.  I tell you my friends that we are prone all the time to
look only on the surface, at the outside.  If God will only
give 1us grace to look down through, to the centre, and see
what is really going on, what tremendous and vital principles
are involved, what grand conclusions are being reached, what
momentous issues are being tried, what glory shines beyond
all these clouds; that it is but the irrepressible conflict between




THE SACRIFICE OF CONTINUAL PRAISE.          9
right and wrong, truth and error, despotism  and liberty,
waged the world over and through all time; we shall find
to-day reasons for gratitude thick as the leaves of Autumll.
In all the history of our land, as the generations have
lived and labored and past away; in all that past so glorious,
so secure; a past adorned by the noble names and menories
of Washington, and Adams, and Henrmy, and Jefferson, and
Franklin, and Jackson, where will you find, any-where, a
more fitting season for thanks and adoration to God than
you find here, to-day in His sanctuary, under the shadows of
His juldgments?  This is not exaggeration, nor yet the language of unthinking enthusiasm.  Let us look at the matter as christian patriots.
I recur again to the proclamatioii, than which a better,
more suitable, less exceptionable, expressive document, has
seldom if ever issued from the hand of any executive. I shall
follow its order of thought.  I cannot help, however, remarking as a preliminary to this, that there is to me something
exceedingly gratifying in the fact, that at last custom has established the practice of a "NVational Thanksgiving IDaIy.",
The thing itself is old. More than two hundred years ago
the pilgrim fathers kept their thanksgiving day on the shores
of New England. But hitherto, until this war quickened the
pulse of the nation's life, and drew closer the bonds that bind
the'North together as one people-bonds indissoluble —it
was something of only local auth-ority and state institution.
2




10       THE SACRIFICE OF CONTINUAL PRAISE.
There is cause of praise for anly and every course of conduct that in accordance with justice, centralizes and vitalizes
our nationality.  The seeds of rebellion were planted when
it began to be lightly esteemed.  If the nation perishes in this
contest, let its epitaph be written, Died of an overdose ol'State!s
Rights.  With a territory so vast as that which we possess,
with so m-any diverse elements to be fused together, and
moulded into consistency, we cannot exist pernmanlently, unless there be, to some considerable extent at least, a concentration of FiCederal power.  We need, and mlust h-ave, a strong
government.  If we live at all ini the fiture, it must be as
one nation, in all the national territory.  Hence it is that I
hail with joy every sign of consolidation, because I see, iln
these, the secret springs of vitality that, in future centuries,
shall selld firth life-giving blood into every part of the body
politic.  Keeping these general considerations in view, I pass
to the enumeration of some of the many reasons that should
lead us to devout thanksgiving:
I.  "It has pleased Almighty God to prolong our national
life another year; defending us with his guardian care against
unfiriendly designs from abroad, and vouchsafing to us, in
his mercy, many and signal victories over the enemy, who is
of our own household."
There is a cause in this for high-souncling praise and loud
thanksgiving.  Our nationality still lives.  Though for four
long years the dire disease of civil war has raged fearfully,
God has spared us.  As a nation we are as yet, in many re



THE SACRIFICE OF CONTrINUAL PRAISE.            11
spects, an experiment. Despotism anld absolutism, every where
thr'oug-hout, the world, had a sneer ready flr a republic suell
as this, gtvi\ing to its citizens tile widest possible liberty, and
COf-trri'' nll  the boon of (allmost universal suffrage.  We were
gravely told that sulch a.govelrnment woulld do well enough
fol "tlhe piping' times of pe:ce," but could never stalnd the
shoclk of war, or pass throulgh the ordeal of extensive national
disturbance.
And nlow, since we have stood up, bravely battling with
this direful enemy, that has placed his fangs upon our throat,
what message of cleer hlas corme frornm the nations of the
earth'?  With few  exceptiions, not a, word but of scorn and
talntinll   The) have foretoldl, in their newspapers and in
counsels, and their state cabinets, that the wound was incurable, and that the proud, defiant republic ol the western continent, must ignobly, terribly fall  stanlding no longer to rebuke
their assumnption, or inspire hope iii the breasts of the slaves
they crushed beneath their thllrones.  But are they not mistalken?  Are we not alive to-dclay?  I do nlot need to be reminded that this struggle is by no means over, that victory
has not as yet crowned oUr' warflare against rebellion, that
there is much to be done before we sing the song of final tliumph. anLd that he that p)utteth on the harness or yet wears
it, is not to boast as he that putteth it off:  Be it so; at least
in this -we:ay rejoice, that God has not as vet delivered us
over to their evil prophecies. Those who now contend for this
new-born nation may yet, and if God shall give them  the victory, will hail the hour of triumph, and witness with exulta.



12        THE SACRIFICE OF CONTINUAL PRAISE.
tion the overthrow of the most accursed treason the world
has ever seen.
We still live, and our flag floats over a vaster expanse of
territory than it did a year ago, floats honored and respected
in spite of all the disaster that has come upon -us, floats consecrate(l by the blood of brave men, clearer to-day than ever
because it has cost so much.  Yes we live, to-day a standing
refutation of the kingly lie, so long held and so industriously circulated by the sycophants of the throne, that there could
be no strength in a democracy; in a governmrent of the _People.
We live as strong as ever; our sinews hardened; our endurance tested.  We live, and grow, and thrive; as grows and
thrives some great oak on the rugged hill-side, exposed to
storm  and whirlwind and tempest; yet striking its roots deeper and deeper into the soil, until, lifting up its;head to Heaven, it bids defiance to every gale.  Another year of national
life.  And is this nothing?  It is a terrible thing for a nation
to die.  For theil there is no future; for them  no resurrection; death is annihilation.  Not one of us but that has a
fearful stake in the existence and welfare of this Republic.
Here all our hopes centre; here our expectations for the future cluster; it is our all.  If we thus die, then freedom seems
to die, then the problem  of man's capacity for self-government is answered in the interest, not of the people and liberty, but of the throne and despotism.
" The citizens of a republic have a special and peculiar interest, in its stability and prosperity. Its flags and camps




THE SACRIFICE OF CONTINUAL PRAISE.           13
are bound around with the heart-strings of a nation's homes
-its hosts move forth to battle with the memories, and sustaining pray ers, and heartfelt sympathies of a people's myriad
closets and sanctuaries.  Linked in with our faitl- bound
up with our trust in Almighty God, our country appeals to
every noble sentimlent."  This is the glory of our republican institutions; around this sacred altar we strike hands
together; distinctions forgotten, party differences fading out
of sight; while our anthem of humble, yet hearty praise, goes
up from thousands of hearts to the throne of the living God.
All this is ours, to-dav.  The memories of the past have just
as much power to arouse to enthusiasm as ever, while the
noble achievements of the heroes of our own time- our
Grant, our Sherman, our Sheridan,-thrill our hearts with joy,
we recount their deeds with pride, and hereafter we will
delig'ht to tell our children, of the noble men who lived and
-fought to preserve our dear-bought liberties.  Thank God
for another year of national life!
But there is in this connection still more that is calculated
to lead us to thanksgiving.  God has " defended us with His
guardian care against unfriendly designs from abroad, and
has vouchsafed to us many and signal victories over the foe,
who is of oul own household." Other nations have been held
back from interference in this contest, not from any sympathy with, nor love for, these free institutions; but from the
circumstances of the case.  They have both respected and
feared the nation that was able, upon call, to muster her
soldiers, armed and equipped, ready for the fiercest battle, by
the hundreds of thousands. This war has developed a power




14        THE SACRIFICE OF CONTINUAL PRAISE.
of resistence, and aggression too, ri needs be, that has compelled respect throug-hlout all the world.  In all this we recognize the hand of God.
Our relations with foreign nations dlaily grow  more and
mrnore complicated: so tlat at times it seems as if collision
must be inevit.able.  From aIll this we have metc-ifully   been
delivered.  It is the work of our God, and calls for songs of
loudest praise.
The year soon about to close has not been barrell of victories
gained by our brethren in the field.  Some of these achievements are worthy o- bein-' written, in- goClden letters, in. the
military arnnals of the world's hliStory.  The whole record is
filled with dceeds of noble da-l.aini.  F(orced nlarches into an
enemy s country, battle:lter:)attle fogl:lht with an entrenched
foe' for days and weekl\s togethller sustaJining the shoclk of
actual conflict.  Whlio -h-rgets the  terrible  days of the
Wilderness, when the indomltitable hero of Viclksburg pertinaciouslv and braAvelv fo-vight his way onward; until now,
having driven the enemyN into the fortifications of his chief
city! he waits to crown his workl and make the triumph complete?  Richmond must and shall fall!
And shall I speak of Sherman, the gallant commander of
the Army of the South West?  The annals of warfare contain few, if any records so illustrious as the campaign of this
army, terminating in the capture of Atlanta; while the noble Farragut unfurls the flag of victory in the harbor of Mobile.  For at least one hundred and fifty miles our brave




THE SACRIFICE OF CONTINUAL PRAISE.           15
soldiers fought their way over fortified mountains and
through swollen streams, guarded at every possible point by
bayonet and battery-fighting with a wily, stubborn foe, from
(lay to day, one victory leading to another contest, and thus for
nearly three mnonths.  From  Missionary Ridge to  Dalton,
from  Dalton to Resaca, and Dallas, aud Altoon Pass, and
Lost Mountain, and on to Marietta; yet on until our victorious hosts enter Atlanta, with banners flying and shouts of
victory bursting forth from every heart.  And where is Sherman low? Echo aswers where? Somewhere in theheeart of
the enemy's counltry, piercing the shell of the Confederacy.
May God protect him, and crown his bold endeavor with sue
cless, is our fervent praye r!
Need I stop to speak of Sheridan; young, bold, intrepid?
The victories of the Shenandoalh Valley are not eclipsed by
any of the whole war.  Two rebel generals defeated in successioIi, and their demoralized army drivenl in confusion, from
one entrenchlment to anlother: whirling through Winchester,
pausing at Strasburg, to be again attacked and again defeated.  IIn this camllpaigan the n ineteenth of October was a memorable day.  Sltridlan hald fallen backl. to Cedar Creel.  The
young commi-Lander was absent at WVincliester, fifteen miles
away.  Belbre daylig]lt an attaclk is madne upon our extended
line; the lelt flanlk of the eighth corps is turned; twenty
pieces of artillery captured; the enemy seem about to regain
all that has been wrenched friom therm by the prowess of our
soldiers.  But the sounds of battle reach Sheridan, at Winchester, and now he hastens back to the field.




16       THE SACRIFICE OF CON'TINUAL PRAISE.
There is something almost sublime in the spectacle preselnted, of the victorious leader seeking the firont of his already
retreating troops.  The men catch sight of his noble form;
new hope inspires them; fresh enthusiasm is born; he flashes
the light of his genius, all along that broken line of battle,
and turns defeat into victory; and now we are the pursuers;
the enemy are routed  Fifty pieces of artillery taken, and
many prisoners.  The victory was complete.
It would not be easy to estimate the disastrous results
that would have been inevitable, if Early had then pierced our
lines.  The whole valley would have been open to him andl
we might have been called upon to witness again such scenes
as the burning of Chambersburg.  Such dleliverances are of
God and not of man. To Him be all the praise.
I tell you all this was no easy task or slight achievement. It
is easy for those who sit in their comfortable homes, secure
from harm by the bravery of those who fight th#eir battles, to
speak slightingly of these accomplishments; when the probability is, that they never have felt interest enough in the
contest to make themselves familiar with the geography of the
country passed over, or any of the difficulties of the undertaking. Shame on every poltroon, who shall utter a single word
of disparagement against our noble citizen soldiers!  Let
them have our prayers and sympathies, so that, with every blow
they strike for God and for humanity, a corresponding throb
shall be felt in the nation's heart, while anthems of thanksgiving go: up from: thousands of christian altars. God bless




THE SACRIFICE OF CONTINUAL PRAISE.         17
them, every one. It is well, it is noble, to send them the greetings of loyal hearts, together with provision for their bodily
comfort, on this day of thanksgiving; but I will tell you
what is better than roast turkey: it is to let them feel in every way, through press, and pulpit, and speech, that they hlav e
your confidence, your sympathies, your prayers.
Victories have been gained, and we have the warrant of
the word of God, expressed not once or twice, but many times,
that, as christians, we have a right to rejoice. "Praise ye the
Lord for the avenging of Israel." "0 sing unto the Lord a
new song, for He hath done marvellous things; His right hand
and His holy arm hath gotten Him the victory."  And read
the eighteenth Psalm, and the twenty-seventh, and the eightyninth, and the one hundred and thirty-sixth, and a host of
expressions, throughout this precious book, and tell me
whether it it is not a christian duty to own the hand of God
in National affairs, and to praise Him when He crowns our
arms with victory?  "We will rejoice in his salvation, and
in the name of our God we will set up our banners. Some
trust in chariots, and some in horses, but we will remember
the name of the Lord our God, " Blessed be the Lord God, our
rock, who teacheth our hands to war, and our fingers to fight"
II.  "It has also pleased our Heavenly Father to favor,
as well our citizens in their homes, as our soldiers in their
camps, and our sailors on the seas, with unusual health."
Throughout the North universal health has reigned. No
3




18$      TTHET. SACRIFICE OF- CONTINUAL PRAISE.
pestilence has ravaged our land, to add the desolation of its
wasting destruction to the fearfully accumulated bereavements
that have come upon our households,: through the misfortunes
of war.  We cannot forgoet either that now, for years in succession, that terrible scourge of the tropics, the yellow-fever,
has been withheld; except in llmited localities. It has hardly
rac-ed anywhere with sllfficient violence to be callledl epidemic.
f-' here we turn, for a moment, firom our contemplation of
these themnes for public thanksgiving, to our own circulmstances, as a community and a Church, we will find that few
have greater reason to be grateful than we have.  It is truei
that some of our loved ones have been taken; some househlolds have been left desolate; hearts have been wrutng with
sorrow, and tears have flowed from  some eyes unused to
weep; but these all have been the sorrows ever incident to
life, in its best estate;  we have dwelt in peace, under the
shladorw  of the divine goodness and mercy.  I recall now
but two seats, vacant at our sacramental table, that were filled
when this year began.  But two; and these passed away with
a triumphant faith in Him who has for us conquered death
a(id sanctified the tomb.  Their going -forth, as they passed
through the valley of the shadow of death, was noble, sublim-ne.  It was no terrible thing for them  to die.  Both were
wives and mothers, fondly loved, tenderly cherished; but
they died in peace.  They rest in the grave, in hope of a
blessed resurrection.  We have heard the voice of Jesus
say, "I am the resurrection and thle life."   Blessed hopeglorious triumph over death and the grave!




THEiE SACRIFICE OF CONTINUAL PRALISF.              1X
"Softly within their peaceful resting-place
We lay their wearied limbs, and bid the clay
Press lightly on them till the night be past,
And the far East give -note of coming day."
"Short death and darkness I endless life and ight1; I
Short dimming; endless shining in yon sphere
Where all is incorruptible and pure;The joy without the pain; the smile without the tear."
They have left us; but our loss is their gain.  Still we rejoice, while we thank God for their faith and. victory.  Thus
Christ is gathering home His people; the church militant becomes the church triumphant; while all things are preparing for that glorious hour when " death shall be swallowed  up
in victory."  " Blessed are the dead which die icn the Lord, fro.m,henceforth; yea, saith. the SSpirit, that they may rest from  thei'
labors; and their works do follow them."
As a community, however, we have heen favored with unusual health-a mercy so constant as to be often forgotten,
in our enumeration of our reasons for praise; yet a blessing
so precious, as we soon learn, when for a timne deprived of it,
as to call for the most fervent gratitude to the great Giver of
every good and perfect gift.  But this is not yet all of personal and individual blessing, that should lead us to atune
our hearts to praise.  We dwell in quiet habitations, and are
in the enjoyment of our usual privileges.
It is not so with those parts of our land, where the war




'20     T'iHE SACRIFICE OF CONTINUAL PRAISE.
has raged. No noise of strife is heard among us; no destroying army has ravaged our fair fields. The husbandman has
sowed, and toiled, and reaped, the abundant harvest, in peace
and security.- Our sanctuary has been safe from  intrusion;
from week to week its Sabbath bell has called us to olrl worship; while the free invitations of the gospel have been given
to all alike; and souls have listened, to tremble, to pray and
then to believe, rejoicing at last over sins forgiven; a Savior
precious, a Heaven secured. Where is there one who, for
blessings such as these, will not unite in expressions of
thanksgiving?  "Bless the Lord, 0 my soul, and all that is
within me, bless HIis holy name. Bless the Lord, 0 my soul,
and forget not all his benefits. Praise ye the Lord."
III.  "He has largely augmented our free population, by
emancipation, and by immigration, while he has opened to us
new sources of wealth, and has crowned the labor of our
working-men, in every department of industry, with abundant reward."
All this in the midst of exhausting civil war. It is a welcome, and propitious fact, that, notwithstanding the ravages
of war, the thousands who have fallen, yet there is no perceptible diminution of our population.  Strange as it may
seem, a country engaged in a contest so gigantic in its character, has yet received accessions to its population sufficient to
supply the drain made upon its resources by all the waste inincident upon such a state of warfare. From the thickly crowded shores of the old world a living stream has poured itself into




THE -SAC RIFICE OF CONTINUAL PRAISE.          21
this land'of the ]peoplge.  We welcome themr, for our territory
iS vast and our capacities undeveloped.  The broad fertile
prairies of the West wait for strong hallds, to bring forth
frrom the prolific soil enough to feed, not only our own people, but other nations; nay, develope these resources fully.
and a hullgry world might  om.e for supplv and go away satisfied. If bone and sinew have been wvasted, bone and sinew
hlave been suppliedl so that, in the face of the demands that
have been made upon our voting population, to supply our
armies, at the recent election a larger vote was polled in this
State at least, than ever before in our 1history.
Is it asked, with deep concern, is this augmentation   of our
population, by those who seek this refuge among us, safe'?
Is there no danger froiom these turbulent elements? Perhaps
there is some danger, though doubtless this peril has been
grossly exaggerated; at least, those who have, in times past,
raised the loudest cry stand to-day in the closest political
fraternization with this foreign element.  The danger, fairly
estimated, is not greater than may be provided against.  Let
in upon all classes of society, from the highest to the lowest,
the light of the gospel of Jesus Christ; educate, permeate the
masses with intelligence, throw open the doors of your school
houses, multiply their number indclefinitely, and thus you
will elevate the people; mould these diverse mriasses into consistency; while out of it all shall come a nationality founded
upon gospel truth, intelligence and virtue.
Our safety lies'in the elevation of the common people, of




22       THE SACRIFICE OF CONTINUAL PRAISE.
everv nation and of every name, who have cast in their lot
with ours. By the ennobling power of knowledge,: we may
and will, lift what the slave aristocracy of the South have
termed the mud-sills of society, up, so that the whole structure of the body politic shall rise, noble, imposing in its grandeur. The Bible and the communon-school are our best defenders. Said one, who had sought refuge in our land fromr the
green isle of the Ocean, that has given more than one noble
hero to this war:
"I landed in America a poor boy; a little trunk contained
my earthly possessions; alone and friendless I had my fortune
to carve out for myself. I resolved to rise. In America I
found, for the first time, helping hands and warm hearts. I
knocked at the door of the school-house and it flew open.
I went o:n, step by step; the land of my adoption gave me
what I asked,-an education,-without money and without
price. All that I am I owe to her; all that I am, body, soul
and spirit, I lay upon her altar; this right hand is pleged to
her, and shall ever be raised to strike down the traitor-foe
that shall dare assail this heaven-originated Nationality."
HIe wore the uniform of a major in the volunteer service
of the United States. Leaving his studies, preparatory to the
gospel ministry, when the sound of war was heard, and the nation's call for volunteers rang through the land, to use his own
language, " I buckled on my armor and went marching along."
If we are faithful to our own high and solemn duties we
have little to -fear from the rapid increase of our free population by immigration.




'1HE SACRIFICE OF CONTINUAL PRAISE.           23
There is, however, yet another source of gain in this direction.  Our free population has also been l]argely augmented
by Emarocipation.  The yoke has been broken; chains have
fallen from human limbs, and men, made il the divine image
accountable, have been ushered firom  Slavery to Freedom.
Thank God fbr thi s!  I stand not here, at this late day,. to
discuss the right or wrong of Americanl slavery-.  I would
not so insult intelligence and piety.  Discussion  implies
doubt.  The question has long since passed out of the region
of' discussion.  I should as soon think  of constructing a
labored argument to prove that adultery, and theft, and mturder, were crimes a(gainst God.  The voice of universal christendo:n condemns -the accursed system.  The conscience, the
religion of' the world, is on record against it.  Every denomination of christians in this broad land (I think without exception*) has, through its highest judicature, or Assembly, declared for Liberty and augainst Slavery.  Our own church has,
in this way, clearly spolken'more than once. Its last utterance,
given in June of the current year, was the most decided.  The
world moves; God is teaching us, by terrible instrumentalities,
lessons that should have been intuitions, if we are christians.
I read fi:oron the five hunclrecld and fourth page of the printed
Minutes for 1864,,-it is a resolution embodied in the report
of the Committee on the state of the CouIntry:-" In times
past the General Synod has not deemed it necessary to give
forth a judgnment, in regard to American slavery, inasnlmch   as
it existed in regions beyond the bounds of our Church;" [yet in
* If there is any exception, it is the Episcopal Church.




24       THE SACRIFICE OF CONTINUAL PRAISE.
1855, when a Classis of the German Reformed Church,'in
which were professing Christians who were slaveholders, aup.
plied for admission into the Reformed  Protestant Dutch
Church, the Church did speak with practical force, refusing
any fellowship Awith the unclean thing,]' yet as ill the overruling providence of that God, who knows how to make the
wrath of man to praise Him, there is a prospect opened for the
ultimate and entire removal of that system which embodies so
much of moral and social evil, and as by such removal, there
-is opened a wide field of christian labors, to employ the energies of the christian church in this land, the synod expresses its gratitude to God for this bright prospect, and would
join in the prayer that the day may be hastened when Liberty shall be effectually and finally proclaimed, throughout all
the land, to all the inhabitants thereof."  Amen and Amen
-God speed the day.
I say, then, that the time for discussion has past. The
whole church unites in the prayer that this great evil, that
has worked so much of disaster and of ruin, that, in its damnable rebellion against a righteous government, has demanded
the lives of many of the best and bravest of our young men,
be forever obliterated from among us-buried deep, never to
rise again. It is a legitimate theme for gratitude to God, that
so many hundreds have passed out from under the yoke, to
Liberty and self-ownership. Instinctively the soul of every
man welcomes Liberty.  Even the President of the so-called
Confederacy, proposes to give it, as a boon to those slaves




TEE SACRIFICE OF CONTINUAL PRAISE.         25
who shall bravely fight to rivet tighter the chains of their
own kindred.
Says Count De G-asparin:  "There exists, thank God,
between liberty and thle gospel, close, eternal, indestructiblhe
relations. I  lknow of one species of freedom which contains
the germ  of all the rest, freedom of soul. Now what was it,
if not the gospel, that introduced this freedom into the world?
Remember ancient Paganism: neither liberty of conscience,
nor liberty of individuals, nor liberty of families-such was
its definition.  The State laid its hand upon all the innlost
part of existence: the creeds of the iatlhers and the education
of the children. Moral slavery also existed every where,
and if slavery properly called had been any where wanting,
it would have given cause fobr astonishment.  The gospel came, and with it these new phenomena; individual be
lief; true independence, makes its advent here on earth; a
liberty, worthy of the name, appears finally among men.
From this time we see men lifting up their heads; despotism
finding its limits; the humblest, the weakest, opposing to it
insurmountable barriers."
We will, we must, yet be a free people-the gospel of
Jesus Christ; the church of God, shall be the mighty instrumentalities that shall open the prison door to let the oppressed go free. The night has been dark, and fearful, and long,
but "behold the morning cometh " is the message sent to
cheer our hearts, by the watchman from  the tower. Yes!
the morning cometh, and the day will dawn; the day of
4




26       THE SACRIFICE OF CONTINUAL PRAISE.
Liberty to all the inhabitants of the land. May God hasten
on the hour, in His own good -ime, in His own good way.
0, God, we thank thee for what thou lh.ast already done!
IV.  "Moreover God has been pleased to animate and
inspire our minds and lhearts, with fortitude, courage and
resolution, sufficient for the great trial of civil war into which
we have been brought, by our adherence, as a nation, to the
cause of freedom and humanity, and to afford us reasonable
hopes o[ an ultimate and happy deliverence from  all our
dangers and afflictions."
True words, fitly spoken, " as apples of gold in pictures
of silver.". Yes, the great heart of the people beats true to
humanity, true to God. Fortitude, courage, and resolution
have been inspired; sacrifices have been gladly made, and
bravely borne.  Who shall meas-ure the costliness of the
treasure that this nation has laid upon the altar of liberty.
iMoney has been poured forth without stint; beloved ones
have been sent out to brave the perils of the battle-field,
followed by the prayers and tears of aching, but God-trusting hearts.  The providence of God brought us to the test
of virtue; saying to us, I will try your power of physical
courage of sacrifice, of enduranee, to see whether,-for the
sake of the free and beneficent government bestowed upon
you; for the sake of the fathers of the republic, whio toiled,
and fought, and bled, for the sake of the down-trodden in
other lands, who are to-day slowly, but bravely, struggling
up toward the light, whom you are to guide,-you will stand




THE SACRIFICE OF CONTINUAL PRAISE.         27
up nobly, and quit yourselves like men, to save liberty for
America, -for the world. Thank God we have stood the test;
we have not failed; no not even so much as once. Blessed
be God for this; bless Him for the noble daring of our
young men, bold to rashness, exemplified by the noble
Cushing, blowing up a rebel boat under thle very guns of the
battery.  Bless God for the sturdy courage of the masses
of our people, bearing such heavy burdens s; for the profuse
liberality of our men of business. Most of all bless God
for tile enthusiastic, hearty patriotism of our women:l.'What
were war without the sympathy and gentle ministry of' women, terrible enough at best?  Rob it of this and it would
blacken with tenfold gloom. We bless Him too, with uncovered head, for the noble dead who have given themselves
to save and elevate the people. Martyrs to liberty! Their
graves shall be ever green; their memories ever fresh in the
affections of a grateful people; not one shall be forgotten.
Yes, we thank IHim for the results of the war. We are a
stronger, better people to-day, than we were before the first
gun fired at Sumter inaugurated rebellion.
But we should be forgetful of one of the rmost precious
blessings God has bestowed upon us, if we failed to notice
the wonderful unanimity with which the people have come
up to the mighty task before them, to crush rebellion, once
and forever. I have not intended, and do not mean now,
to say one word that can be construed into exultation over
the issue of the recent election. I have no party shibboleth
to lisp; no pet theories to uphold at all hazards; I am but




28       THE SACRIFICE OF CONTINUAL PRAISE.
an humble minister of Christ, and it is my duty to flash the
light of the gospel, and of truth, upon all questions of duty,
upon all the relations of life.  I trust I shall ever strive to
preach that gospel as a vital, practical thing-not as a dim
-abstraction-for living men-for men with hearts, applied to
the real issues of life.
For the manner in which I discharge this duty, I am  responsible not to man, nor to consistory or congregation, but
to God, I fear not to meet my record, on this score at least,
however imperfectly the duty may have been done. I call
you, my people, to witness that I have not, for fear of man,
failed to declare unto you the whole counsel of God. I submit to every patriot, independent of party, is there not reason for gratitude to God in -the unanimity with which the
issue was decided? Is it not better so, than with divided
counsels,-Congress ruled, it may be, by one party and policy, while the executive seeks to carry out another,-confusion worse confounded? Now you know where to place
responsibility: on the broad shoulders of a noble, honest man.
To-day, as never before, not even in the memorable spring
of sixty-one, we present an unbroken, firm front to the enemy.
What is the voice brought to our ears by this result?  Is it
that all the acts of the administration are endorsed?  No,
by no means.  It says just this, "We, the people of the
North, say there shall be but one nation in all this territory
of the United States." It says, " Here we proclaim to all
the world,.hat men are able to govern themselves; that a
free republic can and will live, in spite of foreign hate and




THE SACRIFICE OF CONTINUAL, PRAISE.          29:domestic treason; and that we will defenld our rights, thus
invaded, to the bitter end —no compromise with armed rebellion, but submissionl."  When rebels lay down their arms,
then peace will come; this is the will of the people, not
of party, or of faction, but o-f the people.  The great heart
of the North beats responsive to this declaration.  Here we
standl together.
O how miserable little party issues seem, wher regarded
fromn the stand-point of "nationalcity."  What are they in
comparison with tlhe question, shall this nation live?  Nay,
can it die?  Gathering around the graves of our dleparted
heroes, rememberinlg the glowing exanmple they set before us,
of patriotic (levotion and self-sacrifice, we clasp hanlds together, and mnutually pledge to our beloved country, our
sympathies, our prayers, our lives, our all.  To ourbrethren
irl the field we say, "Fight on with bravery, firm and true:
go forth with alacrity to the battle of the civilized world,
where God hilnself musters the hosts to war."  Shall these
men who have placed their bodies as a living wall between
us and destruction-the destruction of all that we mrost
cherish-shall these men, I ask, ever have to feel tha.t there
is behind theml a divided country?  No, never; God forbid it.
Let the sentiment of self-preservation, the first law nature
has impressed upon us,-if unmoved by higher motives, —
a;bsorb every other feeling.  Let every discordant sentiment
be mnelted down in the glowing fire of liberty.  In our unity
lies our strength.  United in a cause so holy, where bound
the capacity, or limit the power of these northern states?




tO0      T'IHE SACRIFICE OF CONTINUAL PRAISE.
Unity mlust be our battle-cry.  Freedom  to all men our
guicling-star.  From this, union will come, and peace will
reign; so that some day in the fut;ure, (I cannot tell how far
distant, for I am no prophet,) there shall go up a loud acclaim
of praise to God, for a country pnirified, reegenerated,. ree.
It is because I see signs of unanimity of feeling, daily increasing, that I am ready to rejoice.  O! let me but feel that
we shall stand together in this glorious work of vindicating
free government and the riohts of man, then the victory is
alreadly won.  Light is breaking; hope sits enthronecl  over
the clouds.  In the language of the distinguished Frenchman from whom  I hlave already quoted, "[Let the friends
of America take courage.  VWho speaks of the end of the
United States?  This end seemed approaching but lately.
In the hour of prosperity, then honor was compromised;
esteem for the country was lowered; institutions were becoming corrupted apace; the moment seemed approaching
when the confederation, tainted by s8avery, could not but
perishl with it.  Now everything has a changed aspect; take
confidence then, lovers of freedom, for its greatness is now
inseparable, thank God, from the cause of justice.  Jtustice
cannot do wrong.  I like to recall this maxim  when I consider the present state of America."
TlWho shall speak of dissolution? We shall not die, but live!
If liberty, driven from other lands, is suffered to expire here,
from whence is it ever to emerge?  It is for us to decide,




THE SACRIFICE OF CONTIINUAL PLRAISE.           31
whether freedom shall yet survi-ve, or be covered with a funerLal pall, wrapped in. eternal gloom; this is the tremendous
issue we are ttrying to-day.  Let it stand forthl- distinct and
clear.  No wonder despots sneer, or that lordly aristocracies
that have ogrown great, andll rich, and strolng,  upon the labors
of the people, sylmpathize with our s]avery-:luurtnued foes.
No wonder the down-trodden of al lands; the wronuged and
the crushed;  the little ones of earth whom  Christ owns as
His peculiar care, p/raly f'hr our triumphll).  Their prayers will
be heard and answered.
I cannot close with words more fitting, than in the language of the eloquent Robert Hall, addressed to the soldiers
of England, about to go fortll to mleet the armies of the first
Napoleon; and it it is a prayer most suitable to ascend to'heaven on such a day as this, in behalf of our own chlerished
army and its beloved commlandler.  " And Thou, sole ruler
among the children of men, to whom the shields of the earth
belong, gird on thy sword, thlou most mighty, go forth with
our hosts in the day of battle; impart, in  addition to hereditary courage, that confidence of success that springs from
thy- presence; pour into their hearts the spirit of departed
heroes, and inspire them with thine own; and while led by
thy hand and fighting under thy banners, open thou their
eyes to behold, in every valley, and in every plain, that
which the prophet beheld by the same illumination: chariots
of fire, andl horses of fire;' then shall the strong man he as tow,
and the maker qf it as a.spark, and they shall both burn together,




32          THE SACRIFICE  OF CONTINUAL  PRAISE.
and none shall quench them.'"   If God be for us who can be
against us?   We go back not one step.
*   *   *  "One voice, like the sound in the cloud,
When the roar of the storm waxes loud and more loud,
Wherever the foot of the freeman hath pressed,
From the Delaware's marge to the lake of the west;
On the South going breezes shall deepen and glow'Till the land it sweeps over shall -tremble, below
The voice of a people up-risen, awake,
America's watch-word, with freedom at stake,
Thrilling up from each valley, flung down from each height,
Our country and liberty /   Godfor the right  "