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GOD'S PRESENCE AND PURPOSE IN OUR WAR. 
 
 A 
 
 THANKSGIVING DISCOURSE, 
 
 DELIVERED IN 
 
 ST. ANDREW^S CHUECH, 
 
 PHILADELPHIA, 
 Thursday, November 26, 1863, 
 
 REV. WILBUR F. PADDOCK, 
 
 RECTOR. 
 
 PHILADELPHIA: 
 
 CAXTON PRESS OF C. SHERMAN, SON & CO. 
 
 1863. 
 
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 Weeft.Bes.HiBi. Sop 
 
CORRESPONDENCE. 
 
 Philadelphia, November 26, 1863. 
 
 Rev. Wilbur F. Paddock. 
 
 Dear Sir : Among the privileges of this Thanksgiving Day, 
 we will long remember the words of comfort and encourage- 
 ment, as well as of true loyalty and patriotism, to be found in 
 your Sermon delivered in St. Andrew's Church this morning; 
 and that its influence for good may be extended, we beg to ask 
 the favor of a copy for publication. 
 
 Very truly, your friends, 
 
 John D. Taylor, 
 John Clayton, 
 John Ashhurst, 
 James W. Hazlehurst, 
 Arthur G. Coffin, 
 C. L. BORIE, * 
 A. J. Lewis, 
 J. Fisher Leaming, 
 Frederick Scofield, 
 G. N. Tatham, 
 James S. Cox, 
 
 W. B. Whitney, 
 George Hawkins, 
 Clemt. S. Eutter, 
 T. D. Nancrede, 
 G. A. Cooke, 
 George W. Taylor, 
 Eobt. W. Harris, 
 Joseph Klapp, 
 S. G. Fotterall, 
 A. E. BoRiE, 
 W. S. Grant. 
 
 Philadelphia, November 28, 1863. 
 
 Messrs. J. D. Taylor, John Clayton, 
 
 John Ashhurst, and others. 
 Gentlemen : I am exceedingly gratified that my Thanksgiving 
 Discourse met your approval, and was of any benefit. Deeply 
 and strongly have I felt the importance of the sentiments it 
 contains. 
 
 If in your judgment its publication would contribute to encou- 
 rage the hearts and strengthen the patriotism of tliose who shall 
 chance to read it, cheerfully is it placed at your disposal. 
 * Very respectfully and sincerely yours, 
 
 Wilbur F. Paddock. 
 
DISCOURSE. 
 
 "Surely His salvation is nigh them that fear Him, that glory may 
 dwell in our land." — psalm 85 : 9. 
 
 The chastisements of nations, as of individuals, are 
 Divinely ordered or permitted, to bring them to the 
 knowledge and obedience of God. This truth is strik- 
 ingly illustrated in the history of the Jews. Their forty 
 years' wandering in the wilderness, afflicted with many 
 sore privations and judgments, was to the intent and end, 
 as their great leader expressly declared, "that they 
 might know the Lord their God ;" — that they might know 
 His supreme control over the affairs of men. His power to 
 punish transgression. His determination to root out sin 
 and enforce the rule of righteousness ; and thus be led to 
 yield the obedience and homage due to the Lord of the 
 whole earth. Wlien this lesson was fully learned, God 
 permitted them to enter the land of promise, of plenty, 
 and of social and national prosperity. 
 
 And so again, when afterward they forgot God, and 
 returned to their former wickedness and idolatry, and 
 God permitted them, in the fulfilment of the warnings 
 of prophecy, to be carried away into captivity in the land 
 of the Chaldeans, by the mouth of Jeremiah he still 
 
declared to them that " His thoughts were thoughts of 
 jyeace and not of evil, to give them an expected end." 
 Captivity would prove their greatest blessing. It would 
 show them in the land of their enemies, the disgusting 
 character and degrading effects of idolatry. It would 
 bring, in most favorable contrast, the nobler worship of 
 their fathers ; it would teach them not only the neces- 
 sity, but the privilege of returning unto the Lord their 
 God, and acknowledging and obeying Him. " After 
 seventy years be accomplished, saith the Lord, then shall 
 ye call upon me and pray unto me, and I will hearken 
 unto you. And I will turn away your captivity, and I 
 will gather you from all the nations and from all the 
 places whither I have driven you, saith the Lord. And I 
 will bring you again into the place whence / caused you 
 to be carried away captive." 
 
 Though apparently their captivity was the greatest of 
 calamities, sent in punishment for sin, in the mercy of 
 God, it was also designed and made effectual in preparing 
 them to afterwards receive and enjoy a larger and truer 
 liberty, and a greater measure of Divine favor and bless- 
 ing, than before was possible. The Psalm from which 
 our text is taken, written on the publication of the de- 
 cree of Cyrus permitting the Jews to return to their own 
 land, clearly recognizes the truth we have asserted, and 
 expresses it both in the language of pleading, of thanks- 
 giving, and of exultant anticipation. 
 
 The principles which governed the Providence of God 
 in his dealings with the Jews, are, my friends, the prin- 
 ciples which govern II im in his dealings with all other 
 
nations. In character and purpose he is " the same, yes- 
 terday, to-day and forever." He may reveal Himself 
 more clearly to one people than to another ; He may work 
 out for one a greater destiny than for another, and ac- 
 compHsh His ends in different ways and with unlike in- 
 strumentahties ; but, in His dealings with all, there are 
 the same ends in view, — His glory and their highest 
 good, and the same laws contrQlling His dispensations, — 
 the laws of justice, of mercy, and of love. 
 
 What then does the history of His dealings with other 
 nations teach us, in regard to our own troubles at the pre- 
 sent time ; and what comfort may we derive, on this day 
 of National Thanksgi^dng, from the prospect afforded ] 
 Simply this. That the terrible war from which we are 
 now suffering, while permitted to come upon us in pun- 
 ishment for national and individual sin, is designed also, 
 to lead us as a people to the knowledge and obedient 
 recognition of the supremacy of the Lord of the whole 
 earth ; and be effectual in the mercy and overruling pro- 
 vidence of God, in preparing us for, and bringing us into 
 the possession and enjoyment of, a higher state of pros- 
 perity, a larger and truer liberty both civil and reli- 
 gious, and a greater measure of Divine favor and blessing, 
 than before was possible. So that we may be led with 
 .gratitude and exultation to exclaim with the Psalmist, — 
 as after the long night of captivity he saw the dawning of 
 the day of national redemption and prosperity,—'^ Surely 
 his salvation is nigh them that fear him, that glory 
 may dwell in our land." 
 
 If such is God's design in permitting this great calam- 
 
ity to come upon us, we are led to inquire how, under 
 His overruling Providence, is this most desired result 
 being reached and accomplished "? By what instrumen- 
 talities and in what ways is He effecting His gracious 
 purpose towards US'? Answers to these questions are 
 found in the history of the past two or three years. Let 
 us attentively consider them. 
 
 I. God is leading this nation to the knowledge and 
 fear of Himself, and securing and leading us into the 
 possession of a higher and nobler future, first, hy ivith- 
 holding from us success, in our efforts to overthrow the 
 RehelUou. 
 
 When this war first broke out, what did we not expect 
 to accomplish \ What were we not able to do '? " Study 
 the relative strength and resources of the North and 
 South," we said. " How can they expect to do anything 
 against us] Look at the statistics. We twenty millions 
 against their less than half that number. A flourishing 
 commerce here and no commerce at all there. Money 
 here in vast amounts, and none there. All the arts of life 
 in full operation here, and scarcely known there. All 
 means of supply here and few there. A navy here and 
 none there. How immense the advantages !" And so 
 we wrote in anticipation, and with unbounded satisfac- 
 tion, upon the tablets of history, " Immediate defeat and 
 ruin to them. Speedy victory and glory to us." But 
 weeks and months passed by and the prophecy was not 
 fulfilled. We saw the reason to be that our army was 
 not large enough. Sufficient preparation had not been 
 
9 
 
 made. The proper generals were not in command. We 
 could easily conquer when everything was right, and 
 everything ivas supposed to be right ; and though some 
 victories crowned our arms, some glorious deeds gave 
 glory to our name, yet nothing permanent in value was 
 achieved, no marked and positive advantage gained. And 
 so another change of leaders is demanded, and another, 
 and another ; more armies and fleets required, new plans 
 of operations devised ; and so, too, months and years go 
 by, and armies and fleets, in number and power such as 
 the world never before saw, are yet strugghng with the 
 enemy, and have not brought this wicked Rebellion to a 
 close. 
 
 We have learned wisdom in defeat. Our national 
 pride has been sorely and greatly humbled. The boasts 
 of two years ago now sound in our ears vastly like 
 satire and ridicule. We have discovered that with all 
 our wealth, and resources, and bravery, we are not invin- 
 cible. Hundreds and thousands in this land are begin- 
 ning to see what they never saw before, — the insufli- 
 ciency of mere armies and navies, however powerful, in 
 a contest like this. Those who have heretofore been 
 blind on this point, see and feel that in estimating the 
 means and grounds of success, something beside num- 
 bers, skill, discipline, and the valor of troops, are to be 
 taken into the account. Something else than the justice 
 of our cause, the character of our motives, the weighty 
 importance of the principles involved, and of the results 
 to be attained. We have found that after all is put into 
 our side of the balance, which in any way is favorable 
 
10 
 
 and conducive to success, and after all is taken from their 
 side of the balance, which may be justly considered un- 
 favorable and likely to result in defeat, yet, in proportion 
 to the relative means of each, the scales of success have 
 greatly preponderated upon the side of the enemy. We 
 have found, sorely to our discomfiture and perplexity, in 
 view of our evident and acknowledged superiority, that 
 there is something thrown into the scale of the opposing 
 side, whether to secure to them ultimate triumph, or to 
 protract and increase our punishment, which, when we 
 are weighed with the enemy in the balances of actual 
 competition and trial of strength, causes us to be found 
 wanting. 
 
 Politicians will say it is only the superior skill and 
 strategy of the Rebel leaders, more vigor and clearness 
 of purpose in their Executive, greater devotion and 
 unity among the people. But the nation is beginning 
 to learn, that beside and more than all this, that some- 
 thing is nothing less than the Hand of the Almighty, 
 which, though unseen behind the veil of His Providence, 
 presses with such power upon the opposing scale as to 
 make our boasted strength and superiority as yet insuffi- 
 cient to crush the Kebellion, Our dependence upon 
 human strength and wisdom has been weakened. Our 
 recognition and belief in the overruling power of God 
 has been strengthened, and we are being fast taught that 
 in a contest sent in punishment for sin, and for the poli- 
 tical and moral regeneration and elevation of this nation, 
 the victory is to be won, not simply " by armies," — as the 
 word literally is, — "nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith 
 
11 
 
 the Lord of Hosts.'' " The thoughts that I think 
 towards you, saith the Lord, are thoughts of peace and 
 not of evil, to give you an expected end ;" but, adds the 
 testimony of universal history, " not until my purposes 
 are accomplished in you." 
 
 By withholding success, we have also been taught as 
 a nation to value and worship less the almighty dollar. 
 The necessity of contributing to the carrying on of this 
 war ; of emptying our banks and pouring out our treasure 
 almost^without limit ; the general conviction, as publicly 
 declared by the merchant princes of our land, that if the 
 government is destroyed, property would be compara- 
 tively worthless ; the feeling by this and other means 
 constantly increasing, that country is worth more to us 
 than gold or silver, houses or lands ; that a man is more 
 to be honored for devotion and self-sacrifice for its wel- 
 fare than even for the welfare of himself and family ; that 
 he who at this time hoards his money and refuses to yield 
 it, when needed for the good of the cause, is despicable 
 and unworthy the name of a patriot or a man, while he 
 who bountifully bestows it, is worthy of public respect 
 and gratitude ; these and like feelings and impressions, 
 which have been wrought into the very texture of national 
 character and opinion, have operated in a powerful man- 
 ner to overthrow the worship of Mammon in our land. 
 
 Had we time, we might show how this war more than 
 any which could afflict our country, is wonderfully adapted, 
 like the plagues which Moses brought upon the Egyp- 
 tians, to weaken the hold upon the affections and reverence 
 
12 
 
 of the people of the gods they worship, and cause them 
 to look upon some even with an Egyptian's disgust. 
 
 Again, by reason of the protracted character of this 
 contest, and the necessities arising therefrom, changes 
 have been wrought in the political, financial and moral 
 condition and prospects of this country of the very highest 
 importance, such as in all human probability could not 
 otherwise have been effected. Measures for the protec- 
 tion and support of the government have been adopted, 
 which probably will shape the policy, mould the opinions, 
 and affect the interests of this nation for ages to come. 
 Questions have been practically settled, vital as it appears 
 to me, to the well-being and the very existence of this 
 republic. Questions which, if unsettled or not settled 
 aright, would inevitably breed divisions in the future as 
 in the past, even though every trace of the present Rebel- 
 lion be removed. 
 
 Do you ask what these questions and measures arel 
 First, I will mention the Conscription Act, passed by the 
 late Congress, and approved and enforced by the Execu- 
 tive, — whereby it was settled, that independent of the 
 assent or dissent of State authority, the Federal Govern- 
 ment, by express provision of the Constitution, and by 
 right of self-preservation, has power to enrol all the able- 
 bodied male citizens of the United States, and compel 
 military service from such as are needed, to enforce the 
 execution of the " laws of the Union, suppress insurrec- 
 tions, and repel invasions." 
 
 Until the system of volunteering had been found 
 inadequate to supply our armies with the requisite 
 
 {\ 
 
I 
 
 13 
 
 number of men, the question as to the supremacy 
 of the Federal or State authority in this matter was 
 not mooted. It is true that in a previous war, the 
 war of 1812, this point was under discussion, and both 
 houses of Congress affirmed by a decided vote that the 
 Federal Government could compel for its defence the 
 service of those enjoying its protection. But the bill to 
 this effect, by reason of certain minor differences, never 
 became a law, and not until the past year was the ques- 
 tion of National or State supremacy pushed to a practical 
 issue. The failure to secure by the most liberal bounties 
 any large accessions to the national forces, demanded a 
 resort to more extreme measures if the Rebellion was to 
 be subdued. A law was passed, requiring the Executive 
 to obtain the requisite number by draft. And though its 
 execution was resisted, and deeds the most cruel and 
 revolting that ever disgraced this continent, were enacted 
 in many of our cities, yet the Authority of the Government 
 was sustained, and the law executed. Painful as it has 
 been in many respects, subject as it may be to abuse, it 
 is my humble opinion that no system for recruiting our 
 depleted forces has been devised, which is fairer and more 
 equal in the distribution of the public burden upon all 
 classes of citizens : no law ever passed by Congress, and 
 put into execution, which has demonstrated more com- 
 pletely and effectually our nationality. It proved to the 
 world most conclusively, that we are not, — as the organs 
 of public opinion in Europe have often said we were, — a 
 mere collection of related but distinct provinces, without 
 unity or centralization, a copartnership of states, a rope 
 
14 
 
 of sand ; but that we are a nation and ane people, which, 
 while divided for convenience into separate communities, 
 with separate organized authority for the maintenance of 
 order and the prosecution of local and minor affairs, yet 
 in all the essential attributes of a nationality, in powers 
 and functions necessary for the preservation of national 
 life, national honor, national authority and influence, and 
 the righteous fulfilment of national obligations; we are 
 but o]ie people^ with but one ruler, crowned, and under the 
 Constitution vested, with supreme authority during the 
 term of his office, by the expressed will and choice of the 
 governed. 
 
 The action of Congress and the Executive in demon- 
 strating this great truth, has been approved in the late 
 election by the voice of the people. We stand before 
 the world to-day, as four years ago we could not, with 
 the proof of o^<?' nationality written not only upon parch- 
 ment to be questioned, misinterpreted and denied, but 
 in hnv executed before the eyes of mankind, and in oppo- 
 sition to the wishes and eftbrts of the enemies of this 
 republic at home and abroad. Hated as this law is by 
 some, though it presses upon me — a clergyman — equally 
 with you, I can, from my heart to-day as a lover of my 
 country, thank God for it; and standing upon the testi- 
 mony it has afforded to the broad national character and 
 seal of the Constitution under which we live, can throw 
 back the taunting cry that has come in times past from 
 foreign shores, and exclaim, without fear of dispute, "I 
 am a citizen, not simply of one of a '-copartnership of 
 states,' not merely of a separate province among many, 
 
but of one mighty power in many, — of one great nation- 
 ality. T owe allegiance, not simply or chiefly to the 
 authority of Pennsylvania, but primarily and supremely 
 to the Federal Government — to the United States, one 
 and indivisible." The heresy of State rights, — the great 
 sin against our nationality, so fatal to internal peace and 
 union, and so destructive to our influence and reputation 
 abroad, — has met its death-blow ; not only in the mighty 
 uprising of the nation for the overthrow of the Eebellion, 
 which is its natural and legitimate fruit, but in the seal 
 of condemnation stamped upon it by the action of Con- 
 gress and the votes of the people. 
 
 Another measure, made necessary by the protracted 
 character of this contest, and as it appears to me, one of 
 almost incalculable value to the integrity, stability and 
 perpetuity of this republic, is the new system inaugurated 
 by the Secretary of the Treasury for a uniform national 
 currency, and a chain throughout the length and breadth 
 of our land of national banks. 
 
 Before this war broke forth, when the pecuniary neces- 
 sities and relations of the nation were not to be compared 
 in magnitude and importance with what they now are, 
 the old banking system, then in operation — as now — had 
 many irremedial defects, and was open to many objec- 
 tions. The paper currency issued was more or less un- 
 certain and ephemeral. Its value varied in the different 
 States according to the rates of exchange. It was liable 
 to depreciation from mismanagement, dishonesty and 
 financial disaster. Its security was largely local and 
 based frequently upon the integrity of single individuals. 
 
16 
 
 Even with State banks, confidence in their issues was 
 sometimes impaired by the unavoidable depreciation of 
 their stock securities, the inadequate protection afforded 
 them by State legislation, and the wilful repudiation of 
 obligations. 
 
 To overcome the defects of this system, and meet the 
 largely increasing demands of the people, and vast obli- 
 gations assumed for them by the Government in the pro- 
 secution of this war, the national banking system was 
 devised and put into execution. I have not time, my 
 friends, nor is this the place, to speak of the benefits of 
 this system to the individual, and of its prospective bless- 
 ings upon our commerce and trade. I cannot stop to 
 show the convenience and advantage to every person in 
 this country of a circulating medium, universal in its 
 credit and confidence, free from any serious depreciation, 
 nearly uniform in value in Maine and California, current 
 in one State as another, redeemable, in case of the failure 
 of the banks, at the United States Treasury, and secured 
 by the whole credit of the government. No, though this 
 is very important, I wish to take even a higher view of 
 the matter; to speak rather as a patriot of the influence 
 and effect of this system upon the future of this country. 
 
 No one, I think, will fail to see, that a chain of national 
 banks, stretching north and south, east and west, over 
 this land, issuing a currency alike held and circulated by 
 all the people without distinction of State, color, rank or 
 opinion, cannot but prove a network of such mighty 
 power, as to be in itself almost if not quite sufiicicnt to 
 prevent future rebellion or the possible disrupturc of this 
 
republic. Such banks, being sustained by the credit and 
 secured by the resources of the nation, every person holding 
 the currency they issue, would be pecuniarily interested in 
 the power and ability of the Government to meet its lia- 
 bilities. And thus this circulating medium would be 
 most potent in strengthening and cementing all the inte- 
 rests which can promote tlie future welfare and perma- 
 nency of our Union. If the National Currency Act is 
 generally and fully carried into execution, I beHeve the 
 Briarian arms of this financial system will hold in power- 
 ful restraint the turbulent passions and restless ambitious 
 natures that have disturbed the peace of this country, and 
 preserve, in greater harmony than ever before, the union 
 of these States. 
 
 Thus by the Conscription and National Currency Acts, 
 forced upon us by the necessities of a protracted contest, 
 has God permitted us to take, politically and financially, 
 a higher position among the nations; opened the way, 
 when this war is over, for a closer bond of sympathy and 
 interest among the people, more general support of the 
 Government, and larger internal prosperity and foreign 
 influence. 
 
 While thus, in view of wliat has been done for the 
 future of this country, politically and financially, we have 
 reason to be encouraged and to render tlianks this day to 
 Almighty God, our thanks, also, are more especially 
 and heartily due for what lias been done during the 
 year for the moral advancement of this nation. It is by 
 progress in this direction that we are to win the Divine 
 approbation, and find the highest encouragement for tlie 
 
 2 
 
18 
 
 speedy approach of the day of national redemption and 
 prosperity. Bright, indeed, are the indications herein 
 afforded. Gladdening the prospects growing ont of the 
 changes that have been made in the moral attitude and 
 policy of the Government. 
 
 By withholding success to our arms, God has as it 
 were forced upon us the attempt to remedy a grievous 
 wrong, to remove the foul blot upon our nation's 
 escutcheon, which has so long disgraced us in the eyes 
 of the civilized world, retarded our moral and intel- 
 lectual advancement, and called down upon us, in this 
 fratricidal war, the righteous indignation of Heaven. 
 Need I say that this grievous wrong and terrible evil 
 is Slavery, and the remedy, — the proclamation of the 
 Executive head of this nation of the emancipation of 
 every slave in the rebellious States, and its practical 
 execution in the onward march of our armies. 
 
 Had this war early closed, had we been victorious 
 when the first quota of troops was called into the field, 
 this proclamation could not have been issued. It would 
 not have been a necessity as a war measure, and would 
 not have been justifiable or constitutional on any other 
 ground. So far as we can judge the future by the past, 
 the motives which actuate and control the action of one 
 generation by another, the possible progress of the power 
 of Slavery in the control of coming administrations and 
 legislative bodies, by its actual gains and the extent of 
 its conquests, over those tliat have gone before ; in all 
 human probability this great evil would have continued 
 to bo a festering, burning cancer upon tJK? body politic, 
 
19 
 
 feeding upon the vitals of our civil and religious institu- 
 tions, deepening, widening, and intensifying its fatal 
 power of disintegration and decay, until America, the 
 noblest and sweetest child of Liberty, and the hope of 
 the world, should become a perpetual stench in the 
 nostrils of the nations; or, under the curse of heaven, 
 fall by her own weakness and corruption, and as a 
 loathsome carcass, be in charity interred in a grave dug 
 by a foreign foe ! Thank God for the proclamation of 
 freedom ! Thank God for the President who has issued 
 it, and for the will and power given him to enforce it ! 
 Thank God that the great body of the loyal people of 
 the land approve the action of their Executive, and will 
 sustain him in giving liberty to the captive. Now we 
 breathe freer, can pray better, and labor harder for the 
 overthrow of the Rebellion. Now we feel we are on the 
 right path to complete victory over the nation's sins, as 
 well as the nation's enemies. Now we believe that God 
 will hear us, and the day of redemption draweth nigh. 
 " Behold," said God to the ancient Jews, when seeking 
 from Him deliverance from like sore trials and distresses 
 as ours, — "in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, and 
 exact all your labors. Is it such a fast that I have chosen, 
 a day for a man to afflict his souU Is not this the fast 
 that I have chosen : to loose the bands of wickedness, to 
 undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go 
 free, and that ye break every yoke V When ye have ful- 
 filled such a fast, " then, saith the Lord, shall thy light 
 break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring 
 forth speedily, and thy righteousness shall go before 
 
20 
 
 thee ; the glory of the Lord shall be thy rereward. Then 
 shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer : thou shalt 
 cry, and He shall say. Here am /." And so, when this 
 proclamation of freedom shall have been fully and 
 righteously carried out, — when this nation shall have 
 done what it could to give back to a people long held in 
 bondage their inherent rights and makes reparation for 
 past wrongs, when our national pride is sufficiently 
 humbled, the Sabbath better respected, the authority 
 and power of God more generally acknowledged and 
 feared, and the love of self and of gold exchanged and 
 lost in a greater love and devotion to Christ, may we 
 not believe, that having renounced and turned away 
 from our sins, and fulfilled the conditions of an accept- 
 able fast, we may obtain something of the rich blessing 
 promised the Jewish people. 
 
 If such be some of the present and prospective 
 results of withholding success to our arms in attempting 
 to put down this Rebellion, surely God has wrought for 
 us the greatest blessings out of the bitterest trials and 
 afflictions, — moral victories and conquests out of military 
 defeats and disaster. Surely the blood of our noble 
 youth has not been spilt in vain ; and the weeping and 
 the mourning of the widow and the fatherless, and the 
 darkened homes, and the bitter pains and woes and 
 groans that fill our land, arc the natlo}i\'i travail in the 
 birth of a prosperity of privilege, of progress and attain- 
 ment such as we liave never before known. 
 
 II. God is leadino^ us in this war to the knowledge and 
 
21 
 
 fear of Himself, and to a higher condition of prosperity 
 and influence, not only by withholding from us suc- 
 cess, — striking thereby at our greatest national sins, 
 and forcing the settlement of vitally important ques- 
 tions, — but also hy marTced providences in our favor. 
 
 Who in our land was not impressed with this fact by 
 the first naval duel with iron-clads that occurred in our 
 waters'? Man had not designed or intended it. Our 
 authorities did not suspect the coming, if they were 
 aware even of the character of the Merrimac, when 
 she bore down upon our wooden fleet in the harbor of 
 Norfolk. No preparation had been made sufficient to 
 meet her. The Monitor, the only vessel in our whole navy 
 that was able to cope successfully with her terrible 
 armament and iron-plated sides, was considered of so 
 little importance, that when she steamed out of the port 
 of New York, on her trial trip, few were aware of her 
 departure. She was not sent to engage her powerful 
 foe. On the contrary, while upon her passage south, 
 an order from the Navy Department was sent to call her 
 back. But God interposed. The order was not per- 
 mitted to be delivered. Winds and storm were made 
 the executors of His will. Her voyage was retarded 
 sufficiently to permit her antagonist to come forth and 
 display her character and power, but not sufficiently to 
 prevent her coming in time to save and defend the 
 nation's property and the nation's honor. At the very 
 moment when really needed, when most desired, and all 
 was apparently lost, she came to the rescue and secured 
 a glorious victory. It ivas a victory given of God. The 
 
00 
 
 fact was too palpable to be denied. Even skeptics and 
 infidels were compelled to confess, that if there he a God, 
 and if He indeed rules in the affairs of men, this was 
 unmistakably a special Providence. It awoke the nation 
 to see that God was in this war. It led them to feel that 
 He was to be taken into their counsels, and His aid and 
 power invoked. It impressed the North with the fact, 
 that God's thoughts toward them were " thoughts of 
 peace and not of evil, to give them an expected end." 
 
 Notice also His marked Providence in our favor at the 
 battle of Pittsburg Landing. The Rebel general had 
 made every preparation, had taken every step to over- 
 throw, with superior numbers, the Federal army. It was 
 wholly ignorant of its danger. It rested in perfect qui- 
 etness — with a want of preparation for attack almost 
 criminal — while the forces and engines of war were gath- 
 ering in terrible array for its destruction. There was no 
 chance of retreat in case of defeat. The long lines of 
 the enemy were in front, the swift waters of a deep river 
 flowed by in their rear, with no transports at command. 
 Many days must pass by before reinforcements could 
 possibly arrive. Their destruction seemed inevitable. 
 The Rebel general seemed already to have grasped his 
 prey and have won the laurels of a brilliant victory. 
 The order to move was given. The heavy battalions 
 creep nearer and nearer their unsuspecting enemy. Thc^ 
 brazen engines of destruction are unloosed and ready to 
 belch forth fire and death. One day more the carnage 
 shall begin, and heavy ruin fall upon the Federal arms. 
 But there was an ally near at hand that the Rebel gen- 
 
23 
 
 eral thought not of. There was a foe to dispute his 
 march which he could not overcome. "They fought 
 from heaven. The stars in their courses fought against 
 Sisera." The rains descended and held the mighty host 
 in check until the coming reinforcements of the Federal 
 army had so far approached, as to join in the contest at 
 its close, and bring victory out of defeat. God did it. 
 It was another signal Providence which the nation saw 
 and felt the warning and the promise of, — a warning to 
 those who fight against the powers ordained of God, 
 which indeed they confessed that they felt, — a promise 
 of deliverance to those, who, while in the path of duty, 
 will seek the aid and guidance of Him who ordereth all 
 things "according to the counsel of His own will." 
 
 Need I mention other marked and impressive provi- 
 dences to show that God is in this war, and is leading us as 
 a people to see and fear Him, and to a higher destiny X 
 What one more fresh in your memory, more deeply im- 
 pressed, upon your mind, more generally acknowledged 
 by the inhabitants of this city, than that which saved 
 this city from being given up into the hands of our ene- 
 mies, — that memorable month in which was fought the 
 hard-contested Battle of Gettysburg. When the news 
 iirst reached us that the Rebel general, with a large 
 force, had crossed the Potomac and was marching on 
 Philadelphia, what consternation prevailed in our midst! 
 What apprehension filled our minds ! With what sorrow 
 we walked these streets ! Never shall I forget those ter- 
 rible days. But little confidence was placed in the power 
 of the Federal leader to prevent the onward march of 
 
24 
 
 the enemy. The raw militia gathered at Harrisbiirg we 
 knew to be insufficient and incapable of throwing any 
 serious obstacle in their way. Determination was strong 
 to do all for the defence of our city and homes that we 
 could, but we felt that we could do but little. If God 
 came not to our rescue, our couAdctions were, that soon 
 fire and sword, pillage and rapine, and all the fiends of 
 this tenible war, would inaugurate their fearful reign 
 in our midst. We fled for protection to the Almighty 
 arm. Prayer, earnest and importunate, arose from as- 
 semblies of saints in this and other churches, from the 
 family altar in our separate homes, and from the secret 
 places where we are wont to meet God alone. Our cry 
 was foT deliverance. God heard and answered in mercy. 
 Our city was saved. The enemy was overthrown, and 
 driven from the soil they had polluted. God did it. 
 Not simply by giving success to our arms when actually 
 engaged with the enemy at Gettysburg, but by with- 
 holding attack when such success was in all human pro- 
 bability impossible. 
 
 Said Mr. Everett, when speaking of this three days' 
 battle, in his oration at the consecration of the National 
 Cemetery, "had it not been for the providential inaction 
 of the llebel array on the morning of the second day 
 of the engagement, nothing but a miracle could have 
 saved our army fi-om destruction." While, then, we 
 will acknowledge, with gratitude, the skill, courage, 
 devotion, and almost superhuman endurance of those 
 who were the instruments of Providence in the over- 
 throw of the Rebel forces, we cannot but ascribe the 
 
25 
 
 praise of our deliverance to Him who withholdeth or 
 giveth success to whomsoever He will, and whose gra- 
 cious goodness to us is clearly manifested in the prosecu- 
 tion and triumphant termination of this most memorable 
 engagement. 
 
 Many other providences, equally striking and equally 
 convincing, with those mentioned, might be adduced. 
 But these are sufficient. They are most instructive and 
 encouraging. They are bright omens of ultimate success 
 in our efforts to crush this Rebellion, which we will 
 remember and cherish on this our Thanksgiving Day. 
 
 III. Finally, God, by his general jjrovidences^ no less 
 than His special, is seeking to bring us to a devout recogni- 
 tion of His supremacy in the affairs of this nation, and of 
 His gracious purpose towards us. 
 
 Wonderful has been the general health of the people, 
 and the prosperity attending every branch of trade. The 
 abundant harvests which have crowned the year, mak- 
 ing, contrary to the usual order of production, four 
 years in succession of most lavish supply, are found 
 sufficient to meet all our wants at home, feed our im- 
 mense armies and navies, — with the additional amount 
 necessarily lost by capture or destruction, — and furnish 
 beside a large quantity as an article of trade for the 
 accumulation of foreign capital. And all this comes 
 from God. Blight, and mildew, and drought, and ad- 
 verse winds and storms, might leave us almost with- 
 out food or products to exchange for the gold needed 
 
 3 
 
26 
 
 in the prosecution of the war, in commerce, and in the 
 arts. And why are they not sent ? Why are we so re- 
 markably favored as regards supply and the order of pro- 
 duction, when our necessities are much greater than 
 usual, and harvests large, and in succession are almost 
 indispensable 1 It is the Lord's goodness. It is that He 
 may accomplish for this nation and in this nation His 
 righteous purpose. It is that we may acknowledge and 
 fear Him as a people, and yield Him the obedience which 
 is His due. That we may look upon Him. not with a slav- 
 ish fear, but with filial fear — the fear of the child which 
 acknowledges the father's power and supreme authority, 
 and strives not to offend or incur his displeasure, while 
 at the same time filled witli gratitude and love for his 
 abounding mercies and great goodness. It is to awaken 
 and increase this feeling and prepare us for a higher 
 state of prosperity, that God has v\ithheld from our arms 
 immediate success, specially interposed at times in our 
 behalf, encouraged us in the hope and belief of ultimate 
 victory, and continued the rich blessings of His provi- 
 dence, adequate for all our necessities, through successive 
 years. May we he led to see and appreciate His gracious 
 designs. 
 
 When true filial fear of God enters into the counsels 
 of the nation and pervades the great body of the people, 
 then has the day of our deliverance come, not only from 
 outward, but from inward and spiritual foes. The promise 
 is to us, as truly as to the ancient Jews, " God's salvation 
 is nigh them that fear him." And for what ? " That 
 glory may dwell in our land." Yes, the glory which the 
 
Psalmist prophetically saw should come to the Jewish 
 nation : when mercy and truth should meet together, and 
 righteousness and peace kiss each other: when truth 
 should spring out of the earth, and righteousness look 
 down from heaven. Beloved, pray that such glory may 
 come and dwell in our land. Pray that God may soo)i 
 visit us with His salvation ; that our poor, imprisoned, 
 starving soldiers in Richmond may be released ; the valor 
 of our troops be crowned with early and complete suc- 
 <;ess ; the absent loved ones returned in safety and honor 
 to their homes ; this dreadful war cease ; and a new era 
 of progress, of attainment, of exalted privilege and Di- 
 vine blessing come to our sorely afflicted land. Tiive so 
 that your prayers may be answered, and cease not to 
 acknowledge not only this, but every day, the Giver of 
 every good gift by acts of charity, of praise and thanks- 
 giving. 
 
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 
 
 012 026 722 fl 
 
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HBRARY OF CONGRESS 
 
 012 026 722 A i 
 
 y 
 
 Hollinger 
 
 pH8.5 
 
 Mill Run F3-1955