-'- 
 
 
 
 

 
 
51 3D i r o n r s i 
 
 DEATH OF ZACHAB 5 I \ X LOB 
 
 TWELFTH PR] OF TIM' UN] 
 
 DBLIVliRlI) I 
 
 RUTGERS' STREET CHI R C II 
 
 ON SABBATH EVENING, JULY 14, 1850. 
 
 BY 
 
 JOHN M. KREBS, D.D. 
 
 
 
 NEW YORK 
 JOHN WESTALL, PRINTER, 11 SPRUCE BTREBT 
 
 1S5M 
 

 
I) I S C U R S E . 
 
 PSALM LXII. li, 12. 
 
 <GOD HATH SPOKEN ONCE; TWICE HAVE I HEARD THIS, THAT 
 
 POWER BELONGETH UNTO GOD. ALSO, UNTO TliER, LORD, 
 
 BELONGETH MERCY J FOR THOU RENDEREST TO EVERY MAN 
 ACCORDING TO HIS WORK. 
 
 There is a strong natural propensity in the 
 human heart to attempt independence of God. 
 It is practically exhibited, both by individuals 
 and by nations, in the various forms of ignor- 
 ing, evading, perverting, and openly transgress- 
 ing and defying the Divine Will ; — in cherish- 
 ing a spirit of inordinate self-reliance ; — and 
 in utter forgetfulness of both the obligation and 
 the safety of trusting solely in God, and of serv- 
 ing, glorifying, and enjoying Him. 
 
 It is true, indeed, that there is, at some times, 
 a kind of formal acknowledgment of some 
 sort of subordination and dependence on His 
 throne. But if we examine their habits of think- 
 ing and speaking, and the actual deportment of 
 
men, we do not find any very general or gen- 
 uine feeling of confidence in God and subjection 
 to His supremacy. They form their own plans 
 without reference to Him ; — they rely on their 
 own wisdom, courage, strength ; — they talk of 
 chance, of good, or of ill luck ; — they are cast 
 down by unexpected trouble, as if it sprung 
 from the ground ; — they form expedients of re- 
 covery from disaster, and boast of their own 
 resources ; — they sacrifice to their own net, they 
 burn incense to their own drag; — they trust 
 in man, and their hopes and fears depend upon 
 an arm of flesh. 
 
 !•■ Now, all this is a striking proof of the alien- 
 ation and apostasy of mankind from their nor- 
 mal state of affectionate and confiding loyalty to 
 the King of kings and the Lord of lords. It is 
 the essence of all genuine religion to exhibit 
 this devout allegiance. And it is the design of 
 His revelation, and of His plan of grace in 
 the Gospel, — and of all the dispensations of His 
 Providence, — to recover men from their apos- 
 tacy, and restore them to His favor, in the prac- 
 tice of faith and in the love of His authority. 
 For this purpose, He speaks to them from 
 Heaven, — sometimes in the voice of command, 
 sometimes in promises, and sometimes in warn- 
 ings ; sometimes in goodness and mercies, and 
 
sometimes in displeasure and judgment . But, 
 unhappily, we are too often heedless. "For 
 God speaketh one.', yea twice, but man per- 
 ceiveth it not.'' (Job xxxiii. I I The re- 
 peated intimations of His will, of Hi- supre- 
 macy, and of the designs of His Providence, 
 are too often disregarded, and the I 
 His Divine Wisdom are wasted upon a proud 
 and rebellious race. Bat happy is it for as, that 
 He lias thoughts of kindness; that He has me- 
 thods of "opening tli" ears of men and sealing 
 their instruction, that he may withdraw man 
 from his purpose, and hide pride from man ;" 
 (Job xxxiii. ]6, 17,) that by chastening him 
 with His hand, while he "keeps back his soul 
 from the pit, and his life from perishing b) the 
 sword," He rebukes his haughty iniquity and 
 makes him realize his insufficiency; and that 
 He has appointed His mini-try and given power 
 to His word, in order that there may be a 
 messenger with man, an interpreter, one among 
 a thousand, to show unto man tin' way- of up- 
 rightness. (Job xxxiii. 18-24.) 
 
 These methods of instruction God is pleased 
 still to use. He expects us to observe what 
 He is doino; among the inhabitants of tin- earth, 
 to convince us that the Most High ruletb in the 
 affairs of men; and happy are they, who. 
 
taught to recognize His hand, and led to con- 
 fide in His goodness and power, return to Him 
 humbly and penitently, and place themselves 
 in hope and submission beneath the protection 
 of His grace and majesty. Very instructive to 
 us, and especially at this solemn and eventful 
 crisis of our public affairs, when God has been 
 pleased to remove by death the Chief Magis- 
 trate of this nation, — the second instance of 
 the kind in our history, — at a juncture when 
 so much seemed to depend on his patriotism, 
 his sagacity, his integrity, and his firmness; and 
 while we deplore our bereavement of this illus- 
 trious man, very instructive to us, I repeat, is 
 the example and testimony of the wise and 
 pious monarch of Israel, when he was menaced 
 by circumstances, which not only threatened 
 affliction to himself, but, in his relation to his 
 people, threatened also to involve them in trou- 
 bles, and excited the anxious solicitudes of his 
 generous and patriotic soul. " God hath spo- 
 ken once ; twice have 1 heard this, that power 
 belongeth unto God. Also unto thee, Lord, 
 belongeth mercy ; for thou renderest to every 
 man according to his work." 
 
 These are the words of a king;, of a war- 
 rior, of a statesman; they are the words of a 
 man after God's own heart; they are the words 
 
of one inspired. They are worthy of our re- 
 verent attention. 
 
 He refers to the repeated instances in which 
 God had not left himself without witness, as to 
 His own dominion and character as the Su- 
 preme Ruler and Judge of men and nations. 
 The law and the prophets had home their tes- 
 timony of Him. Manifold instances of His 
 providential agency and interposition were on 
 record, to illustrate the principles of His govern- 
 ment, as they were safely and certainly inter- 
 preted by the light that His word reflected on 
 His mighty acts. And David himself had re- 
 ceived frequent communications of the mind 
 and will of God ; while his own experience had 
 taught him how truly dependent both he and 
 Israel were, — not on that splendid prosperity, 
 which was itself the gift of God ; not on his 
 extended and populous empire ; not on his 
 prowess and conquests; not on the vast re- 
 sources of a land fertile in productions, and 
 enriched by the streams of wealth that poured 
 into it from abroad ; not on the union of the 
 tribes of Israel and their loyalty to him, for he 
 had experience of dissension and revolt, and 
 was at that moment harassed by, or had just 
 escaped from, the dangers and perplexities ex 
 cited against him by his malignant foes; not 
 
on the defences thrown around him by the 
 mere elements of personal and public happi- 
 ness, which he well knew might be scattered 
 at a breath ; but on God, the blessed and only 
 Potentate, the Saviour of Israel, and the Help 
 thereof, in time of trouble. Here was his con- 
 fidence. He asserts it, (Ps. lxii. 1.) He 
 charges himself to cherish it, (vs. 5.) He de- 
 clares his safety under it, and felt that here he 
 was impregnable, (vs. 2, 6, 7) : while he ex- 
 postulates with his foes on their impotent malice 
 and treacherous conduct, and denounces to them 
 confusion and defeat, (vs. 3, 4.) He exhorts 
 and encourages his friends and countrymen 
 and all whose hearts are failing them for fear, 
 to pour out their souls in prayer to God, and to 
 share his confidence in the support of the 
 Almighty Arm, (vs. 8.) He shows how vain are 
 all inferior reliances. The populace are fickle 
 and the princes are false, (vs. 9.) And all are 
 warned of the utter insecurity of those plans 
 of wealth and peace, which depend on the 
 expedients of carnal policy, on violence and 
 injustice, and the insecurity of all those hopes 
 that depend on growing heaps of earthly trea- 
 sure, (vs. 10.) His trust was in the power, the 
 compassion and the faithfulness of God, (vs. 11, 
 12.) 
 
, 
 
 g 
 
 The Divine strength is supreme and uni- 
 versal. In Heaven and in Earth; over angels 
 and overmen; from everlasting to everlasting, 
 lie is God. He will not give His glorj to 
 another. He n ill oot abdicate His rights. He 
 will not be frustrated in His purposes. Men 
 may imagine devices and designs against Him 
 and against His anointed, hut they shall faiL 
 They may break His bands in sunder and cast 
 away His cords from them; the) may restrain 
 prayer and despise fear; they may say, "Who 
 is the Almighty, that we should obey in- 
 voice !" But shall they prevail by iniquity 1 
 "He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh ; the 
 Lord shall hold them in derision. He shall 
 speak unto them in His wrath, and vex them 
 in His sore displeasure." Did the old world 
 defy Him and prosper ? Did Sodom mock. 
 and did Pharaoh and Egypt rebel, and yel 
 escape by impunity ? Did Moab resist and im- 
 pede the march of Israel and call Balaam to curse 
 them, and succeed! Did the Assyrian and 
 the Babylonian boast of their prowess, and 
 break up God's covenant to give His people the 
 land of Israel for an everlasting possession ! 
 And were their triumphs and their boastings 
 the heralds of permanent success in iniquity 
 and pride, for a single moment longer than 
 
10 
 
 either of them fulfilled the ignominious function 
 for which God gave them their power and their 
 victories, — as the mere executioners of His judg- 
 ments, and the instruments by whom He cor- 
 rected His chosen people ? Yea, did Herod 
 and Pilate, and Jew and Gentile, when they 
 gathered themselves together to destroy the 
 humble and afflicted Nazarene, prevail for the 
 destruction they meditated, or do aught beyond 
 their undesigned fulfilment of the determinate 
 counsel and foreknowledge of God, concerning 
 the death of the holy child Jesus? Tyre and 
 Egypt, Nineveh and Babylon, and all kings of 
 the earth arrayed themselves against the do- 
 minion and honor of God ; but He made then- 
 wrath to praise Him, and the remainder of 
 their wrath, He restrained, and then destroyed 
 them together. And all these things hath He 
 done and said, in raising up nations and in 
 overturning them, that Pharaoh and Nebu- 
 chadnezzar, and all rulers and judges of the 
 earth, and all that live may know and acknow- 
 ledge that the Most High ruleth in the king- 
 doms of men ; that they may cease from man 
 whose breath is in his nostrils and his thoughts 
 perish ; that they may learn not to put confi- 
 dence in princes, but in the living God, who 
 giveth us richly all things to enjoy. 
 
11 
 
 Who is it that shall lift up the rod of pride and 
 contemn God 1 Hast thou an arm like God, 
 
 and canst thou thunder with a voice like Him I 
 Mho is it that walks in darkness, and whose 
 heart trembles within him for the multitude of 
 hisenemies, for the dangers that beset him, for 
 the confusion of his affairs and the poverty of 
 his resources, for the power of the adversary of 
 souls, for the troubles that come upon the 
 Church, and for those that threaten the land f — 
 let him rememher Him that hath said, " No 
 weapon that is formed against thee shall pum- 
 per;" and let him make the Eternal God his 
 refuge, and shelter himself within the circling 
 protection of the Everlasting Arm. 
 
 And we have reason for indulging this con- 
 fidence in the Divine power. There is reason, 
 indeed, in all our relations to Him, as the Judge 
 of the quick and the dead, to fear Him who is 
 the King of Nations, and to apprehend lli^- 
 indignation. All our own sins against II is com- 
 mandments, truth, and Hiercy, and all our public 
 and social sins, might justly become the marks 
 of His mighty vengeance. But, at the same 
 time, He has revealed himself both in lli^ 
 Word and in His Providence, as a <;<>d <>t 
 clemency and kindness: " Unto thee, O Lord, 
 belongeth mercy; for thou renderesl onto 
 
every man according to his work." The union, 
 in this ascription, of God's mercy and equity 
 toward His creatures, and the assignation of 
 one of these attributes as the ground for the 
 exercise of the other, furnishes us with a clue to 
 their interpretation as in mutual harmony. The 
 Judge of all the earth does not bid mercy triumph 
 over justice, as He does not give to justice its 
 solitary exercise, untempered, or, rather, unac- 
 companied by mercy. As sinners before Him, He 
 might destroy us, without impeachment of His 
 throne. But His Gospel teaches us that He so 
 loved the world that He gave His only-begotten 
 Son, that whosoever believeth on Him might 
 
 a 
 
 not perish, but have everlasting life. By this 
 act, He becomes both a Just God and a Sa- 
 viour. Even in pardoning the ungodly, He 
 vindicates His holiness, and magnifies his law, 
 and makes it honorable. And He is faithful also 
 to them, who, trusting to His adorable compas- 
 sion, turn to Him with repentance, study His 
 will, aim at obedience, and look to His strength 
 as their help and defence. As He is faithful 
 and just to forgive them their sins, when they 
 confess and forsake their sins, so is He faithful 
 and just in the exercise of His clemency, in the 
 expression of His good will and compas- 
 sion, and in honoring, vindicating, and re- 
 
1 3 
 
 war dine their affectionate confidence in Him. 
 and their actions which are in conformity with 
 lliv Word, on which lie has caused them lo 
 hope. Thus will He render unto them ac- 
 cording to their works. He will In-at them 
 according to their real character. No man, in- 
 deed, can plead that he lias not sinned; that 
 he has kept all the commandments; ami. 
 therefore, that he lias not incurred the ji^t 
 penalty of the Divine law. for deliverance 
 from this penalty, and for a restoration to the 
 favor of God, and to the hope of eternal life. 
 we must he entirely and forever indebted to 
 Jlis mere mercy, for the sake of His Son 
 Jesus Christ, who of God is made unto us 
 wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, 
 and redemption. But God is not unjust nor 
 unfaithful to forget the works of faith, ami 
 labor of love, and patience of hope, manifest- 
 ed by them who truly trust in Him through 
 the cross of His dear Son. He will guide 
 them with His counsel, and receive (lean to 
 glory. He will comfort them in trouble. He 
 will aid them in duty, lie will defend them in 
 dancer, lie will brin&His power forward for 
 their protection, and make them dwell securely 
 under the shadow of Hi- throne. His de- 
 portment to them corresponds with their whole 
 
14 
 
 character. Hence, if sinners would be saved 
 they "must be born again." Hence, they must 
 be reconciled to God, through faith in His 
 dear Son. Hence it is, while He pours out 
 his displeasure against the ungodly and the 
 disobedient, He shows mercy to them that trust 
 in Him and serve Him ; and He renders unto 
 every man according to his works. The 
 royal Psalmist, conscious of his integrity; 
 of his deep penitence for his sins ; of 
 his reliance on the covenant which God 
 had made with him by sacrifice ; of his 
 love of the law of God ; of his intention to do 
 right ; of his endeavor to rule in the fear of God, 
 and to be a terror only to evil-doers, but a praise 
 to them that do well ; might well plead before 
 the Supreme Judge, when he was assailed by 
 oppositions and reproached with calumnies, " O 
 keep my soul and deliver me ; let me not be 
 ashamed, for I put my trust in thee ; let in- 
 tegrity and uprightness preserve me, for I 
 wait on thee." (Ps. xxv. 20, 21.) And all 
 this appeal for defence against those who un- 
 justly accused and persecuted him where he 
 was innocent, is in the same breath in which 
 he utters his affecting petition for mercy : " Re- 
 member not the sins of my youth, nor my 
 trangressions ; according to thy mercy, remem- 
 
Lfi 
 
 bcr thou me, for thy goodness' sake, Lord." 
 "For thy name's sake, Lord, pardon mine 
 iniquity, for it is great" | Ps. \\\. 7. i i. , 
 " Good and upright is the Lord; therefore will 
 
 He teach sinners in the way. All the paths « f 
 the Lord are mercy and nratb unto Buch as keep 
 his covenant and his testimonies.'' | I's. w\. 
 8. 10.) This was the consistent judgment and 
 hope of David. Thus he lived, thus lie ruled. 
 thus he died. And while we strenuousl) denj 
 all claim to God's salvation on the part of any 
 human being, high or low, on the ground of his 
 own righteousness, we equally contend that 
 the Divine clemency and equity are united for 
 the safety and defence of them who trust in His 
 mercy and follow His commands. Such de- 
 fence have all His people. They arc the apple of 
 His eye. Whoso toucheth them, him will God 
 punish. Even as a father pitieth his children, 
 so the Lord pitieth them that fear Him. Even 
 as a father protects his children, so will the 
 Lord throw His shield of protection before 
 them that trust Him in the day of their danger. 
 Such defence have communities — the Church — 
 the nation. Let them trust truly in God. All 
 things may seem to be against them: their 
 strength may be weakened, their peace maj 
 be menaced, their prosperity assailed; bat 
 
) 
 
 16 
 
 He sees them when they humble themselves 
 before Him, when they honor His power, His 
 love, and His truth; and He will be a glory in 
 the midst of them, and a wall of fire round 
 about them. 
 
 It is in this light I would contemplate the 
 last words which are reported to have been ut- 
 tered by the late President. According to the 
 first account, these were, " I have always done 
 toy duty ; I am ready to die." Or, according 
 to another account, " I am prepared ; I have 
 always endeavored to do my duty ;" as if this 
 w T ere the ground of his preparation to meet 
 God. These have been subsequently modified 
 by the report that, when he was informed by 
 his physicians that he had not probably many 
 hours to live, he replied, " I know it ;" then, 
 after an interview with his family, being asked 
 if he felt comfortable, he answered, " Very ; 
 but the storm, in passing, has swept away the 
 trunk." And finally, adverting to the subject of 
 his previous musings, especially the Slavery 
 question, he observed: "I am about to die ; I 
 expect the summons soon ; I have endeavored 
 to discharge all my official duties faithfully ; I 
 may have erred, but it has been unintention- 
 ally ; I regret nothing ; but am sorry that I am 
 about to leave my friends." Previous to all 
 
1 7 
 
 Uiis, he had enjoyed the counsels ol i Chris- 
 tian minister, and prayer was offered at bis I 
 
 side, 'ii which he devoutly engaged. 
 
 Now, as a man, and as a ruler, why mighl 
 not properly say, in the "integrity of Jus heart,' 1 
 (Gen. xx. 5,) "I have endeavored to < I < > mj 
 duty; or, " my official duty t" Who doubts the 
 honesty of his intentions! Even the voice of 
 faction will not dispute it now. And as for me, 
 I am not the judge of men's souls. It is God 
 alone that tries the reins and searches the 
 hearts. My good opinion will take no man to 
 heaven; my ill opinion will thrust no man into 
 hell. Who can say what were the secret com- 
 munings of his heart, — what his views of the 
 plan of salvation, and what their influence upon 
 his hope, in that last hour of his expectation <>t" 
 the judgment-seat? Why may we not hope 
 when we consider all that took place in that 
 sick chamber, that they were Christian views 
 and feelings ? 
 
 While I would encourage no man to say, in 
 view of the law of God and the judgment-scat 
 of Christ, " I am prepared — I am not afraid — 
 because I have always endeavored to do all mv 
 duty/' — for there is another, and a better, and 
 an exclusive foundation of our acceptance with 
 God — nevertheless, I would even contend, that 
 2 
 
18 
 
 with an entire reliance on the Lord Jesus 
 Christ, as the only foundation of a sinner's 
 hope, a man might still justly say, in the con- 
 sciousness of his humble trust in the mercy of 
 God, manifested in a sincere endeavor to do His 
 will — as every Christian man may say — to the 
 praise of God's grace, and in repelling the ac- 
 cusations of adversaries and the fears of con- 
 science, " I have endeavored to fulfil my obliga- 
 tions." The apostle did not. disparage the plan 
 of salvation, when, on his arraignment before 
 the Council, he protested, " Men and brethren, 
 I have lived in all good conscience before God 
 unto this day," (Acts xxiii. 1) ; or when, at the 
 end of his career, he exclaimed, "I have fought 
 a good fight ; I have finished my course ; I have 
 kept the faith ; henceforth there is laid up for me 
 a crown of righteousness, which the Lord the 
 righteous judge shall give me at that day ; and 
 not to me only, but unto all them also that love 
 his appearing." (2 Tim. iv. 7, 8.) Why, in our 
 anxiety for the faith, should we disparage the 
 works which are its inseparable fruits 1 And 
 besides all this, may it not rather have been the 
 meaning of these fragmentary words — uttered, 
 as we are informed, at the close of his musings, 
 on the bereavement of his family, on the great 
 and trying questions of public policy which had 
 
19 
 
 cost him such anxiety, on the factions opposi- 
 tions of party-spirit, and on the unjust censures 
 
 which some were ready to record a^a'msl liim 
 on the journals of Congress, — why m;i\ it not 
 have been that, in the honest and assuring 
 consciousness of his official and personal in- 
 tegrity he thus bequeathed his reputation to 
 the judgment of his country, and that country 
 itself, after he had done for it all he could, to 
 the protection of Him to whom power belongeth, 
 and mercy, and who will render unto all accord- 
 ins to their works \ 
 
 Such are some of the great truths, which 
 God has spoken, once and again. These testi- 
 monies of His word, have been reiterated and 
 enforced upon our attention, by the voice ot 
 His Providence. That which we have heard 
 of Him by the hearing of the ear, has been 
 confirmed to us, when He stretched forth His 
 hand, and He made us to see and feel that 
 verily there is a God who judge! h in the 
 Earth. 
 
 Once and again, He hath spoken to as, in 
 tones of rebuke and warning, l>y those afflic- 
 tions and disasters, that have come upon OS to 
 teach us that we are dependent on God Pes- 
 tilence has gone before Him, and burning coals 
 
20 
 
 have been cast from His footsteps. War, if it 
 has not brought upon us intestine ravages, has 
 at least, been at once our crime and punish- 
 ment ; for it has brought discord and confusion 
 into the midst of our public councils, and, at 
 this moment we are quarrelling over our spoils 
 and conquests, and our own ambition and ava- 
 rice have returned to plague us. The flood 
 has desolated ; and the conflagration has swept 
 away our wealth with its fiery wing. On the 
 same day, last week, while one was yet speak- 
 ing, to tell us of the appalling destruction of 
 property and life, in a neighboring city* ano- 
 ther messenger of evil tidings rushes in upon 
 us to announce that the Nation itself has been 
 stricken by the hand of Death falling upon the 
 head of its Chief Magistrate. Others that have 
 filled this high office have died, but they had 
 fulfilled their official course. And all that have 
 filled it will die, for they are but men. But 
 within the last ten years, God has begun to take 
 another season for the removal of our Rulers — 
 even while they were yet in office. It is only 
 within this period that the provision made by 
 our Constitution for such a contingency has 
 been tried. And although God has not re- 
 
 * Philadelphia— between 300 and 400 houses destroyed. 
 
21 
 
 moved from us our country's life, in removing 
 from us those on whom we had been too much 
 disposed to rely as the breath of our nostrils, 
 yet these acts of His Providence are calculated 
 to throw the people and their statesmen into 
 perplexity, and to involve us in the fears that 
 are engendered by the unexpected change of 
 rulers and administrations. 
 
 God hath spoken once, yea twice. The 
 death of President Harrison, within one month 
 after his inauguration, was a rebuke and a 
 disaster, that ought to have been felt in the 
 then crisis of our affairs, and should have taught 
 us that power belongeth unto God. The death 
 of President Taylor, in the second year of his 
 administration, and at this far more alarming 
 crisis of our public affairs, — when civil dis- 
 sensions are raging, and civil war itself is 
 menacing us, — is indeed a rebuke and a dis.i^- 
 ter. And shall we not perceive it ? Shall 
 it be recorded against us, that seeing many 
 things we observe not? We are rebuked, be- 
 cause we have forgotten God, and learn. 1 upon 
 an arm of flesh. At this moment, we are 
 tossed upon the billow, between hope and fear. 
 Does it not become us to look upward to Nun 
 who hath founded His throne above the Hea- 
 vens and established His dominion to nil'' the 
 
oo 
 
 floods. Power and strength belong unto God ; 
 to Him also belongeth mercy ; for He will 
 render our portion in equity. 
 
 From this event, we may learn a lesson 
 of human frailty. The victorious commander, 
 the illustrious citizen, the chief ruler of a mighty 
 nation, at brief notice, vacates all his earthly 
 dignities ; and from that tomb which was open- 
 ed yesterday, in the national metropolis, there 
 comes a voice of solemn warning that speaks 
 to all the votaries of grandeur and all the sons 
 of ambition. Ah ! what is its import ? — 
 
 " Hark, from the tombs, a doleful sound ! 
 
 Mine ears attend the cry : — 
 ' Ye living men, come, view the ground, 
 ' Where you must shortly lie ! 
 
 ' Princes, this clay must be your bed, 
 
 ' In spite of all your towers ; 
 ' The tall, the wise, the reverend head, 
 Must lie as low as ours.' " 
 
 We may learn from it, how completely we 
 are dependent on God. The modest and hu- 
 mane, but skilful and valorous and successful 
 leader of our armies ; the honest and sagacious 
 and incorruptible patriot, whom we called to 
 preside. over the destinies of the nation; whose 
 brief trial evinced his worthiness of all that con- 
 
fidence we felt in him; to whom we looked lor 
 wise and moderate counsels, and lor the < "ii 
 serration of our peace and concord, is suddenly 
 snatched away from the hopes o{ his [oviag 
 countrymen; and they arc downcast because 
 they have lost the right arm of their Strength, 
 
 " God standeth in the congregation of the 
 mighty; he judgeth among the rulers, .... I 
 have said, ye are gods, and all of you am chil- 
 dren of the Most High: but ye shall die like 
 men, and fall like one of the princes." (Tsalm 
 lxxxii., 1, 6, 7.) "Lift not up your horn on high ; 
 speak not with a stiff neck. For promo- 
 tion cometh neither from the east, nor from the 
 west, nor from the south: but God is the Judge; 
 he putteth down one, and setteth up another." 
 (Psalm lxxv., 5 — 7.) 
 
 We may learn from it a lesson of the wick- 
 edness of partisan warfare and of the relentless 
 malignity of faction. This man labored, and 
 lived, and died for his country alone Jim he 
 was pressed to death. What a shame to this 
 land, and especially what an infamy to those 
 who gave occasion for it, was the pathetic com- 
 plaint of this brave, strong man, to his physician, 
 but a few hours before his decease: " I should 
 not be surprised, if this were to terminate in my 
 death. I did not expect to encounter what 
 
24 
 
 has beset me since my elevation to the Presi- 
 dency. God knows that I have endeavored to 
 fulfil what I conceived to be an honest duty. 
 But I have been mistaken. My motives have 
 been misconstrued, and my feelings most grossly 
 outraged." Oh ! well, were it for our country, 
 if, listening to the voice of rebuke, from the lips 
 of this dying man, and especially from that Su- 
 preme Arbiter of nations and of men, in chas- 
 tening us by this great loss, we should learn to 
 lay aside that bitter animosity, that relentless 
 malignity, that maliciousness of calumny, and 
 vile detraction, which has not spared our 
 purest patriots, pursues them to death, and in- 
 volves the land in all the disgrace and danger 
 that spring from the virulent feuds and selfish 
 conflicts of faction. Unmeasured vituperation 
 of the living is ill atoned by posthumous retrac- 
 tion, and sentimental eulogy of the dead ! 
 
 We may learn, again, a lesson of humility, 
 penitence, and trust in God. We have many 
 public and personal sins, for which God enga- 
 ges in controversy against us. But His Provi- 
 dence calls us to repentance and hope in Him, 
 as our Supreme Deliverer and Ruler. He has 
 not visited us according to our iniquities. 
 There have been dangers before now, and 
 
25 
 
 times that tried men's souls. But he hat <>\. i- 
 rulcd our fears, and brought us out of trouble 
 into a wealthy place. We may look t<» Him. — 
 but only to Him, — to do it again. He removi 
 our princes and perplexes the nation. I'.ut ll« 
 Himself is on the throne. Our reliance is on 
 His mercy and equity. The nation and king- 
 dom that will not serve Him, shall utterly 
 perish. But if we arc led by His Providence 
 and grace to lay aside our base and selfish and 
 sectional aims, and to allay our wretched con- 
 troversies ; if our public men and our people 
 cherish a lofty patriotism, trust in God, look to 
 Him for counsel, and follow His word, in our 
 national policy and in our personal conduct, 
 then may we hope for our best prosperity. 
 Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a 
 reproach to any people. 
 
 In the view of all these circumstances, it be- 
 comes us to offer prayer unto God for those 
 that are in authority over us, that we may lead 
 a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and 
 honesty. It is He by whom kings feign and 
 princes decree justice. He only is able to make 
 our rulers faithful. It is He alone, who can watch 
 over the heart and counsels of the eminent 
 citizen who has already succeeded to the tunc- 
 
26 
 
 tions, the temptations, the labors, and the re- 
 sponsibilities of the Presidency. And with 
 what force of pathos, comes to us, as well as 
 to our Senators and Legislators, the modest but 
 manly appeal, with which the new President 
 closes his announcement to Congress, of the 
 death of his illustrious predecessor : 
 
 " To you, Senators and Representatives of a 
 nation in tears, I can say nothing which can 
 alleviate the sorrow with which you are op- 
 pressed. I appeal to you to aid me under the 
 trying circumstances which surround me in the 
 discharge of the duties, from which, however 
 much I may be oppressed by them, I have not 
 shrunk. I rely on Him who holds in His hands 
 the destinies of nations, to endow me with the 
 requisite strength for the task, and to avert from 
 our country, the evils apprehended from the 
 heavy calamity which has befallen us." 
 
 May this prayer be lifted up by all our country- 
 men, with holy hands, without wrath and doubt- 
 ing. And may it be answered from Heaven, 
 by that God of Sabaoth, whose ear is not heavy 
 that it cannot hear, nor His arm shortened that 
 it cannot save. 
 
 Now, unto the King, Eternal, Immortal, In- 
 visible, the only wise God, our Saviour ; Who is 
 
27 
 
 able to do exceeding abundantly, aboix all thai 
 we ask or think, according to the power that 
 worh /h in us ; Unto Jfim, be glory and moj\ i- 
 ty, dominion and power, both now and ever. 
 
 Amen. (1 Timothy, i. 17; Ephesians, iii. 20; 
 Jude 25.) 
 
146 
 
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