"It is not necessary for us to rehearse the mercies and the benefits which call for gratitude at our hands. No heart disposed to recognize an Almighty Providence as the giver of good will need to be reminded of our grounds of thankfulness. Whatever we have--life, health, reason--the continued capacity to labor and to love--home, families and friends--comforts in the present, and hopes for the future--all are gifts from God, and deserve our profound and sincere acknowledgments.
It is true there are drawbacks to our enjoyments and our anticipations. The political condition of the country is one of agitation and uncertainty. But is a single cloud in the sky to make us forgetful or distrustful of the sun in heaven? Are we not to be grateful for what we have, because we have not every thing we may desire? That man has very little of the Christian in him who can take such a view of our obligations. And his faith in Providence must be weak, indeed, who cannot trust that all the storms and commotions of the present moment are but the appointed means by which God works out his just and beneficent designs.
The people will assemble for worship today in their respective churches, and the clergy will probably avail themselves, as has hertofore been the general practice, of the opportunity to review the political affairs of the country in the light of principles of Christianity." (New York Times, editorial)
No comments:
Post a Comment