State Thanksgiving During the Rebellion

30 THANKSGIVING SERMON. exalted the God of heaven. The foundations of this government were laid by him; he took the work into his own hands; it was settled and arranged by him; and when it was completed it was a work worthy of its divine Author. And now that it has enjoyed such marked tokens of his favor, and we are called on to defend and perpetuate its existence and its heaven-imparted blessings, shall we not look to him to plan for us and to provide for us still, and, as we address ourselves to coming dangers, fix our eyes upon 11 the pillar of cloud by day” and of “ fire by night ?” Then, this conflict over, and union and peace restored to this convulsed land, we shall know, and the nations of the earth will know, what a God there is in heaven. The world will know that he hath gotten to himself a great name, and that he is the Head and glory of these states, and the “ re warder of them that diligently seek him.” Such are the principles by which, as a nation, we ought to be governed. They are true principles; and, like all moral truth, are the source of high and noble impulses. They are motives which form the character of every good man, every good ruler, every good army.

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