THANKSGIVING SERMON. 45 reverses, but those very reverses have assured us that we have no ground for discouragement. When the ten tribes revolted from the throne of David, Israel did not lose its confidence in God. When our Revolutionary fathers fled before the British cannon and the Indian tomahawk, they did not lose their confidence in God. They were reared and nursed amid reverses, and came from scenes of blood to found this empire of law, order, and liberty. They are looking down upon us to-day, and I seem to hear them say to you and to me,11 Hold fast that thou hast; let no man take thy crown.” For myself I hardly hope to survive this fearful controversy. I love the land which gave me birth, and which is the place of my fathers’ and my childrens’ sepulchres. I love it as one of the stanch pillars of good government ; as the friend and patron of every good word and work; as the soil where the vine that was brought out of Egypt has flourished and filled the land; as destined to herald forth and perpetuate those 11 years of the right hand of the Most High,” when “knowledge, with strength of salvation, shall be the stability of the times.” I am sensible we are exposed by our self-confidence. We have stood on an
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