THE SACRIFICE OF CONTINUAL PRAISE. 13 • are bound around with the heart-strings of a nation's homes —its hosts move forth to battle with the memories, and sustaining prayers, and heartfelt sympathies of a people’s myriad closets and sanctuaries. Linked in with our faith, bound up with our trust in Almighty God, our country appeals to every noble sentiment." This is the glory of our republican institutions; around this sacred altar we strike hands together; distinctions forgotten, party differences fading out of sight; while our anthem of humble, yet hearty praise, goes up from thousands of hearts to the throne of the living God. All this is ours, to-day. The memories of the past have just as much power to arouse to enthusiasm as ever, while the noble achievements of the heroes of our own time—our ( irant, our Sherman, our Sheridan,—thrill our hearts with joy, we recount their deeds with pride, and hereafter we will delight to tell our children, of the noble men who lived and fought to preserve our dear-bought liberties. Thank God for another year of national life! * But there is in this connection still more that is calculated to lead ns to thanksgiving. God has “defended us with Uis guardian care against unfriendly designs from abroad, and has vouchsafed to us many and signal victories over the foe, who is of our own household.-’ Other nations have been held back from interference in this contest, not from any sympathy with, nor love for, these free institutions; but from the circumstances of the case. They have both respected and feared the nation that was able, upon call, to muster her soldiers, armed and equipped, ready for the fiercest battle, by the hundreds of thousands. This war has developed a power
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