God's Praises Sung; His Works Forgotten: A Sermon, Preached on the Public Thanksgiving, November 30, 1820, in the Meeting-House of the Second Parish, at Portland (Classic Reprint)

Excerpt from God's Praises Sung; His Works Forgotten: A Sermon, Preached on the Public Thanksgiving, November 30, 1820, in the Meeting-House of the Second Parish, at Portland

Should the thankfulness, which our fellow citizens this day ex. Press, prove to be of the spurious transient'kind described above, they will be peculiarly inexcusable; for the dispensations of providence, as they respect our political interests, are admirably suited to excite, not a momentary burst, but a continual flow, of grateful affection. 'god's mercies have descended upon us, not in a sudden torrent, but in a gentle and constant shower. If we have not, like some other nations, been recently freed from the pressure of overwhelming evils, it is because that from all such evils, we have, for many years, been graciously preserved. But this circumstance rather increases, then diminishes our obli gations to the great disposer of events. The mariner who finds the sea tem-pestuous; who is often in imminentdanger of shipwreck; and who, after despairing of life, is brought in safety to the desir ed haven, may feel, and ought to feel, strong emotions of thank= fulness. But has he more real cause for gratitude, than one whose voyage is uninterruptedly pleasant and prosperous; and who experiences no striking interpositions of providence in his favor, because none were necessary Such, in a degree unex ampled in this age of storms and convulsions, has been our polit ical voyage a circumstance, -which surely calls for gratitude, as uninterrupted as' our prosperity. Permit me to add, that whatev er difl'erence of opinion may have existed, respecting the expe 'diency of our separation from the parent state; no one will deny, that, since this event has taken place, we are under great obliga tions to Him, whose watchful care prevented the evils which might have ensued; and rendered the dreaded shock of separa tion so gentle, that it was scarcely felt.

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