,transcribed from the #ahei ,rivingtons edition by ,david ,price4 ,a ,,sermon ,,preached ,,at ,,christ ,,church1 ,,kensington1 ,on ,may #a1 #ahei1 ,,being ,,the ,,day ,,appointed ,,for ,a ,,general ,,thanksgiving ,,to ,,almighty ,,god1 ,,for ,,the ,,success ,,granted ,,to ,,our ,,arms ,,in ,,suppressing ,,the ,,rebellion ,,and ,,restoring ,,tranquillity ,,in ,,her ,,majesty',s ,,indian ,,dominions4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,by ,,the ,,rev4 ,,william ,,wright1 ,m4,a4 ,,senior ,,curate ,,of ,,st4 ,,mary ,,abbotts1 ,,kensington4 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 ,,london3 ,,rivingtons1 ,,waterloo ,,place4 ,,winter1 ,,high ,,street ,,terrace1 ,,kensington4 #ahei4 99 99 99 99 99 #b ,,samuel viii4 #ad1 #ae4 8,,and ,,he ,,put ,,garrisons ,,in ,,edom2 ,,throughout ,,all ,,edom ,,put ,,he ,,garrisons1 ,,and ,,all ,,they ,,of ,,edom ,,became ,,david',s ,,servants1 ,,and ,,the ,,lord ,,preserved ,,david ,,whithersoever ,,he ,,went4 8,,and ,,david ,,reigned ,,over ,,all ,,israel3 ,,and ,,david ,,executed ,,judgment ,,and ,,justice ,,unto ,,all ,,his ,,people40 ,a ,,sermon1 ,,etc4 ,,as an aggregate of individuals professing faith in ,christ1 we1 the people of ,great ,britain1 may with truth and reason venture to assert that our ,queen and our ,legislature are on a footing1 as to ,god's protecting care1 with highly favoured and heaven-honoured ,david of old4 ,if ,almighty ,god1 under his earlier revelation1 did actually guard and help in temporal matters a ruling prince of this lower world1 who was a man 8after his own heart0--as ,david's plainly-told history everywhere assures us that ,he did--none can reasonably say that it is either impossible or improbable that ,he should vouchsafe to guard and help our presiding ,monarch and our law-giving ,senate in the administration of public affairs1 baptized as they are 8in the name of the ,father1 and of the ,son1 and of the ,holy ,ghost20 educated as they are in the very details of his later and last revelation2 and supposed1 pledged1 and believed as they are to be seeking individually after the mind which is in ,christ1 and the sanctifying influence of the ,holy ,spirit of ,god4 ,all1 indeed1 must at once see1 and grant as a foregone conclusion from which there is no appeal1 that our monarchical and representative government1 being essentially and generally ,christian--being so in spite of the ,judaism1 vice1 and infidelity which may be discerned in it1 and which in no way interfere with our present argument--is1 by virtue of its admitted and preponderating ,christianity1 brought under the immediate guardianship and protection of the ,most ,high4 ,such being the case1 or since we believe such to be the case1 we most naturally1 and1 ,i may add most consistently1 pray for the 8,high ,court of ,parliament0 which assembles from time to time 8under our most religious and gracious ,queen40 ,our prayer in this matter is as simple as it is beautiful4 ,a prayer is it which none who are in the habit of praying at all for others can possibly object to4 ,it simply asks of ,god that ,he would 8be pleased to direct and prosper all their consultations to the advancement of his glory1 the good of his church1 the safety1 honour1 and welfare of our ,sovereign and her dominions40 ,often and often1 let me trust1 have we loyally and faithfully prayed after this most becoming and time-hallowed fashion4 ,especially1 most especially1 let me also trust1 did we do so--,i feel confident that we did1 if our hearts were not steeled against every patriotic impression--some two years ago1 in this very place1 as also in the still larger chamber of a thoughtful spirit1--at a time which all must well remember1--a time of deep national distress and heaviness of heart into which1 under ,god's fearful and probationary providence1 we as a people were cast headlong and unawares by the event of an ,eastern mutiny4 ,recall the occasion referred to4 ,by so doing we shall be reminded of the great need there then was for prayer for help1 and of the petition we then put up1 and so be enabled to appreciate more livingly and heartily the answer which ,god has given us this day in the blessing of peace and restoration of 8tranquillity in her ,majesty's ,indian dominions40 ,let memory's wand conjure up to our imagination1 or1 if we please1 let fancy's pencil sketch to our view the scene1 the hour1 in which1 at the period in question1 we had recourse1 with more than ordinary interest and earnestness1 to prayer in our difficulty on behalf of our ,queen and ,council of ,state--prayer to the effect that they might be 8directed and prospered0 in all their momentous 8consultations0 on which1 humanly speaking1 hung the dignity1 the happiness1 and the missionary usefulness as well as the safety of our beloved country4 ,you will suppose1 then1 that we are just released from the cruel bondage of a warfare into which we were compelled1 as men of faith and feeling1 to enter for humanity's sake4 ,our laurels of awarded victory are still fresh on the hero's brow4 ,our triumphant attitude is1 to all appearance1 keeping at bay a tyrant world1 and securing 8peace on earth and goodwill towards men40 ,time is about to commence her gracious task of lessening our sorrows for the brave and bold who are no more on earth amongst the children of men1 and whose remains are swelling with their sad accumulations the once unbroken1 but now grave-studded ,crimean plain4 ,our minds are turning homeward4 ,we dwell upon reforming ourselves4 ,social progress and fair play in all matters1 ecclesiastical as well as civil1 are points which much interest us4 ,we are musing with practical intent upon such things as become enlightened and well-disposed minds4 ,we are thoroughly enjoying national repose1 dwelling each man 8safely under his own vine20 and we are doing1 and anxious to do1 the great1 the civilizing work of peace4 ,alas6 8,all is vanity and vexation of spirit40 ,our fondest hopes are broken up1 and1 in a moment of time1 vanish away as a vision of the night when one awakes4 ,a cry is heard abroad amongst us2 it is no less than a cry of war--that hell-cry which despots love to raise1 and which all godless and loveless spirits echo in sympathetic sinfulness6 ,at the gates of science do we listen1 in dread suspense1 to hear the contradiction or confirmation of the evil tidings4 ,our worst suspicions are soon confirmed4 ,in rapid successions does the magic whisper steal across the deep1 and tell its brief but bloody tale1 that ours have risen up against us in the far ,east2 that many a bitter ,shimei has come forth to curse our rule2 that many a mutinous and rebel ,sheba has blown the signal blast of insurrection2 that men1 women1 and children1 8bone of our bone1 and flesh of our flesh10 are being scattered abroad by a cruelly organized persecution1 some seeking in hopeless flight a desert solitude1 there to die unfriended and alone2 others hastening to the nearest fastness1 there to hold out1 a scanty and surprised handful1 against an armed and swarming adversary2 and that1 once more1 numbers of our fellow-countrymen1 together with their wives and little ones1 have actually perished1 if not by more hideous means1 by the edge of the sword4 ,a trembling for the present1 and a fear for the future1 take hold of us4 ,with deepest anxiety do we turn1 in this our moment of sharp distress and bewilderment1 to our ruling representatives1 bidding them do in our common name what seemed to them good under the circumstances of our emergency1 and dismissing them to their onerous work with the benedictory prayer1 that ,almighty ,god would of his infinite goodness 8be pleased to direct and prosper all their consultations to the advancement of his glory1 the good of his ,church1 the safety1 honour1 and welfare of our ,sovereign and her dominions40 ,so it was1 ,i doubt not1 that we1 as a ,god-fearing people1 prayed for our rulers when they were summoned to consider and prepare for the suppression of that ,indian mutiny of #aheg1 whose simply detailed history is of itself1 its plain1 unvarnished1 unembellished self1 the most cruel and the most heart-rending tragedy that has ever been recorded6 ,of this enough4 ,and now1 my believing and prayer-using brethren--so ,i would style you all--it is high time for me to challenge your hearty attention to the joyous and indisputable fact1 that your reward for having prayed for your rulers is at hand4 ,your petition on their behalf has been heard on high1 if petition on any national account be ever hearkened to above1 or if what we see before us is not the merest coincidence of blindest chance4 ,open wide your eyes1 and read for yourselves the heaven-sent answer to your prayer4 ,your ,sovereign's will1 your senators' wisdom1 have both alike worked marvellously well for you and yours4 ,all their consultations1 resolutions1 and decrees1 in the matter of the suppression of the ,indian mutiny1 have1 up to the present moment1 been accompanied by that triple result which you have so often prayed for--8the advancement of ,god's glory1 the good of his ,church1 the safety1 honour1 and welfare of our ,sovereign and her dominions40 ,let me somewhat enlarge4 ,god's glory1 we do not hesitate to affirm1 has been more or less advanced by the conduct and policy of ,england in and during the warfare which has been recently accomplished in the ,east4 ,all that we have done in it worthy of praise or remembrance1 we have done1 so we believe and confess1 through ,him1 through his strength1 through his teaching1 through his ,gospel1 through the very circumstances under which ,he has placed us1 and through the very constitutional dispositions which ,he has given us4 ,all1 therefore1 that has been done in it worthy of praise or remembrance1 do we feel bound to ascribe1 purely and simply1 to ,god1 as its author and finisher1 entering as we did upon every work1 every encounter1 with these words of humility upon our lips3--8,not unto us1 ,o ,lord1 not unto us1 but unto ,thy name1 give glory1 for ,thy mercy and for ,thy truth's sake20 and checking the thought of pride and self-sufficiency which from time to time rose up within on occasion of our having done well1 with the apostolic inquiry and reproof--8,who maketh thee to differ from another8 ,and what hast thou that thou didst not receive8 ,now1 if thou didst receive it1 why dost thou glory as if thou hadst not received it80 ,much1 indeed1 from this point of view1 does our national behaviour in the ,east during unparalleled difficulties redound to the glory of that ,god from whom all 8holy desires1 all good counsels1 and all just works do proceed40 ,never have we been in such straits4 ,never have we acted so graciously and so in accordance with the spirit of our ,gospel4 ,before us stood--a sickening and never-to-be-forgotten sight--a vast army in deadly and rebellious array--an army made up of men with whom we had gone side by side to victory over a common foe--men our familiar friends1 to whom we had extended1 and were learning more and more to extend1 the right hand of social fellowship--men whom we had not only treated kindly1 but1 as was reported and believed1 had verily spoiled by forbearing gentleness4 ,there they stand--a rebellious horde--raging 8furiously10 and imagining a 8vain thing10 doing all they can1 by slaying the innocent and dishonouring the chaste1 to tempt us to forget our nature and our nature's ,god1 and to assimilate ourselves to their unholy and fiendish temperaments4 ,nothing1 however1 that they do disturbs for a moment the balance of ,christian power and influence in our national and common mind4 ,to war1 indeed1 do we sally forth in saddest necessity and from a sense of duty1 but it is to a war of a purely defensive character on our part1 and nothing more4 ,no hunting down the adversary1 no trampling upon him1 no tearing away the suckling from the breast1 for the sweetness of being revenged1 have characterized our doings4 ,vengeance have we repudiated1 or rather1 ,i should say1 not dared to handle1 being1 as we conceive1 an attribute belonging solely to ,god1 and too fearful to be entrusted to fallen man4 ,here and there1 it is true1 the pulpit and the press1 losing their moral self-possession1 raised awhile in our hearing that ancient ,christ-condemned cry of retaliation--8an eye for an eye1 and a tooth for a tooth20 but soon1 very soon1 was that harsh and ugly sound let die away and for ever perish in the softer strain of the ,son of ,god--8,but ,i say unto you1 that ye resist not evil2 but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek1 turn to him the other also40 ,yes4 ,no vengeance1 no retaliation--,god's holy name be praised--have stained the banner of ,england4 ,we fought honourably and for noble ends4 ,we have slain1 alas6 but only those on whom the law of ,god and the law of man would have passed sentence of death1 if required so to do4 ,we have fought1 who can deny it8 but fought that we might 8live and let live0--that the world might be peaceably ordered--and that 8peace and happiness1 truth and justice1 religion and piety10 might be established amongst us1 amongst the people committed to our charge1 even the hosts of ,india1 8for all generations40 ,we are ashamed neither of our deeds nor our motives4 ,they1 indeed1 are not ours2 this is why we are not ashamed of them--but as we have said1 they are ,god's--,god's1 that is1 so far as they are pure1 holy1 merciful1 upright1 manly--in a word1 so far as they are ,christian4 ,to ,him1 therefore1 let them be ascribed in the presence of the whole world1 and from them1 as from a moral mirror1 let there be reflected1 not our national1 but his everlasting 8,glory40 ,inseparably connected with the glory of ,god1 which has in a measure been worked out1 as we maintain1 by the events to which we refer1 is the 8good of his ,church0--a result we ever pray may attend all our political consultations and movements4 ,who can doubt that the spectacle presented to the ,indian mind in all our transactions of war--our wisdom1 our mercy1 our justice--is doing its silent work in many a thoughtful bosom1 and adding some new soul to the ,church of ,christ even whilst we are speaking8 ,many and many a man1 depend upon it1 has been made to think for himself1 in these troublous times1 of the real value and working of his ancestral creed4 ,he has often1 may be1 had doubts as to the superstitions of his nation1 and the doctrines of his overseers4 ,he has for years1 perhaps1 held in secret and deep admiration the aspirations and longings of his natural conscience1 and felt that they ran counter to the senseless commandments and idle traditions of the world with which he and his race have been overburdened4 ,he has longed for a creed which should not suppress and smother1 but fan into a living flame of sterling piety1 those smouldering elements of natural religion which he has treasured amidst the follies of heathenism on the hearth of a not yet abandoned conscience4 ,his wish is gratified4 ,he has at length found1 or rather1 we should say1 seen at work1 such a creed--seen it in the warrior of the ,cross1 seen it in one who can fight and yet be merciful1 who can have within his power a cruel relentless enemy1 yet find room for compassion2 who can show at all times and in all places that he has a heart which beats true to the instincts of our nature1 when not lost and sensualized4 ,he has rejoiced with exceeding great joy to have fallen in with a religion which is far from contradicting conscience or nature1 but which1 contrariwise1 advocates and enforces 8whatsoever things are true1 whatsoever things are honest1 whatsoever things are pure1 whatsoever things are lovely1 whatsoever things are of good report20 things which even in his childhood's superstitions and the ignorance of his more advanced years have never altogether forsaken him4 ,he has pondered over these things in his heart1 and contrasting the plain1 true1 useful life of the ,cross1 with the wicked follies and fancies of the ,crescent1 has yielded himself up to the former1 and added himself to the ,church of ,christ4 ,may it have been so in many1 many instances6 ,as to the last result of legislative labour on our behalf1 8the safety1 honour1 and welfare of our ,sovereign and her dominions10 which we prayed might follow our rulers' consultations1 it is needless to say anything4 ,each of us can see the finger of ,god at work in1 and trace its divine impress upon1 the facts of to-day1 which call us together to thank and praise the ,lord4 ,each has faith and wit enough of soul1 let us believe1 to read1 in the spirit of the words of the text1 the manner in which ,god has been with our ,sovereign1 our national interests1 yea6 ourselves--8,and the ,lord preserved ,david whithersoever he went40 ,and now1 my brethren1 what is the most appropriate thank-offering that we1 ,sovereign and people1 can make to ,almighty ,god for his mercies vouchsafed to us8 ,undoubtedly that which follows up our advantages and shows that we are worthy1 or labouring to be thought worthy1 of the great position with which ,god has entrusted us1 even the thank-offering which ,david made after his preservation1 and which is unpretendingly recorded in the words1 8,and ,david executed judgment and justice to all his people40 ,this it is ours to see carried out1 so far as in us lies1 and this we trust is being carried out fully and conscientiously by our representatives4 ,but something more have we to offer up to ,god than judgment and justice toward the people subject to our rule1 though this offering be great and to be had in highest esteem4 ,we have heard and seen what kings and prophets desired of old to hear and see4 ,our knowledge is increased1 and so is our responsibility4 ,all type1 all figure1 all mystery1 are removed from us1 and 8,god1 who at sundry times1 and in divers manners1 spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets1 hath in these last days spoken unto us by his ,son0--spoken a word of salvation in the ,gospel which exceeds1 in point of moral beauty and spiritual comfort1 all that we can imagine or desire4 ,this word we dare not enjoy to ourselves4 ,on we must pass it1 together with judgment and justice1 to our people4 ,it has made us great1 and caused us to 8shine like lights in the world40 ,why should it not make them so1 and cause them so to shine8 ,on we must pass it1 not only as a matter of ordinary and evident duty1 but as a matter of feeling4 ,each true believer is1 by his very impulse of faith1 a soul-seeking power amongst men4 ,in his heart is deeply sown the missionary germ--only requiring the light and heat of a living faith to raise and mature it to its appointed height and grandeur--when its branches are sure to spread themselves forth in sheltering love over all living within their reach4 ,to this passing on of blessings received to others are we ever invited4 ,now1 this very day1 are we so especially4 8,a great door and effectual0 is open to us in the ,east4 ,by the violence of circumstances--circumstances1 those emissaries of the great ,creator's purpose--have the gates of superstition been torn from their hinges1 and a way made for us to enter1 unmolested1 into the very sanctuary and stronghold of ,belial1 there to preach to our heart's content 8the way1 the truth1 and the life40 ,it is as if an angel--opportunity had been sent from on high to 8prepare the way of the ,lord10 and had cried aloud to the long pent-up and isolated heathen world to receive us--the missionary nation of the ,cross of ,christ2 saying unto them1 8,open ye the gates1 that the righteous nation which keepeth truth may enter in40 ,oh6 who is there amongst us that does not now desire to enter in8 ,who is there that does not sorrow over his indolence in not having done more hitherto for his fellows8 ,who does not burn with indignation at his own--his country's--missionary apathy1 when he contemplates before him1 in ,india and her immortal millions1 a vast sea of souls1 now surging with infidelity1 now again raging with superstition1 bearing as it does on its sin-heaving and lust-swelling surface but few1 very few1 labourers in the employ of that blessed and acceptable merchandize1 the toiling1 as 8fishers of men10 for the ,son of ,god8 ,who1 when he contrasts the greatness of the work to be accomplished with the contemptibly limited means he has brought to bear on its fulfilment--one pastor to a million souls being the provision made by ,christian ,england's ,national ,church for the restoration of heathen ,india to her ,god and ,saviour--who1 when he so contrasts1 is not lastingly impressed with a sense of unworthy selfishness8 ,once more--accept1 my beloved brethren1 whilst it is to-day1 this1 this for all we know last1 last challenge to visit1 gospel in hand1 the degraded millions of ,india4 ,plant amongst them a church4 ,erect for them a school4 ,provide them with a minister4 ,give them freely the means which have made you under ,providence what you are4 ,let them know that these means are to be the implements of your new spiritual warfare amidst them4 8,fight10 before them and their children1 8the good fight of faith40 ,tell them you seek1 and wish them to seek1 that 8peace which the world cannot give10 and 8which passeth all understanding40 ,show them that you delight not in brandishing over their heads the cold and deadly steel1 nor take pleasure in witnessing the fire-flash which heralds a creature's death1 but that you would rather wield the sword of the ,spirit over their immortal souls1 by means of the preached word1 and rejoice for ever and ever in heaven that they were preserved with you and yours unto everlasting life4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,the ,,end4 99 99 99 99 99 ,h4 ,,winter1 ,,printer1 ,,high ,,street ,,terrace1 ,,kensington4