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my at New-Orleans; "for," said he, "we had more than two thousand praying men among the volunteers."

The battle of New-Orleans was also fought on Sunday, and it is a coïncidence worthy of note, as already published to the world through the press, and not out of place to be mentioned here in passing, that a number of unsuccessful battles have been fought on Sunday, and that in all these battles the party attacking was the one defeated. These battles are, besides the ancient one of the Maccabees, the modern ones of Quebec, Plattsburgh, Monmouth, New-Orleans, Waterloo, Big Bethel, Bull Run, Ball's Bluff, Somerset, Winchester, Pittsburgh Landing, and Fair Oaks. It may savor of presumption to interpret dogmatically the judgments of divine Providence, or to pronounce who are favorites of Heaven, or who are the reverse, but the historical facts just adverted to are certainly in harmony with the jealous care with which God has always guarded the institution of the Sabbath; and it is here relevant to our subject to add, that we may infer the value of faithful chaplains, who know how to stand up for God and his holy day.

Fit to be ranked alongside of the pious chieftains already enumerated, I should name Colonel Alexander R. Thomson, who fell in the Florida war at O-kee-cho-bee. This gallant officer had a furlough in his pocket, granted on account of his shattered health, but disdained to avail himself of it on the eve of an engagement. The evening before he fell, he had a meeting for social prayer in his tent. He received his fatal wound as he was leading on his regiment, with the words: "Men, remember to what regiment you belong !"

While we record former instances of pious valor, it is gratifying to be able to say that there is no deterioration in our own day. During the present unhappy contest, prayer has abounded. Chaplains have not been backward to offer their services, and whether with or without chaplains, the men have been known to meet to pray by dozens and by scores, and sometimes even by hundreds, in the tent, the hospital, and down in the orlop-deck. It has been thought that the number of conversions during the last eighteen months among the army and navy, has been greater than would probably have occurred among the same men had they remained at their homes, for they had had the Gospel and its precious truths brought nigh to their consciences with peculiar and unwonted freedom and force. Many of our officers and privates are men who have known the power of religion in their own souls; and Mitchel and Foote are as well qualified to lead a prayer-meeting or to deliver an exhortation, as to maneuver a division, or command a flotilla of gunboats.

It is stated of the late Colonel Russell, of the Tenth Connecticut regiment, that he asked Governor Buckingham for an evan

gelical chaplain, to make, as he said himself, his soldiers the best of troops. He was not a Christian himself-quite the reverse; but he had noticed that the bravest and most reliable men in danger, were the religious ones. The Governor cheerfully accorded his request, kindly adding, that one who felt so anxious about his men becoming Christians, ought to feel some concern for himself. The admonition was not lost. The Colonel sought, from a brother officer, how he might save his soul, and gave his heart to the Lord. He fell soon after at Roanoke, leading on his men to victory.

And I may be pardoned for mentioning, that just before the bril liant circle-sailing at Port Royal, one of the seamen on board the Seminole, a man who was converted in a signal manner only a short time ago, obtained permission to retire to a convenient place with his praying companions, and for a few minutes they commended themselves and their cause to God; and it will not be deemed superstitious by the present audience, if it is added, that in apparent answer to their prayers, not one of that crew was wounded in the engagement.

An inviting field opens before us, of incident and anecdote, and it requires an effort to abstain from occupying it. Indeed, our topic has been so extensive and so fruitful, that it is hard to bring it within ordinary limits, and the chief difficulty has been that of selection and condensation. But in view of the remaining duties of the occasion, and of your patience, much has been and must be left unsaid.

Our subject teaches us-

1st. That since just wars are lawful, and have the sanction of the Almighty, we are authorized and encouraged to pray for the divine blessing on our arms.

2d. Christians are not out of the line of duty in taking up arms at their country's call, to repel invasion, to repress insurrection, or to maintain the Constitution and the laws.

3d. Ministers have an interesting field of usefulness before them, which they should not be slow to enter, as chaplains in the army and navy, in camps and hospitals.

4th. It is an object worth the labors and efforts of Christian people, to introduce a healthy, religious influence into our ships, forts, and camps, through the regular preaching of the Gospel, the distribution of religious and moral books, the promotion of Sabbath observance, and the discountenancing of profanity, intemperance, gambling, and lewdness.

5th. Military men, instead of ignoring or being ashamed of the Christian character, should be faithful soldiers of Christ; and while they are personally brave and without reproach, should give every facility to faithful chaplains in the exercise of their peculiar functions.

Time forbids us to expand these few hints. What has been

said must suffice. We have plucked a leaf from the Olive of Gethsemane to twine with the ambitious Laurel, not because they are kindred plants, but with the hope that the bitterness of the one may be tempered by the sweetness of the other.

THE PRAYER-MEETING.

PASTORAL LETTER.

THE following letter, written on the last Sabbath in August, 1862, in mid-ocean, by a pastor to his flock, has been sent for publication in the Prayer-Meeting." The same pen has already enriched the pages of the NATIONAL PREACHER this year. The name is omitted by request.

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"TO THE BELOVED PRAYING ONES AT HOME: "ON this last Sabbath and day of summer, I take my pen, within a week's sail of the ccast of Europe, to speak a few words to you out of the fullness of my heart.

and we grow more like-minded as we constantly meet to seek together new supplies of that heavenly grace we so much need to press us on to God? These, I take it, are some of the reasons for the fact. The fact itself is undeniable.

on the

"Why is it, do you suppose, that, whether at home or abroad, on the "You will be glad to hear, as I am land or the ocean, a pastor's heart to be able to write, that our gracious turns with special and peculiar inter- Master has been with me est and affection to those of his charge ocean, and I have had seasons of who sustain the weekly prayer-meet- great enjoyment of his presence, esing? Why do they seem most dear pecially in storm and sickness. Then to him whose voices are habitually he has been nearest to me, and I have heard in prayer and exhortation, and realized most of his infinite goodness in the sweet songs of Zion, when and matchless grace. A week ago, God's people assemble for the social to-day, the weather was very rough, worship of their heavenly Father? and I was too sick to be out of my Is it not because prayer is the power berth, but as I lay there, all alone, of the Church, and they who most my soul was filled to overflowing abound in the spiritual exercise of with a deep and unspeakable peace that power are fairly to be regarded and joy, while I thought of my God as the strong pillars in God s earth- and Saviour; especially in view of ly temple? Is it not because our the infinite worthiness of God and attachment to each other, as fellow- the boundless grace of the Redeemer. citizens of the heavenly kingdom, I had a very clear view of the excelnaturally ripens into warmer love in lence of the Most High; of the fitcommon, friendly, unrestrained inter- ness of his glory being the supreme course together at the mercy-seat; and constant end to be kept in view

by his people, his angels, and himself. submission with exultation, exclaims: Nothing appeared to have any value "The Lord be glorified, his will alone detached from God, made independ- be done." It is worth all it will cost ent of him, pursued without direct to reach that hight. It is above reference to him. His will seemed the region of clouds and storms; so infinitely right, that I wanted these are at the base of the mounevery thing to bend to it, to exalt tain, while "eternal sunshine settles and honor it; every thing, both in on its head." He who habitually myself and others. I desired him dwells here has uninterrupted peace to do with me, for time and for eter- and gladness. I do not affirm this nity, in connection with my voyage from experience, but from the necesand travels and in all the affairs sity of the case. How can that soul of daily life, just what he would be disturbed and agitated and unhapprefer; what would be most to him, py who sees in all the incidents of rather than to me. And so I asked its life the directing and controlling for all most dear to me, that they hand of God, and who appreciates might honor God, as being better, the wisdom and the goodness that worth more, measured by eternal guide that hand; that both wants righteousness, than their own person- God to govern and actually recogal happiness and welfare. And then nizes his rule? He must dwell in my heart swelled with gratitude and peace. joy, till my eyes overflowed with tears, as I thought that God asks no sacrifice from us to honor him, that our interests are not injured that his may be promoted, but he has blended the two in absolute and perfect harmony, so that what is best for us is most glorious to him! O matchless love! O wisdom vast and immeasurable! What heart can be so cold and ungenerous as not to appreciate them sufficiently, to make the will of God before all things else, in his estimation and life? Very frequently have the beautiful lines of Faber been in my mind and on my lips:

Ill that God blesses is our good,
And unblest good is ill;

And all is right that seems most wrong,
If it be his sweet will.'

"And now, my dear people, let this be our common desire and effort, to reach the attainment indicated; let us make all of God that he is in himself; let us come down from an overestimate of ourselves. Creatures of yesterday, what do we know unless God enlighten our darkness, and convey to us knowledge? How can we, in our blindness, assume to take the direction of the Infinite, to tell him what he may do and what he must not; to pronounce upon his works and ways as though we comprehended the least of them; to affix conditions to our obedience and submission to his most holy will? Away with all this, and be ours the spirit of the ancient prophet, 'Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him ;' be ours the prayer of our divine Redeemer: Thy will be done.'

"I speak of these things, beloved, because I know you will rejoice to "Applicable to all, this exhortation hear of them, and because I want is, especially in point, to all who are you to share them with me. I want in affliction, and some among you you, too, to rise above and out of may be weeping bitter tears, of which self, to ascend into that clearer and I know not, though it is my daily purer atmosphere where God is seen prayer that God will shelter you all to be, at once, "the only great, the under his outspread wings during only good," until the soul, blending my absence. The actual trials of

life are of divine appointment. Our heavenly Father determines the peculiar conditions of the probationary existence of each one of us. Not a disappointment distresses us; not one sorrow makes the heart heavy and sad, but it comes from him. It is part of his great plan concerning us from the very beginning. No accidents mar the fulfillment of this plan. No contingent, uncontrollable influences arise in life to disarrange it.

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down during this five years upon individual souls and upon the Church, to bless our country with the exhibitions of God's grace! What thankfulness should fill our hearts, that God has given so many and such signal answers to prayer. It seems to have been raised up as an instrumentality to show the power of prayer, and to hasten the time when the Spirit of God shall be poured out upon all the earth.

"Brethren, sisters, shall we not, The services were begun at twelve one and all, accept it as prepared for o'clock by Dr. Vermilye, who read us? If it makes ours, in any respects, the 46th Psalm. He added: "On a hard lot, and comparatively this this fifth anniversary of the opening may be the case, it may conduct to of the Fulton-street prayer-meeting, a brighter and more glorious reward it is fitting that we should make in the endless future. If it dimin- some special and heartfelt recogniishes our joys here, it may highten tion of thanks for the institution them hereafter. If it makes poverty which has been of such signal usefuland sickness and unkindness, from ness during the period of its existfalse friends and cruel enemies, to fill ence. What blessings have come up our days and nights with sighing and tears, it may conduct us to hights of blessedness in the bright world to which we go we had otherwise never reached. Let us, then, accept the Father's will concerning us. If it drives us from our homes, in search of health across a stormy ocean, to become, for a season, strangers in a strange land; or if it bereaves us of those who are bone of our bone, and flesh of our flesh;' or if it multiplies around us the cares and ills "The sustaining of the Church, and and hardships of life, let us look up the sustaining of the government to to our Father, on his throne of grace be a blessing to this and all lands, and wisdom, of love and power, depends on the people of God and and smiling through our tears, put a the power of prayer in prevailing at ' cheerful courage on,' to bear sorrow his throne. It devolves upon us to with fortitude, and to endure hard- look to him, that he may bless us, ness as good soldiers, and to obey and continue to grant us his presence, with diligence and alacrity, cheered until the glorious light of the millenand strengthened and sustained by nial morning shall beam upon the the promise, that in due season, if world." faint not, we shall reach a glorious clime, where all tears are wiped away from all eyes forever; where the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary are at rest.'"

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After singing a hymn, "Blest be the tie," etc., Dr. Asa D. Smith said: "It is the glory of our blessed religion that it suits all the condi tions of our complicated being. We

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