GOOD TESTIMONY FROM A HIGH SOURCE ON THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES.
By Benjamin F. Snook
At the second session of the Iowa Synod of the United Presbyterian Church, which convened at Keo-205kuk, Aug. 21, 1861, a committee was appointed to consider the proclamation of the President of the United States calling the people to a day of fasting and prayer. The committee made the following "It is a call by our Chief Magistrate to humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God, and confess and deplore our sins and transgressions. The terrible judgments of God are upon us. The blood-red cloud of war hangs over us, and already is discharging its fiery bolts. From one end of the land to the other is heard the sullen mutterings of the coming storm. Everywhere all hearts are looking with intense anxiety to the stupendous hosts that are gathering to the battle, and to every indication that would throw one ray of light into the future, or enable us to understand the nature and extent of those 'things that are coming upon the earth.' The indignation of the Lord seems to be upon our nation, and his fury upon our armies. We anxiously inquire, How long, Lord? and anxiously look for an encouraging answer. But he hides the future from us. A dark cloud hovers over it, and all hearts are filled with perplexity. ECCLESIASTICAL AND NATIONAL SINS.
We have sinned grievously against our God—have turned to and worshiped ourselves. Our sins are many. The Lord Jesus Christ, notwithstanding he is King of kings, and Governor among the nations, we have ignored and done despite to the Spirit of his grace. We have profaned his name, profaned his holy Sabbath-days, profaned his sanctuaries by mutilating and desecrating the teachings of his solemn word, mingling the heavenly fires that burn upon their altars with the fitful and flashing glare of the pit, and in many instances making them, instead of temples of spiritual worshipers, 'dens of thieves;' in consequence of which infidelity in our land is increasing like a flood. Like the Jews of old, we have made gold our God, and for the possession of earthly riches, power, and splendor, we have waged unrighteous wars, conquered and annexed provinces, overreached the poor, untutored Indian, oppressed the African, and prosecuted recklessly, without reference to righteous and honorable rules, the merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner of vessels of ivory, and all manner of vessels of most precious wood, and brass, and iron, and marble, and cinnamon, and odors, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and bodies and souls of men, until in common with all nations we have become implicated in the sorceries of mystic 'Babylon, the mother of harlots and abominations of the earth.'" The above we clipped from the Washington Press, and submit to publication for general benefit.
B. F. SNOOK.