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indeed, in form, but in fact a great blessing, which
it becomes us, not merely with patience, to endure,
but to receive as from God with true Christian
thankfulness.
Observe again—
Secondly. How this thankfulness becomes us in
view of some benefits incidental to this great national
struggle. Evil as War is self-considered, yet in the
experience of a sinful race it is oftimes a necessary,
always a mitigated evil. And though Peace is always
self-considered a blessing, yet in its influences upon
human character, it proves, not unfrequently, more
disastrous than even War itself—like a long calm on
a campagna breeding pestilential malaria, until we
thank God for the purifying and strengthening
ministries of the storm.
There are principles of our nature, developed by
long continued industrial and commercial prosperity
altogether more fearful and foul than those which
inspire and arm men for patriotic battle. One of
these, and the most fearful, because the root or
ground-form of all evil, is covetousness—the con¬
summation of all iniquities—toward God the idola¬
try that denies Him the throne—toward men the
selfishness that inflicts every injury.
Now, in our enjoyment of unexampled and almost
uninterrupted peace, this evil principle has been
terribly developed. We were fast becoming the most
mercenary people on the earth. So intensely mate¬
rial had become our civilization, that we were
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