Excerpt from A Sermon Preached in Merrimack, N. H., April 16, 1865: In the First Congregational Church, on the Occasion of the Assassination of Abraham Lincoln

It appears from the history of Saul, that David had lit tle occasion to love and mourn for him. To Jonathan his soul was knit in closest union, and deepest sympathy, and warmest affection. But as these ancient warriors fell in the battle, the soul of David grieves, and his harp quavers with the tones of mournful eulogy and saddest lamenta tion, for both of them. Thus our hearts stunned and hor rifled by the unlooked for and unparalleled assassination of our Chief Magistrate, the attempted murder of the Sec retary of State, and of his son, Assistant Secretary, lament and pour out our sorrows before the Lord. Our Jubilee week has ended in a cry of national anguish, which none but a human fiend could mock or despise. Come sit thee down in the dust! Oh Land that didst rejoice. Put off all thy garments of joy. Clothe thee with sackcloth. Bedew the earth with thy flowing tears. Mourn as the bride her. Husband, slain at the bridal-feast, or in the bridal chamber. Touch no pleasant meat, neither drink any rejowing drink. Ye children, begotten of a long and cruel bond' age, just born to freedom's manhood, gather ye close around your Heavenly Father, and breathe out your woes into his compassionate ear. Freemen and bondmen mourn and weep. Oh, God, thou givest us tears to drink in great measure How marvelous are thy judgments, and thy ways past finding out. I scarcely feel like speaking, or you like hearing to-day. The sobs of the spirit stifle the living voice. The tears of the soul are hot within the heart, and the fountain of feeling is choked up with our heavy sorrow. Men turn pale in the street women cry out in anguish in our homes children weep as for a dying fath er. As the mournful tidings fly tremblingly through the Land, the nation's heart, stunned, palsied by the blow, al most ceases to beat! One great, swelling cry goes up to God, who sends back his strengthening, comforting word, The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous alto gether. These words, which were used in the last inang ural address of our lamented Chief Magistrate, are a mighty cable, holding our anchor of hope, fast and firmly grounded in the goodness and wisdom of God The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer: my God, my strength, in whom I will trust my buckler and the horn of my salvation, and niy high tower.

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