Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 37.djvu/352

344 My brethren, what thoughtful man can fail to see that God is in the history of our country, and that this people has a great part to play in the onward march of the events of the world. "God moves in a mysterious way His wonders to perform." He is not in haste like we poor mortals. He has eternity in which to work! And we must "not judge the Lord by feeble sight." This nation was rocked on the island of Jamestown. Its lullaby was the rippling waters of the James. The infant has grown to be a giant.

Those lovers of liberty from Old England landed here with the open Bible and the Christian religion. They dedicated themselves anew to God at the Lord's table; the emblem of redemption being served to them from a plank nailed to two trees.

Surely every one must see God's guiding and protecting hand over this people who reads the history of those days of starvation and massacre of the little craft with the starving remnant sailing down the James, and meeting in Hampton Roads, at the right time, at the right place, the vessel with supplies and reinforcements of the struggles with Indians and fever; of the determined contest for justice and equity with the mother country; of the cry expressing the determination of brave hearts, which sounded within these walls from the lips of Henry, and which was echoed in the hearts of the people of thirteen colonies; of the desperate struggle of the following eight years; of the struggle of parties which followed the revolution; of the growth of these colonies, till the country extended from the Atlantic to the Pacific, from Canada to Mexico; of the establishment of a government of the people, by the people, for the people, which was to be an example to the nations of the earth. Following this example America and Europe have established constitutional governments, and in our day we see Japan, China, Persia, and even Turkey, adopting constitutions, and giving the people a voice in governing themselves. Who can measure the influence of this country? God is in history; He is leading the nations to the light of liberty, so that His truth may make them free, and in a marvelous way He has used, and is using, our country to enlighten the world.

Without the love of liberty, and of the constitutional rights,