394 
RURAL HOURS. 
shall we find the community that may justly claim the favor of 
the God of truth and holiness ? Which great city, which busy 
town, what quiet village, what secluded hamlet, has deserved the 
blessing of Heaven on its fields ? What city, or borough, or vil- 
lage, or hamlet, can say : “ There is no sin here, there is no fraud, 
no deceit, no treachery, no drunkenness ; no violence, rioting, im- 
purity ; no envy, no covetousness, no injustice, no slander, no 
falsehood, no insubordination among us ; none of those evils declared 
hateful in the eyes of the God we worship, are going to and fro in 
our streets, upon our highways, sitting down and rising up unre- 
buked and unrepented of — these things are unknown here — we are 
wholly clean!” The heart recoils from the very idea of such 
presumption, and we bow our heads to the dust in deep acknowl- 
edgment of our unworthiness, as individuals, as communities, as a 
nation. . “ What is man that Thou visitest him, or the son of man, 
that Thou so regardest him 1” 
Happy, indeed, is it for the children of men, that the long-suf- 
fering God sendeth his rain upon the fields of the just and the 
unjust, and maketh his sun to shine upon the garden of the 
sinner with that of the righteous. Well, indeed, does it become 
us to render heartfelt, humble thanks to the God “ who feedeth 
all flesh ; for his mercy endure th forever.” 
It may prove of some interest to pause a moment and look 
back at the Jewish festivals of thanksgiving for the fruits of the 
earth, whence our own has been derived. It is, indeed, remark- 
able, that while the Jewish law was, in its general character, se- 
vere and stern, as compared with the milder and more merciful 
nature of Christianity, its worship gave such full and frequent 
expression to the beautiful spirit of thankfulness. The faithful 
