Excerpt from Three Sermons Preached in the North Congregational Church: New Bedford, Mass Fast Day, April 13, and Sunday, April 16, 1865 I had intended, notwithstanding the character of this day as a day of penitence, to congratulate you upon the recent glorious victories of our arms. I had proposed to compare the present and the past. But yesterday's intimation of the President, that he will soon issue his call for a day of national thanksgiving, causes me to defer such an expression. Wait for that thanksgiving a little longer: you have patiently waited four weary years already, and now, every week is a week of new triumphs. Our warfare is well nigh accomplished; our iniquity is well nigh expiated. The double punishment for our sins, is almost closed. Then will I speak comfortably to Jerusalem. But before that day comes, let us look once more at our eventful illustrations of the truth that national sin must have its expiation in national suffering. Well nigh accomplished. The sin is nearly expiated and forgiven, -for that is the real meaning of the words. Soon, now. The roar of cannon, and the rattle of musketry are soon to cease. The sabre and the bayonet shall flash no more. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.