come to that. Rebellion must be crushed out. Admit it in any corner of God's broad kingdom, and allow it to thrive and live and maintain its little rival empire there, and the weakness and incompetency of the administration are confessed, and it is disrobed of royalty from henceforth. Put an end to it. Rebellion itself is responsible for the havoc which it provokes. Bring over it the clouds of heaven, open the magazines of electric fire, hang out the flag set with suns of light and striped with red of dreadful vengeance. March the forces of Almightiness, and let the artillery open its thunders; bring out the reserves of Jehovah, the chariots of God, which are ten thousand times ten thousand, THE REBELLION MUST BE WIPED OUT! Can we give any other answer? Put the question to twenty millions of people in this our nation to-day, Is God justified in putting down rebellion in his dominions, by whatever pains and penalties needful? and twenty millions of voices answer, with a shout that rises above the choral melodies of heaven, "Ay!" These flags, that have blossomed out, this season past, so suddenly upon all the summer air, symbolize more than the sentiment of loyalty to the great Republic. They float and wave for a more august principle. The mustering and marching among the hills and valleys of our New England homes and across the breadth of prairies and over dividing mountains are in allegiance to a grander call than that of patriotism. All this fervor and self-devotion declare a truth high as the throne of God and eternal as his reign, Rebellion against good government must be extinguished by utmost power and

severity. And more than this, they declare that it must be so extinguished, the treatment be so effectual, the warning so memorable, the crushing so final, that never again, while government endures, shall rebellion lift its head. When before was God's scheme of governing a universe so indorsed by man? Never in the long story of time. But we see exigencies and principles now, as our eyes never beheld them in the past.

If we ask, again, What is the duty of rebels? the same unbroken unanimity replies, To lay down their arms, restore their spoil, and submit unconditionally to the government. No treating with God with arms in our hands. No questioning of his intents, while our traitorous flag is flying. No expectation of his clemency, or demand for his forbearance, while we occupy our fortresses. Submission first. Nothing before that. The government must keep its one aspect, so long as we resist and stand out. It can make no terms with treason. All talk of amnesties and pardon must come in on the basis of absolute surrender.

-

whether

What is the duty of the loyal? Clear again and unmistakable. They must take side with the government. There must be no question with any mind where they stand. They must not only let it be known, but make it known, with which party they are in sympathy, with the government or with rebellion. There can be no such thing as neutrality. Neutrality is infidelity and disloyalty to the crown. It is aid and comfort to treason. God insists, and we shall say to-day that he has a right to insist, that every man shall run up his flag. We feel like

insisting upon the same thing in the earthly issue. God calls, "Come out from among rebels." "Confess Christ before men." "Join the fellowships of my people." "He that is not for me is against me." Oh, how impregnable are these positions! How intelligent is God's earnestness, at the head of his government, in insisting upon being openly acknowledged in a time and in a world of rebellion! It is not enough for one of us to say, "Why, I mean to be a just and peaceable man; I am going about my business; I am not to be pressed into making demonstrations." That's the mistake. No demonstration is a demonstration. It is disaffection and defection. Men must demonstrate. They must run up their flag, and it must be the right sort of a flag too. We can understand the intense abhorrence with which the lips of God proclaim it to these neutrals, "So because thou art lukewarm, and art neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth." Are any of us neutral as between God and the great rebellion? Do we leave it in doubt where we are, what colors we secretly prefer? We have not thought of that matter as we ought, have we? See the unutterable meanness and cowardice and wickedness of that attitude. We don't want to fight, do we! We prefer not to arm! we choose not to enlist! When good soldiers are crowned, where shall we be? When traitors are punished, what will become of us?

Again, can the loyal do anything with happier effect than this one thing,—show their confidence in the Supreme administration? God's plans are large; they are slowmoving as we reckon time; they are not submitted to our

inspection. Suppose they seem to us too slow; fail of what we call grand chances; give up such capital strategies of our devising; and we, with the king's uniform on, marching under his orders and officers, and enrolled for the war, stop and shake our heads, and vent our criticisms, and propose our emendations, and purse up our lips and shrug our shoulders; what is the effect? The effect is to damage the government; to shake its hold upon other hearts; to interfere with its recruiting; to pour a contagion of faintness and uncertainty through the ranks where we march. That is not for us. It is for us to obey orders; to trust the management of the campaigns to the Great Captain of our salvation; to march when he gives command; to pitch when the word comes; to maintain the post at which he sets us, and keep such a cheerful and trustful air that men shall say, "These soldiers are confident of victory. They trust their leader."

By and by the war will be ended. All rebels will be subdued to penitent allegiance, or punished with final exile and ignominy. The loyal and triumphant forces will gather home to the presence of the King and the glory of the capital. What an ovation will await them as they march in upon the streets of the royal city! All heaven will be moved at their coming. the tidings will leap, "The warriors of are returned from the fields of earth." line comes gleaming on, the angelic welcomes will be heard in farthest spheres, on the outer verge of light. There are they that were stoned to death in riotous cities, martyred witnesses of the truth; there are the men, few

From lip to lip, Prince Emmanuel And as the long

and alone, that defended some "Sumter" of principle, around which roared aloud the world's hostile scorn; there are they that left houses and lands, and home and kindred behind, to give their lives in the great struggle; and each scar of battle will be a badge of everlasting honor; and the rent banners will be hung out over heaven's battlements, and bathed in living light; and the hand that led the forces on will set upon each brow a crown of glory.

2