Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-02-17
CONSOLATION FOR THE AFFECTED.
(No. IT,)

Hand igndrRs mai, nnestriS succvYycSe d;seo
VIRGIL.
In addition to the consultations whict, fou
from the general doctrine OF providence hereto
fore stated, let the afflicted observe that the Ho
ly Scriptures contain Exceeding great and
pvecicus promises" directed to the believer
when in tro;iblc; promises, BY the fulfilment Of
which, God has often exhibited his faithfulness
60 the clii.aTen OF "a. This is the language
in which the Divine Being con6cscends to all
dress us--" VIII never leave thee nor forsaSe
:" ,hee-'ny rod aud my staff, they shall support
{" thce-I Will be a father To the fathcrless.
will plead the cause of the widow-come IN
Sc nc allyc that are weary and heavy laden and
80 will give YOU rest.-Let not ,vo,r heart be-
Z" troubled, neither let il be afraid NV grace
IL sufficient for thee-cese all your care u,ion
"hiin, for he careth for yon let the
su.icrerreadhi, Bible, and he will End promise
after promise of this kind, couchcd in language
which none but the Gad of begevolence could
have dictated suited 10 every FORM Of dis
trcss with which human nature was ever visited,
Z. opening perennial source Of consolation to
every one who relies upon them. Nay, para
da1Ial as It may appear 70 Inanv, such is the
efficacy o. these promises, and OF the doctrines
cfthc Gospel in scnersl, that the christian is
enabled "to rejoice in tribula.ion." For We
are assured that &c al things shall work togcth-
t'these light Affections which endure but Tor :.
moment, lonly while lie lasts shall work out
for Va far more exceeding and eternal weight
of glory" Is it asked, hu@ can these things
be! An attempt Will be made To answer the
question in 4 way calculated TO remove some
difficulties, which may, perhaps, have pressed
upon the minds, Of at least some 10 whom the
writer is most anxious to be useful.
The principle which it is intended to Illus
trate and enforce, is contained in this propositi
on,--That affection if duly improved is calcutta
ted to call into operation the feelings, and TO
ssperinduce the HABITS which are necessary for
real happiness in OUR present and future state
of existence. In the first place then on this
subject it is observed, that affection has ten
dency either to produce, or cncrcase spirit OF
sympathy and charity. Complete exemption
from suffering hardens the heart. They who
have never known sorrow, hardly know how to
enter into the feelings of the wretched. The
heart is dcadened, the finest sensibilities of hui
man nature are weakened and sometimes total
iy destroyed by uninterrupted success. They
who have been disciplined in the school of adj
versity know best how "to feel another's woe"
IF there is any truth i'll these remarks, If VIC
are indebted to affection for many of the swee-
test charities oflife, for much of what popu-
lar writer has called the milk of human kind
ness 1t 1T sInootbes many OF the asperties, and
sottens much OF the ruggedncss, and destroys
much Of tic selfishnces of human nature. it is
not unworthy ofthe benevolent God to dispense
Affections with his own hand, and appoint
when we arc to rejoice and when to mourn
But, again from the nature of man in bis pre-
sent fallen state, objects of sense arc calculated
to make deeper impressions upon our minds
than Invisible things, they more strongly ex-
cite cur passions, we therefore pursue them
with greater ardour. While in the hot pursuit
ofpleasure, wealth and honour, are we not apt
to forget that we are immortal beings--tat e
ternitg is lust before us--that the interests ofthe
soul ought to be regarded
DO We not often neglect the measures neces-
sary to salvation For the sake of present
pleasure, do We not sften iorcgo the Joys ofHsa-
ven
For the applause of man do we not often re-
nounce the honour that cometh from God I!
What is better calculated to damp cur ardour,
to compel us to relax the eager grasp with
which we cling TO earthly things, than affhcti-
on! II opens our eyes to the yanities of the
world; it convinccs ofthe emptiness of terrcs-
trial good 4 shows us that all sublimary things
are less than nothing, and lighter than vanity
had almost said, it forces Ms to look to Hea-
ven for that solid, unchangeable, eyer-during
happiness which the heart of man Graves Is
not this result of Importance That which
strips the world Gifts tinsel, and shcws It in its
real value; which destroys the Illusions of the
which dance before us, ard seduce us from the
paths Of happiness, ought to be considered as
an appointment Of the benevolent God, however
painful its present effects may be. /" Now nc
Christening, for the present, ssemctb TO be joy
Gus, hut gricvous nevertheless aft.rward il yieE
deth the peaceablc fruit OF righteousness unto
them which are exercised theIeby.'' Its certain
that unless We mbibethe spirits, are habituated
10 the employments, and accustomed 70 the exer
cses of the inhabitants Of Heaven unless we, by
some means, acquire relish for these things
We cannot be happy hereafter. o if we duly
estimated the worth of the so,l, if we had JUS
conceptions Of eternal joys, Of that happiness
which Cod has in reserve for them that low,
him, we should be thankful for any thing which
has atendency TO elevate the thoughts and at
fections above the poor transient pleasures. III,
temporary interests Of mortality. This subiec
will be continued in another number. The wri
ter only now adds his ieryent players that Go,
who abounus in mercy may give his own conso
lation1 TO the afflicted and bereayrl inhabitsnt
Of this City.
PIuLO.
ron THE ARGUS