Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1848-04-13
Religious.
NOurishing Grief,

Tears are not Forbidden and a perfect sub
mission to the will of God does not dry them up.
The heart may bleed while it bends to the stroke.
No Christening for the present seemeth to be JOY
Gus, but grievous; and it would not be chasten-
ing, nor answer the purpose of Christening, if it
were not so. But while the christian is not call
ed upon to be stole, we should not, like Jacob,
refuse to be comforted There is always some
thing to sweeten the bitter cup; and if every
other alienation be wanting, we have ever this,
that it is the Lord who hath done it.
Suppose dear friend is removed by death
perhaps husband-he is a christian, and his
wife feels that it is well with hm-that he has
gone to that blessed world, "where they sin no
more, neither sarrow any more, and there is no
more death" And now, what shall she do, sym
pathlse III his happiness, or sit down and pity
herself! Shall she look out on the glorious gov
eminent of God and rejoice to see it rolling on
or keep looking down on her own little, plans,
which lie crushed beneath it, Shall she with the
eve of faith look forward to the time of reunion
or give herself up to those sweet memories those
tender recollections, which cnervate the soul to
take away its wings Shall she listen to the
voice of this affective Providence, which says
"Give me thine heart" or shall she persist in
giving oil lGl Nllu uIltNNNlo w NhC hCdl
departed one, gazing on his picture, pressing
that lock of hair to her lips, and going to the
grave to weep there Shall she listen to her
husband, speaking to her out of heaven, saying,
"Don't weep, for in a moment you will be here!'
Or shall she persist in looking forward to the
long, dreary, lonely path which seems to stretch
on before her? Wounded feelings will incline
us to one course, but the Word Of God points
out the other, as the wiser and the happier way
| know child of sorrow who was called to
part with the husband of her youth. He was a
christian, and his sick room was the gate of
heaven She accompanied him through the val
ley of the shadow of death, and as his spirit took
fight, she seemed to see it enter heaven
"He landed in her view,
Midst flaming hosts above;
Her soul stood silent while he drew
Nigh to the throne of love,
And meekly took the lowest scat,
Yet nearest his Redecmcr's feet"
From that hour her thoughts were with him
there's and that strong sympathy in his happiness,
which she had sherished for years, she has still
continued to cherish, Full Of the idea that her
husband was in heaven, she had no inclination
to visit his tomb, Indeed she rather felt reluc-
lance to visiting it, lest the effect should be to
bring down her thoughts from heaven to earth
1t was some m0nths before she ventured to &c
there; and as she approached the tomb, voice
seemed to say, "why seek ye the living among
the deadl He is not here!"
Life is too short, and too important, to be vast
ed in sighs and tears. If the tears will come
let us dash them away, and press onward We
have much to do Much for our own souls
much for the souls of Others and the time is
short. CHOW it remaineth that those who weep
be as though they wept not, and those who re-
joice, as though they rejoiced not for the fashion
of the world passeth away" Let US not indulge
morbid sensibiIity. Instead of dwelling on
the lovely traits of the departed, and on his love
for us, and on past scenes of happiness, rather
let us turn our minds to the investigation and
contemplation Of the great truths of religion; anc
especially to the earnest pursuit of holiness
Let the question with us be not so much, chow
can l endure this afiliction!" as chow may bes
improve itl"s + Let our prayer be not so much
"comfort me" as "sanctify it to mel" Let u
reflect less on the aggravating circumstances o
the affection, and more on its design; and thinl
rather of what we deserve than of what we suffer
Then in the midst of judgment we may sing o
mercy.