The Ohio star. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1830-1854, 1852-12-22
RAYENNA, WEDNESDAY DECEMBER %. 1852.

You say you feel miserable: if all were right with
in, you could not feel miserable
But who could feel happy, Anne. under all the
circumstances that surround me. Forsaken by my
husband, and treated unkindly in my fathers
house, And again she gave way to flood of
tears.
THAT is to be expected, Mrs. Anderson said
Anne, after pause of some moments, in which
Genevieve grew camer. The man who suffers
with violent pain, cannot be Indifferent to it, SIM
ply because it makes him conscious that he has
disease, brought on by particular act of iodis
erection; but, then. it may discover to him. in its
true light, the folly that brought on the dseaseand
cause him to avoid it in future. So, in the of
great mental agony, arising from circumstances of
affilcton. By it, we are enabled too see that we
have acted from wrong motives, and thus bindly
run into trouble; or,we have cherished in hearts
false estimate of things, and loved them with
selfish love; and, when they have been removed,
there has been nothing upon which could lean
for comfort. Such discoveries, followed by a cor
rection of long formed, evil habits of the mind, Sc
cure for the future measure of true happiness
Anne said Genevieve, lifting her head and look
ing her young adviser in the face, with something
OF surprise and admiration 'you are strange girl,
different from any that have ever met. Where
did you learn these things, that sound SO much like
truth; and yet, are to me new, and almost incou-
prehensibIe?'
Il had good mohsr,' replied Anne, her voice
trembling as she named the dear maternal name,
and she had known much sorrow. In the school
of affliction, she learned wisdom. I loved that
mother,' again her voice trenbled, and knew
that whatever she told me was truth. The nature
and cause of sffliction she taught me and, since
she has been removed from me, l have found
them blessed Iessons But it must never be for
gotten, Mrs. Anderson while thinking of these
things, thatnpart from religious principle of obe-
Gience to the Lord, we never can ba happy
The lord is creator and faIher and as
our father, loves with unspeakable love. In
his Word, he has told US in what way should
act TO be happy. These laws are not merely
laws, but arc grounded in love and wisdom; and
any departure from them, patural conse-
Quence brings misery. This misery is not pun
ishment direct from our heavenly father, sent in
anger for disobedence; but is, l have said,
the natural consequence of departue from the
laws of right action, founded in infinite love and
wisdom.
er read the Bible. am sure should he glad to
know Them
f Have you never read the ten commandments!'
Certainly have. But have never, habitual-
", broken them.'
Perhaps you have never thought much about
Them
No, cannot say that have
Do you remember what The Lord says in the
D Word, about the commandments?
t No, do at this moment.
Don't you recollect where he says that upon
the commandment to love the Lord with all your
hearts, and our neighbor as ourselves, hangs all the
0 law and propletsl'
v 90, yes; I remember that
S But expect you have never thought much
+ about it,
S mo; cannot say that have
Well, then, Mrs. Anderson, here is the law
: any departure from which will make us unhappy
T. But no one, Anne, lives up to this law
: 1t is a broad saying, Mrs. Anderson, but a
true one, that ne one in this world is happy. And
q here is the secret of unhappuess.'
t Genevieve was SILENT and Anna proceeded -
q In just the degree that we love ourselves more
5 than we love the Lord, and that we love the world
= more than love the neighbor. will we depart
from the true law of love, and find misery instead
of pleasantness. That we all do depart, in great
= er or less degree, from this law of love- is evil
denced in the unhappiness which we all feel. In
some, the departure is very great, and the conse
quences are deeper and more painful. In others,
II there is process of approximation going on, and
desire existing, to conform in all things to this
> lady; these have more even mind, and a more
!. contented disposition. it is trle they have their
/, seasons of pain; but they understand its Datu g.
g and profit by their knowledge
: i cannot say, Anne, replied Mrs. Anderson
IS That l can understand all that you have spoken.
! It seems as if it might oil be true. But never
could believe it possible to love our neighbor as
n ourselves. 1t is not natural
I'VE must, in the first place. said Anne, be
willing TO believe that Heavenly Father knows
better than we do what is right. When we es-
o tablish this belief in minds then he will have
X some degree of willingness to obey, even though
e cannot understand. So soon as we, from right
d principle of obedience, attempt 10 shun what we
v are told is wrong shall soon begin to perceive
@ why it is wrong. In this way shall gradually
o be brought to know how it is possible to love the
9 Lord and the neghbor better than ourselves or
the world; and. from knowing, desire to have that
: pure love formed within u.s..
l. But what has this TO do, Anne, with my pres
l. ent afflicton, and how can it remedy it :?
o AS general, principle, Mrs. Anderson. it has
9 much to do with it. But you cannot, in all proba-
o blity, it in your present state of mind. Still,
you have any desire to do what is pleasing to our
Heavenly Father, aud win begin, by doing, or try
}, ing to do what you to be right you will soon
perceive how much interest you will really havo in
the subject
Is But how shall begin, Anne 2
y Are you conscious of acting or thinking
1 wrong?'
nj duv 70