Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1855-04-12

| [For the GallipOlis Journal.
| bs.sFHE PROVIDENCE OF TRIALS.
/ SERMON BIZ wARREs TAYLOR, M1s1sTEl
OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF GAL
LIPoLIs. - - SIT - 90 stsa .
Job VIII Is. s"Whati is man that tho
shonldst-try him every momentf" -
The text is an exclamation of devon
wonder, that God, who is Bofshipet
by myriads of angels and 5obeyed b,
myriads of worlds, should humble him
self, not only to behold the things tina
are in heaven and in the earth, but {.
occupy himself continually with S,
mean creature as man. Man is but /:
worm. Whole nations of us, before
God, are as drop of the bucket and a,
/ the small dust of the balance. Wha
then are we, that He, whom the HEAVIER
and heaven of heavens cannot contain
should be forever attending to our NEAR
affairs, and that as Refner and Purifier
of silver, he should watch and try us
every moment? esz - E
The word trial is not synonymous
with affliction, as it is often used. Af-
fiictions are always trials; but trials are
not always in the form of affection. A
trial is process by which the truth re-
specting any subject is ascertained and
error is exposed. The word has it's
legitimate Specification as used in courts
of justice. Men are tried or brought to
trial, that the truth of their case may
be known. The assayer makes trial
of metals. and reveals by the process
the true character of each particular
specimen: or if it be a mixture, he
separates the gold from the dross.
Soman is tried, as subject-o Gods
moral government. And whatever op-
perates SO as to bring to view his real
character, or separate from his real
character that which is extraneous to it,
is a trial. The trials of the christian
are fitted to remove his corruptions,
and develop his piety. The dews and
showers which fall upon him, not only
wash away the dust and rubbish. OF
earth, but increase and exhibit his
graces; and the fires through which he
is called to pass, burn out those secret
impurities which the dews and showers
cannot reach. The trials of the impeni-
tent remove from him all semblance of
virtue, and reveal his enmity against
God. The deWs and showers of pros
perity and worldly enjoyment, and the
fires of adversely and affliction, rem9ve
from him all his amiable qualities, and
present him to God and the world the
subject of that entire depravity which is
the element of his moral character.
This general doctrine, 1 shall en-
deavor to illustrate.
Our trials in this world are of two
kinds, or may be embraced in two gen.
eral classes. On the one hand are
health, family, friends, influence, privi-
ledge, prosperity and success; and on
the other hand are sickness, bereave-
ment, neglect, persecution, privation,
poverty and disappointment. These
are all from God. These he is ever
melting out to us-mingling often our
joys and sorrows in the same cup; and
with these he "visits man every morn
ing and tries him every moment
Now it is obviously the duty of man to
recognize and acknowledge the hand of
God in every visitation. 1t is our duty
to be grateful in the hour of prosperity,
and submissive in the hour of adversi-
ty. And if God be thus recognized
and acknowledged from the heart, every
trial will not only manifest the character
of the christian, but give exercise and
increase to his graces, and of course en-
hance his enjoyment. But if an indi-
vidual close his eyes to divine proyi-
dence in his trials, then every trial, of
whatever sort, serves only to harden his
heart, and increase his enmity against
God. 5
There are some graces which can
shine only in circumstances of prosper;-
ty: and there are others which like the
stars, can shine only when the sun of
prosperity has gone down, and the night
of adversely hovers around. See, for
example, the man to whom God has
given health, riches, influence, and
honor in great abundance. His house
affords every luxury, and his gardens
bloom in beauty and load the air with
incense. His fields smile in rich luxu-
rance and yield abundant harfests.-
His fiocks and herds multiply and roam
over extensive lawns, or the mines pour
him out their streams of wealth and his
ships of commerce are waited over
every sea and bring him the merchan-
disc of every cline. All his under
takings succeed. His children are about
his table; the young make obeisance to
him and elders listen to his counsel. If
now, in the midst of this profusion of
blessings, the possessor of them realize
from whence they come; if he acknowl-
edge God as the Giver, and use these
things as gifts from heavenly Father;
how high will his thanksgiving arise
how conspicuous will his meekness and
humility become, when afiuence and
honor have not lifted up his heart above
the poorest of the people! And how
viii the beneyolence of his heart expand
and shine, when thousands are made to
rejoice, of the hungry whom he has fed
and the naked he has clothed-of the
innoronf he La. ..-.-.I IL Al.