Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1855-09-04
LIT f. ",
: ro:a he New CaGrch Herald. -EXtrsct from d l
TILE ISE OE TRIALS.

Iiro:a he New CaGrch Herald i-EStract from d Letter.
THE USE OF TRIALS.
Wc all have our trials, disSppUimtuents &C., hut
,- axe MI ditfercn; in this RESPECT. ~ Il certain sense.
s.! :hGi affects us, whether pleasantly or unpieasantlv,
watcher for good Oc lurevil, whether in seemin. pros.
y rily az adversely. il n fr.i: al our own character;
sal this is So, whether We sujIcr from tho privations
rE property, or the, perhaps. no Less severe trials OF
sGiIrnce.
We are placed in this world thu, We may be form
e., and .,iormed, aud ,CgtH1rGtcd for the sp!ritua!
world. We are at FIRST merely physical. animal and
GsNsus!. Our prorcnsitic> are consequently all low,
external aud earthly. a mind il next {" be formed
within lis: but oven this il u matter III some difficulty,
for our .1psr.a! appctites and p.oprnsities are 50 much
stronger. having Occu first formed or developed, that
they hold the mastery over the mind, which Is as yet
bu: IN the bud. as It were, that Is they greatly pre-.
dominate and rule. Every thing within uS, moral,
mental and spiritual, us well as natural, is a subject OF
growth lust as much ~ a plant is, or an arm, or II leg;
growth requires nourlsiInent, nnd exercise or'use
o. tho par. which is the subject Of growth. Hence il
" iced and indulge Only our lower, external aud sem
sue! uGtrr. or faculties, to the exclusion of our high.
cr mature or faculties, that only will grow which is
thus fed and exercised. Thus, even for the develop
menl OF the mind, we have got to deny our stronger
animal p.upensities. which are so much more prolnis-
ing in pleasure and enjoyment; and trinls, d,snppoInt.
rnents. Sc, ars needed 10 force. US il were, our affec-
tirms aud thoughts from earth and earthly things,
that we may look more TO the Lord and spiritual
thinss.
Whn. a blessed thing il would be for us, il we lived
in constant acknowledgment Of tho fact, tha, all Il e
Lords Providences in relation 10 us have for Nh end
oar spiritual regeneration aud elevation, We should
;il"n no. BE- anxious for worldly prosperity Of any
kind: and seeming adversely would not cast us DOWN,
hut would DO astepping stone, as II "ere,iorour greater
elevation, rs it is, i'll the Divine Providence. designed
10 hr. We should not regret misfortune OF any kind,
however painful il, might be, ~ II real calamity, but
should be led TO ask for what specific end Is this les
raa1 And we should examine ourselves, and search
i"T the evil, and endedv"r 10 pu; ii away.
-, .a.. l.y.tnr . "a la. r)'. p .pa ps ts.nl nc ~
sav, ..Inv hipCdom come" and Thy will be done.
OG- reason Ieiis lis that. when, or Ill proportion Rs,
the Lords Kingdom comes IN IL. We aru al saved,
tina; is, released from the evils of sc.f-!ove, and love
OF the world, which arc hell. And we know that
whom, or III proportion Us, the Lords will is done:
ths; i, IN proportion as We viii permit; the Lords
W II IL be done in, and in relation 70, us, our real good
gu! happiness is secured. We are anxious to accom-.
pl:sl: certain worldly ends: aud 81 far rs We can see,
i: would be- best for lis To accomplish these ends; but
We anuT comparatively nothing ~ all. We are really
a. little children; would that we might constantly feel
that We are so. The Lord is our father. our pr0vider
ana protector. And what do little children know OF
what is really best for them! and yet their ends seem
@. important 10 Them US ours do to Us: and our
ovCrruliEgs Of their enGs seem as unaccvuntahle 10
them, as the Lords ovcrrullngs of our ends do to us.
Ard Yet a good parent has Always in view tho hest
good OF his children. a. the Lord has in view our best
good. And we have infinitely more reason To look
with confidence 10 tile Lord, and 10 say 10 Him,
"liiS will be done" even when we regard alone our
omn good, than our children have 10 look with conf.
Lrncc 10 Us. For His :ove IL Interchangeable, and is
always "yerted. aud through Infinite wisdom for our
higilcs: ,"yd. What Il liesscd thing, | say, 10 be
sh,e L" fully realize and feel this! Then we should feel
M ~am>i.rv for the future, more !lhn li:tle children do.
We should not strongly desire worldly possessions,
fame, &c, nor should We set our heart upon any
pans aud end, of our own. And we should be will.
Ing Ia leave The future with the Lord. Our greatest
niN!'t:, and eur greatest pleasure would be tn see
aud 10 present Guty,-Snnw,ng that if we do that, all
will Jo we'll, the Lord vii! take care of the rest. lie
III niy,hn mi I.,l un t,s.r pS anal fi.s trt,
Diiy Is we'll as materially. There will b.. nothing mere
for us 10 do Or be anxious about. And | do not mean by
the present that whsrh has TO relation to the future, It
IL the bAsiS Of the future. bu., il we are ANXIOUS To
do right now, the future will, ~ tar rs needed, Gust its
;icilt upon the present, So as 10 be, nnr, US il were, u
par; Of il, i'll our ",ds. ana :'aus and G'Mss.
And why should We feel auXi"us for the future of
cur children, any further .hun 10 faithfully do our du.
ty 10 them as Trustworthy guardians! They ae not
oars, tu, the Lords. He i, providing for them with
infinitely more love, care aud wisdom than II IL pnt-
sihle for US IN do. They are literally and truly his
children, aud lie will take care for their whole OF tx
istencc, or of we'll. being: we are responsible oniy for
to-day, and Tor tomorrow, only wiirn ii; shall become
to-day. We arc but his servants, or agents that are
10 do, day by day, VIVA; r." t'l!s us. or gives TIA light
TO show :. Ia do 1h,ir future is, as il were, folded
Mp IN :hc present, AMI If We do for them, day 10y day,
what their whoIe nature requires 81 us 10 DO, we
know that what ", thus do 10 a part o. The Divine
Providence fnr them. ani thut il will be we'll with
them in the future, so far us that depends upon the
present.
Ii is "a great and blessed thin: Ia trust in the d.
>inc Providence; but Ia trust rs ;hose thar live, and
moi ~ those that are dead, that i, as those that ure
watching for the iint, and are doing Us fast us they re-
ce.vs the light, and not as tho" that remain in sloth-
iul Inactivity, expecting That .bc Lori will do all
tEl.rS for them. The Lords Providence can bless
III, sud Gnu really bs trusted, only in proportion as
we perform present duty according Ia the light We
hove. For il is only !Lroush us, through our desires
sHJ efforts 10 1--we aud uc;, day by day, according 10
the ligh; whict, lie gives uS, Tia, He can accomplish
IFS benevolen, ends in regard 10 rs. So that wp de-
r.,vo ourselves when we think wo arc resigned
and arc "irns;ins in III. Divine Pruvidcnce,' and are
a. 70 and daiuy this dny-this moment, - accord.
ins 10 the light. however dim Il may be, that We al
ready have.
And why pray for more light, when we are not re-
.lacing 20 lie ij.h; we have! The Lord is infinitely
iunro careful to give us light. rs fast rs we need H.,
than We are 10 Use 1t when received. And then 1t
Is laT Of Ills Providence, rs well us OF our nature,
tiat we should receive just in proportion as We do
And this Is 50 with all, OF all nations, and of all rell
gsons. All lave all the light they need, as n free gift
from too Lord. And all will have more light just us
s'on and as fast rs We live according TO what we
nave; Tor II Is the living and DONG, and this only,
thhl opens the mind TO the source Of light. Ii we are
J.; darkness, then, ii we do not see the 'plllar of fire"
ar OF cloud, II is because by not living according to
M'iat iSn' we have, We turn our faces from it.. Or
we may Imagine our own ends aud plans, the Divine
enIS ana plans, or try TO persuade ourselves that they
hrn so, aud be- IN real darkness, though in effort TO
liv: and act according to these ends and plans. And
Ia not this the reason why We arc 80 often In doubt
and uncertainty u