The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1855-10-18
BLOSSOMS ON A THORN BUSH.
by REV. EDWARD c. JONES.

|
A peculiar disposition there is in most of
US TO overlook the bouniies of God, while
magnifying our grievances. The eye Of the
mind, when il sweeps the panorama OF its
experience, rests on the dark shadings of the
canvass, bu quickly wjihdraws its gaze from
The brigh, iin,s, as if lis vision were hurt by
the sunbeam. We converge to focus our
cares and trials, but allow our joysto diverse
rom our recollection, and be los, in the mis-
,y atmosphere Of non-existence. This pro-
pensily 10 magnify the evil and oblltera'e The
good, should be checked. il converts man
into an undisgused arraigoer OF the prosi-
dence of God. Ii leads him 10 look at The
Tree of life as a thorn bush without bios
som, and ultimately induces him TO decry
,bo,,, innocent enjoyments which 10 others
impan delight, IN. to him appears but vani.
~. And one srea, reason why this spirit
should be avoided is the 's:sct that every morn
bush has lis blossom, IN the r.aoFal worla' II
not the natural. Every calamity, ~h'h VIEW
ed Alright, will be found 10 be tenpertsa w"h
some genial qualify which blun,s jis e.,se.
There are circumstances which nullifiy ana
neutraizs its siernness II The air OF the des-
er, be hotter, il has vitalizing healtbfulness,
clearness and transparency, at early dawn,'
which il canno, elsewhere gain. And so in
tho moral relations. The heated sands OF
grief are accompanied by a purer atmos-
phere, than would the profuse, blooming and
exotic floral vegetation Of the tropical region
OF Joy and prosperity, for m aleria floats above
the garden when its treasures OF sweetness
are loo closely packed. Take agrief and an-
alyze it. Put it under the microscope of an
unwarped philosophy. View II IN the clear
light of Revelation, and do not see an angels
wing to it, where before you recognized the
outline Of an arch inquisitor! Has It not as
sumed new and enhancing features upon
which you love TO dwell. One little one you
love is taken, but others are left. The thorn
bush has blossom. Business falls, but vig-
orous health remains. The blossom again
crowns the thorn. Bodily health is snapped,
but the imperial intellect is poised upon
steady base, and the mine asserts its sound
ness and integrity. The blossoms are thick
ening among the ihorns. herepuialion suf-
fers by sanderous charges, but conscious IN
noceuce waits with placid heart the advan-
cling hour when justice will come uppermost,
aud truth forever splinter the poisoned lance
of guile See how the thorn-bush has be-
come an Aaron's rod, aud showers down its
blossoms at our feet Our ambitious designs
are frustrated, but place brings care, and
! from that care we ara mercifully delivered
| Our friends become entangled, but God opens
his arms, and says, love you still. Thus,
however rugged is the path of probation, it
can be smooihed by compromising advanla-
ges Among the ROCKS which diversity the
windngs Of the journey, moss and flowers
will creep, aud the discordant tones of the
tempest will ever and anon give place 10
flule.like melodies, and bird-wsrblings, and
the soothing sound of the rivulet. The iron
lance of misfortune will disclose it's golden
pon. il our eyes be thus annointed BY di-
vine philosophy, and events, apparently the
most untoward, appear like sken threads In
the loom Of Providence, not brazen manacles
10 letter and impede US. mind which thus
turns alchymist, and extracts from the coars-
est and most uninvi,ing materials, the pre-
cious and The pure, can never be cast down
the precipice of dumb despair. Never will
/, loose sight of the paternal character ofGod
Though broken be its wing, it will Try TO
soar Though the oracle will be dark and
ambiguous, it will try TO fuvorably interpret
it's ulterings It will count the joys which
yet remain, rather than those which have de-
parted. II will wipe from the mirror of hope
the breath. moisture of doubt, and nllow il 10
reflect afresh unclouded images, and high
above The storm ii will hang bow OF prom
ise, like sapphire gem, to iufuse serenity,
and generate iruthlulness, whose possess
ion will enable while ii blesses the suffering
child Of humanity. osi4