Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1857-08-01

j
Philadelphia, on the sudden death Of a
! female member of the church.
BY REV. THOMAS RRAINERD, d. D.
"7he heart Of her husband doth safely trust
IN her. SO that he shall hare no need OF
spoil."-PRov NXXI, II.
| The richest blessings are not always The
most obvious. 1t is the hidden moisture
which refreshes the flower. 1t is the hidden
spring which supplies the we'll 1t is the
nutriment, buried in the earth, which feeds
the iibres of the vine and tree, and thus de-
velopes the nourishing grapes and the shady
| OAK The noisy cataract is not so beneficial
| as the gentle rill that giides almost without a
murmur, and is best known by the lively
green of its border, and the flowers which
deck its meandering course. In the light
ning's fash there is sublimity, but in useful
ness it yields to the gentle taper, that lights
up cottage evening. Mankind are moved
by exhibitions of power. They are affected
by social changes which leave their mark in
the world. Hence they pause to moralize
| over the death OF statesmen and heroes
over scholars and millionaries-but few have
| ever devoted time and thought and eulogy to
mark their estimate OF the value of fond
wlfe-a good mother--a good woman.
| In this respect, as in most others, the Bible
is in advance of human wisdom, and above
human aptitude and tendency. 1t selects
| from its most elaborate, carefully worded and
emphatic eulogy, the domestic virtues OF
faithful wife and mother. AS the light oi
home is almost the only radiance which cheers
the darkness OF mans earthly lot, King Sol.
omon turns aside TO pronounce a benediction
upon her who presdes as guardian angel at
! that altar.
There was sufficient reason for this What
are the outside reyellings Of pleasure worth
to him who is compelled to return to filthy
and disordered home What is fame worth
to him who meets discord and reproach at
his own door and in his own chamber What
can wealth do for him whose household il
devoid of taste, order and comfort What
can the admiration of crowd avail to him
whose own freside is heartless and desoate
lsit not wonderful, then, that the wisest
OF men, King Solomon, estimating things al
their real value, should ask, "who can fnd o
vlrtuous woman for her price is far above
rubies."
Elsewhere it is sad "a prudent wife is
from the Lord" and the gift is worthy of the
girer.
The text, speaking of snch wife, says
"The heart of her husband doth safely ti'uS
in her."-There is pecularity in this Ian
guage. Ordinarily it is the office OF divine
truth to weaken our confidence in earthly
blessings. Thus it is said "He that trustetl
in his own heart is fool."-"Trust not il
man, whose breath is in his nostrils." "Put
not your trust in princes" "rrust not il
uncertain riches" Human friendships art
treacherous. Wealth is too cold to FIJI {
warm heart. Fame hangs on breath of air
and comes and goes, rises and falls by the
caprices of crowd. God ordinarily repre-
sents all earthly things as ranity.
But in the text be seems to make an ex
ception 10 favor of virtuous woman-of {
true and faithful wife. He says :'"the hear
of her husband doth safely trust in her."
And for what may the husband trust il
such wife