True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1857-08-12
SORROW AND BLESSING.

If we descend into the bosom Of the
humblest homes. in the lights and shades
which cheqer the ordinary flow Of human
life, we find ample scope for that hottest
dicipIine of The heart which is admins
tered by sorrow. Wherever sorrow
comes, in the way of duty, or by the ap-
poinImenl of Providence. for the trial OF
The believing and virtuous 1t brings with
1t blessing peculiarly its own. 1t is
The special privilege Of religion, amidst
the changes which affect our condition
and interrupt our relations, that permits
US to look up to parent mind, and refer
ourselves 10 His disposal, and feel sure
that he designs us good. The comfort
that flows from such belief. rich in pro-
portion 10 Our own need of it, is a proof
from experience, weighIier far than ali
the demonstrations Of the iheologisn
that there Is Father in Heaven, who
dwels in our affections and gives them
their sweetness, and is ever presen. with
the balm Of His spirit to heal their
wounds How does sorrow, in all its
forms, bring home this Truth TO the heart
A crippled and suffering child, looked al
from without, scenes the heaviest of do.
mestlc Affections. Yet once confined lr
our care, what an object Of tender inter
est i, becomes |! What gentle and holy
affections hover over it! What web Of
soft and fostering duty is woven round
it! 1t gives new beauty and value to life.
We would fain keep i, with us forever
What void is left, when it is removed
by the hand of death The heart |, arms
the deep blessing Of sorrow. i'll exchang.
ed for the drier interests and tasteless
pleasures that mus, now come in its place,
There are sorrows inseparable from
our choicesls blessings. Z In the anxietie.
attendant on the settlement of children in
the world-in the success of one, in the
failing of another, in parting with third
to distant Iands-there is a fule. and
more warm play of the affections, wild
er opening of the heart 10 the best inhu.
ences, more heaIthfu excitement of in
communicable bes sedness, than can ever
be experienced in the easy and conforta-
bic existence of selfindulgent celibacy,
or even by these whose command of
worldly patronage enables them to place
their children at once in nsituatons of hon.
or and independence. Freedom from
care is not identical with happiness. -
Apathy is the chilling blight Of all true
life. There can be no genuine happiness
without the presence of moral and relig.
ious feeling; and dlhis is impossible, where
smooth success and luxurious ease lull
all deep emotion into quietude. Who
does not know how affection is called
forth by misfortune and sickness, and a
richness of blessing put forth little sus-
pecled till it was wanted When our
friends are thrown on our help, and make
us no return but requiltal of their love,
there is generous delight in serving them.
We ale almost thankful for The mischance
which tests the purity of our attachments
and enables us to show it without a sus-
picion Of selishness. How doubly pre-
cious life that is dear to us becomes,
when it no longer moves about free and
independent in the midst Of our social
circle, but is confined to one spot, and
can only be preserved from day to day
by the consiancy Of our attentions and
the thoughtfuness Of our love! Il rests
now as sacred charge on US. We hold
it as pledge from the Almighty giver,
for the fidelity of our service. The aAec.
lions gather with concentrated tender.
ness on the single point of duty and
sympathy where active kindness belongs
for the time to one side only of The rela.
lIon and no token of reciprocation car
be given on the other. but the faint bow
ing Of Tie head which expresses a mute
,hanklulness, and the tender love which
still CLEANS momentarily from that Ian
guild eye.
1t is in, the solemn hour Of final sepe.
ration that the affections assume theil
hottest aspect and the sorrow that ha,
done with lime finds peace that comes
from the eternal rest, Those who hav,
experienced this last visitation of earthly
sorrow, and seen The mortal breath pas,
from the pale lips Of parent, child O.
friend, know well that at such an hou
whatever faith is latent in The heart come.
forth in all its strength, and rises up t,
the demands of our wants; and enables
us 10 say in the depth oi Heavenly ,ru st
Father. Thy will be done. Never are th,
beloved so dear, never so inseparabl
from our inmosI spirit, never can we 81
little conceive the possibility Of lhei
pershing from us forever, as in the mo
ment when death throws its dark veil be
tween us aud them, and faith glows int
intensity under the breath Of affection. :
Never as then is this life so completed,
as nothing, and death transient passage
and Heaven the one only reality.
Christianity, in the highest sense,
the religion Of sorrow, II baptizes Oh
heart with a holy sadness, and prepare
lie for the descent Of the Spirit Of God
Christ leads us on 10 perfection. as a ma