The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1858-07-08
The Discipline of Daily Life.

- TIE reason why we have so many crosses,
trials, wrorgs, and pains, is here made evident.
We have not one too many for Inc successful
culture of our faith. The great thing, and that
which IT i. most Of all difficult 10 produce in
us, is participation OF Chrisl's forgiving gem
,leness aud patience. This, if we can learn it,
Is the most difficult and the most distinctively
Christian Of all attaiainents. Therefore we
need continual discipline Of occasions; pow
erty. sickness, b-reavements, losses, treach-
cries, misrepresentation, expressions, perse-
cutioas !; we can hardly have too many for our
own good, if cnly we receive them as our Sa-
vier did his cross. 1t is by just these refining
fires of trial and suffering, that we are to be
inost advanced in that to which we aspire
F We Lave not too many occasions given US
for the exercise Of patience which, is yet,
L ore evieeni, when we consider the Chistian
power OF patience. How many are there who
by reason of poverty, obscurity, infirInity Of
mind or body, can never hope to do much by
action, and who often sigh at the cobtempla-
ton OF their want Of power to effect anything.
:
them only suffer well and they will give tes-
timony for God, which all who know them
will deeply feel and profoundly respect. 1t is
not necessary for all men to be great IN action.
The greatest and sublmest power is is often
simple patience; and for just that reason we
heed sometimes to see its greatness alone, tha,
we may embrace the solitary, sing.e idea OF
such greatness, and bring it into our hearts
unconfused with all other kinds of power
Whoever gives to the church of God such d
contribution--fhe invalid, the cripple, the
neglected and forlorn woman--every such per-
son yields testimony for the cross, that Is
second in value 10 no other. ~
Let this be remembered and let il be your
Joy, in every trial and grief and pain and
wrong you suffer, that to suffer well is to be a
true advocate, and apostle, and pillar of the
faith.
''rhey also serve, who only stand and wait"
And here let me add is eminen,y the
office and power Of woman. Her power is to
be the power most especially of gentleness
and patient endurance. An6tfice so divine.
let her joyfully accept aud faithfully bear
adding sweetness to life in all its exasperatine
and bitter experiences, causing poverty to
smile, cheering the hard lot of adversely, teach
ing pain the way of peace, abating hostilite,
and dsarming injuries by the patience of hel
love. AID the manifold conditions of human
suffering and sorrow are many occasion. giver
to woman, to prove the sublimity of true SUB
mission, and reveal the celestial power Of pa s.
.We goodness.
| Have you never observed the immense pow
| er exerted by many Christian men aud women
whoselives are passed in comparative siiehce :
Yon know not how it is, they seem to be reail,
doing iittls, and yet they are felt by thousands
| Aid the secret of this wonder is that the,
know how to suffer well-they are in the pa
thence of Jesus. They will not resent evil, o
| hink evil. They are not easily provoked-
They are coltent withtheir lot, though it be
lot of poverty and ailliction. They will no
| be enyious Of others. VI hen they are wrong
| ed they remeinber Christ and forgive, whei
| oppressed and thwar.hed, they endure anc
wait. They live in an element Of conposur,
and sweetness, and cannot be irritated an,
/ fretted by men.