American Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1855-1860, 1858-11-18
LETTER FROM ANNA HOPE.
cHEERFULERss.

on cEeeriulness. \ Wlsn ne could preach
il in every church in the country; it would
do as much to hasten the milleniun as any
sermon ! ever heard. His text was from
the story Of PauPs voyage to Rome
"Then were they all of good cheer" rhis
history of Mr.. Bsecher read as the passage
Of Scripture for the morning, making. oc-
casionslly, characteristic comments upon
it. 40r
,Cheerfulness is gentle joyousnsss that
glows and radiates. 1t is the natural ex
preston Of the sentiments or feelings when
10 a state Of happiness. The lower states
Of fesling do not manifest themselves.
Cbeerfulness is not the tumultous part
of joy, but quiet glow-a steady think
ing-a shining light-not hasn. 1t is
the white raiment that saints in the world
ought always to wear. There are different
kinds of oheerfuluess -cheerfulness ol
concience, Of hope. faith. love, worship.
CheerIulness is Christian duty, Chris
tian people ought to be happy all the time.
II a duty. it is a state with our powers; il
otherwise it would not be urged upon us.
L. is Just as much duty as humanity,
prayer ulnes,, &c. We are not exhorted
to be Of a certain hight or weight. for du
ty has nothing to do with hight OF weight.
There is difference in the constitution
OF individuals; but all can be cheerful -
Cheerfulness may be cultivated by wide
circumspection, by forethonght and re-
Election. II must not be left to chance
We must take moral cosmetics, Nothing
makes one SO beautiful as cheeFfalsess. -
Beecher described man ip his cffite ut,
terlY d pressed, disheartened, yet rousing
himself, when his interest requires, and
being Gas if made Of flowers 80 g.. .nrtr
Cheerfulness isa matter Of express COM
mand--"The fruit Of the spirit ia love, Joy.
peace, long suffering, gentlrness. goodness.
/ faith, meakness, temperance. "Rejoice
in the Lord always" says the Apostle;
aud then, as il wishing to say somrthiag
/ more. and not able TO thiLk Of anything
better, he adds; ".And again, say rel ice,
rejoice--not when you have good diges,
tion--not when your children are we'll
not wien you can meet yout obligations
mot when men treat you well--but re-
joice aiUays," ...cl b. .a,sr.s4. e ,i
The mind Of G)d is affected by our dis
positions as our minds are. What makes
us agreeable TO each O. her, makes us
agreeable to him. He is not only the great
est bat the most sensitive being--more
sensitive than all beings together, You
may please God by spending an hour in
your closet or not; it depends upon the
spirit you exhibit there. ..,,.g - ...
| 1t is not the gloomy and dark sides that
please God. He does not love sadness and
gloom. They are antagunistc to true re-
rligion. ..of i,-.s sl. ouit:
The only way the true effect Of religion
can be exhibited t the world is by cheer
fulness. Zeal, labor. deyolipn, self denial.
do not attract men, They bear rujt in
other ways. Cheerfulness is the mood in
which we can most Influence others. A
good natured and cheerful man can 90 into
den Of lions among men Wien they are
mad. Some reformers are always being
mohbed. They are filed with 4 sense Of
indignation against wrong: They are con-
sLantly showing their teeth, This spirit
begets a spirit of indignation against them.
Keep the bul dog Of temper out Of the front
door. Let him BE-, chained in the back
yard. .,... ,.sa gif
It,may be said we are commanded 10
have states Of mind Inconsistent with
erfuluess fear. trembling, &C., These
Beecher compares to the fleece islands often
seen in the sky. When these cast their
q shadow over valley and mountain, does
any one say ,%this is no, a pleasant dsy?"
when troops and cohorts Of clouds march
through The sky. and The, thunder FISHES
and the rain pours,e all pstl!sti is reireshed
lby il; the flowers are more heasiful and
A,grant; the birGs sipg-Teyeryo tree re-
j5ices--the air is purified But who
wants thunder, Storm every day, The
abiding state is sunshine; the other, ,thsec'
c''s'onsi iona states bslioiq1 qiapo0 oor1D
VCheerfulness. itisisometimes il said, tends
+, to ,leyity. Lpyitylisnotu the temptation Of
] most men Solsmpityu breeds ,teutlevils
where ehefrfulpess breeds oneI dSolempity
is;pot commanded; ut is not the .antithesis
Aof cheerlulpss, The solemn man wears a
yard long lace, with neck rcloth all over
himself, and is in ausawful Responsible
state, Joy is like a jbelfry with achme
OF bells in it. . aa Y 4'W . DIT
4 Some are naturally gay. others serious,
Seriousness is not incompatible with
cheerfulnes. Not those that laugh the
most are the most happy. Sober persons
are often radiant inside. Somss persons
are like open Ere. places, others like d box
stoves. You know there is a heat in it be-
cause. you can feelit, .a Imm,D
i .a Mr.. Beecher alluded 10 the common re-
mark that Christ wept. but never smiled
/. Be kind enough TO tell me where this is
said-7and iii be true, the key Q Chfist's
lie is. "who for our sake became poor,
that we might be rich,"4 1sG h1ssf4l
! Chesrfulness Is not rendered impossible
BY sickness or other trials Sickness is nc
excuse for persons becoming exacling,
i tyrspical, Internal II isia time to be es'
pecially watchful, because especially
tempted. u III Riz1s . yaiaa
1t is this peeping into the future thai
makes you wrctched- this borrowing Gods
prerogative, There are few that cannot
1nukH