The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1859-05-10
What we have, and what VIC have. not.

II would cure many Of the little discon.
tents at our lot, these hard times, If wo
would look more Mt what have, less at
what have not.
Hero is man who possesses but little
Of the things Of this world--a small portion
Of the ready, yet we see no good reason
why this should make him unhsppy.-Let
him sit down and ponder it oyer-as be
looks at what he has not, prospective want
stares him in tha face-gloomy and fes,ful
forebodings ovespread bis very being; he
has doleful and melancholy countcrnanco
and you conrot force smilo upon his face.
What is the matter! Why, he is looking
at what he hns not. and everything be
does possess is beyond his vision. Let him
draw aside the veil and look at his real con
dition--bis is position possibly, to be en-.
We'd by some-he is poor, yet there are
many more destitute than he il. Let US
now take little moro careful survey Of his
little possessions. He has a little cottage
home, nothing gaudy or snowy about it
yet ~ mir Of ncatness peyvades the whole /;
be has kind and loving wife--obedieut
and quiet children, cvey aud anon throw
ing themselves into hi, lap, with their arms
around his neck, pressing the afcctionate
kiss to bis lips, with tho eudaring expires.
sion, "Ps, / love you, don't you love me !"
lie Is in no immediate want Of anything,
he has al necessary food and clothing for
the piescnt--ho is no. pressed with hun.
ger. nor are his children crying for bread.
Even now while lie is complaining Of bis
lot, be can possibly cas-. his mind 70 those
who aie really d,stitute ofthat broad which
is wanted TO sustain and Of that bread
which is wanted to sustain and keep them
In being to Others, who Iro confined 70,
life in miserable prisons, and that for opn.
ions sako--ungunrdcd' moment, the hap.
penea to express THAR honest conviction in
in rogasl to State policy or religion. He
has forgotten his real possessions. lie is a
christian. Some time since, he laid hold
Of the hope set before him in the gospel,
exercised evangelical repentance towards
God and faith in Jesus Christ, aud by ed
option be has become tho child Of God
Tho apostle says, snow arc We the sons Of
God" Hear him again, "If children. then
heirs Of God and joiot heirs Of christ" and
Jesus says to him, II 60 to prepared n
place for you" Having come into this re.
lation 70 his heavenly Father, all the prom
iscs of the sacred word have become his, rs
directly so, as though he were tho only
christian upon eprth, OF il he were the only
christian in existence, the promises Of Holy
Writ would not be any mora directly his
than they are now. The chistain, while
no looks over the word Of God, will find
many precious promises Of eternal lfc, al
SO, Of his grace, wisdom and strength, to
prepare him for that place, yet nothing is
more easily read than this. that God cares
for the temporal want Of his adopted chill.
dron, and looks after them, even to the
numbering of the hairs Of their head.
will now speak of fine passage in tho
groat book, which teaches Gods providen.
tial care for the heirs of bis great salvation.
The first, "The Lord is my shepard, l shall
not want" also "trust in the Lord and do
good, and verify thou shalt be fad." Last
though not less explicit, But seek ye the
kingdom Of God, and bis righteousness and
all these things shall be added to you."--
"a II these things evidently referring to
food and clothing. We would ask again,
"What have we, and what have we not =
We may not have riches, or annual income
aud may be short allowance" yet we
hare many things Others are deprived of
such a, life, health, liberty. friends and
friendship, home and domestic comforts,
hopes Of eternal life, and the promise of
Gods Providentisl care through this life
In view ef all these things, Why should o
man sit down and murmur Il, his lol' why
uot rp Hut to doinc'