The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1861-06-20
Religion in Sickness.

In few events Of life does religion exhibit
itself in more impressive manner than in
sick ness. Now, as iu the days OF miracles,
the sick arc often made the agents Of display
ing the ruth and power Of the Christian
faith.
The sick bed as means Of grace is salu-
tary, and it is frequently the case that the
Christian is there blessed with unusual reli-
glous enioyments. lie there tastes he
sweetness OF the SavoEs promise, Il will
not leave you comtortless | will come to
you" lie is there brought to a state Of :ub.
mi sion to the will OF the Cnastener, and his
feelings are nodded Wy him. His pride is
humbed, his errors are corrected, and his
wrong desl es subdurd. His circumstances
and condition naturally ce Ter his thoug IA $
on heavenly things, and frequently prom It
him to heavcnly comnuuion, and his mind
becomes heavenly. Seasons OF spiritual re-
freshing such as be has not enjoyed before
and such as he has not previo lsly been pre-
pared to receive, come to him. Noswith'
standing his physical suffering, it is sweet to
linger by his side.
When one that holds coinmu ZION with the skies
Has flied his where these pure waters rise,
And more ningies with us mean'r things,
''rs e'en as if an angel shook his wings.
Immortal fragrance fills the circuit wide,
And tells w,ence his treasures are suppled''
Il feel said Felicia Hemans during severe
illness, as if | were sittin! with Mary at
the feet OF my Redeemer, hearing the music
of lis voice, and learning Of him to be meek
and IowIy.'
What ? said Joseph Aleine, when after
long sugeriug he had hopelessIy lost the use
of his limbs, is God my Father, Jesus
Christ my Savior, the Spirit my friend, and
comforter and sYnctifer, and heaven my in.
heritance, and shall not be content without
limbs and health? Through grace am fully
satisfied with my Fathers good pleasure.
My interest in God is all my JOY.
Truly, wrote Samuel Pearce during pro-
tracted illness, / have proved that God is
faithful and most cheerlulIy would | take
double the affllution for one.half the JOY
and sweetness that have attended it,
i nsn extremely weak he wrote to DR.
! Ryland, aud now that warm wea her whc;
| came into Devon to seek | dread as muc'
as the cold, because it excltes the lever.
am happy, however, in the Lord. | have
not wish to live or die, but as he pleases.
The sick bed is Bethel to me- he saio
to friend it Is none other than the house
of God, aud the gate of .caven. aat
scarcely express the pleasures that have ell
joyed in this at1liction 1t scarcely can b'
called al affection, it is SO counterbalancec
with joy.i
AS "a man who during the day, descend
into a deep pit, sees the friend y stars O.
heaven, invisible to Others, wrote Rev Hen
~ N svs during a lingering indisposition
following period of terrible physical dis
tross. so when God allowed me to fa! into
the depths OF .vL.riu. and woe, saw
through the dense darkness around me, the
bright star Of the Fat,ers eternal mercy in
Christ our Savior shining over me. And this
sar was my polar star, never setting, but ovei
growing brighter. Oh! it is high
aud holy joy to be with our Savior even III
Gethsemanc, boar with him crown Of
thorHs. and in such an hour, strengthened by
hun, to say. The disciple is not above his
Master 70 follow him in bright days
and to sun ourselves in his love and glory, is
sweet indeed; but in days of sorrow to see
him near, to prove his faithfuness is pre-
cious addition to the happiness of communion
with him there the bond is drwn yet near
er, there The heart presses yet closer to him,
there the soul lays herself down at his feet
with fuller love aud trust