The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1862-08-01
Ill death, for what wac a misfortune
and not q crime.

and not q crime.
Snch cases demand sympathy for
this blight upon all the fond hopes
OF life; OF comfort in age; Of noble
benefactione, perhaps, that have
gone otherwise than the heart would
have bidden; OF education Tor chill.
drcn, left now to the struggles Of
poverty which, however quIckening
to energy, arc stainful experiences.
Think, too, Of the temptations
that now assail the soul, and you
will feel like praying for those who
have never, perhaps, shared in your
supplications. Creditors come one
a ter another, with bitter words, de-
manding security or pay. Lawyers
are possibly shaking his affairs into
worse confusion, and urging all the
makeshifts which may evade the
law. Old friends have suddenly
grown distant and cold, and the
man stauds alone, harrassed and per
picked. Everything darkcns. Life
seems a universal scramble every
man for himself, and in his anxiety
to save some fragment from the
wreck, how strong the temptation
to seize it, even by questionable
modes. 1t is easy in placid waters
to smile at danger, and say, "would
do thus." But cast the confident
swimmer halt stranslod into the
surf, and he too will catch at straws,
even if he sink the deeper. The
strength OF the trials calls Tor prayer
Tor such. Grace must keep them,
and happy he who, in adversity,
preserves clean hands and pure
heart, thus approving himself before
tho world and his Maker,
But here is the saddest aspect o.
the trial, for it shakes his confidence
even in God Il ought not; but ii
does. The SUDDEN storm breaks up
on him with the violence OF a tenn
pest. He looks around him. It
seems in vain, all lis integrity and
trust, Tor are not guilty hands being
enriched and clean ones inpoverish
ed? Where is he who said, "a
hnndrediold in this liteW Moral
order itself seems to have fallen in.
to chaos, and there ia lett no more Of
laith on earth, no more of regard in
heaven. o, the abyss! No man
can tell how frigh,ful it ia but he
who has been to the bottom, who
has felt everything eone--property
(tho least loss;) character, hopes,
iaith-- all shiversd as with n light
ming flash.
Tear friend are you O Christian?
Compose your chafed and tempted
spirit by looking to Him who Is still
yonr Father in heaven. The spar
row does not tall without his notice
BE assured he has not permitted
you disaster without SOM allowed
purpose, for yourself or others, -
Whist it is | do not presume to say.
Jobs friends in vain counseled; job
himself long nisinterpreted the de-
sign Of his great sffliction. But he
found the Interpretation in God. -
To him you must look, that. learn.
ing his purpose concerning you, you
may resolve your heart into it,
Poor indeed are you il this earthly
loss deprive you OF Him. You are
s'ill rich if He--the wise. tho be
nign, the compassionate, the abund
ant in mercy--is still yours Il See
Psalm xxxvii.
1t ia no tins TO cast away conf.
dence in Col when you never need
ed it more. 1t is no time to ques
ton review OF life when life 80 de
mands to be reviewed. 1t is NJ
time to let go spiritual good wheI
earth bursts in your grasp, cheat
ing bubble.-[Neao XorG O5seroer.