Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1864-01-20
DEFINING ExpEpf1NaE. SICKNESS.

There is class of persons to whom SICKNESS mas
aselieata and refined ninstry, 1T 10 those m Wh0m
the religious character has been cultsated ana de
yeloped.r, The contemplations of q sick room to
person Of religious habits are certainly among the
most refined and spiritual experiences Of life. NO.
where else in life docs the soul so clearly vndica.e
iy supSriority TO everything FROM the sick mans
window, the whole prospect has spiritual hue
All things take their places in new and higher
order. .....rs,
Beauty. hithert, unappreciated, seems concealed
in, everything Intellectual and moral qualities :
seem to invest the commonest; object Inc detlca.
cles which delight his tender senses are miracles OF
goodness; and he wonders how he could have ever
lived and not seen it before. The scale OF being
seems to be pitched higher, and more delicateiy
balanced It is one of the remarkable qualities OF
the sick room experiences of q religious mind to
weave every thing into the plan Of goodness. And
it is good il is not an effort Of half conserving
mind, trying to think that it Isl SO clearly is the
quality discerned and SO completely does it trans
cend everything else, through its high affinities'
that it Is good. -..,.....o %. .:....- ~
I have never known of such one as l refer to
now; who did not discern that goodness prevailed;
that it was the ascendant in every thing; and that
the mpgliag of relations in which the eye OF sense
sees so much that it calls evil, is in reality good
One who has now passed from mortal sight said to
me. few days before death, as from her bed she
looked out upon the few objects that could be seen
from her window: .ygtw.. 20 10
,sEyFything is so beautiful wonder how it
is. These flowers Cunning her eyes to boquet
upon the table, Gil me with delight And, ;" said
she, just lifting her finger from the pillow and point
ing to the window with smile, "tEere is that old
dead tree; seems to me the most beautiful thing In
the world lie here hour after hour, and look at
it. and think of Gods goodness and love in putting
il there; and then think of the goodness of those
who bring me these flowers Everything and every.
body seems good to me- l never knew there was
so much goodness in the world before" Now,
where arises this quick affinity with all that is kind
and beautiful and benevolents Why do the little
kindness which the common sympathes of our ma
ture prompt enlarge into great acts of lovef Why
does nature in her very desolston, put garments
of beauty and glory, filing the weary spirit with
ever=new delight
The sick.room& ontemplatons of religious mind
weave all fes meaning and mystery into the fabric
of goodness and love. Sickness, as we commonly
esteem it. is calamity, according to our measure
Of evil. No one in his right mind would pray to be
laid PROSTATE with disease But there are many
who, from the depths of blessed experience, can
thank God that they have been. You may talk Of
health as much as you please. You may extol it
as the richest blessing which descends upon our
mortal lot, and justly. But ask any one who has
ever had profound experience of sickness. Of sick
ness exalted by the holy influence of religion, if he
| would exchange these experiences for the health
which they cost him. REQ Horatio Stebbins