The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1864-04-26
Religion of the Weather.

Ieop'e stu good deal In complaining |
at the weather. Where il does not
mount TO. sin, their comments and re
marks appear unseemly Tor Christians.
A. correct and guarded language on this
topic is very unusual. Sometimes we do
witness it, aud We never fail TO lie i'm
pressed fayorabIy towards the moral and
even the mental character Of those who
habituaIly hold it. If not in idle word
or in tiVpant remark, do uot you, reader,
often offend in murmuring and peevish
temper at the weather!
You have made an appointment, to
meet friends. Perhaps they are to meet
At your nonse, and on YOU devoIves the
pleasing trouble and expense Of prepar-
Ing for them The day, The hour comes
but with it. Il rain. O the weather =
You vent your disappointment om-whsn
The cioeds, the winds, the rsiudrops -
God sent them.
Mere Stoicism, to say nothing Of Chris
Nau'Iy, rcbuke> his impa,ieuce You
cant blame yourself with the weather,
or your fellow beings. The elements are
not under your control or within your
ken. Who. is 10 blame for it, or who
, could hinder what has happenedl Sub
init, be patient, be quiet.
You have planned a journey, bot the
weather prevents. Now, If the trip bad
been broken up or delayed 10y the care
| ic'>ne>s of stage contractors or drivers if
/ tue L,achsmi,h had not shod the horse,
/ or the coackmakcr meuded the carriaIe,
| YOU might talk auI scold 20 a purpose.
But the weather has stopped YOU. BE
! ~r.i.
II anything IS provldcn,ial it is the
weather; "nG therefore to quarrel with
II, is very directly 10 quarrel with Provi
Gence. The frost or freeze has uipped
your early planting ana killed the iEat.
You cau'i help it, YOU can't hinder it, you
cant mend it. Your repiuings are fool
J
religious meeting is coming oil,
where Gods word. and ordinances are to
be dispensed, and where it Is hoped to
'promoIe His csuse aud glory. Able
and distinguished ministers are expected.
All things are ready. Lo, the clouds
gather, the winds shift the rain comes
down. Wha, disappointment, what a
pity, what n misfortune!
Stop, brother, sister. You are zeal
Gus be pIous also. God sends the rain,
guides the wand, and shifts the drapsry
Of the heavens. Leave it all 10 Him.
Whatever necessary result follows can
not be separated from his agency. xvi
'dent'y. II Is his viii, and you may afford
TO acqniesce in it. You pray daily, "Thy
Wi! be done" Any secret rising up in
tno heart, any rebellion Of the soul felt,
bat uneHpressed, is to be reItgiou,Iy re
buked snd essed-"Thy will be done
As III heaven So on earth" Man has no
hand in the weather. God does. II al,
and he Is too wise 10 err, too good 10 be
uhSnd
Ne have met with but few Christian
! people whose moral discourse was not,
more or less, blurred Oh the weather
point; who could stand a disappointment
growing ont Of the weather uncomplain
ing!y, reasonably, submissively, p,ously {:
who could take consistent aud thor
oughIv religious view of al unexpected
shower. But they Impressed us. as they
must impress every one.
Aslds-fr"rn this symmetry Of character
and moral propriety involved, we had as
well, all Of us, for our peace and happi
ness, become reconciled with Providence
on. the weather; for herein must OCCUR
many a conflict with human plans and
purposes. Learn to submit pracefally
and without jar, and 10 hold a becom.
ing language. NJ.
Alabama, March, 1864
HFRsEvEsESCE UNDER DIFFICULTIES