Smyrna times., 1867-07-03
For the " Smyrna Times"
6 Before 1 was Afflicted Went Astray."

Such was the language of the Psalmist,
spontaneously flowing from his heart, which
has travelled down to US through the long pas
sage of many centuries, and all the time adapt
ed to the experiences of the children OF men,
without the least diminution OF Its truthtulnesS
The tendency of the human heart Is, to seek
qualification in those things that Gods moral
law condemns Hence it is that we see a class
of men unwittingly strive to heap up vast trea-
sures, not for the purpose of doing good, but
only to satisfy their carnal prOpensitles or from
morbid feeling to hoard up and count over
their accumulations, so as to astonlsh the world
with their avaricious success.
Another class seek it in political honor;
hence all their energies OF mind and body are
exhausted in party intrigues, endeavorlng to
keep themselves prominently before the peO-
ple though many times wholly unworthy of
of their confidence.
The female portion Of the human family
are for the most part satisfied with the adorn-
ment of their persons and those that have
the most expensive apparel are considered the
most successful, and happy, by large majori-
ty of superficial observers.
1t matters not what the pursuit may be OF
either sex that has tendency to direct their
minds from their spiritual interest God sees
their culpability, and in order to lead them in
the right path often sends affiictiOn to humble
their hearts, and make them surrender to his
government. Sorrow comes In various ways
to those whom God pities and would lead back
to his fold. Sometimes riches make to them
selves wings and fly away, and thus they be-
hold the foundation upon which they erected
their structure of happiness has given way, and
their building is demolished. In their distress
and disappointment they humble themselves
and return to their Heavenly Father, who re-
ceives them in his parental arms, and scatters
the fragrance of his love all around them, and
they look back upon their former alterations
and exclaim, Before | was afflicted | went
astray."
Sometimes the reputation of one in pursuit
of honor is tarniShed by the unfolding and ex-
pOsure Of his schemes as wire puller for his
own ACKNOWLEDGEMENT and those Of his near re-
latives IIe too, becomes disheartened and
finally disgusted, and seeks reliefin devotion to
his God, and looking back on the perilous and
crooked paths he has made, and the disap-
pointments of bis life, says: Before | was at
hicted | went astray." Divine light shines
upon his path, and the Kings highway be-
comes visible where no "ravenouS beast en-
ters, be peacefully walks therein.
The lady, whose beauty was so fascinating,
is laid upon bed Of languishing-her beauty
fades,-her strength declines, her life is in
jeopardy, and she is brought low, and it is
made ioathsomc to her moral vision. She
looks up to God for help, and she behOlds the
Saviour, "the fairest among ten thousands, and
altogether lovely smiling upon her, and hope
springs up in her heart, and she yields to his
supremacy, and says, it is written, every
knee shall bow" And who does not discern
that before she was afflicted she went astray
NARCIssA.
Il.