The Cairo daily bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1870-1872, 1871-01-29
SERMON.
winston, by Hev. Nr. Caan, R.c.o- or
the Church OF the Rec eem er. Cairo,
H., Saturday, Jan. 2sth, 1871.

/ Ps. 1l9 II, IL ~. good iof me Wat nave
been afflicted, that Gilt learn Thy statute.
We need not be taught what is felt and
realized by every human heart, that no
Christening for the present seemeth to be
joyous. Heather philosophy may strive
in vain to steel the heart against the sting
of pain. Christian philosophy admits that
Christening is indeed greyious 1t does
not attempt to conceal from its disciples
nay rather, it distinctly avows the fact, as
declared in its own words " La the world
aye shall have trbula,ion 4" butt teaches
us that, NEVERTHELESS, afterward, tyield-
. eth the pesceah, fruit of righteousness
unto them thu. are exercised thereby"
know Of no consideration which can
more appropriately or moro proAta1iy
present to our brethren in affection ON sue
an occasion as this, and mos; gladly do
point your hcart., bowed down with the
| grieypunsss Of present Christening, to the
joyful and peaceab.G fruit .. rigAtootsaes&
which tribulation yioldeth TO those who,
| In Cody manner, are exercised thereby.
Before was troubled J went wrong,
says David but now have kept Thy
sword. II is good for me that l have been
"af,iic,cd that may learn Thy statutes
And NJ ain -" know, ., Lord that Thy
"judgnen,s are right and that Thou, Of
very iaithfune.,, has, eruse. Mo to be
troubled" God doc, not expect His
..;,,, .. IL ;.-.,.. AZ, q. -.rr,ts II, doc.
not pect them,o rftivUtea stoicHl indif-
ference to suHeEinsi bU. lie does expect
them TO study The meaning Of HI chast-
ening and 20 profit therscivcs thereby.
Holy, Job was afflicted, and from the deptbs
into which God had suffered him to be
thrust exclaimed; 20, that my grief were
thoroughly weighed sud my calamity
"laid in the balance together, for now IT
q would 10 heavier tbsa the sand OF the
"sea therefore, my words are swallowed
cup, for the arrow, OF the Almighty are
"withln me, the poison whereof drinketh
.up my spirit the terrors Of GUd do sol
sthen,soly sin array again.;'m,; evento-
"day ismy complaintIiucri my stroke j.
heavier than my grooming. Aud yet IN
,he midst Of all his calamities, bis faith was
mistaken. For know, said he, "that
"my Rsdeemer liyetb. THolsh 10 siay
" me, yet will tFa.tin Him" David, the
man after Gods own heart was also
afflicted, 20 tAa. 10 cried est; ~ Aear,
ais siHittea down anI W.;.g.yl Ike grass,
so that 7 forget 10 cat rnybrcad.- have
"eatsn ashes as ifitwere bread and ming
"led my drink with weeping, aud tha. be-
"cause of Thine indignation and wrath,
"for Thou hast taken me up mud c me
down" Aud yet, this same dcyout
psalms. confosses II /, good Cor mo TO
"hold me fast BY God, and pa. my trus;
ain the Lord God. Ny flesh and my
aheart failcth, says he- but God is the
strength Of my heart and my portion
" forever
Now, my brethren, these examples are
TO teach US that We Dug hi TO endure ai!iic-
ton, as St. Paul has taught Us ALSO "for
ave know says he, "that our light Attic
"tion, which is but for moment, work.
"e;h for Us a far IaoEo exceeding and eter-
" nal weight. of glory while We look not
cat the things which are seen, bu, a. tho
things which arc not seen, for the suh-
erings OF this present time are'not worthy
"to be compared with the glory which
shall be revealed in Us.
We are not TO fepine--much less rebel /.
against God--under present suffering, Tor
lie designs only good for Us, aud lao, evil
We may pervert His proyilential designs
and pcrvcrt them 70 our own destruction. !
We may harden ourselves under hi, chas- /
Using hand, and cut OH or blast tho |
"poaccable fruit OF Righteousness with .
which he would reward our patience. II
any one will 80 DO, DO assured the last stat, ,
OF that man j, worse than the hr-t. lie
will have placed himself beyond the reach .
of God las, and greatest mercy, unless 4
he shall repent and tura himself from the .
error of his ways and from the hardness
of his heart. God will save "a through .
great tribuhtian.. He win purify Us
thereby. He will purge our heart from.
Tue uEoss W SaHtAs ai5 VIZ NE''''' sAN
glory, the peace, tho holiness Of heaven,
Let us not, then, murmur that lilo send us
trouble here, ii By. any means through
this we are TO rcap-the reward AZ Life, and I
Joy, and Immortality in the world 70 come,
Such i the alchemy Of God discipline .
"that lie turns our Sorrow into joy As Z
mourning preccdes comfort, so comforts fol.
lows mourning. Thisis u world OF sin, and .
thereby world of repentance and grief !
but these, il rightly exercised, are but the
prelude to Joy and consolation. The trials I
and bitter experiences of this word pre- :
pare US for heaven-just us repentance !
for sin leads to the Joy of forgiveness, .
There are things which we only learn by
contrasts. We should scarcely appreciate .
Joy without grief, health without sickness,
or even holiness without sin. We must .
taste sorrow before we can fully know JOY /.
and though in the discipline Of God thero
may be times when it would seem that
every joy has departed from us and the
world may seem blank and void Of
darkness, yet God is able to bring richer
joy out Of II at last If we will receive His