Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1871-10-04
Equal Service In the sulIcr Atmosphere.

Then, so God has willed it, Quietness and
Pain are sister angels, that have singular
privilege Of access to him and the soul to
which they minister through the weary hours
Of the day and in the long watches Of the
night, may frequently mount upon their
friendly wings into the sanctuary Of his pres
ence, bringing with it, upon its return earth
ward, one knows not what glow caught from
the infinite and eternal brightness. The diff
fculties Of busy life are apt to throw mind
aud heart back upon themselves the ueces-
sites Of quiet life have in them this fine
quality, that they directly lead mind and
heart to God So ripen, slowly as the sea-
sons pass and the years come and 60, that
sweetness and roundness Of character which
We call saintliness and as we come 10 from
our worldly work and struggle, with its soil
clinging to US, and the JOY OF achievement al
ways dashed with the recollection Of failure,
we wonder at a goodness in which we can
hardly detect a flaw, and upon which al.
ready rests a iorege9m Of the presence Of
God
For one secret source Of the influence
which such life may exercise, undoubtedly
lies in its contrast OF mems common and more
active existence. have just indicated one
element Of that contrast the completeness
with which a comparatively narrow place
may be filled, over against the want Of bal
ance, and symmetry, and thoroughness, Of
which all day-workers in the world must be
conscious. But this is not ALL There is a
great charm in the difference between the
heated air in which we fight our battles even
for goodness, aud the still atmosphere which
enylrons these quiet lives We come back to
them from the struggle, and ind that while
they too are full Of all fine aspiration for
right, and thrill with 4 divine indignation
against wrong, their aspiration is without
restlessness, their indignation has no root OF
bitterness in it ; they are not unduly elated
by successes which have turned our heads,
nor daunted by failures which have utterly
cast Us down their faith is, as ours should
be, far more in God than in any Of his hui
man instruments. Their characteristic e1.
cellences answer in many respects to our
weaknesses, and we admire and love them all
the more we cannot wait, and their exist
ence is one long patience the noise and the
light Of publicity are our life. and God has hid.
den them in bis pavilion from the strife
of tongues we argue, and wrangle, aud
fght, while they but love and pray
health and energy are the very condition;
Of our activity, and their life is rooted il
weakness and in pain We converse con
tinualy with men, and it is a familiar
thing with them to be alone with Cod
And so it often happens that the chamber Of
| long and disabled sickness, or the sofa from
which the invalid rarely moves, is the foun.
taia Of the finest influence, and the cen.
ter Of the noblest activities For there the
charities Of life may be all astir, and the
quick affections thence make their far jour
neys Of sympathy; thither may come thC
workers, now for the relreshmcnt Of peace
now for the balm Of consolation, now again
for the inspiration Of purer dutifulness
while over all, constantly broods the pres
ence of God, who gives and who denies tn,
power of active service who bids this chile
toll and struggle while from that he only
asks that she should "staud aud wait" So il
the weakness Of one many are made strong
and the activities Of earth are bathed anC
freshened in the airs Of heaven.-Seleoted.