Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1873-12-08
THE WITHERED HEART.
BY JOSEPH ALDEN, LII. D.

ed hand which was restored to soundness
by the power of Christ. A withered
hand is sad thing, but not so sad as a
withered heart. There are more wither-
ed hearts than hands.
Yonder is man with a withered
heart. When young, his aspirations
were elevated. He had an intense admi-
ration of what is beautiful in nature, and
noble in character. He had deep scorn
of selfshness and meanness. His SYM
pathies flowed out towards others. He
readily gave his confidence and affection.
His heart longed for pure friendships.
He felt keenly for the sorrowful and the
unhappy. He delighted to help those
who were in want. He had a profound
respect for religion, and intended to be-
come Christian before the days of his
youth had passed.
He has now turned the crest of life.
The ruddiness of youth has been sue
ceeded by the pallor and wrinkles of ap.
preaching age. Gray hairs are upon his
head, and he has lost his elastic tread.
But these physical changes are tri
fling compared with that which has tax
en- place within him. He bears in hi
bosom withered heart. He sometimes
refers mentally to what he calls tn
dreams and follies of his youth. TIL
lofty aspirations on which he once prid
ed himself, he now regards as vain i'm
aginings. He has no longer any fait
in humanity. All men are selfish, an
he is content to belong to the class q
which that affirmation is made. MUG
of human suffering is brought on by tn
folly of the sufferers, and does not Dc
serve relief. Religion is, ON the part Q
some, pretence used to subserve the
interests on the part of others, fanat
cism. He wraps the mantle of his sell
ishness and skepticism around him, an
shudders as he moves forward towar
the valley of the shadow of death. HI
heart is withered!
1t is not necessary to describe the pr
cess by which this sad result was reacl
ed. Causes tending to this result a.
in constant operation. Every one know
that the tendency of a life apart fro
God is to wither the heart. Witho,
God, the heart is as sure to wither as
the plant without rain.
All are in some measure careful Wi
respect to the members of their bodie
No one will willingly pursue a cour
sure to result in the whitening of han
or the paralysis of a nerve. And y
men will willingly pursue course SUI
if not arrested, to result in the withe
ing CT the heart.
Every unconverted man is pursuil
that course. He is deadening his sem
bilities by every days continuance
sin. Every step taken is irretraceable.
No power short of Divine power Ct
restore withered hand, and no pow
; short of Divine power can restore wit
; cred heart. Christ sometimes exercis
this power. Withered hearts are SON
times restored to their early freshne
We sometimes see the ard-hearted, s.
fish, malignant sinner made as tend
and loving as child. Youth is restt
ed in pledge of the perpetual youth tt
shall bloom beyond the grave.
I Reader, do you want your witheI
heart restored to its morning freshne
and purified and expanded SO as to ia
' In joys higher than you have heretofi
e conceived Go to Christ. He is the /,
/ ly one who has power to restore 70
heart to a condition that will REM
>. happiness possible here and hereafter.
Sunday School Times.