Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1874-07-30
&eadiug fur the Sabbath.
CONDUCTED BY
REV. ROBERT LATHAM.
DARKNESS.


It sometimes happens that Christians fall
into a dark and gloomy state of mind. Some
are brought near to the regions of despair
They conclude either that they never have
been converted, or that if they ever were con-
verted, God has forsaken them, and all the
grace they once possessed is gone. Either
of these conclusions is calculated to fill the
mind with most distressing feelings. Those
who have not passed through these valleys Of
spiritual darkness, or seen others passing
through them, can form no conception of the
agony which they, who do pass through them
suffer- 1t makes, in the expressive language
of the Psalmist, all their bones to tell. 1t
consumes the marrow of the bones, and quick,
ly turns the beauties Of youth into the with
erings of old age.
Why does God suffer any Of his people to
fall into this state? Doubtless, God has many
an object in view in thus dealing with any of
his people, some Of which we can discover,
and others which are concealed from US poor
short.sightcd creatures. We take it for
granted that the conclusions to which these
individuals come, respecting their conversion,
and Gods forsaking them, are both incorrect.
God never forsakes any of his people. A
mother may forget her sucking child; but
God never will forsake any Of his. people.
The conclusion that they never were convert
ed, is equally incorrect. No doubt many
persons make profession Of religion that
have no religion at the time of making the
profession, and never do have any religion
but these hypocrites and self.deceved persons
rarely ever are troubled much about the sal
walton of their souls. Some of this class, no
doubt, are brought to saving knowledge of
Jesus Christ but the larger amount of them
are never undeceived until they leave this
world and appear before the judgment seat of
God.
Sometimes the condition of the health and
natural temperament of the individual has
much to do in bringing on these gloomy states
of the mind. Sickness, in some persons, pro-
duces mental arrangement; bad health pro-
duces kind of partial arrangement of the
mind. The temperament of some is so pecu'
liar that they are liable to fall into a des'
ponding state of the mind at almost any time.
The celebrated poet, Cowper, is an example.
He fell into state of mind bordering on des-
pair. For long time he thought that he
was forsaken of God, and that there was no
hope of his salvation. He even went so far
as to conclude that it was no use for him to
pray. Notwithstanding this Cowper is the
author of some of the most devotional lyrics
written by any uninspired man. There is
nothing outside of the Bible that is more de-
votional than the hymn commencing with the
words, "There is fountain filled with blood.
Another reason why God permits his peo-
pie to fall into despairing states of mind, is
their sins. We may assume that sin is the
cause of all our troubles. Gods love for his
people never falters, but the faith of good
people often becomes very weak. They either
conclude that they have strength enough to
stand alone, or that God is not faithful to his
promises. Either of these conclusions is very
dishonoring to God, and to show his people
that they must live by faith, he suffers them
to commence to sink beneath the waves of
anxiety as he permitted Peter to commence
to sink beneath the waves of Gallilee. The
best evidence in the world of good Chris
tian, is heart conviction Of sin, love for Je-
sus and desire to serve him.
No doubt the Devil has much to do in pro-
ducing these dark places through which good
people are called to pass. Misery loves COM
pany. Satan is miserable, and he desires to
render the existence of every other creature
miserable. Satan does everything he can to
weaken our faith and produce despoudency.
He uses every available means to produce
doubts and fears. He can effect nothing so
long as faith is strong and vigorous exercise
remains. Faith weakened, and he has made
a breach in the walls.
If it be asked why does God permit Satan
to tempt his people, and thus grevously tor
ment them, we reply we do not know. Many
things transpire in the history of every good
man that we cannot see fer what they were
designed. Sometimes giving us up into the
hands of Satan are judgments at other times
they are only trials of our faith and some
times judgment and trial are combined.
Whatever may be the origin of these gloomy
states of mind, the duty of the individual, who
is the subject of them, is clear The Bible
must be read and studied, that light may be
obtained, and God must be asked in prayer
for guidance and direction, and especially for
faith. Generally speaking, professed Chris
tians have less of faith than of anything else,
and they need more of faith than of any other
thing. Faith is grace; that is, it is gift of
God. The power to accept Jesus as a Sa-
viour, is gift of God, and the power to rest
upon Jesus, as the only Saviour, is the gift of
God. flour faith is weak, we must ask God
to strengthen it, AS faith grows and streng-
thens, gloom and sorrow and sadness flee
away. Our Saviour said to the Jews of old,
aye will not come to me that ye may have
life." So it is with desponding souls. They
will not come to Jesus, that they may have joy
and comfort There is joy in the religion of
our Lord Jesus Christ There is nothing but
Joy in it. Sin is gloomy thing. The be-
lever does God dishonor when he makes him.
self sad. The unbelieving sinner should be
sad-he should be gloomy, yes, horribly
afraid but the man whose sins are pardoned
in the peace-speaking blood Of the Lamb Of
God, should rejoice always There is light,
life and liberty in believing; but there is only