The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1877-05-27
THEORY OF SUFFERING.

affords TO philosophic minds survey al
most without compare Of human nature IN
it's vast variety. Thousands of weary
feet, thousands Of achipg brains, Thousands
OF throbbiog hearts, are in that long street
as the umbering vehicle rolls by. The
philosopher has worn out his eyes with
much etudy, but he puts on his spectacles
and looks his hardest Into the faces of those
who are rushing below him. Each tells q
history that might be made into q three
volume novel. There 10 not a man or wo-
man, scarcely is there q child, whose trials
or dangere or experiences would not be
worth recording. 1t is wonderful world,
this London, with its population equal to
all Scotland, or almost all Belgium, living
in one great seetbiDg mass of anxious
mortality, ecrsmbliug for the prizes of
fortune like dogs fighting for an eligible
bone, making ends meet by ingenious in
ventions of which necessity is the mother
The very eparrows In the streets have
caught the spirit Of the place. A London
sparrow is as different from it's country
cousins as o sharp London boy is from
Lancashire lad. There is deadly deter
mination in the way In which 1t picks up
the straws, making way for the cabs, and
turning to" again behird them, as If life
depended upon not losing minute.
In his scrutiny of faces, what is it which
chiefly arrests the attention of our philoso-
pher on the omnibus 1t is the grim earn
eetness of life. Here and there two friends
are laughing, but 1t seems like a hollow
nockery in the midst OF such prevailing
seriousness. There is never q smile upon
the features Of one who walks alone. The
lips are closed, the eyes are thrown for
ward, the step is quick, in the city. AT
the west end the pace Is more languid, and
the eyes are more wandering. but still the
tips never smile. Life must be terrible
thing.
Life is terrible thing. 1t is not an
empty dream. Il Ia not passing shadow.
1t tis--it is the threshold of eternity.
Dust thou art, to dust returusst.
Was not spoken OF the soul
Men know this. There is a still small
voice that cries within them that they are
not made for the things of time, bat for the
things of eternity. Why are they unhap-
pyf Because they know this, and yet are
living as If they did not know it. Life is
condition, and they will not work for that
object and they will not accept that con
dition. The object is eternal life. The
condition is contented suffering. ''He that
made You without you, will not cave you
without you." The condition is an easy
one for the gaining of such a prize. "Write
and read, pray and sigh, bear contradic
tion bravely, eternal life is worth all these
aud greater efforts" (A'Kempis, iii, AZ
Esau sold his birthright for q little food
when he was hungry, and he obtained not
:. forgiveness; aud these men by thousands
for a little yellow dust or the breath of hu-
man applause.
40 yc sons of men. h0U long riH you be
hedUy Of heart Why do you lore ranity
and run after lyin92" How is it that men
cannot learn by the experience of the
forward on the stage of life enacts the came
tragedy, goes through the same acts and
scenes, plays the came parts in the same
style, and goes off the boards confessing in
Bitterness of soul that it is foolish for its
pains; But, all untaught, fresh actors are
ever pressing forward to make the trial for
themselves. THE is the my ystery of life.
The young will not believe the old. They
Gnast have their day like others before |
chem. 1t ia short and evil. A few revolu-
&ions of the earth round the sun are accom-
Plished, and they too are gathered to their
Gathers, and still thu earth rolls on, with
other mon and women as full of life, az re-
gardless of death, es careless about eternity,
aSze 0nhappy aud if the Wandering Jew
could spend his ages on the top of an 0mni
bas, he would see very little lighthearled
0seS ia . thousand years of Professionalism.
Grim earnestness of feature tells of dis |
Ssoneent within. Life, as Englishmen take
sake 1t, in the absence of this sacrsments,
with no Knowledge of the love of the Sa
cred Heart, with no thought of Heavenly
M0ther's gentle care, with no conversation
Of guardian angels, and no Ommunion of
against impending fate. Men want money,
and cannot get it; or if they get it, they
want more. They are eager to rise, and
the superincumbent weight of society
presses them down. They are always go
iug uphill, but they never reach any van
tage ground. They have placed steps in
their heart to mount by" but these are
like the steps of a treadmil, and all the la
hoEious trampliug is product We of no result.
Why does our philosopher from his
watch-tower see go much grim eacnestness,
so many grave countenAncesR Because
znen 'Seek after lying" b scause they are
leagued to deceive themselves. Because
they try to make the means the end. Bs.
cause they do not choose TO understand the
90 Theory of Suffering"
Man, fool man, hero buriCs all his thoughts;
1nters celestial hopee without Sigh,
-RTtsoner Of earth and psnt beneath the moon,
Hero pinione all his wiahes, winged by Heaven
70 hy NJ IpGnite and find 1t there
where Ssraphs gather immortality
On lifes fair tree fast by the throne of God
Suffering is the appointed portion of
Ealleu human nature but heavy hearts are
not the divinely intended accompaniment
~ a1ffario0 God friea Hia