Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1877-05-03
&eadiuq fur the Sabbath.
CONDUCTED BY
REV. ROBERT LATHAM.
SANCTIFIED AFFLICTIONS.

Affections, if sancti6ed, are good. They
ungrasp our hold upon the world and lift the
eye to God. Temptations are good they make
US flee to Christ and cling closer to His hands.
Like spies from the enemy of souls, they serve
to keep US on the alert Good are our inward
conflicts with sin; they make us yearn for
heaven. God plucks from us our early friends
that we look upon Him as He is-our very
best friends. He foils our earthly hopes that
we may not fail of the hope of heaven. He
punges us into sorrow here that we may es.
cape the sorrow that is to come. He plants
around the tree of pleasure angry briers that
we may be induced to pluck the fruit Of the
tree of life. He, at times, gives this life a
bitter taste only to give keener relish for the
life to come. If sancti6ed, every trial is a
treasure each wound scar of glory; each
drop of grief will glitter diamond in the
Christian s crown of bliss. il
Are our trials sometimes great. Great is
our reward. Sometimes the victims of disap-
pointment here are tantalized by the hopes of
often offered, but seldom tasted good. The
branches of the tree of life do not withdraw
themselves from the hand, and the water of
the river of life never retires from the lip.
The mariner, in the midst of storm, longs
for the break of day. The storm-tossed Chris
tian, too, sometimes feels that the night is
long, and dark and wearisome. Let him be
of good cheer; behind it all is coming up a
brig ghter day. By the eye of faith and the
aid ofrevelation, we can see its streaks. At
times we can almost feel the winds of the
fresh morning breaking in upon US ! Chris
tians, never 6espond in temptation, nor repine
under losses, nor murmur in Affections. Bear
them with smile, for the eternal joys of
heaven far exceed the brief su6erings ofearth.
He who was in Affections, distresses, tu-
mults, labors who was beaten, stoned, ship
wrecked, imprisoned was in journeyings Of
ten, in perils of robbers, in perils of the city,
in the wilderness, in the sea; who was in
stripes, in prisons, and in deaths often, could
say, take pleasure in in6rmities, necessities,
reproaches, distresses, and prosecutions.
Why? For 1 reckon that the sufferings of
this present time are Of no account in compar-
son with the glory hereafter to be revealed to
US.
Now, could that white robed company be
permitted to speak to US, we should hear them
from the heights Of bliss exclaim in triumph,
"Weeping may endure for the night, but joy
cnmeth in the morning. The night is already
past the day is at hand. Then lift up your
heads, for the time of your redemption draw
eth nigh"
And from the Captain of our salvation
made perfect through sufferings-there comes
the exhortation, "Forasmuch as Christ hath
suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise
with the same mind, for if you suffer with
Him, you shall also reign with Him. These
light Affections, which are but for moment,
work out far more exceeding eternal weight
of glory" Thecup which my Father giveth
me shall I not drink "Why should l MUIR
mur? ?" said Henry Martyr in his last sickness;
weakness, peril, and pain are but the minis
tering angels; whose office it is to conduct me
to glory" "Oh what owe !" says Rutber-
ford, 'sto the file, to the hammer, to the fur
mace of my Lord Jesus. Watchman and Re-
aector.