Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1878-09-25
Gods Thoughtfulness.

hou Ie'heils again Wlthin them,
A he passes by all day. Selected.
Gods ThOughtfulness.
1t is characteristic of thoughtful human
love ever to be devising plans to give pleas
ure. Some people, too, have a wonderful
tact for always speaking kind word or do
ing a kind act, Just when il is most needed,
and will do the most good No matter when
we meet them, they seem to understand our
mood and have something precisely suited
to it; bit Of sunshine for our gloom a
word of cheer for our disheartenment gen
tie reminder of duty if we are growing re-
miss or neglectful; an impulse to activity il
our zeal is tagging or word of generous
commentator, If we are weary and over
wrought. There is a mighty power in fit
ness. A word in season, how good it is
And who has not noticed that God in
like manner, sends his helps and comforts,
as well as his warnings and reminders of
duty, just when they are most needed
When you are feeling it the darkest around
you ray of sunshine will break in. At the
moment when you feel that you must give
up and sink down in despair, then comes an
angel, possibly human angel, but no mat
ter, out of the clouds, and you are strength
ened. Who has not noticed that the minis
tries of human friends to us are often most
beautifully and appropriately timed, fitting
perfectly into our need, although our friends
had no means of knowing our peculiar cir.
cumstances?
"Your letters" writes young Christian,
whose life is very full of sore struggles
"come always with marvellous precision, at
the very right time, just when | need them,
when | am feeling most discouraged and
worried. They always come like the hand
of some unseen angel, reached out of the
mists and shadows, to help me over the hard
places"
How did the writer know precisely when
to send them How did he know Just
when that bravely-struggling spirit needed
helping hand We cannot answer these
questions by saying, How very thoughtful
he is !" for he is miles and miles away, and
cannot know the experiences through which
his friend is passing. Nor can we answer
by referring it to happy chance, or re-
markable coincidence 1t is of too frequent
occurrence to be a mere coincidence.
Is it, then, a secret sympathy of life
with life, woven together by friendships sub.
tie threads, that tells us in mystic, unvoiced
whispers that shadow hangs over our
Ai'Nhh htRiN op-hdl Nhdb IL 10 press
ing heavily upon him that there is a worry
shattering the calm of his peace that some
thing is going wrong with him, miles off
and saying to us, Go and see your friend
or, write him, for he needs you" Or, is it
an angels voice from heaven, that comes
and whispers to us, putting it into our heart
to send our message, or hasten to lend
hand To me, this latter appears by far
the sweeter, truer solution. | love to say,
when learn how accurately timed was the
word, or the help rendered, All, how
God 81" He is always watch
ing his children's needs, and at the right
he always sends the relief they re-
quire.
Last March | Travelled a whole day in
railway car. In the evening, as the twilight
deepened, felt very weary, aud series of
sad and depressing reflections came sweep
ing over me- | felt an indescribable sense
of burden and gloom, like the gathering
night, began to settle down about me. In
the seat in front of mine sat two ladies,
dressed in mourning garb. For miles they
had sat there, almost in silence; but as the |
twilight was fading away, they began softly
to sing. Hymn after hymn was sweetly
their voices blending in joyful |
tenderness.
hear the Saviour say,
Thy strength indeed Is small;
Child of weakness, watch and pray,
Find in me thine all in all.
When peace like a river attendeth my way.
Jesus, lover of my soul,
Let me to thy bosom fly.
For a whole hour they murmured the
songs, while without the darkness deepened 4;
and the glad, hopeful, trustful words fell
tpv trpuhlaI cpirit i'll.
hushing its tempest-broken waves into
holy peace. Those two Christian women on
their journey, murmuring their songs in the
gathering darkness, knew not why they
sang; knew not that God had sent them, |
and touched their hearts with the spirit of
song, that they might cheer and lift up the
burdened spirit of one of his children. Yet
am sure it was Gods thoughtfulness that
did it.
Similar illustrations in abundance will be |
recalled to the memory of almost any one
who will stop TO think. In the olden days
angels were sent, and always at the right |
moment. One came to Hagar when her son
was about to die of thirst, showing her a
spring of water One came TO the depressed
prophet, who had flung himself down, under
the tree, and wished to die. One came to
our Lord in his temptation, and another in
his agony One found Paul in the storm on
the sea. Do angels never come any more
Who will affirm it All things are Gods
eaSelsers' m;.se me me Wiias luinli MS purpose
1,,us ia,l oarlieu @ ioou 70 ProPhet IN the olden
~ Laso anu may ho' piruS pe Ine bearers OF
uf ~ theSe oays as wen friend
VI VI illne 'olu me now pird-Sohg had been
a,i ailsei song 70 nm III an hour oil despair:
.lunso "lh iiie was saved oy 'ult OF
Sleen moss III the desert an lnhders
ne"ru was oToheh oy little cnlld that crept
up on ms knee' III a stage-coach' ana per-
III singing her nursery hymns TO him'
"a punoh oi MOWERS oppor'uheiy sent pre-
FeHy1u W. a ,;s suiciue, s.u
d;,;n " nav i,le Is nEt lui1 Oh @ yokens OF the
nSilu Snoush'iuiness -" 5L We are so ac-
e cusVonieu US. 10 1he reception OF blessing, com