The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1879-05-22
As Christians have done through all the

ages OF the past, NOTWITHSTANDING the
prevailing skepticism. And they are
resping all the rich blessings from God
which such q faith never fails to bring
What others are doing and have done, is
always possible for you, oh, doubtful
believer, if you will only use the same
means, and take Gods precepts and
promises as laid down in his work.
The thing to do is to begin at once,
and make an inventory of our daily
blessings-it may, be life, health, home,
kindred, friends, education, influence,
a good name, an unimpeached character,
food and raiment, and so on to long
list. All these you have received from
God. Are you duly thankful for them
D, you duly recognize Gods good hand
in them, and feel how highly favored
you are2 When these are rightly ap
preciated and rightly used, then other
blessings will come. Paul gives us as
the secret of this happy life in one briet
closing WORD, "And be ye thankful"
Col. iii:15. Many protesting Christians,
make themselves needlessly unhappy,
and others around them unhappy, by
looking at the dark side of all providen-
ces, by anticipating evils that never
come, and sometimes by fretfully strug-
Cling after good things that never can
come. They lose the greatest benefit
even of their common mercies, by simply
not accepting them in a thankful spirit
and not approaching them as Gods gifts.
And q man of wealth and education,
outwardly blest with every comfort, con-
venience and luxury of life, can do this
just as efectually as the poor man.
Many a poor widow, reduced to her last
barrel of meal and cruise of oil, is hap
pier than her lordly neighbor with his
broad acres and elegant mansion, because
he lives in fretful practical atheism,
while she has an humble, thankful heart,
that recognizes God in her lowly walk
and tastes His gifts with Joy. In moth
ing is Christian character more correctly
stamped with Heavens own signature,
and differentiated from that of the world,
than in the thankful spirit. Trench has
well remarked:
Some murmur when the sky is clear
And wholly bright to view,
II but one speck of dark appear
In their great heaven Of blue.
And some with thankful love are filled
Ii but one streak of light,
One ray of Gods great mercy gid
The darkness of their night.
If we cultivate a spirit OF thankfulness
in little things, we may soon have great
things to be thankful for. But in great
or small the exercise of that spirit will
do the heart good. If therefore we
would do good to others, and honor the
religion we profess, let US be cheerful
and happy. Let us carry the sunshine
of a cheerful face and a glad heart wher-
ever we go. Let us have good encour-
aging word for every one we meet. II
we have a home, and home circle Zone
of Gods most blessed gifts let us not
darken it by our knitted brows and
sulky moods. Let us make it an Eden
to the extent of our ability, by shedding
over it the atmosphere of contentment
the fragrance of love, the sweet infuen
ces of all kind and gentle attentions
Think that this little circle, where now
our daily, and it may be, lowly, lot il
cast, with those we love the best, mus
ere long be broken up, sundered, 'sepa
rated. Shall we be so foolish as to MAJ
its beauty now by morose silence, By
unkind words, by gloomy forebodings
by ungrateful murmurings and repin
ings at the allotments of Providence
No, rather let us exercise this selfish
envious demon by full infatus of tn
spirit of thankfulness.