The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1883-05-25
BEARING BURDENS.

The apostle records very remarka-
BILE fact in his experience when he says
that there was given to him a thorn in
the flesh. There has been more hunt
ing after that thorn by commentators
and essayists, almost, than after any
thing else mentioned i'm the New Tesla
ment. 1t has been the thorn of COM
mentators that they did not know what
it was! But whatever this thorn was.
the apostle thrice besought the Lord
that it might be removed; and the Lord
would not remove it; but He said: eNiy
grace shall be sufficient for thee"
II is often great deal better for one
to bear trouble than to get rid of it.
Instructed by this infliction and its re-
suits, the apostle in an extraordinary
degree glories in his infirmities. The
sustaining sorce of Divine grace made
itself manifest through his infirmities;
and he had no other use for himself
than to illustrate the power of Christ in
him. To all intents and purposes, 9TH
.erwise, he was dead. He felt that he
was a dead man except in courage. He
was alive there; but for his imagina-
ton, his sensibilities, for his whole mind,
he knew of no use except as an illuStra-
ton of the dealings of Christ with him;
and he says that finally he has come to
righteousness by his infirmitics, that the
power of God may be made manifest
througkhim.
1t is asmatter of a good deal of inter-
est for every one to ask which he is most
concerned about; getting rid of trouble,
or so carrying it as that it shall illus
trate the sustaining grace of God. 1
think that, generally speaking, the
whole drift of this question is covered
by that which inspires the petition that
We may be relieved from distress.
1t is inherent in the very order of
things, i'll may SO say, that the most
distressing distresses which come upon
us are often those which we can not re-
move. If a man leses a leg, mo amount
of praying will m another grow in
its place. He must go through life
without if. He may obtain a substi-
tute. an artificial leg, but nothing more.
Ii man has confirmed nervous disa-
bility, he is obliged to 60 on with it; but
he can make up his mind: 81 will bear
it .patiently; and willnot simply clothe
it with patience, but will give it an as
pect of cheerfulness, SO that whoever
sees it will wonder"
An aunt who principally brought me
up was continually subject to headache;
she seldom, if ever, was without it for
day; and yet she was one of the most
cheerful and entertaining of persons to
the children who flocked around her.
She carried that thorn all the time, and
carried it with such patience and such
factor of the little folks. She was al
ways a striking illustration to me of
how TO bear trouble.
One of the great troubles in Christian
intercourse is that men talk more about
their trials than is wise. There is a
proper reserve about such matters
But that every man has trials in at
tempting to live according to the laws
of God is unquestionable. We fight
against principalities and powers in our
spiritual warfare. Some are in conflict
with their pride, some with their affec-
tions and so on. In many instances
men are brought into struggle by reason
of disappointment in their property re-
lations and business affairs. Frequently
the effect of the experiences of men in
these regards is to bring their thought
and feeling into subsection to Christ.
Go on doing good. 81 would" a
man says, eff it were not for this
weight" Well, carry the weight. 81
would if | were stronger" Well, if
you are not strong enough to carry it,
then lay it down; but of all things do
not whine. Do not be forever talking
about your troubles. If the flood has
been rising higher and higher, and you
can not restrain it, pour it out. and be
done with it; but do not leak it out.
drop by drop, drop by drop, to the an
noyance of everybody about you.
Put on the whole armor of God"
and, shaving done all, stand''-that
is, exert yourself in every known way;
and if that does not meet the whole case
be prepared to stand until Gods will is
accomplished. In His own good time
He viii make known His secret dealing
with you, either in this life or in the life
to come
And then, have patience, which is one
of the most admirable qualities that
man can exhibit in life. Let one deal
with his external difficulties or his in
ward Affections along the line of this
noble trait, and he will do well enough.
Be. able. if need be, to give up your
cherished plans. If God puts heavy
burden on you, carry 1t without muir
muring, if you can not shake it of.
What if it be wrong done to you, it is
n great deal better to take wrong than
to do wrong. Let alone, as far as may
be, the ten thousand little frets and
bickers of life. Let patience have its
perfect work in you'll W. Beecher,
en- Christian Union.