The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-09-10

save me from this hour9 but for this
cause came unto this hour"
"For what cause 2" said Margaret.
"For this same lifting up into purity
and loving power, the power of drawing
others also unto good-this joy for which
Jesus gladly endured the cross, despising
the shame"
"But did Paul understand it SOP Do
you suppose he had any such thoughts M
these while he was singing 7" asked
Margaret.
"Indeed, do said Mrs. Hammond.
brightly. GA beautiful light is thrown
on this lesson in the writings of the early
fathers. Did you not hear Mr.. Ipman say
that the martyrs of the early church, and
all who suffered in any way, according to
the will of God, were accounted most
favored, because of their firm belief in a
wonderful reward ?"
Yes, have read about it," said Mar
garrett that strange joy and exaltation
that came to them, often lifting them
above all consciousness of pain. That
must have been great compensation"
Eyes, but that was q small part of it,
Thts first disciples who had learned di-
rectly from their Lord, like little children
at the feet of their mother, believed, fully,
that great pain, patiently endured, so en-
larged the soul that they were able to re-
ceive their Lord in his most lovely and
divine manifestation, which is not even
as the Spirit of Joy and peace but of com.
fort; they believed that the Comforter,
the Parsklete himself, was given to them
d;raot1u IN suob fnlInaeo aud ,,ouor tb a .
they thus became sons of consolation
and were allowed to be sharers in the
divine joy of giving and comforting. In
beautiful confirmation that this great
gift came to Paul and Silas, we read that,
after their joyful songs in prison, they
went forth and comforted, or--as it is in
the original Greek-they parakleted the
brethren. Can you think of any greater
honor, Margaret SHALL we entreat that
it may not be given us ?"
"But who is equal unto these things 2''
faltered Margaret. "Pain and suffering
are almost universal, but how few people
be,ome sons of consolation"
"There is great difference in natural
capacity, admit" said Mrs. Hammond,
but the greatest hindrance lies in the
will. Something of uplifting and power
must surely come to every one who de-
sires to receive it. Being caught up to
meet the Lord in this celestial atmosphere
depends, as in the first coming, upon
whomsoever wills. Yes, Margaret, my
DEAR" she said, taking the girls cold
hand, q" | do not know what is grieving
you 50 to-day, but, believe me, it is divine
truth that all these prisons of life-the
sickness, the bereavement, the poverty
the sappointment-are only Gods
schools, through which Christians, if they
will, pass on to higher grade, and have
the great honor and joy of becoming
parakletans."
An hour later, as Mrs. Hammond was
going home in the twilight, she was
caught in swift embrace, and a voice
cried, 1 have been thinking it over, Mrs
Hammond, and could not let you 60 till
l had thanked you. 1t was 80 dark in
my prison 1t was midnight, but light
has shone in. am willing to stay there
now, since it is Gods door into such
blessing. never heard you sing as you
did to-day. shall never forget it, and
think that also, even l, am beginning tc
sing little"
"Yes," nodded Miss Knight, drifting
by in the darkness, there may be some
thing in it. Anyhow, if there is heaven
| believe that woman will go there
Lynde Palmer, in Congregationalist.