Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1885-11-13

whose very nhtae compassion ls.
Hullelutnhl
Req NJ WOoisev Struer in s. S. Times
"PATlENT IN TRlBDLATiON."
Tho Counterfeit and the True vlrtue--Tho
Latter OF Divine orlgIn-How 1t May 10
Cultivated.
Among the gentle virtues OF the cross
there Is none more beautiful or moro
distinctly Christian than patience.
Nothing like it is to be found outside
Of tho fruits Of tho Gospel There Is
patience of policy, or the appearance
Of 1t, which suppresses for time out
ward manifestations OF resentment. bot
tlss up wrath, aud bides its time TO
break forth with consuming fury when
policy says it is safe to do 80. There
was the stoic's assumed apathy to suffer-
ing, which resembled patience only in
that II did not repinc under tribulation,
did not succumb to II, but was simply
q proud determ nation 10 be SELF
sufficient against all the ills of life. In
scnsibility to pain, whether real or as
sumed. Is not patience. There ia the
semblance Of patience In the indiler-
enee to insult and injury. and, in some
sense, to pain itself. sometimes shown
by men who have been whipped in the
battle of life aud arr discouraged, have
no ambitions, do not care how things
60. 1t is the fruit of despair which
says: "Matters can not be worse than
they arc, and never will be better. Let
the world wag as il VII, can never be
anything in Il; so will endure my
portion Of evil and find such diversions
In pain as | may-eat drink and be
merry, and die tomorrow. Epicureau
indifference Is not patience; and II Is not
fault of this HeN enly grace that il is
so readily countcrfeited by the hypoc-
risy Of revengeful policy, or by the pride
Of stoicism, or the unconcern OF the
shittlcss dead-beat and blase roue.
The divine patience which the Gospel
inculcates is found only In the man
koenly alive to suffering who. inspired
by Christs spirit and example, is deter
mined to make the most Of life, TO on
quor In every battle with self and the
world by crucifying his reSentments and
enduring with heroic fortitudc and Sc
renity the trihulations he can not ayo d
without shirking duty. His patience IS
not Of human origin. 1t is not supported
by pride or self-interest or indifference;
he gets the power to suffer well wholly
from above. He Is in the Kingdom and
patience Of Jesus Christ He will not
resent evil; is not easily provoked. Tho
wrongs he can not remedy he endures.
He maintains composure OF spirit that
can not be irritated by men, because he
is so much with God. and so ready TO
bear the cross CT His Son. that human
injustice has little power to unsettle him.
This grace Of Christlike patience Is the
crowning proof Of the Christian charac.
ter. Ho who meets the ills of life
bravely, and bears them patiently and
cheerfully, gives the most convincing
ev dencc of the power Of tho Christian
religion to save and bless mankind.
1t is the privilege and duty of every
disciple Of the Lord Jesus to endure
trouble, Of whatever kind, so patiently,
cheerfully and peacefully as to greatly
weaken its force, and even be happy IN
the midst of IL. and become moro and
more assimilatcd to the exalted charac.
ter Of Christ because Of It The per
fection Of character resulting from pa.
tience in tribulation Is assigned by the
Apostles as the reason for glorifying ID
tlibulation: Count 1t all joy," says
James, "whei ye fall into divers temp
tations; knowing this, that the trial o.
your faith worketh patience. But lei
patience have her perfect work, that y,
may bo perfect and entire, wanting
nothing" 1t is only by patience il
tribulation that we can lind any com
pensation for it. If trial makes us i'm
patient, fretful and bitter, It will prove
an unmitigated curse. But II we endure
it with something of tho forbearance,
long suffering, gentleness, meeknes'
and sweetness Of spirit which Chris
manifested, it will always be blessing
to us. There is many a man who hal
come to great moral and spiritual OK
cellence through multiplied trials, whC
can say with the psalmlst ut is gooC
for me that have been afflicted" :"
1t is In that wonderful summary o
Christian duties, the twelfth chapter o
Romans, that we find the exhortation
"Be patient in tribulation." It is fol
lowed by another, obedience to which i
necessary to patience, Continuing in
slant in prayer" The divine grace o
patience can not be acquired or main
tanned without much prayer Ever
Christian knows that when beset witt
trial and provocation he can not main
tain any composure Of spirit or freedom
from resentment without instant re
course to prayer. II he would posses
his soul In patience when insulted
prosecuted, ciroumvented and shame
fully maltreated, he must cry mightil
to God for help. Otherwise he wi
yield to anger, clamor, bitterness, ov
speaking with all malice, and aggravat
his case by bringing his soul into tul
moil and condemnation. These prove
cations he is liable to meet in every ste
and moment of life, and will have res
son to say with Attempts: 30 Lor
God, patience is very necessary, as
perceive, for there is much that goC
contrary to us in this life. For howeve
much l may labor for peace, my Iii
can not be without warfare" In th
incessant battle with temptation tn
Christians only safety is in praying a
ways with all ''prayer and supplicatio
in the Spirit. and watching thereunl