Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1885-07-31
LIES EXPERIENCES.

IRcr. VI. ". Strykcr, in s.. S. Times.
LlFE'S EXPERIENCES.
The Wisdom and Goodness of God Mani
tested in the Various Changes of Each
Human Life.
Prominent among numerous occa-
sions for thankfulness is the considera-
ton that no earthly state is either per-
fectly good or totally evil, variations of
good and evil existing everywhere.
There is no occasion for lamenting that
it is sometimes lighter and sometimes
darker in human experience; sometimes
more joyful aud sometimes more sor-
rowful in the ways of life. That it is
never all light OF all dark--all gladness
O all sadness-is truly a matter for
congratulation. 1t is well that while
there is adversely there is prosperity
also, and that no condition is so unhap-
by that it could not have more of bitter
ness mingled in its cup. Not to be dep
recated is the fact that prosperity
has its checks and that each heart
hllOWo llS ONu plUuCll ICDS. nv HUI LluI.
ing thoughts should be allowed to on
denim the arrangement whereby none
are wholly exempt from the ills of life,
and according to which every path of
earth has its thorns which can not all
be plucked out before the path is trod.
Submissively, at least, should it be con-
sidered that exaltation and depression
enter into all the allotments to human
ity, so that there is no human being who
can not say with David in his alternat-
ing experience: Thou has lifted me
up and cast me down"
This state of things is well adapted to
be a wholesome restraint upon evil
tendencies. Prosperity and adversely
counterbalance each other. The evils
OF either are counteractcd by the III
tluence Of the other. 1t could not be
we'll for any one always to have pros
perity as an earthly portion. Like
Hezekiah, the habitually prospercd
might thereby be involved in great
peril, their hearts being so lifted up in
a sense OF self-sutficiency as to invite
some terrible doom. Pride and selfish
ness might accomplish their ruin. Nor
would it be better for any always to
have adversely allotted to them. They
might suffer more harm from uninter-
ruptcd grief than from perpetual 10y.
In severe trials there is often expxri-
enced great prostration of both the
bodily and the mental powers. Anguish
is encrvating and incapacitating.
Moreover, sclrishness is engendered,
dependency induced, frctfulness ex-
cited and distrust awakened, by severe
and prolonged suffering. Advantage
ously, therefore, me joys and sorrows
intermingled. When God might be for
gotten in prosperity, adversely is inter
posed, that He might be duly kept in
remembrance by those thus made to
feel their need OF Him.
These alterations Of day and night
IN ordinary experience also serve to de-
velop the better possibilities of those
with whom it is o. all light nor all
darkness. Some excellences OF heart
and ornaments OF life appear to best
advantage in the light Of prosperity ;
while other admirable traits of charac-
ter are rarely if ever seen, except in the
darkness of adversely. The real worth
OF some persons would not be known
Were it not for what they are called
upon to suffer nor OF others but for
their enjoyments. Self-denial and sub
mission, patience and contentmcnt,
could not come TO view so well in the
brighter as in the darker scenes of life
while bcncvolence and kindness could
not be exercised in u%nfavorabIe AS in
favorable circumstances.
From these considerations, and others
which might be adduced, while the wis
dom OF God may be seer in the various
changes OF every human life, there NAV
also be found enough to encourage pa
tent and cheerful submission to what
ever is painfully allotted to any in the
dispensations of Divine Providence.
Surely it becomes all to bow uncom-
plainingly to the will of ''thc only wise
God who doeth all things well. The
changing scenes of each and eyerv life
could not be in better hands. The ut
mos confidence may be felt in Their ar
rangement, without Il doubt that thev
VIII be shifted at the right time and in
the right manner.
thoughtful are the words of Robert
Southwell:
Not always fall of leaf, nor ever snrinc.
nc endiess night, vet no eternal dnv:
Inc saddest birds Il seuson find to sinv.
Inc toughest storm u calm may soon
Thu with succeeding turns God temperetb
That man may hope to rise, yet.fear to fall"
IHOtnI,,,.,