Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1885-09-17

perfectly for the future. A plentiful
harvest often follows seasons which to
us appeared most unfavorable; and the
fruits of the earth are as often cut
short after what we have pronounced
the most promising prospects,, There
are many things, in the natural world,
so entirely out of our sight, that it is
impossible for us to determine this man
ner in which it is best the seasons
should be ordered. The weather,
which we think unkind, may be ncccs-
sary to the removal or prevention of
evils, unknown to us, which might be
fatal to the fruits of the earth. That
which is unfriendly to particular soils
may be best adapted to general frrtll-
ity. That which produces scamty
harvest in one season, may conduce to
! the frutfulnsss of many succeeding
years. A scorching drowth is occasion
ally necessary for the proper rulvcrlz
ing and fertiIizing of the soil. We Of
ten complain in our shortsightedness
that the drowth is spelling the curun-
Der vines when God 10 thereby doing
the very best thing that can be done for
the rest of the farm; and for the GU
cumbrr patch too if we dld but know
it. CA large experience ip wide field
for obscrvatiun--in the medical pro.
fcssion--has proved that God deals
most kindly with his poor sutlci ing peo-
ple when he Causes the cucumber crop
to fail. Though Of course we must not
expect them to publish the fact to the
world That would be expecting too
match Of the medical rrolcssion-
too great II strain on human nature y
From past experience we expect
II harvest in Its appoint'u Il weeks and
rarely is our expectation Irustrated.-
But the harvest is not always adjusted
TO the measure of our hopes. 1t often
falls short, and often exceeds thcm.-
TAlt rain and sunshine are necessary to
the truitiulncss Of the earth, we know
by constant observation. But what
proportion Of lrowth and moisture. OF
heat and cold is fricalIy to vegetation
and most conducive to plenty is a mat
ter in which We often misiudyc.
But even if VIC had intelligence
enough to form Il correct udgemt mt rs
to when and how much rain and sun
shine, col and heat is needed, we have
no sufficient power to control the Sun,
the air and the water Our labor in
the culture of the soil is useless without
a friendly disposition Of the sca5onS.-
But in the direction Of the seasons, we
can have no more influence than in the
creation of worlds. There is nothing
IN the sphere of human agency that IN
the least degree contributes to hasten
or retard the showers of heaven, to in
crease or moderate the heat Of the sun,
to continue or change the course Of the
winds.
, The whole management of the nat
ural world is in hands superior to ours,
in the hands Of an invisible, almighty
being, "who left not himself without
witness The invisible things of God
are not more clearly seen from the Gre
alton Of the world, than from the "pro-
ductions of nature as the sceptic is
pleased to style the harvest, Had We
been present when God laid the found
ations of the Garth we could not have
had more convincing evidence than We
now have in the return of harvest, that
there is Being who fills, sustalns, and
rules the universe, who is above all,
through all, and in us all.
We learn Gods goodness from the et-
fccts of it which We behold and the
blessings of it which we enjoy. When
We see man Of wealth dispensing
abroad his charities in caring for the
inligeut, establishing schools and col
ltses we admire the goodness Of his
heart and rejoice in his ability. Much
greater evidence have we Of the good
ness Of God in the products of the farm
God has made us dependent on his care
for all our necessary supplies He gives
us, while we trust His care in the eX
ercisc of prudence and industry. "Trust
in the Lord and do good: So shalt thou
dwell in the land, and shalt be surely
fed" The management of the clouds
and the winds and the sun is in uner-
ring hands. Rational beings, IN the
care of infinite wisdom and goodness,
are always safe, while they proceed IN
the line of duty, and never should in
dulge over anxiety. With Him who
governs luturity, we may calmly trust
all events. "Iake no thought for your
/ life" says the divine Saviour, what ye
shall eat or drink, or put on. Behold
81.