The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-06-03
Religioms Mlistellanp.
PrOyidential Discipline.

Many of the remedies administered
by the medical profession for the cure
of disease and the recovery of the sick
are very far from pleasant to the taste,
and often exceedingly bitter and repul-
sive. 1t sometimes seems as if their
restoric power were in direct proportion
to their bitterness, and that the more
repulsive they are the more effective;
so that smooth and agreeable remedy
comes almost to be suspected of inefif-
cacy, and our confidence in what we
" take is proportional to the sharp
ness of the trial to our taste. This were
almost parable of Gods providential
dealings with his children, when their
spiritual health declines, or some special
nurture of their strength and force were
sought by his paternal love and care.
If, for instance, it were his purpose to
develop in one of us the quality of pa
thence, what place would there be for
the exercise of this spirit, except under
the pressure of some burden heavy to
bear? Patient under the constant her.
itage of blessing-the unchanging bright
ness of cloudless day, the qualification
of every desire! There must be some
weight to lift and uphold, some pain to
be endured, some sweet hope postponed.
The grace of submission-a lovely, child
like grace-where can it be learned, ex-
cept under some appointment of the
divine will which crosses ours and with
draws or withholds some coveted good?
Submit to success and prosperity, and
the browning of our most controlling
wishes There is no proper test of this
spirit until a will that crosses ours eX-
acts from us some self-denial. When we
are attacked by sickness and pain, can
we feel and say that " God is good"
and praise him for his fatherly provi-
dence Are these the visits of his
fatherly love, to be filially and thank
fully acknowledged ? Does he ever love
us better than when he is recalling us
from some departure to the recognition
of his presence and sovereignty, and our
full dependence upon his oversight
Can we trust him for daily bread How
can such sustaining and cheerful conf
dence be revealed? When golden waves
roll over our harvest fields, when golden
streams pour into our treasury and all
our enterprises prosper? Or, for the
testing or illustration of such a trust,
must there bend over us frowning
sky, and breathe upon us pestilential
air, and the vigor of physical and men
tai toll fail us, and each day close upon
us with no revenue of gain ? In the
administration of our domestic life do
we commit, in all the tenderness of its
ties and all the preciousness of its
hopes, to that supremacy that builds
and guards our homes? How shall it
appear that such disposition is cher
ished in our heart and manifested I'M
der these clinging bonds ? Except I'M
der the grief of bereavement, how can
we make this lowly ascription ours
"The Lord gave, and the Lord hath
taken away. Blessed be the name of
the Lord y? Do we understand and APP
preciate the loving kindness of that
providential rule over us that brings us
into the sharp straits of trial, so that in
such extremity we may testify our I'M
faltering loyalty to that Supreme Will
and find occasion for the most reverent
attitude of our souls before the reigning
Sovereign? Oh, let him deal with us,
not after the type of providence most
agreeable to our natural sensations, but
in such faithful ministry of love as
shall bring us, through the discipline of
pain and sorrow, into a nurture that
shall magnify over us his gracious do
minion. So that this song shall be ever
on our lips: "The Lord reigneth, let
the earth rejoice!"-Dr. 4. L. Stone, IN
The Pacific.