Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1886-11-27
ARD MEANWHILE, TENNESSEE SATURDAY. NOV e. 1885

| w thO hlSo vi ilSllN' pO uHlOtlS llSu,
we find both diamond and charcoal
characters. The difference between
the diamond and IL e charcoal lies in
the simple fact that while one reflects
| the light, the other absorbs it, and so
the difference between the two classes
of men is found in the fact that one
class absorbs all the light and love
that God bestows, and yet remain
sad and gloomy under it all, while
the other, receiving the same mani
fold mercies with thankful spprecia-
tive hearts, reflect the light of love
and joy upon the world, through
smiling countenances and singing
tongues. The one class have a care
fully preserved photograph of every
sorrow, and can talk by the hour of
their manifold troubles. They OBJ
literate from memory all the bright
events of life, and dwell with appar-
ent pleasure upon all the dark expert
ences of the past. They can repeat
whole chapters lamentations, and
seem to prefer the mournful boot of
the owl to the merry song of the
mockingbird. They compel the soul
} to live in a house built of black stones
with windows draped with black cur
, tains, and walls festooned with funer-
al Grape. They ornament their rooms
with sadpictures and fill their shelves
with sad books. In their christian
experience they never get beyond the
: 18th chapter of Romans and their only
! song is, 80, wretched man that |
}, am" They never reach that exalt-
| ed height occupied by Paul in the Sth
: chapter of Romans when he boldly
: filings to the world the broad challenge,
t "Who shall separate us from the love
:. of God?". 1t is no wonder that such
| characters repel rather than attact,
} and that men often feel in regard to
) them as the little girl felt when she
said that she "did not wish to go to
: heaven if her gloomy granpa was 60
3 ing there"
!, On the other hnad the other class re-
| ceiveS Gods mercies with thankful
hearts, and express their joy and
: gratitude in songs of praise. Their
2 memory dwells upon life's brightest
: pictures, and their face is wreathed
| with sunny smiles. Their faith trans
lates even the dark providences of
-. God in to messages of mercy and les
: sons of love, so that upon their lips
1 the glad "Hallelujah" never dies.
S Such lives necessarily exert a salu-
/, tary influence upon the world, and by
l thus "letting their light shine" they
S not only bring glory to God, but also
I blessings to their fellow men. In
view, then, of such results it is not
| only mans duty to be grateful and
: glad, but sadness is positive sin. BY
e this do not mean that the strings Of
l the heart when swept by the hand Of
5 pain or sorrow will not culver under
I the touch, and vibrate with momen'
: tary moan, or that there is anything
4 wrong insuch an instructive response
/, but l do mean to say that that settled
d sadness and gloomy melancholy
e with which the soul of man so Otter
l. shrouds itself, is indirect violation o.
S Gods clear command, and in conspic
; ious conflict with the highest Interest
e of human nature.
If The contrast between the effects O
IS gloom and gladness, not only testifie.
: to mans duty to live life of perpet
e ual praise, but it also bears witness tt
J. the high p1'iriege he enjoys in so do
e ing. 1t is undoubtedly a privilege tt
praise God because of the benefits tt
is be derived from it. These benefit
: are twofold. lst Those which &C
y crue to the world through the salu
g tary influence eXerted upon it b!
i such examples and I'd, those enjoyed
IS by the man himself through the re
e fieX influence upon his own heart anC
J. life.
IS That the world derives incalcula
IS bic blessings from the example O
l. happy hearts and holy lives is to,
Of nearly self-evident to require discus
q sion, for in every fibre and faculty o
st his being man is powerfully inau
n enced by the force of example, so tina
lie gloom ever casts shadow, dark ant
baleful, over all within reach of it
Of poisonous influence, whereas sunshin
Ne and gladness light up even the darl
t. places of earth. Solomon testifies tina
he ga merry heart doeth good like
e., medicine" and personal observation
p teaches us that even a smile is conta
le piOus. Those. then, who possess haI