The Russellville Democrat., 1888-02-09
SIckness--Its Uses.
correspondence of the Democrat

LOVER, Ark., feD. Ally late SC
 we're illness very naturally turned
 my thoughts to the subject of sick.
 ness and It's lessons. It comes un-
 bidden and it's stay is unwelcome. At first there is feeling of impa- tience. We feel that our duties must
 be attended to, they are of so much importance that we cannot afford to be sick. Our business will go to ruin without our personal supervls ion. The church will lose ground if the leader is confined to his bed. Thus feels the sick in the early stage of the disease and very natur- ally he is impatient, restless, fearing the results of his confinement upon his work more than those upou him. self.
 After . time he learns that the world moves on with it's usual regu larity; men go on in their business, the church in its different interests, scarcely knowing any difference. Seeing this the sufferer becomes quiet He realizes his littleness and unimportance in the march of the worlds progress. He becomes hum- ble and submissive. If his illness is not too severe, begins to reflect. He finds himself utterly helpless, depending upon his friends for the most indifferent favor. Dignified, proud, independent man becomes as dependent as the weakest and most ignorant of Gods creatures. Find- ing himself so utterly helpless, en tireiy depending upon his fellow who may become as desti- tute as he is. he turns his thougts to the Fountain of Strength. It is a part of our nature to try to be inde- pendent and live without God, but in sickness and other affiictions we are brought to see our weakness and our dependence upon our friends for favors, and being brought to such straits that we readily see that a man can no more relieve our distress than we ourselves can, and we are forced to look to God, the Father of our spirits realizing that He alone can "turn our mournings into joy"
 Again, sickness teaches us the great value of friendship. While our dear ones, tho beloved and ever and tender wife, nor all the friends combined can check the ray ages of disease and at once restore to health, yet they can and do ac complish much in relieving suffer ing, soothing pain, quietlng the mind, &c., &. The tender and con stant nursing is invaluable, without winch the most skilled physician prescribes at a wonderful dlsadvant- age and will seldom succeed in rais ing his patient to health. A person going through severe illness finds, perhaps, more and warmer friends than he supposed he had. The humane feelings of per son are drawn out and they move the power to active exertion for the relief of his sick neighbor. The old and the young visit the sick and If they do not visit them, tender and anxious inquiries are made concern Ing their condition. So sickness teaches us how strong IS the sympa thy and humane feeling in the hu man breast. In this connection ex cuse me for personal statement For days during my late sickness it seems that l lay balancing between life and death. 1 had no lack of at tention. Above all, my vigilant and ever constant wife could do no more than she dld for my comfort and re lief Watching and waiting upon me all day long and much of each night the wonder is how she kept up. The citizens in sufficient mum bers came for thirteen nights and kept their vigils at my bedside, giv ing every attention possible to me. I hope it will not be considered in- vidious or show partial:ty to specify Brethren Green, Hlck and T. J.. Perryman, who came eight nights in and nursed me from mid night till daylight. pray that the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ may rest upon all who were so atten tive and careful of my comfort. l would not by any means have any think that only those who visited me manifested A deep interest in my recovery. Many that could not come in other ways showed their profound concern for me. Doctors Kirkscsy and Ruff were as attentive as possible, visiting me twice day when they had large number of other patients on hand. Thanks be unto God that skillful physicians, careful and tender nursing and ear nest, faithful prayer to the Dispens CT of life and death prevailed, and l am rapidly gaming in strength and will, I trust soon be able to prose cute my glorious work of preaching the gospel of the grace of God. l extend heart felt thanks to all who manifested so much concern.
 One other thought and shall have done. Two severe attacks of pneumonia, one ten years ago and the recent one, teach one that 1t IS dangerous in the extreme for per son to depend on "deathbed repent ance." In my case the will seemed to lose control of the mind so that l talked at random. I could not con centrate my mind on any one sub ject and keep my thoughts upon it.
 endesvored to pray and be deyo-
 tlonal, but l fonnd 1t difficult to con
 trol my thoughts, Indeed l did not
 succeed. l realized the com forting