The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1891-10-14
THE OFFICE OF SORROW.


Spirit, Are Refining and Elevating In
fuence.
The weary and afflicted soul is helped
to bear the burden of sorrow by think
ing of life as sphere, not for the en-
joyment of pleasure SIMPLY, but for the
formation of character. Here is the
lesson that is distinctively taught by
Christianity. None of the ancient phi
losophers knew about this Office of sor-
row. Even the Stoics, who were the
highest and noblest of them all, did
not place the formation of character
here as preparation for betterlife
beyond, clearly before themselves as
the supreme aim of existence. They
believed that when the trials and dis
appointments of life became so many
and SO sharp as not to be endured with
out whining, then the sufferer was en-
tirely justified in going hen ce-a sui
eide.
Thus Marcus Aurelius deliberately
given this advice: when the chimney
of your house smokes move out!' that
is when you get into trouble use your
will to get out of it, and if you can't do
it in any other way, why, get out of the
world in which you live. How different
is this from the exhortation of st. Paul:
'To rejoice in tribulation. knowing
tribulation worketh patience, and pa
thence experience, and experience hope,
and hope maketh not ashamed, because
the love of Christ is shed abroad in our
hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given
u.s." A jeweled crown of graces, rem
dering the possessor admirable in the
sight of men and worthy of Divine APP
prevail is here set forth under the in
spired teaching as the great end Of the
discipline by sorrow. This end kept
consciously in mind, ministers courage
and faith as well as comfort.
AS the raw recruit accepts with alac-
rity the severe exercises of the drill
room and the tedious pacing of sentinel
duty for the sake of the military pre-
cision of step and the erect bodily car.
rage and the skill to be acquired fol-
subsequent maneuvering, so the believer
who by his very name of disciple
is a learner. a scholar-must always
consider the purpose for which GOD
requires him to do and to bear. A
clear recognition of this purpose will
inspire humility and cheerfulness. II
is blessed frame of soul when we car
make a practical application of the
Apostle James wonderful words: "My
brethren, count it all joy when We fal
into divers temptations there tempta
tons means trials and atflictions)
knowing this, that the trying of YOU
faith worketh patience. But let pa
thence have her perfect work that q
may be perfect, entire, wanting moth
ing"
Perfection of trust and faultles.
beauty of character are heavenly riches
in comparison with which earthl,
wealth and other forms of prosperit,
are nothing. Nobody to-day cares on,
straw whether st. Augustine had a for
tune or nothing at all beyond breat
and water. But everybody of brains
and heart is interested in the thought
the grand old saint uttered, and the lif
of fidelity to duty and God which he led
What is man, ANYWAY, without
character for truth and goodness, but
mere masticating and digesting ma
chine-beneath the brutes around him
This life is only preparation school
in which we are training for something
better in the university of eternity, t
which we are going; and it would be a
irrational for us to complain of bein
obliged to endure pain and shed tear
as for the pupil to bemoan his lesson
in grammar and spelling. Franci
Quarles, the quaint old English poet
was taught of the Master when h
sang:
Lord, shall we grumble when Thy flames d
scourge us?
Our sins breathe fire; that fire returns {
purge us.
Lord what an alchymist art Thou who's
| skill
Transmutes to perfect good from perfes
Christian at Work.