The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-08-06
OK TRIAL.

The account OF men and OF human
life is that they are as grass. springinB
I'D in the morning and in the evening
cut down. dried up and withered; their
life. as a post, passing swiftly by. as an
arrow shot through the air and leaving
no trace. or as a smoke vanishing away.
The general statement Is that every maj
walketh in n vain shadow. one genera
ton passeth away and another cometh,
but the earth remaineth. The earth is the
continuing stage over which the genera
tons pass. The translator OF Homer does
his best 70 give the old poets words:
Like leaves on trees, the race OF men are
found.
Now green in youth. now whitening en-
the ground;
The falling race. the following spring
supplies,
These fall successive. and successive rise,
So generations In their course decay,
These come to life while others pass
away"
Yet this dry stubble, driven with the
wind. this disappearing smoke and speed
Ing post. allowed a breath and little mo-
ment. assumes the king, exalts its reason,
boasts Of its power and calls up the
Supreme Ruler for trial.
The potsherd asks II there be such n
thing as a potter; the blown hay asks
II there be any wind: the arrow II there
be such a thing as a bow, and the smoke
doubts about the existence Of such a
thing as FIRE. and the soul Of man rea-
sons whether or not II came from a
divine being. Nor is this all. All these
feeting, failing. whitening. uncertain
shadows dare TO bring the great God up
for trial. They ask about His wisdom.
HIS power, His goodness. His whole
character. Why did He do, why does He
do this, that and the other? AS the pious
little boy said in the storm: II just want
TO know why you send all this thunder
and lightning, when you know / hate 'em
So" Big. older boys Just want TO know
the same thing about the ways and won
derful works OF the Almighty. And when
things don't suit them they are ready
TO convict Him OF everything wrong;
they could do things so much better
themselves that they virtually supersede
Him. set themselves and their judgment
and energy up as their God. and don't
they have a time of It? Think Of the
man of Heaviest Artillery" on st.
Helena! Think OF the chaff blown from
- --As-- --ochtra 4YtfotrN fhn far
mer, or the mote in the beam sitting in
Judgment on the sun! And what is the
case when poor dust and ashes-mortal
man-sits in Judgment on the Infinite
Cod! AND yet this is the habit Of our
race, our philosophers. our scientists, our
wiseacres to have the Great Creator on
trial!
But Il is not the wise and learned only
that dare this sacrilegious folly. We can
not understand this and that event In
our lives, why he tries us. How can we
understand them? We can take no half
done piece Of workmanship and under
stand the use Of each tool on It. The
watched pot will not boil. Don't bother
me. I'll tell you presently" IS what the
workman says. "What l do thou knowest
not now; but thou shalt know hereafter"
are the words of our Saviour.
II IS we that are on trial, not the
Almighty, and the responsibility is hat
we quit ourselves lii men, that we
show ourselves worthy Of our discipline,
pure gold that can part with Its dross
t-an nf GfaFlfnO tie
| Impress Image OF Deity; that We be yes
sells TO the masters honor. SHOW us
here the mettle of your pastime?' fays
King Henry. 1t would be we'll II, in time
Of trial. we would remember this: Search
end try our ways and turn TO the Lord
our God: humble ourselves under the
mtghtv hand that He may exalt us In
due season.
Anaesthetic and painless discipline may
do very we'll for the luxurious. but II will
amount 70 nothing. It will make grown
boobies only. Tragedies. by high artists,
NAV be very fine and instructive. but
thew have little to do with virtue and
truth. Essential and enduring manhood
and faith in God are learned and acquired
in real. actual. personal affiction and
sorrow that try every thought. feeling.
principle and fibre OF or being. In this
world not the Almighty but we ourselves
are on trial.
That is near about the Lesson OF the
Book Of Job. He maintains his own
goodness. protests his integrity and merit
and tries the Almighty. Presently he is
face 10 face with Deity; the contrast Is
overwhelming he abhors himself and his
miserable imperfectiou and nothingness
and worships God.
william and Mary Quarterly.