National Baptist world., 1894-10-19
THE SIN OF FRETTING.


Fret not thyself," says the psalmist.
Mankind has prOneness to be discOn-
tent with their condition. The million
alre would offer his possessions for the
health of the poor laborer and the happi-
ness of his humble home while that same
poor laborer would deem but fraction
OF the milliOnaire's wealth the richest
earthly gift that Heaven could bestow
Man is dlscontented with his condition
whatever it may be. Fretting may be
classed as a disease-a disease of the
soul At first it may be only acute
or spasmodic; and then, from the
force of habit, it becomes chronic,
and frettlng, like drunkenness
and other sins, becomes habitual
All of charity and love is crushed out
of our lives, and with nothing to make
smooth the path of life, we fret at the
prosperity of our neighbor, or what
seems to US his prosperity, and by our
fretting unfit ourselves for that same
prosperity Or it's enjoyment. The fret
full spirit frets at the providence of
God, altogether forgetful that 'all
things work together, for good to them
that love God;" that God may be deal
ing with them in mercy, and not in
judgment. The parents who are called
to lay away the child with whom they
feel lit is WELL" may fret at this dis
pesation of Gods providence, and bit
terness may fill their hearts; but may
it not have been in mercy that God has
been dealing with them? Perhaps
God has been sparing them the deeper
and more bitter sorrow of seeing that
same child in a felon's cell, or drunk
ards grave, or branded with the brand
of a Magdalene.
It has been we'll said that ''the ca
lamities that are going to happen have
caused more misery than those that
have happened" A fretful spirit never
sees the silver-lining of a cloud, but
only the blackness of despair and the
dire and dreaded calamities that will
result. Fretters become to themselves
prophets never prophesying good, but
always evil; telling about things that
never have happened and are not likely
to happen, and by this fretting unfit
themselves for the enjoyment of the
blessings by which they are surround
ed. They make themselves miserable,
and not only themselves, but those
around them. Not only does fretful
spirit do no good; it also does harm. in
that it units man for the duties of
life, and from the enjoyment which
comes from the performance of those
duties. Fretting is a sin, and sin
brings its punishment. Israel muir
INJURED against God in the wilderness.
and was punished, all falling in the
wilderness save those two just men,
Joshua and Caleb. Are the sins of the
present less punishable than than those
committed in the wilderness?
If along the pathway Of life we met
none save those selfish, fretful persons.
life would be a bitter walk, indeed;
bu6 there is a bright side to the picture.
Along the path are persons who, like
Paul, have learned in whatsoever state
they are, Herewith to be content; per-
sons who by their cheerfulness are dis
pensers of sunshine wherever they go.
They look not at the blackest cloud. |
but beyond at the silver lining. Such |
persons have been described by one as
The sunny soul tina is full of hope
And whose beautiful trust ne'r faileth:
The grass is green and the flowers are bright, |
Though the winter storm prevalent.
Such persons seem to be the minis |
tering angels of God, sent to dispense !
the sunlight Of love along the path
way of life. They can go into the
homes Of misery, want and woe, and |
being intrusive or obtrusive,
minister to their wants and leave a ray
the better for their having been there.
They can go into the home of sorrow
and bereavement, and there, weeping
with those that weep, they minister
such consolation and comfort to those
hearts, as give hope that the
sun will shine again for them. In the
where such persons live
they are universally loved by the
young, the middle-aged and the old;
and when death claims them they are
5ruly mourned and missed. OH that
ife might have more such persons
along its pathway, giving and taking
pleasure from the blessings by which
God has surrounded them!
There are some reasons why we
should try to be numbered with these
persons. God has surrounded us by
many things for our comfort and en-
oyment; and it is a duty we owe our
selves to fit ourselves to enjoy the
blessings God has given us. 1t is
luty we owe our fellowman to shed
and love along his path, and
make his life one of sweet enjoyment.
But there is higher duty, our duty to
3od. 1t was God who said, Fret not
hyself," and it is our duty to obey,
nd with humble trust submit to His
Will.
Then as a duty we owe ourselves,
'ur fellowman, and above all our God,
ct us all carefully cultivate cheerful ]
less of heart and mind, and prayerfully
ry to lay aside all discomfort and fret /
Plesby