The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1894-05-04


our Lord Jesus Christ. - There is
widows heart that first was desolatet
by bereavement and since by the anx
ieties and trials that came in the suppor
of a family.
1t is sad thing to see man contend
| ing for livelihood under disadvantages
but to see a delicate woman, with helm
less little ones at her back, fighting the
giants of poverty and sorrow, is mos
affecting. 1t was humble home, ano
passersby knew not that within those
four walls were displays of courage
more admirable that that of Hannibal
crossing the Alps, or the pass of Their
mopyl@ or Balalxlava, where 'into the
jaws Of death rode the six hundred"
These heroes had the whole world to
cheer them on, but there were none to
applaud the struggle in the humble
home. She fought for bread, for cloth
ing, for fire, for shelter, with aching
head, and weak side, and exhausted
strength, through the long night by the
brook Jabbok. Could it be that none
would give her help? Had God forgot
ten to be gracious? No, contending soul 1!
The midnight air is full of wings COM
ing to the rescue She hears it now in
the sough of the night wind, in the rip
pie of the brook Jabbok-the promise
made so long ago ringing down the SKI,
'"Thy fatherless children, will preserve
them alive, and let thy widows trust in
mep'
Some one said to very poor woman,
"How is it that in such distress you
keep cheerful" She said: 81 do it by
what call cross prayers. When had
my rent to pay and nothing to pay it
with, and bread to buy and nothing to
buy it with, used to sit down and cry.
But now l do not get discouraged. If I
go along the street. when I come to a
corner of the street I say, THE Lord
help me. I then go on until I come to
another crossing Of the street, and again
I say, THE Lord help mel! And so I
utter a prayer at every crossing, and
since have got into the habit of say
ing these cross prayers I have been
able to keep up my courage"
Purified by Fire.
Learn again from this subject that
people sometimes are surprised to find
out that what they have been strug-
Cling with in the darkness is really an
'angel of blessing" Jacob found in the
that this strange parsonage was
not an enemy, but God dispatched
to promise prosperity for him
md for his children. And 50 many a
nan, at the close of his trial, has found |
'ut that he has been trying to throw
Town his own blessing. If you are a
Christian man, will go back in your
history and find that the grandest things
hat have ever happened to you have
been your trials Nothing short of |
courging, imprisonment and ship
wreck could have made Paul what he
vas.
When David was fleeing through the
wilderness pursued by his own son, he
vas being prepared to become the sweet
niger of Israel. The pit and the dun
'eon were the best schools at which
oseph ever graduated. The hurricane
hat upset the tent and killed Jobs chill
rem prepared the man of " to write
he magnificent poem that has astound-
d the ages There is no way to get the
heat out OF the straw but to thrash it.
here is no way to purify the gold but
burn it. Look at the people who have
ways had it their own way. They are
roud, discontinued, useless and unhap-
T. Ii you want to find cheerful folks, 90
nong those who have been purified by
le fire. After Rossini had rendered
William Tell" the five hundredth time
company of musicians came under his 5
indow in Paris and serenaded him. =
hey put upon his brow golden crown !
laurel leaves. But amid all the APP 9
ause and enthusiasm Rossini turned to :
friend and said, 81 would give all this 6
illiant scene for few days of youth :
I'd love" Contrast the melancholy feel :
g of Rossini, who had everything this I
orld could give him, to the joyful ex- :,
rience of Isaac Watts, whose misfor- =
mes were innumerable, when he says: :,
The hill of Zion yields r
thousand sacred sweets n
Before we reach the heavenly fields L
Or walk the golden streets. &
Then let our songs abound
And every tear be dry II
We are marching, through Immanuels a
ground r
To fairer worlds on high. >
Marks of the Combat. :
1t is prosperity that kills and trouble h
at saves. While the Israelites were
the march, amid great privations II
d hardships, they behaved well. After n
rhile they prayed for meat, and the
= darkened with a great flock of :,
ails, and these quails fell in large q,
attitudes all about them, and the Is ~
elites ate and ate and stuffed them ~
yes until they died. Oh, my friends, e.
is not hardship or trial or starvation ~
1t Injuries the soul, but abundant SUD- -
z. 1t is not the vulture of trouble O.
1t eats up the Christians life; it is or
, quails, it is the quailsl You will h.
find out that your midnight wrestle ~
the brook Jabbok is with an angel 81,
God, come down TO bless and save. 81
Learn again that while our wrestling M
tn trouble may be triumphant we am
st expect that it will leave its mark -,
On Us. Jacob prevailed, but the angel 10