Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1895-03-20
Cease Marrying.

Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof
Mathew, vi, 3d.
Circumstances have very little to do
with human happiness. We labor I'M
der the impression that if we could
have our own way and create our own
environment we should be continuous
ly contented, but the impression has
no basis in fact. Indeed, the plainest
Of all truths-if we think seriously on
the subjects that we are Independent
of everything except our own souls.
If the soul is bright and CHEEKY a SIM
pie geranium on the window sill will
give us pleasure, whereas to the soul
that has formed the habit offault find
ing whole conservatory can furnish
no enjoyment. In the last analysis,
therefore, neither wealth nor poverty
has very much to do with your happi
ness or misery, because the source of
both lies in yourself. There are PEG
pie who would not be satisfied if they
were seated next to the Throne in
heaven, and there are others who have
that within them which would make
even a corner in purgatory comforta-
BILE.
Now the purpose of religion is to
give you peace of mind amid the ineyi-
accomplish this result you may be sure
either that your religion is countefeit
or that you do not know how to use it
to the best advantage.
AS there is always music in the harp
when skilled fingers strike the strings,
so there is always happiness in religion
When it is properly understood; and as
the harp is a worse than useless instru-
ment when ignorance produces discord,
so religion is a mere caricature of itself
when a man pretends to have faith in
God. but finds fault with everything
He does.
If you have thoroughly convinced
yourself that the Captain of the ship
will carry you across the ocean in spite
of waves and tempests, you can watch
the lowering clouds with serene sense
of security-not without degree of
uremulous anxiety, perhaps, but GER
tainly without any fear that matters
will not come out right at the end of
the voyage. On the other hand. if you
have a suspicion that the Captain is
not equal to the emergency, and rather
regreU tnaJ you took passage in His
vessel, you keep yourself in wretch
ed state of mind until the anchor drops
on the other side. Therein lies the DIFF
ference between religion which you
fully accept and religion which you
only say you have accepted.
No one doubts that to the great ma
jority of us life is hard and at times al
most unbearable. We are forced into
experiences which cut like q Toledo
blade, the soul is wrenched in it's effort
to endure, the heart beats like muff1ed
drum. the eyes grow dim with tears
hon ro 4 f,o 10 l,
of some dead hope, bitter disappoint-
ment stings us like a hornet, farewells
are in the air and unanswered prayers
smite us with heavy blows. Who of us
has enjoyed Immunity from these af-
fiictions? 1t is the common fate, and
apparently an memorable necessity.
Escape is impossible, for there is no
purchasing power in wealth, and the
pathetic plea of poverty avails nothing.
Kings and beggars, the cultured and
the ignorant, the high horn and the
lowly born-one thing happens to us
all.
What shall we say p Have we any
thing to say2 Is there anything that
anybody can say?
| If religion is not a pleasant dream
only, there is q great deal to be said
and much to be done. If we have not
believed in vain, we can pass through
these flames unscathed. If the faith
we have protested is not delusion, we
can master the situation and wiring
from it hard earned victory. Circum
stances may impede our progress, but
they cannot prevent onr reaching the
| journeys end.
The soul conquers all things, but il
never conquered. There is in it an ele
| ment of divinity which disdains the
odds against it and seeks from the AL
mighty the energy which overcomes
Religion alone can put you on borrow
| ing terms with God. He lends to those
| who have faith. and when God and q
man fight the good fight side by side
the enemy can never Top to v in
| Why worry, therefore. unless you
worry because you have no confidence
| in high heaven? In that case you are
Justified, but in no other. If you feel
that everything depends on yourself,
that ther. is no help anywhere, that
blind chance rules the universe and