The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1895-10-04
COMMUNICATED

Behold, God himself is tho Judge,
fear him leave of from your nna. and
forget your iiquiucs, TO meddle with
them no more ioioyori 80 shall God lead
Joniorth, end deliver you from an troub.
j.. II. Esdras CD
Under this immortal Being we live.
Our happiness, our existence, is in Ills
hands All we expect must come from
Him. Nor ought we 10 leel our situa.
ton insecure. We will touch upon the
trials Of O lifetime. This life being
state Of probation 1T is immaterial, says
Rausseau, "what kind Of trials we expe-
rience in it, provided they produce their
Effects
1t is true that our ultimate or perma.
nent happiness depends not upon tho
temporary condition into which we are
cast, but upon our behavior ia IL.
There is no situation in which a ration
al being is placed from that of the best
instructed christian down to the condi.
ton of the rudest barbarian, which af
fords not even room for voluntary quail
tiles, good and bad. Certain it is. at
least, that the good and in treatment
which each individual meets with de-
ponds more upon the choice and volun-
tary conduct of those about him than It
does, or ought to do under regular civil
institutions and the coercion of public
laws. Health and sickness. enjoyment
and suffering, riches aud poverty, lmowl-
edge aud Ignorance, power and snbiec.
ton, liberty and bondage, civilization
and barbarity have al their offices and
duties, all serve for the formation of
character.
When we speak Of a state of trial, it
must be remembered that characters are
not only tried or proved but that they
are generated also, and formed 10y cir
cumstances. The best dispositions may
subsist under the most depressed, the
most afflicted fortunes.
bring before my minds eye two pic
lures. A poor slave, under tyranical
expressions, who still retains under all
his benevolence, /, for my part look upon
such a one as foremost of human candi-
dates for Gods just and holy rewards.
Next, the kind master Of a slave, that is,
he who, in the exercise Of an inordinate
authority, postpones in any degree his
own interests to his slaves comfort, is
likewise a meritorious character; but
still this is inferior to the former slave.
Patience and composure under pain,
distress and affection; a steadfast keep
ing up of our confidence in God, and OF
our reliance upon His final goodness at
the time when everything present is adj
verse and very discouraging, and-what
is no less difficult to retain-a cordial
desire for the happiness of others, even
when we are deprived of our own, these
dispositions constitute, perhaps, the per
lection Of our moral nature.
tits but the flesh that is chiefly troub.
led and grieved by affection. In most
Of our suGerings the soul is free, unless
we, ourselves, willfully afiict it. When
the feet of Paul and Silas were in the
stocks their souls, their spirits, were not
imprisoned The soul would not con.
sent with the flesh in complaining; It's
work and duty is to keep under and tc
bring unto subsection the flesh.
In consideration OF the whole, make
true exclamation: Pain Painl Thou
art not an evil Are we not perfected
through suffering? Then be it our tc
hope and prepare, under firm and set
tied persuasion that, living and dying
wea are His; that life is passed in his con.
slant presence, and that death resigns us
to His merciful disposal.
AN HUMBLE SERVANT.
Camden, September l6.