The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-12-12
BY WILLIAM ADAMS, d. D.

we are quite content To Ietdln
them if there be method by which
they can be shown to be the very in
struments of cheerfulness as the
rain drops on summers afternoon
bring out to view the splendid bow of
God. When the Scripture tells us
that sorrow is better than laughter,
that it is good to be afflicted, rely
upon it, such expressions are not a
pretense or mockery-
(which keep the word of promise to the
ear,
And break it to our hope.''
There is a profound truth in these
sayings which it is wise for us to
comprehend. Having been cheered
into smiles bY those forms and ex-
pressions of divine goodness which
we call blessings, let us now inquire
whether there be not a power to pro-
duce the same effect in what we are
accustomed to regard as evils-even
the griefs, wrongs, and troubles
which extort the bitterest tears.
''In the account which Plato gives
us of the conversation and behavior
of Socrates, the morning he was to
die, be tells the following circum-
stance: Socrates, whose letters were
knocked off (as was usual to be done
on the day that the condemned per-
son was to be executed), being seated
in the midst of his disciples, and lay
ing one of his legs on the other, in a
very unconcerned posture, began to
rub it where it had been CALLED by
the iron; and whether it was to show
the indifference with which he enter
tanned the thoughts of his approach
ing death, or latter his usual man
ner) to take every occasion of philoso-
phizing upon some useful subject
he observed the pleasure .ofs that
sensation which now arose in those
very parts of his leg that just before
had BEEN so much PANEL by the
fetter. Upon this he reflected on the
nature of pleasure and pain in gener-
al, and how constantly they succeed
one another. To this he added, that
if man of goodsgenius for a fable
were to represent the nature of pleas
ure and pain in that way of writing,
he would probably join them to-
gether after such manner, that it
would be impossible for one to come
into any place without being fol-
lowed by the other" Spectator, No.
1857
Acting upon this suggestion, Mr..
Addison has constructed fable, the
substance of which is this: That
Pleasure and Pain, two beings of a
very different pedigree, belonging to
wo families always at variance, came
into this world Of ours, the one to
take possession of the virtuous, the
other of the vicious; but, after many
experiments, they discovered that
they often laid claim to the same in
dividual-that in this intermediate
planet of ours there was no person so
vicious who had not some good in
him, nor any person so virtuous who
had not in him some evil. To avoid
dispute, and come to some accommo-
dalton, marriage was proposed be-
tween them, and at length concluded;
by which means it is that we find
Pleasure and Pain are such constant
yoke-fellows, and that they either
make their visits together, or are
never far asunder. If Pain comes
into heart, he is quickly followed
by Pleasure; and if Pleasure enters,
you may be sure Pain Is not far off.
Do we mean by all this, nothing
more than the commonplace senti-
ment that our pleasures are height
ened by CONTRAST that the most d.
rect method of promoting cheerful
contentment, is to recall the troubles
from which we have been delivered,
and the sorrows through which we
have passed? By no means. This
would be but a small part of the
truth. Nevertheless, this decimal
part of the truth is too importantto be
overlooked. One of the inspired lyrics
FPS. 126) is set to this very sentiment.
1t was the outburst of JOY and graft
tude, in view of a great national de-
liverance. Reinstated amid the free
dom and blessing of the Holy City,
the Church enhanced its gladness by
looking back to the shame and lone
illness of heather bondage-and thus
she sang: "When the Lord turned
again the captivity of Zion, we were
like them that dream. Then was our
mouth filed with laughter, and our
tongue with singing. The Lord hath
done great things for us, whereof we
are glad. They that SOW in tears
shall reap in joy. He that goeth