Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1896-03-18
The Serenity of Faith.

A meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight
Of God Of great price,-I. Peter, iii. 4.
Injunctions to maintain, even under
trying circumstances, a serene and
placid spirit are scattered throughout
the Scriptures. These injunctions are
reiterated with such marked emphasis
that it would seem as though quietness
and placidity were of prime Importance
in our religious life.
Without doubt quietness of soul has
great deal to do with happiness; it
has also great deal to do with achieve
ment. A restless man is neither hap
py man nor strong man. If one wishes
to do what is very difficult to do he
must needs have full possession of him
self, and if one wishes to bear what is
very difficult to bear he must first of all
seek that Quictness of soul which puts
him Ais best. Restlessness is only
another name for misery, and misery
and weakness go hand in hand.
But quietness depends on faith, and
on board ship with captain who .has
weathered hundred tempests. the
lowering skies and the threatening
winds produce no terror. If the cap
tain tells you to keep quiet. and you
have confidence in him, you can even
find in danger kind of stimulus, and
the roaring of the gale and the rush of
mighty waters do not disturb your
equanimity in the least. Your quiet.
ness or your disquietude depends en-
tirely on your trust in the captain. Il
you feel that in any way he is incom
petent, you become restless, wretcheG
and despairing. Your attitude toward
the captain, therefore, settles matters
of great Importance. OF yourself yor
can do nothing, for the government Of
the vessel is a mystery. What the
emergency requires, what will avoit
danger and what insure safety you are
wholly ignorant of. You look to the
man on the quarter deck, and if he il
a skilled sailor who laughs at the storm
your heart is quiet and your soul is al
peace.
So in your daily life, your state Of
mind depends not on yourself or OF
what you can do, but on your con
fidence in the power and love of God
1t is impossible to be quiet if you doub
the Lords ability to see you safely t.
r the end of the journey. Nine tenth
of the spiritual restlessness in this worlt
comes from an only half concealed dis
trust of the Almighty. Once convinc'
yourself that there is no Ruler and yol
can have no peace at all, or only tina
kind of peace which chip has on thu
rapids when it is Indifferent what be
comes of it. On the other hand, b.
persuaded in your heart that over al
the varied experiences which are posi-
ble-sickness, poverty, disappointment,
and death-there is controlling Hand
that you can bear whatever that HAND
places on your shoulder, and then yor
will be quiet, resigned, peaceful, fol
the very greatest that can happen will
be a journey to heaven, and that Ger
tainly is not piece of i'll fortune.
The habit of serene Quiescence mus,
be formed before we can make any rea
progress. 1t is habit worth many a
hard struggle to attain. 1t makes life
more profitable to yourself and to every
one else. The person who looks al
things calmly is apt to look at them
charitably, and SO quietness and char
ity. two of the noblest elements OF
character, go hand in hand. On the
contrary, if you render judgment on
mere impulse you may possibly do a
great injury, and SO restlessness and
harshness stand side by side.
If your lot is hard one, and there
are MANY such in the world, no better
advice can be given than that of the
apostle, I'm your patience possess We
your SOULS" The man who can keep
quiet in the midst of difficulties has
the broadcast shoulders and the strong
est arm. The restless seldom hit a
telling blow, the merely impulsive beat
the air, while the quiet man fits him
self to the burden, and after awhile
may find it a blessing. We cannot
meet Gods providences with fair
prospect of making the best of them.
and we cannot endure Gods discipline
with any hope of putting it to its high
est purpose, unless the soul is first
trustful and then quiet. There is not
only a dignity, but also an energy, a
stamina, yigor in the serene mind
which commands our respect and ex-
cites our envy.
This habit of quiescence must be &C
Quired before we can have any right
to be satisfied with our spiritual con
dltion. The duty is imperative if we
are to become our noblest selves. and I
know OF nothing better as a stepping
stone than solitude and introspection.
A half hour a day devoted to alone
ness and serious thought of your flu
ture, and your God, and your religion.
would render it almost impossible for
you to do wrong. Enter into thy
closet, and when thou hast shut thy
door," heaven will seem very near to
you. We are in the world too much
and away from it too little. The world
makes us restless; God makes us quiet.
Serenity of mind. born of perfect faith,
enables us to feel the pressure of the
Almighty arm that is beneath us and
to see the faces of the angels who
nave charge over thee, to keep thee
in all thy ways"
Be still, for God liveth; be still, for
no harm can come to him who trusteth
in the Lord; be still. and, though the
day be dark, at eventide there shall be
light.
GEORGE H. HEPwORTH.