Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1904-09-02
|51GI5( 81 POPULAR
Rfagf 81 PULPIT

restraint alike upon undue grief anG
unwise joy.
rs any afflicted, let him pray"
There is no other remedy. Other things
may soothe; prayer alone can heal. TIC
think, to reason, to receive the sympa
thy of others-these things may quiet
a little the outward pain, but only
prayer can touch the seat of the dis
ease. Prayer communes with God, il
lifts the soul to God, 1t warns the cold
heart and lights up the dark one, ii
solves doubts, it dispels mists, it recon
Giles to God.
But as there are many who, at times
at least, are not conscious of any spe-
cial trial, the apostle provides for them
also: us any merry, let him sing
psalms
We may note in passing that the
apostle, amid his own life of toll and
hardship, does not forget that some OF
his fellow men are merry, and we may
note also that his language plainly I'm.
plies that some men, under some condI-
tons, have a right to be merry. Re
ligiOn does not counsel perpetual gloom
or sadness. 1t recognizes that its sub
jects are differently constituted, and
that each one of them has varying
moods. 1t does not expect all to be
alike, nor any to be the same at all
times. 1t adapts itself to every char
acter and to every circumstance. It
is intended to moderate, to guide, to
hallow, not only grief, but joy.
And so, acknowledging that glad
ness as we'll as sorrow has it's place.
it tells those who are glad as we'll as
those who are sorrowful what they
ought to do. rs any merry, let him
sing psalms" That is, let him praise
God. Let him direct his song Of jubilee
to the skies, lest his joy, not being
understood nor rightly used, over
whelm his soul. Happiness is affiic-
ton unless we keep God in view. Pros
perity is full Of danger. Left to itself
less strong to bear adversely when 1t
comes in turn. 1t is an injury and not
an advantage unless with it and for it
he blesses God, and, in spirit, at least,
sings psalms. AS prayer is the re-
source of the heavy-hearted, so, in
equal degree, should thanksgiving be
of the lighthearted. Well is it If in
our sorrows we turn to God. But bet
ter yet would it be if, as readily as the
afflicted pray, the merry would sing
psalms.
The lesson before us is that prayer
and praise are the corrective, the bal
ance, the check which we all need upon
our lives; that without them the ex-
periences Of this mortal state have an
effect on us utterly disproportioned to
their Importance; that they alone bind
us to God and unite our temporal in
terests with those that are eternal. De-
pend upon it, disorders and disturb
ances of the mind, little or great, come
from the want of worship; and Sc
rene, unruff1ed spirit can always be
attained by communion with God.
Place all your interests, then, in His
care. Do we'll your work, use well
your influence, and then leave yourself
and all you love with Him. Cultivate
that nearness to Him which fits one to
bear his lot, to fulfill his task, to be
content. In all time Of your tribula-
ton and in all time Of your prosperity
ask Him to deliver you from the perils
that Turk around you. Go to Him alike
in gladness and in grief. Bring Him
alike your sorrow and your JOY. O,
afflicted one, pray. o, merry one, sing
psalms.