Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1907-11-22
CalmaSe
Sermon
BY Rev.
Frank De Witt Taimasc. ID. D.

tiIieS Ol budncldi uiStuTDiIlce the
preacher In this sermon shows us
many reasons for thankfulness, which
come to all men and which panics and
business disaster cannot take away.
The text is Job vi, 5, Doth the wild
ass bray when he hath grass or low
eth the OK over his fodder?"
Some people have false reputation
for being good natured that they may
easily lose. No man can be confidently
pronounced good natured until he has
been tested by adversely. No credit is
due to Il prosperous man for not COM
planning If when he is poor and I'M
fortunate and sick he does not CON-
plain, then he has given proof OF the
strength and sweetness of his charac-
ter. His true nature is shown not
when he is basking in the sunshine,
but when he is deluged by the storm.
1t is really revealed not when condi-
tons are going the way he wishes, but
when all his desires seem TO be thwart-
ed and he is compelled to do what he
does not wish to do. He is not tempt
ed to grumblc when he is prosperous.
Doth the wild ass bray when he hath
grass or loweth the OK over his fod-
der?"
There is n quaint legend told by
DIR. knight that many years ago an
eastern king was sailing in ship with
a Persian peasant. The peasant began
10 bitterly complain of being shut up
in the narrow confines OF the boat.
These complaints irritated the king.
Then n philosopher who was travelling
In the same boat said, 81 can silence
yonder grumber IL thou wilt let me-"
The king gave his consent. The phi
losopher ordered the sailors to throw
the peasant into the sea. After the
man had gone down a couple OF times
the sailors caught him by the hair and
pulled him back into the boat safely.
Then were all his bitter complaints ST.
lenced. The king asked the philoso-
pher why this was so. The sage re-
piled: ''At first yonder man had never
thought of the danger OF being drown
ed; neither did he appreciate the safe
~ OF the ship. AS soon as he found
out by bitter experience the value OF
this ship as n refuge from something
Verse he was contented to stay there
In until he could reach the shore. In
Nike manner he best knoweth the value
Of prosperity who hath encountered
adversely. Oh, thou who hast salts
fed thine hunger, thou desplsest n bar
ley loaf, but TO me, a-hungered, q bar
ley loaf means life. To, the nymphs of
paradise purgatory would be. hell. but
the inhabitants of hell would hail pur-
gatory MS paradise"
In other words. the eastern philOso-
Pher was teaching the lesson that
when q mans wish Is satisfied then
he does not complain. He complains
about what he has not, hut not OF
what he has. Does the wild ass find
fault because he is wading knee deep
IN a field of sweet scented cloverf
Does the OK In anger batter his stall
into kindling wood when, after hard
days toll he is allowed to. MUNICH his
grain at manger filed to overlooking?
The book OF Job illustrates this truth.
There Were three distinct epochs In
Jobs career. The first was when ev-
cry desire. OF his heart was satisfied.
Great was he in brain, great in finan-
cial resources, great In domestic hap
piness. His pasture land extended on
every side. His sheep and cattle and
horses graZed upon n thousand hills.
his harvest fields, like the surface OF
the sea, stretched away as far as the
eye could see. Old age meliowed him.
but did not deplete his physical
strength. His children were. his pride
and JOY His friends Were around him
everywhere. Even his enemies were
disarmed by his love and generosity.
He never omitted to. thank God for HIS
blessings in the morning and Mt noon
and at night, for everything that his
heart desired was given unto him.
Wheel of Fortune Turns.
But suddenly the wheel of fortune
turns. Crash goes his sons home, and
in an hour all his beloved children are
dead. Down swoop the robbers, and
his herds are scattered and driven
away and his servants put to the
sword. Then over his body break
forth the horrible carbuncles. His
health as well as his wealth and do
nestfc happiness is gone. Though he
does not sin nor charge God foolish
~" he does curse the day of his birth.
No sooner does he do this than his
three friends gather about him and
Femind him or his past profession.
They commence TO fling his former
avowals OF faith Mt him. "Ahai" they
cry. you are pretty servant of
God! When things were all going
your way you were very willing to tell
people what they should do. But when
things go wrong with you you lose
your faith in God just like other men,"
Il know It," answers Job. "Alas for
the weakness OF the flesh, God help
me! Alas. was like the ass standing
knee deep In sweet scented cloverl I
was like the OK munching at the abun-
dant grain In his manger. o God, help
ne In this time OF troublew
Now, In applying this principle to
ourselves ! am not going to catalogue
your misfortunes. You can easily do
that yourself. You have complained
about them enough. You have harped
upon them day in and day out. But l
am going to speak about Your ssh
fences" | would remind you of the
blessings you have in life. Perhaps
the thought of these blessings. about
which you are apt to be silent. may
strengthen your heart to bear adver-
sity should it come upon you.
Virtues of Parents.
In the first place, have never heard
you complain about your father and
mother. They must certainly have been
a great blessing to you. IL they had
not been. you would certainly have
talked disparagingly OF them. And this
ss very marvellous fact to me. be-