Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1910-09-08
A Refuge From Oneself.

The doctor stopped at the door OF the
parsonage. "No," he said to the minister,
81 can't stop. have patient five miles
in the country, and must be going. was
to have gone TO see Mrs. Bradley this
morning, but shall have to omit her. !
have come TO ask you to 90 there and
make call on her in my place.
"GfS really in your line and not mine.
You know her-a fine, nervous little
woman, with a conscience big as the
side OF the Westinghouse. She is in a
terrible state OF depression, and there is
no physical cause apart from fatigue con-
sequent upon wearing herself out in
helping others. Go to her, and give her
some comfort. Tell her that she is not
the worst woman in the world. And if
you can give her something TO think about,
if you know anything about this thing
they call suggestion and can offer TO
her something that will help her,-you
will do for her what medicine connot do
Mrs. Bradley said to the minister, "My
whole life has been one series OF failures.
II seems to me | have never done any
thing as it ought to have been done. If
had been more in earnest ! might have
done more for charity; and | sometimes
think have failed in my duties at home.
am a complete failure. II does me no
good to pray, and turn the pages of my
Bible and find nothing that helps me"
"Let me find you verse" said the
minister. Listen, for it is good one:
If our heart condemn us, God is greater
than our heart, and knoweth all things
Isn't that good verse;"
al am not sure that understand it,
said she.
at means that sometimes we need TO
flee from our own self condemnation,
and take refuge in the goodness and wis
dom Of God"
"But if God knows all things, He
knows better than how much OF fail
ure have been"
eyes, and He knows some things OF
good which you are not in the mood to
admit to yourself. The heart is deceit
full and desperately wicked; and one OF
its wickedest ways of deceivi1g us is in
making us think we are worse than we
are. 1t is a merciless thing, this heart OF
ours. Men have been cruel TO one another,
but they sometimes get an element OF
enjoyment out OF martyrdom. Our heart
is too cruel for that. II takes advantage
OF Our fatigue or depression, and puts us
on a rack more cruel than the old bigots
ever devised.
"No, we are not Just TO ourselves. We
know some things about ourselves, but
God knoweth all things and is greater
than our heart. "
Don't try to deceive me, Mr.. Davis, "
said she. 81 know | am miserable
failure"
"You don't 'tknow anything OF the kind, "
said the minister, land will not hear
you speak so Of a friend OF mine. You
are an unjust Judge, preiudiCed and pitt
less. II is Just as much sin 10 pretend
you are worse than you are as to pretend
YOU are better. II is a sort Of inverted
hypocrisy, with the sting OF cruelty added.
You have no right TO lay the lash OF con-
science on your naked soul, and pretend
that it is Just because you know yourself.
God is greater thanyour heart, ,andknoweth
all things"
"Oh, it sounds good TO hear you say
these things, said she, "but | am afraid
when am alone shall 90 back and re-
member my failures. Say that verse
again. | did not know that it was in
the Bible. Can you find if for me?'
ayes, will find it, and mark Il so you
can find it and read it often. Print II IN
large letters on your memory, so you can
see it when you shut your eyes:
4" IF our heart condemn us, God IS
greater than our heart, and knoweth all
! things" "