The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1911-09-19

lasting covenant, and made over to
us when we are adopted into the
family of Gods for the word of God
declares IF children"-whether suf-
fering children or rejoicing children
matters not, but if children-"then
heirs of God and joint-heirs with
Christ"
The heaviest sufferings cannot
merit the slightest rewards, much less
the trials of a passing moment merit
the joys of an eternity. Doubtless the
apostel means that these affections
work for us a far more exceeding
weight Of glory by working in us
far more At and holy frame of mind,
and therefore a far greater capacity
for the enjoyment of it.
Do all Affections minister to the
good of the soul and its happiness?
Far from it-many a person leaves a
bed of sickness with heart hardened
against God. Many a mother commits
her child to the grave, but does not,
alas, bury it with her own hostility
and murmurings against God.
There is a reason for tia cause
for 1t. The apostle in the text assures
you that your offliction shall work
for good, while you look not at the
things which are seen, but at the
things which are not SEEN Here, then,
is the key to the mystery; here is
the reason and cause-why no trial,
sorrow, affliction of yours has never
really worked in you and for your flu
ture glory. You have contented your
self, while under it, passing through
1t, with looking at the things which
are not seen. You have dwelt solely
and chiefly upon your trouble and
never raised your eyes beyond it.
You have pondered upon every sec
49, - ~
have, in fact, kept your eyes fixed
upon ''the things which are seen" and
you have, in consequence. missed the
blessing which you might otherwise
have reaped. You have adopted the
precise line of conduct deprecated in
the text and which never has, and
never will, bring either peace or com
fort to the afflicted soul.
My brethren, the choicest portion
of christianity consists IN this. in
closing the eve of sense and opening
the eye of faith.
Adopt this new line of conduct.
Follow the Injunction of the apostle;
cease to dwell upon your troubles, and
your sorrows; close the eye of sense
and open the eye of faith. See things
in their proper relation and true
forms. Look at the things which are
not seen-the spiritual and eternal.
hOOh " InC Hills AlOI1A WtACASC SOAAClAl
your help. Look away from self to
God, who is "all in ALL" Look away
to Jesus, whom having not seen We
love.
1t is difficu1t to lift the sorrowing
head and to raise the weeping eye,
but there is some one. whose name
is Love-" who is willing and able to
aid you in all your afflictions-the
Blessed Comforter-the Holy Ghost.
Drox 70 Iioh nd nd
He viii take your eyes off the things
which are SEEN" however endeared
and precious, and fix them upon the
unseen which lie before you.
Under the leading and teaching of
the Holy Ghost, the Comforter, you
will find a new temper of heart, a
new bias to the soul; there viii be
an eternal principle within you,
carrying all your feelings forth to
eternal ends.
AS you become more and more in
terested in the things unseen, mors
devoted to the heavenly treasures. and
your thoughts occupied with the
things sSpove, your tempers, affections
thoughts and pursuits will all be led
to harmonic with them, and you viii
daily be obtaining a stronger assur-
ance that you are accepted of God
that Christ is yours, that pardon OF
sin is yours, that Divine favor is your
and that ultimately heaven viii be
yours. Surely, if these things are SO
you will not hesitate to call the