South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1913-07-26
JOY PROM SORROW.

II
4. Sorrow Is Educative. Each of
Christ's beatitudes is a link in the
golden chain of truth. ii Is part OF
the chain. without which it is not
complete. but, in addition to this, each
separate beatitude is a precious jewel
in itself, although set in crown of
moral and spiritual glory. The root
thought of the beatitude which forms
our text is that there is no eXaltation
without suffering. Self denial, pa
thence, perseverance, pain and other
ing, are absolutely essential TO moral
and spiritual progress. There is
a wrong kind of sorrow, the reuslt OF
sin, or Of doubt, which should be
avoided by US, but even this kind Is
very blessed to us sinners; IL brings
the experience that sin Is always pain
full and that right doing is always
painful and that right doing is al
ways gainful Sorrow also teaches all
of us our dependence upon God; it
tends to make US think of the yearn-
ing heart of the heavenly Father, and
to turn TO him for comfort Paul
says, "Tribulation worketh patience
and patience experience"
III. Sorrow Rehnes the Spirit. 1t
is said of Jesus even that he was
made perfect through sufferings,"
and many another of the saints of God
have attained to perfection by the
same painful process. Some years
ago 1 attended a camp meeting at Ur-
bana, Ohio, and saw there a lady who
had been a great sufferer for 20 years;
she had been confined TO her bed, or
invalid chair, every hour of that time
and, ii was said, was never free from
pain. This lady had the face of an
angel, and her words were like heav-
emily music. She knew more Of God
from her own experience, and was
able to impart her knowledge to 9TH
ers better than any other person i
have ever met. The educated as well
as common people sought advice
from her how TO commence, or help
them continue, the fight of faith.
learned that at her home she conduct
ed what may be called, a hospital
for the cure OF sin, sadness and sor-
row. Many a stalwart man received
help and inspiration from this frail.
suffering woman. Sorrow is Gods
lapidary wheel for polishing his saints.
The rough diamonds, and other prec
ious stones, which are polished on
such a wheel would cry out in
agony, if they had sensations like hu-
man beings, from the excruciating
pain caused by the polishing process;
but afterwards when they beheld their
own brilliance, and beauty, as they
bedeck the crown OF some earthly
monarch, or adorn some beautiful
woman, they look back with great JOY
to the day when on the cruel lapidary
wheel their shimmering brilliance was
produced.
III. Sorrow Very Frequently Leads
Sinners TO God. Those who mourn for
their sins are blessed indeed; those
whose sins produce in them sorrow
and mental anguish, thus passing
through the experience called convic-
ton and repentance, are of the num-
Der, daubtless, whom Jesus had in
mind when he said, Blessed are they
that mourn" All Christians, who did
not become such until they reached
adult years, have passed through this
same sorrowful way and have learned
that godly sorrow works a repentance
which needs not 10 be repented of,
The Psalmist says. Before was
| afflicted / went astray; but now l
have kept thy words" The Philip
plan jailer when he beheld how Paul
and Silas, in a dark dungeon, with
their feet fast in the stocks and their
backs cut with scourging, sang songs
at midnight, and when afterwards
there was a great earthquake and the
the bands OF the prisoners loosed, his
heart smote him with fear, and with
great sorrow for his sins he called
out TO Paul and Silas and said. 'Sirs,
what must / do 10 be saved?" Thous-
ands of others when they have come
up 10 a great crisis in their lives and
have been filed with sorrow have,
under it's influence, turned TO God.
Nv. The Real Blessedness of Mourn
ing is the Fact That IL Will BE Turned
Into Rejoicing. David states that
Many are the Affections OF the right
eous; but the Lord delivereth him out
OF them all" The JOY which comes
after affiiction has had its perfect
WORK. is indeed very joyful. The rO-
bust health which frequently comes
TO q man after a severe illness is much
more appreciated than health is 20
those who have never been sick.
There is such a thing as rejoicing in
the midst OF sorrow; when a man can
sing songs OF praise in a furnace OF
sorrow, the cause OF his rejoicing
must be more than human, just as
the divine result is blessed. Paul
often spake OF giorying in trih1lation;
In one place he writes TO the Colos-
slams. WHO now rejoice in my suffer
ings for you" The rising OF the sun
after a very dark night is greatly APP
preciated by the lonely traveller. and
so the sorrows OF this world. and the
dark dispensations Of this life, will be
followed with residence in the coun-
try where there is no sorrow, nor
sickness. nor death, but where we
shall enjoy eternal blessedness In the
company OF the dear ones who have