The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1920-04-01
AFFECTIONS.

world knows nothing of. They are
grievous to be borne. What host of
them arise from his own heart of I'M
belief. He is prone to have his God
and depart from the ways of righteous
ness. Lukewarmness in religion troubles
him, GOODNESS and formality is harrow
ing him, he feels he has enemies with
in that would destroy his soul. so that
with the Apostle he cries out, 20
wretched man that l am who shall de-
liver me from the body of this death?''
When the devout Christian looks in
ward on himself he can but adopt the
words of the poet.
"What crowds of evil thoughts.
What vile affections there?
Distrust, presumption, artful guile,
Pride. envy, slavish fear"
MANY are the Affections of TIE
righteous but the Lord delivereth MIN
out of them ALL" They are but the
chastisements of his FatEoT's hand and \
are evidences of patFrnal love. 1t mat
Fiction may be Christian, you have the
sure promises OF Gods word. that you
will not be left to bear them alone. You
will surely find support if you seek it.
David in his song of praise for deliver
ance from his enemies said: they pre-
vented him in the day of his calamity;
but the Lord was his stay. Why should
the Christian be other than patient
when he knows that the steps of good
man are ordered by the Lord; and He
delighteth in his way. Though he fall,
he shall not be utterly cast down; for
the Lord upholdeth him with s.hand."
What was it that sustained Paul and
his fellow laborers in their tribulations,
but the goodness of God. Hear him as
he breaks forth in his thanksgiving to
God and speaks of it to the Corinthians
for their comfort, BLESSED be God,
even the Father Of our Lord Jesus
Christ the Father of mercies and the
God of all comfort; who comforteth US
in our tribulation, that we may be able
to comfort them who are in any trouble
by the comfort wherewith we ourselves
are comforted of God" If then these
are evidences of our Fathers love how
should we conduct ourselves under HIS
rod? They should by all means drive
US to prayer. But our prayer should be
in submission to his will that the af-
Fiction may be removed. Study the
history and profit from the examples of
Jonah, David, Hezekiah, Paul and es-
pecially of Christ Himself. Pray that
you may have grace to endure, so long
as the aff1iction lasts that you may
glorify God. These things strengthen
your Christian graces.
The strong winds tougher the oak
and make it send its roots deeper into
the earth. These winds of adversely
drive US nearer to Christ, strengthen
our faith and increase our graces. 1t
is a fact that our graces thrive better
in affection. The darker the night the
brighter the stars shine. Bruise the
spices and they emit the sweetest
odors, and so it is that when the Chris
tan is bruised and crushed and burn
ished by affection, the graces of meek
ness, patience and submission to the
Divine will shine most conspicuous. If
however we rebel against Affections and
refuse to learn the lesson designed, we
are worse off, we are harder. They
make US better or worse. They will
prove to be savior of life unto life, or
of death unto death. If they are sane
titled, they are blessing. For this
then we should pray. If the fire in the
furnace is not hot enough to melt the
glass you must increase the heat or put
it into another that it may become
transparent. We must be content to
pass through successive furnaces that
we may be made perfect in Christ, so
that in our soul the Divine refner may
see His own image reflected.
Let these things work in US the peace
able fruits of righteousness so that we
may be able to say, ''Tis my happiness
below, not to live without the cross.
But the Saviour's power to know, sane
tifying every loss"
Trial must and will befall,
But, with humble faith to see
Love inscribed upon them all,
This is happiness to me-
The hope of better things to come
supports u.s. How dark the storm ap-
pears while it is in progress, but by
faith we see the bow of promise span
ming the cloud and buoyed by the hope
of better things to come we struggle
on against adversely.
Faith only changed to sight when the
soul rises on the wings of light to that
Sweet land of rest" and is permitted
to see the bow encircling the throne of
the Lamb, which is token to US that
our troubles now cease forever and
1.-THE weary are at rest" Doubtless
one design of our Affections is to pre-
pare US for heaven. Probably the gloom
lest cloud, the darkest night that can