Year: 1863

tloiis mus ~ iIto Ohuutihp Pi"ihhNhSO anu


makes it the governing characteristic Of


the men. And it follows by necessity


that he, who thus minutely fashions hu-


man character, knowing not only that il


is in man generically, but what is in each
individual man-must know what kind
of training each man requires, that his
character may be perfected, and thus by


his perfect knowledge of the needs Of
each character, he is enabled wisely TO
assign 10 each his lot in life, and so TO
arrange the dispensations of his Provi-


dence as to furnish to each that discipline


which is best. The sand needs only to


be washed, whilst the quartz rock must


be crushed, ere it will yield up its gold
and while this nature needs only gentle


chiding, yonder proud heart must be bro


ken, ere it will learn to confde implicitly


in its God. The culture which would be


admirable for sandy soil, would never


do for heavy clay. The process which


makes iron ore into polished steel, if ap-


piled to the oak tree, would leave nothing


but ashes.


Observe here some of the diversties


of Gods dealing with men. A man is


gifted with health. The delicate ma


chinery of his system is made to work


in entire harmony. Morning after morn


ing he goes forth to bis toll in the fulness


of his strength. Night after night his


spent powers are replaced by the gentle


ministers of sleep. He boasts himself


of that rare gift, perfect health, without


thought of gratitude to the giver. He


enjoys the even play of all his powers,


without using any one of them in the ser


vice of the Master. Strong, self-reliant


accustomed TO depend upon himself, be
never thinks that the everlasting arm is


be meath all his strength. He feel,


he can take care of himself, and so new
er thinks of casting his care upon God
Suddenly one of the thousand spring:
Of his being gives way--a speck of dis
ease, Insignificant perhaps as the point
of pin, fastens on some part of his sys-


TEN. His strength is gone, his unceas


ing labors are exchanged for tedious in


activity, that flow of spirits which never


elic.ed grateful thought has given way


to pain and gloom. Viewed from the


ordinary standpoint, this change is call


ed an aflictiOn, viewed from Gods


throne it is called a Uessing--continued


health would have made him more sue


cessful man of the world. God is trying


to make something better of him-a child
of God.


Or take another case in which trial
comes in its sharpest form, cutting to the
very quick. Here is a Christian wife
and mother, living in her quiet home,
surrounded by the objects of her love-
She leans upon strong arm, the espe-
cial delight of which has ever been to
guard her from all that is rough and Sc
we're in the world, to receive all the
thorns Of life itself and ward them from
her. Like the plant of the hot house,
from every blast, her affection
ate nature grows with an almost tropical
growth. The deeper nurture which
comes only with the cares and rugged re-
sponsibilities of life, she receives not
Instead she is learning only an implicit
and confding trust in that strong manly |
arm by her side. Are there troubles
that arm can manage them. Are there
burdens--that arm can lift them? Are
there duties-that arm can perform them.
Presently, as by bolt in clear sky,
that strong arm is reft away. The oak
to which the vine has clung so long, is
bound by the tempest, the vine itself
dashed or draggled on the earth, its ten
drills torn, its support gone. The wife
and mother must walk the Journey alone,
Tie children, who have looked to her for
owe and sympathy, to the father for gui-
lance and control, come now TO her for
both. Slowly and tearfully, she gathers
ID the torn tendrils and twines them one
,y one upon the Tree of Life. Little by
little she gathers courage for the count
ess new responsibilities that have been
10 suddenly thrown upon her. Earthly
lep is gone and she learns to trust the
Sod of the widow and the fatherless, as
iever before. Under the steady press
ire of cares and anxieties, her inner life
.ipens, expands, natures into iulness Of
piritual growth which her earlier life had
never known. Flowers bloom in the
wildwood, but it is not till the forests
lave been leveled, and the rocks blasted
md the ground upturned, that harvests
AN be gathered there. The heart torn
md crushed by sorrow, becomes thereby
he soil for the richest graces and the lar
yest growth