Year: 1875

The Christian world has long been guess
ing what Pauls thorn in the flesh was. We
have book that in ten pages tries TO show
what Paul's thorn was p0f and in another
ten pages tries 10 show what il was.


Many Of the theological doctors have felt
Pauls pulse, 10 see what was the matter with
him. We suppose the reason he did not tell
MS what IL was may have been because he
did not want us 10 know. lie knew that il
he stated what it was, there would have
been great many people from Corinth
bothering him with prescriptions as to how
he might cure IT,


Some say it was diseased eyes, some that
it was a bumped back. It may have been
neuralgia. Perhaps it was gout, although
his native habits and sparse diet throw
doubt on the supposition. Suffice il 10 say it
was thom-that is, it stuck him. It was
sharp.


1t was probably of not much account in
the eye of the world. II was not a trouble
that could be compared TO a lion, or q bois-
ferrous sea. II was like thorn that you
may have in your hand or foot, and no one
know il. Thus we see that it becomes a
type Of those little nettlesome worries OF life
that eXasperate the spirit


Every one has a thorn sticking him. The





or an inmate who keeps things disordered
or a house too small for convenience, or too
small 10 be kept cleanly. The professional
man finds it in perpetual interruptions or
calls for more copy" The Sabbath-school
teacher finds it in inattentivc scholars or
teachers that talk loudly and
make a great noise in giving a little instruc-
ton. One man has q rheumatic joint
which, when the wind is northeast. lifts the
storm signal Another, q business partner
who takes full half the profits, but does not
help 10 earn them. These trials are the
more nettlesome because, like Paul's thorn.
they are not TO be mentioned. Men get
for broken bones, and mashed
ieet, but not for the end of sharp thoms
that have been broken of in the fingers.


Let US start out with the idea that We
must have annoyauces. Ii seems 10 take a
certain number Of them 10 keep us humble,
and prayerfuL To Paul the thorn
was as disciplinary as the shipwreck. II it
is not one thing it is another II the stove
does not smoke, The boiler must leak If
The pen is good, the ink must be poor If
the thorn does not pierce the knee it must
take you in the back. Life must have
sharp things in it. We cannot make up our
robe up Of Christian character without pins
ana needles


We want what Paul got-grace to bear
hcse things. Without it we become cross. |
'ensorious and irascible. We get in the |
labit Of sticking our thorns into other peo- |
lle's fingers. But, God helping us, we place |
hese annoyances in the category Of the all |
hings work together for good" We see
low much shorter thoms are than the !
pixies that struck through the palms of |
.hrist's hands, and remembering that lie |
lad on His head whole crown Of thorns, |
sc take to ourselves the consolation that if |
ye suffer with Him on earth, we shall be |
,lorifed with Him in heaven.


But how could Paul positively rejoice in |
hese iufiumities The school OF Christ has |
hrce classes of scholars IN the first class
We learn how to be stuck with thons with /
mt losing our patience in the second class
'e learn how to make the sting positively
in the third class Of this
chool We learn how even to rejoice in being
pierced and wounded but that is the senior
lass and when we get to that We are near
graduation into glory.-Selected