But since
sin is here, with its contradictions and falsehoods, its darkness,
its wars, brutalities and injustices, producing awful harvests of
pain and sorrow, God, in wonderful wisdom and lovingkindness,
turns even these into instruments by which to fashion in us
beautiful graces. Storm succeeds sunshine, and darkness the light;
pain follows hard on the heels of pleasure, while sorrow peers
over the shoulder of joy; gladness and grief, rest and toil,
peace and war, interminably intermingled, follow each other in
ceaseless succession in this world. We cannot escape suffering
while in the body. But we can receive it with a faith that robs
it of its terror, and extracts from it richest blessing; from
the flinty rock will gush forth living waters, and the carcase
of the lion will furnish the sweetest honey.
This is so even when the suffering is a result of our own folly
or sin. It is intended not only in some measure as a punishment,
but also as a teacher, a corrective, a remedy, a warning; and it
will surely work for good, if, instead of repining and vainly
regretting the past, we steadily look unto Jesus and learn our
lesson in patience and thankfulness.
"If all the skies were sunshine,
Our faces would be fain
To feel once more upon them
The cooling plash of rain.
"If all the world were music,
Our hearts would often long
For one sweet strain of silence
To break the endless song.
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