Thou hast stood here, Lord Jesus For on the Death of their only Boy Mrs. Emily Judson, to the Memory of her departed "He openeth their ear to discipline" Peace I leave with you A Voice from Heaven Not now my Child 153 - 155 157 159 172 "I will lead them in paths they have not known" 174 Light from the Sanctuary. SORROW IN ITS CONNECTION WITH SIN. HOW startling, how humbling the thought that all sorrow is the consequence of sin! Sorrow was a word unknown in Paradise until sin entered. The fearful act of disobedience which led to man's expulsion thence, made this dread addition to his language and experience, and in the sentence pronounced on the mother of all living, that word is first heard falling from the lips of the Highest, which has since. been echoed from heart to heart by the successive generations of men. Yes, our first father, with transgressing hand, B opened that flood-gate of woe, which has ever since continued to deluge our world; and we each contribute in the proportion of our sins to swell the tide of sorrow which sweeps across the present scene, often threatening to overwhelm the children of earth, and not unfrequently causing the saints of the Lord to exclaim, "I sink in deep waters, all Thy waves and Thy billows have gone over me!" How little is this close, this inseparable connection between sin and sorrow understood or considered! were we duly impressed by it, how different would be our bearing under the chastenings of the Lord! did we fully realize our guilt, whatever the severity of our trials, our confession must always be, "God exacteth less than our iniquities deserve." "He hath not dealt with us after our sins, nor rewarded us according to our iniquities." Alas! how often is it otherwise! Whence the murmurings and repinings, the peevishness and complainings by which the Spirit of the Lord is so continually provoked? Man forgets that he has forfeited every claim to blessing. He lacks that deep consciousness of sin which led the prophet to exclaim, "Why should a living man complain—a man for the punishment of his sins?" Mourner, pause, and ask thyself, is it not so? and as thy gracious God condescends to ask, "Dost thou well to be angry for thy gourd ?" pause again, before answering with the impatient prophet, "I do well to be angry," and think who and what thou art who thus repliest against God,-a sinner, a transgressor from the womb; what then is thy claim upon God? which of all thy blessings dost thou not hold as a free gift of His bounty? Wilt thou then admit that the mercies by which He doth encompass thee are the unmerited bestowments of His grace? Ask thyself again, How have they been used by thee? have they drawn thy heart in love and gratitude to Him, or hast thou not rather forgotten |