1881 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



56o 



have been the kindest. Indeed, it is no paradox to 

 say, that if we had all we want we should have al- 

 most nothing; but as we have so little, it is that we 

 have so much. 



We can not help but see that trials keep us from 

 temptations and from sin. Ease and laziness pro- 

 voke to lust. "Satan tinds some mischief still for 

 idle hands to do." When Jeshurun waxed fat, then 

 he kicked. The ancient monks had a saying, that "a 

 laborious monk was beset by only one devil, but an 

 idle one by a legion." The rich and idle are put to 

 many shifts " to kill time;" the busy and the needy 

 can not find time enough. Many a yoimg person 

 miffht have been a blessing to the world had the ne- 

 cessity to work been laid upon him; but having no 

 need to labor for self, he would not labor for others. 

 Necessity might have been for him not only the 

 mother of invention, but the guide to all useful- 

 ness, and perhaps, in time, to .=elf-sacrifice ; but 

 without her, his life went to waste and shame. 



Trials are blessings, in that they develop sympathy 

 with others. They produce, as already shown, the 

 ability to help, and.no less certainly the spirit of 

 helpfulness. He who has suffered, is generally glad 

 to help another similar sufferer with his experience. 

 Let us not forget, that iu this way lies the divine 

 method of training, nor with rebellion and useless 

 repining strive to thwart God's plans for us. Thus 

 it is that God brings human souls to perfection. 

 And, given such creatures as we are, I see no other 

 way possible. What God wants, looks for in us, and 

 is ever trying to develop, is grace —actual good- 

 ness that can be seen and felt and understood. He 

 wants no spurious transcendentalism, no fanati- 

 cism, nor mysticism, nor asceticism, but goodness, 

 righteousness, true love to him aad men, that shows 

 Itself in heart and word and act. And grace is not 

 manufactured for us, nor grafted or infused into us, 

 but is developed from what is in us already. God 

 can not make us holy, save through the use of 

 means, and in connection with our own willing and 

 acting. We may pray for grace, but we shall get it 

 through trial and discipline, and by all the ways 

 which Providence (who is God) may lead us. * * * 

 "1 beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies 

 of God, that ye present your bodies as living sacri- 

 fices." Let God have his way with you until you can 

 say, as did Paul, from your own experience, " These 

 light atHictions, which are but for a moment, shall 

 work out for us a far more exceeding and eternal 

 weight of glory." Rest in him until you can say that 

 you are " persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor 

 angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things 

 present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, 

 nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us 

 Irom the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our 

 Lord." " Nay, in all these things we are more than 

 conquerors through him that hath loved us." 



Now, dear friends, to bring this practical 

 sermon right down to us, let me ask if there 

 is one among you who has ever asked him- 

 self the question. Is it right, and does God 

 wish, that I should have so much trouble 'i 

 It is right, just as you have been conducting 

 yourself, but it is not right, as you mi(j]d 

 conduct yourself. The trouble, is the medi- 

 cine that will do you good, and if you take 

 it as something administered by the hand of 

 your kindest friend, it will cure the trouble. 

 By saying it will cure the trouble, I do not 

 mean that the cause of it will necessarily be 



removed ; it may be just there yet, but you 

 may liave grace to '■• count it all joj[," etc. 



Now in regard to unkind and unjust treat- 

 ment that you may meet in this world. Can 

 we count it all joy when we are unfairly per- 

 secuted V I think we can, in two ways. It 

 is going to make us better, and we will have 

 the joy of .showing our strength by becoming 

 weak. If power is in our hands, we can 

 show our Savior and the world tliat we can 

 hold power and yet not use it. A man suc- 

 ceeded in business, and some, perhaps out of 

 enmity, started false stories about his fi- 

 nances. He talked back, and a long wrangle 

 ensued. A friend asked Avhy lie took the 

 time and pains to reply at all, when he had 

 so much that needed his liands and brains. 



•• And shall I not even assure my friends 

 that these reports £0 many of them are ask- 

 ing about are not true V " 



'• Yes: but do not mention your maligners 

 at all. Answer, in a general way, that you 

 have no bills in the world that are not paid 

 as soon as due. and then l)e sure this is kept 

 true, to the very letter."' 



See- 

 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves; be 

 ye therefore wise as .serpents, and nanuless as doves. But be- 

 ware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and 

 they will scourgr-' you in theiv synagogues; and ye shall be 

 brought before governoi-s and kings for my sake, for a testi- 

 mony against them and the Gentiles. But when they deliver 

 you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak : for it shall 

 be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.— Matt. 

 10:1(1-19. 



You are not to study up a long and labored 

 answer to your enemies. You are not to 

 study at all; in fact, you are to "take no 

 thought how or what ye shall speak,'- for 

 God's truth can always be told in very few 

 words. 



In the nniltitude of words there wanteth not sin; but he that 

 refraineth his lips is wise.— Prov. 10:10. 



TOBACCO COliUMN. 



fWANT one of the 5'Jc smokers so much praised 

 of late. I don't think it hardly fair to say, "If 

 ' j'ou don't send me one I will commence smok- 

 ing again." I left off about two and a half years 

 ago, before I knew you were going to pay for it. 



Dr. C. H. Smith. 

 EUaville, Schley Co., Ga„ Sept. 6, 1881. 



Inclosed find stamps for one of Clark's smokers. 

 As it is now over yo years since I quit the use of to- 

 bacco, which I had been an inveterate user of for 25 

 years, I suppose I quit too long ago to entitle me to 

 the smoker. My advice to all users of the "vile 

 weed" is, to quit and &iay quit, whether they get a 

 smoker or not. O. O. Spencer. 



Lake Worth, Dade Co., Fla,, Aug. 18, 1881. 



Put me down with your little army who have quit 

 the habit of smoking tobacco; but as I have already 

 bought my smokers and paid for them (herewith 

 inclosed), you can not accuse me of bad intentions 

 in getting you to pay me for doing my duty to my- 

 self and family. I also got a young man (" flrst-rate 

 fellow") to quit at the same time. 



Not for publication. H. F. B. 



May God bless you, friend B., for helping 

 so much; and as I am sure your letter, as 

 given above, will help more, I have taken 

 the liberty to use it, notwithstanding your 

 parting injunction, by omitting all but ini- 

 tials. We must let our light shine, and not 

 hide it under a bushel. 



