CONSOLATION. 
75 
weakness — will be known to our Maker only. We often need 
much more than sympathy. The wisest and greatest among us 
often require guidance, support, strength ; and for these, when 
they fail on earth, we must look above. Blessed is the Christian 
who has then at hand the Word of God, with its holy precepts, 
its treasures of eternal comfort. How often to hearts, long since 
passed into dust, have its sacred pages proved the one som'ce of 
light when all else was darkness ! And, from the Book of Life, 
let the mourner turn to the works of his God ; there the eye, 
which has been pained with the sight of disorder and confusion, 
will be soothed with beauty and excellence ; the ear, wearied mth 
the din of folly and falsehood, will gladly open to sounds of gentle 
harmony from the gay birds, the patient cattle, the flowing waters, 
the rustling leaves. It was not merely to gratify the outer senses 
of man that these good gifts were bestowed on the earth ; they 
were made for our hearts, the ever-present expression of love, 
and mercy, and power. When the spirit is harassed by the 
evils of life, it is then the works of God offer to us most fully 
the strengthening repose of a noble contemplation; it is when 
the soul is stricken and sorrowful that it turns to the wise, and 
beautiful, smile of the creation for a clearer view of peace and 
excellence : 
"Vernal delight and joy, able to drive 
All sadness but despair." 
Christian men of ancient times were wont to illustrate the pages 
of the Holy Scriptures with choice religious paintings and deli- 
cate workmanship ; they sent far and Avide for the most beautiful 
colors ; they labored to attain the purest hues, the most worthy 
