showing real care for them, with but a few kind words, will strike home to their hearts, however small the gift given: whereas, some great gift may be given harshly, or a lecture about want of prudence and economy may be given with it, which may take from the gift all its value, and make them feel only, how little the rich know of the wants of the poor, and how little they sympathize with them. You, especially, who have had the discipline of sickness and its privations, should show them tenderness and sympathy. If you cannot visit them yourself, or even see them when they come to your house, you will interest your servants in them, and make them your almoners. It will do them much good also, and will be a link between them and the poor, and between yourself and them. All your attempts to help the poor you will offer to God as your "sacrifice of thanksgiving;" and will do all, "as unto the Lord, and not as unto men.' the same way, you will endeavour to aid every one who comes near you in their "work of faith and labour of love."1 You will help them by any assistance of money, work, or advice you have it in your power to give; nor will you do this the less although your work should be wholly hidden, and it should appear to be theirs alone. You will see how good this is for you; and will gladly and thankfully see others working, and cheer them on their way, even though at times you may suffer from the pain of the contrast. You will seek also to ? Col. iii. 23. 8 Ps. cxvi. 17. 1 Heb. vi. 10. In interest yourself in all works of mercy; in those societies and institutions, which are really trying to do the work of God, in an orderly and humble manner. Everything in which you can interest yourself, will open to you a fresh and wider field of enjoyment. Everything that belongs to God, and is furthering His work on earth, should have the deepest interest for you; and you should seek to let it become increasingly a part of yourself, of your thoughts, your prayers, and your labours. THE Blessings of Sickness are so inseparably connected with its trials, and the danger of trying to look upon them apart from each other is so great, that throughout this volume they have been blended, and this chapter is intended merely to " gather up some of the fragments that remain, that nothing may be lost." "O how great is the sum of them if I should count them, they are more in number than the sand." Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, he shall understand the lovingkindness of the Lord. IT The Blessings of Sickness T was a strange answer, you think, which came at last; you had prayed for work, and He has sent you sickness, and laid you aside. He has seemed to "read all your prayers backwards," and to answer you by contraries. "Doubt not, but earnestly believe," that your sickness is the very best answer to your prayers; that it meets them, and includes them all. In it, and by it, your works will be purified; and, strange truth! you will surely, if you use it aright, learn in sickness to "love life and see good days." You will learn to "joy in the gifts Heaven's bounty sends:" to see every thing shining out in the brightness which the love of God sheds upon all things. You will learn so to love His will, that you will desire nothing but what He gives. Even now, there are great blessings to you, in being thus laid aside. Have you ever thought from how many evil things you have been kept by it? how many extravagances you not only might, but certainly would have followed, which, by the mercy of God in sending sickness, have been 1 Ps. xxxiv. 12. |