p. 186 | HENRY F. PHELPS by Henry F. Phelps

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Nov 29, 1870

HENRY F. PHELPS

By Henry F. Phelps

Trouble.

This world is filled up with all sorts of trouble—trouble among nations, trouble in neighborhoods, trouble in families; and, in fact, men and women are often troubled with their own selves, and we think this is the touchstone of the whole matter. I think nine-tenths, if not ninety-nine one-hundredths, of the trouble men and women have in this world, they bring upon their own dear selves. Dear reader, do other people trouble you? We verily believe if you let them alone, and act right yourself, this trouble will vanish like fog before the sun. Why is it some men are always in trouble with their domestic animals? Their cows ready to jump and spill the milk when they make a motion, if indeed they are allowed to come near them; their horses jump at their approach; and if, perchance, they go round to adjust a rein or strap, they fly sideways or backwards, ready to upset the wagon or carriage. Their oxen always fractious, running away; kicking cows, kicking oxen, kicking horses! What's the matter? Do you wish to know what will cure all these bad tricks? Kindness, dear reader, will do it. The trouble is not with these animals; no, indeed, the trouble is with the man. Follow this person through a day's work, and I venture to say you will become satisfied that this is the truth. He frets, he scolds, he whips, he kicks; and is it to be wondered at that they pay back in some way? Let that man stop, turn right about, change his base of operations, and put a kind spirit outward, and uppermost, and soon trouble will vanish, vanish like smoke. A lady, perhaps, is always in trouble with her neighbors; some one has said this, and some one has said that. Now for vengeance; and it is well indeed if this vengeance was not paid in advance. What's the matter? That woman made her own trouble; she has been meddling with other people's business. Exceptions, of course, sometimes; but I would not dare say the reader's case is an exception. But people sometimes get hit, and this makes troubles; some are falsely slandered, and this makes trouble. No, you are mistaken, this does not make the trouble; but it's hitting back or running to find out who told the story; this makes the trouble. Let a person keep a conscience void of offense toward God and man, never turning to see who strikes, and the blows will fall like grass, or will be very much lightened, at least. Oh! that people would learn wisdom in this world; that they would seek for it as for hid treasures—that wisdom that comes from above. Then would many and many a trouble vanish and become nothing, while all would be much lighter, and compare as nothing when lying by the side of that peace within which passeth knowledge.

HENRY F. PHELPS

Pine Island, Minn.