A D V E R S I T Y by J. Clarke

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 13, 1859

A D V E R S I T Y.

By J. Clarke

WhEN the blackbirds first appear in spring at the north, they are of a glossy black, they sing then freely and much, and are lively and pleasant and musical; but in the fall they migrate to the rice-fields of the south, where they become fleshy, and change to a brownish color, and their voices degenerate to a sort of croak, which is very disagreeable. The winter restores their peculiar voice and tone and color, but their weight is less.

So it often happens that the toils and hardships of the poor, are the means of bringing out the finest traits of character, and of developing the moral and mental powers, and then when wealth succeeds, they degenerate in all these things, and sink down in stupid and servile service of mammon.

The mind is a wonderful piece of machinery; and God the creator and author of the mind, is a being who labors; and he has so constituted the mind and body, that proper labor and exercise are necessary to the development of both, and he has also arranged the material world, that our present circumstances make it necessary for man to labor, in order to exist. Thus our powers are called forth by the existing order of things, in arduous labor, and in proportion as mankind become luxurious, in such proportion is the call increased for more constant and arduous labors.

The human mind is so constituted, that as its powers are called forth and brought into use, it increases its strength, and develops its hidden resources. God has been liberal in his gifts to man, and has endowed him with many excellent capabilities; but unless they are brought into exercise, unless they have free play, they lie dormant; and often, no doubt, is re-enacted the burying in the earth of the talents which God has bestowed freely and liberally.

Thus the very evils most dreaded by man, often prove to him the means of advancing his best interests, and the winds of adversity, often prove in the end the prosperous gales which waft him to the most desirable haven; while prosperity and wealth very often stupify the moral and mental powers, and strike down the finest flowers of genius. I do not say this is always so, but this is the tendency of ease, voluptuousness and pleasure, and these are the usual concomitants of wealth and prosperity.

God has ever selected his peculiar people, his prophets and followers, from the middle and poorer classes, (true, there are some noble exceptions), as if he considered these more tractable and hopeful than those who are hardened by mammon-worship, or dissipated by voluptuousness, or enervated by ease and sloth. The poor man is healthier and stronger, (other things being equal), physically, mentally and morally, than he would be did not necessity constantly call forth the most continued and zealous efforts for self-preservation, thus leaving him less time for idle conversation, and useless and formal conventionalities, empty as the passing wind, and leaving the mind vacant, and a prey to Satan's snares.

Adversity has the best of uses. Christ was made perfect through sufferings. All God's people have passed through trials; many through fiery trials. Who knows now by experience the trials of the martyrs, who were tortured in every possible manner?

Shall we complain now of want, or privations, or opposition? Can we expect our way to be strewed with flowers, while ancient prophets and patriarchs suffered every evil which the malice of cruel men could invent? No; let no one complain or murmur; it is a crime to murmur against God. Let us read the fearful doom of those who murmured in the wilderness, and were cut down by raging pestilence, and stung by serpents. They murmured because their food was light, and probably they wanted to lay up property for future use. God showed to them how he viewed murmuring and distrust. It is probable they thought, What shall we do for food when the manna fails? as if God could not be trusted. Sorrow and adversity and woe have their uses. But when they come, let us say, "Father not my will but thine be done."

J. CLARKE.