A WORD TO THE AFFLICTED.
By A. S. Hutchins
DEAR BRETHREN AND SISTERS: Though our afflictions may greatly vary in degree and in number, yet from tracing the history of God's people from the righteous Abel to the present, we find the truthfulness of the words of inspiration verified, "I have chosen thee in the furnace of of affliction." "The heart knoweth his own bitterness." Some have had their afflictions in one way and some in another; but all have more or less felt the keen edge of afflictive dispensations and scenes of sorrow; and we cannot expect that they are to diminish and dwindle away in these last days, these days of peril and severe conflict with the powers of darkness. No, "our graces must all be tried." "Many shall be purified, made white and tried." This cleansing and purifying process is now going on, and it will be fully accomplished before the hour of deliverance of the people of God shall come. Before they sing the song of victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, a mighty struggle must be experienced, and the sharper the conflict, the sweeter, the more signal the victory. But all praise, and honor, and glory to our God, victory will turn on the side of his children. "And they sung the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb," &c. Rev. xv, 3. "Many are the afflictions of the righteous; but the Lord delivereth him out of them all." Ps. xxxiv, 19. How consoling is this promise to the wounded and afflicted breast! Precious words! "The Lord delivereth him out of them all." And again, "For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal." Thrice happy the man whose eyes are fixed upon the things "not seen." With such unspeakably encouraging promises before us, who would not choose "rather to suffer afflictions with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season"? Death has done its afflictive work among us. Our hearts have been rent and torn by its ravages, and we mourn for the loved and the dear. Children, parents, and companions lie low in the cold, silent grave. Those that were very near and dear to us have fallen by our side. Those who had long cherished and evinced an undying love for the cause of God, have finished their work, and to-day their sweet, warning voice is hushed in silence. No more shall we hear their warm, spirited exhortations, poured forth from a melting heart and in gushing tears; no more hear their ardent prayers nor again hear them whisper courage to us amidst the pressing discouragements of life. And can these afflictions be sanctified to my good? O yes, be still, my soul, and know that "all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." These dear friends that die in the Lord are those who are pronounced "blessed," for they rest from their labors, and their works do follow them. Rev. xiv, 13. Their rest is sweet and undisturbed by pain or mental care. But they will soon awake. The Life-giver is coming. The glorious resurrection morning is near. These dear sleepers will come forth again, not with mortal bodies to be racked with pain and sickness, and to fade and waste away again in death. No; for an endless life will be theirs in the everlasting kingdom of the Son of God. O may the reader and writer be prepared to join in the songs of the ransomed of the Lord then. O for grace to bow to all our afflictions here, and to kiss the rod with which we are afflicted! O for Christian submission to heed the divine injunction—"Be still, and know that I am God!" And with David to say, "It is good for me that I have been afflicted." "Afflictions may press me, they cannot destroy
One glimpse of his love turns them all into joy."
A. S. HUTCHINS.