Adversity by J. Clarke

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Oct 2, 1879

Adversity.

By J. Clarke

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 becomes 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 interest; 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 stupefy 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.

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.