THE CLEARING OF THE CLOUDS.
By Dr. Bushnell
THERE is nothing in what has befallen, or befalls you, my friends, which justifies impatience or peevishness. God is inscrutable, but not wrong. Remember, if the cloud is over you, there is a bright light always on the other side; also, that the time is coming, either in this world or the next, when that cloud will be swept away, and the fullness of God's light and wisdom poured around you. Everything which has befallen you—whatever sorrow your heart bleeds with, whatever pain you suffer—nothing is wanting but to see the light that actually exists waiting to be revealed, and you will be satisfied. If your life is dark, then walk by faith, and God is pledged to keep you as safe as if you could understand everything. He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. These things, however, I can say with no propriety to many. No such comfort or hopes belong to you that are living without God. You have nothing to expect from the revelations of the future. The cloud that you complain of will indeed be cleared away, and you will see that, in all your afflictions, severities and losses, God was dealing with you righteously and kindly. You will be satisfied with God and all that he has done for you; but alas! you will not be satisfied with yourself. That is more difficult—forever impossible! Ah! I can conceive no pang more dreadful than to see, as you will, the cloud lifted from every dealing of God that you thought to be harsh or unrighteous, and to feel that, as he is justified, you yourself are forever condemned. You can no more accuse your birth, your capacity, your education, your health, your friends, your enemies, your temptations. You still had opportunities, convictions, calls of grace, and calls of blessing. You are judged according to that you had, not according to that you had not. Your mouth is eternally shut, and God is eternally clear.—Dr. Bushnell.