. The desire of our eyes has been
taken away by a stroke. The shadows of death have unexpectedly
fallen around us. Oh, forbid that we should revel
under God's rod and refuse to be comforted. Let us glorify
you in the fires. Let us feel that if we are your
children, there is not a drop of wrath in that cup of sorrow,
but all is love, infinite love. we would see no hand but Yours. You gave us our blessings, and
You have a supreme and inalienable right to take them away. Even
so, Father, for it seems good in Your sight." O Lord God Almighty,
though your way may sometimes seem to be in the sea, and your
path in the deep waters, and your judgments unsearchable,
yet nothing can happen by accident or chance. All is the unerring
dictate of your infinite wisdom and unchanging faithfulness and
love. This also comes from the Lord
Almighty, who is ever excellent in working. Often we cannot discern
through our tears the rectitude and love of your afflictive dispensations. Often are we led to say with
trembling hearts, truly you are a God who hides yourself. but
all is well. We could not wish our concerns
in better hands than in yours. You cannot send one trial that
is unnecessary, or light one spark in the furnace that might
be spared. We will be silent, we will not
open our mouths, because you are the one who has done this. Man may err, and has often erred,
but, O unerring God, the judge of all the earth must do right. We would seek to lie submissive
at your feet, and say in unmurmuring resignation, May your will be
done. Our earnest prayer, blessed God,
is that this severe trial may be sanctified to us all. We have need of such a blow to
remind us that this earth is not our rest. We were leaning
on the creature, we were disowning and undeifying the great Creator. You would not leave us to ourselves
to settle on our lees. you saw the need of fatherly
chastisement, to bring back our alien and truant hearts to yourself. Oh, may we listen to our Father's
voice, may we feel it to be a loud voice, and yet full of gentle
tenderness. May it rouse within each of us
the question, what will you have me to do? May we arise and call
upon our God, Thus may this very affliction, which for the present
seems not to be joyous but grievous, nevertheless afterward yield
the peaceable fruit of righteousness. Let us hear Jesus' voice of encouragement
and love, sounding amid the stillness of the death-chamber. And from
the depths of the sepulchre do not be afraid. I am the first
and the last. I am the living one who died.
Look, I am alive forever and ever, and I hold the keys of
death and the grave. O helper of the helpless, comforter
of all who are cast down, better and dearer than the dearest and
best of earthly relatives. Give us that grace which you
have promised specially in seasons of weakness. May we realize the
truth of your own precious promise. As your day, so shall your strength
be. May this thought Reconcile us
to bear all and suffer all, that we should soon be done with this
present evil world, and be with our God, and that for ever and
ever. Hide us, meanwhile, in the clefts
of the smitten rock, until this and all other of earth's calamities
are over and past. May we trust your heart where
we cannot trace your hand. We wait patiently for the great
day of disclosures, when all shall be revealed. and all be
found redounding to the praise and the glory of your great name. Hear us, blessed God. All that
we ask is for the sake of your dear Son, our only Lord and Savior. Amen.