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in The Primitive Baptist vol.2 no.18 (1837)
I SYMPATHIZE WITH MY BROTHER DE WOLFE and his
companion on the loss of their child, and I can mingle my sorrows
with theirs; but still it is by no means my wish to infuse
fresh anguish into their present bitter cup, which I know must
already be full to overflowing; but contrariwise, I fain would, if it
were in my power, draw away their minds from the heart rending
contemplation of the death of their oldest son, to the pleasing
reflection that, “the ways of the Lord are right, and the just shall
walk in them.” (Hosea 14:9) And while I would by no means
renew their woe by expressing the sympathy of my soul on their
behalf, I wish not in any wise to arrest the yearnings of paternal
bowels, since there is nothing in christianity to chide, far less to
stifle, the emotions of nature. Tears are often a gracious relief to a
throbbing heart, and hence I would say—“Let them flow.”
Our Divine Redeemer wept, and he has, if I may so say,
consecrated our tears, and we therefore will weep, but not inordinately nor in displeasure, but from the power of sympathy we
will weep whenever God in his providence gives us such abundant
reason so to do. Why the Almighty should have made this
chasm in their lovely family we know not, and we will forbear
to ask the reason why, since he will no reason give. It is enough
for us to know that he has done it, and that he has reasons for
it, and if it were really necessary, he would explain to us those
reasons; but he does not do it, because as we would suppose,
there is no real necessity for it. We therefore in this case will, as
David was, be “dumb with silence.” Psalm 39:2.
There can be but little, if any at all, solid consolation in
affliction and under bereavements, till our spirits bow before
God’s sovereignty, and confess that he does all things well; and I
hope their hearts have this recourse, and that they find the Lord
to be their “refuge and strength, and a very present help in
trouble,” Psalm 46:1. It is quite certain that the world with all
its promises, and fair speeches, and inviting charms, possesses
no suitable prescription for people in a similar situation as that
of David when he said, “Thine arrows stick fast in me, and thy
hand presseth me sore,” Psalm 38:2. |
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