instead of causing pain to man, is most desirous to alleviate and soothe his sorrows and distress, as far as it is possible to be done. How tenderly is He described by the Psalmist as standing as it were, unseen, by the sick bed,—the great Physician, seeking to sustain and comfort the suffererer: "The Lord will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing: thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness."[1] How feelingly also is it declared, that "He doth not willingly afflict or grieve the children of men[2];" thus, that if sorrows, if pains of body or of mind, are allowed occasionally to come upon the good, they are permitted only as the means of their more complete purification, and thus of bringing them ultimately to still higher goodness and happiness, both here and hereafter. "Every branch that beareth fruit, He purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit." With such, truly may it be said in the sweet language of the Psalmist, "Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning." Soon will the pains and sorrows of this life be over, and then will our eyes open on the light of a new and everlasting day, in those peaceful realms where "there is no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying, neither shall be any more pain, for the former things are passed away."
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