The Laurens Advertiser

THE PURPOSE OF AFFLICTION.

Afflictions do not spring out of the dust; do not be impatient with them: we need something to soften this hard life. O, if it were all buying, selling, getting gain, outrunning one another in a race for wealth in which the racers take no time to record themselves, there would be no gardens on the face of the earth, no place consecrated to floral beauty, no houses built for music, no churches set up for prayer. But affliction helps to keep us right; affliction helps to bring us to our knees.

Poverty says, "Think, fool, think." Affliction open the Bible at the right places. If you, strong man, with the radiant face and the full pocket were to open the Bible it would open upside down and at nothing. But you, broken-hearted mother, you, child of sickness, you, orphan and lonely one, your Bible falls open always at the right place. Give me your family Bible and I will tell you your history. The Bible of the strong, prosperous, rich man-'tis like himself: well kept-too well. Hand me yours, man of the broken heart and the tear-stained cheeks and the reddened eye and the furrowed brow. Ah! all marks and thumbings and turnings down and marginal notes and pencil indications-thirty-third Psalm, fourth of Isaiah, a hundred places in Jeremiah, including the Lamentations- why, I need no concordance to this Bible' if I want to seek out the promises. I see your guest has been sorrow and the hospitality you have offered him has been patience. If you would know the value of the Bible in the house, consult those who have needed it most, and abide by their sweet reply.- Joseph Parker.