ページの画像
PDF
ePub

Sick persons of fearful dispositions are fond of sending for the doctor more frequently than necessary, without considering that if a medical man have his daily arrangements, or his nightly rest broken without cause, he may be backward to attend when his services are really necessary.

These are a few of the many observations that might be made, and such as are in the habit of visiting the sick will not consider them undeserving of attention. Whether we are ill, or whether we are well, we should not be forgetful of the comfort of those around us; but, on the contrary, we should ever remember to do to others as we would they should do unto us.

Who is there that has not sickness in prospect? and who would not wish, when sick, to secure the willing attentions of his kindest friends?

Persons who have any one to love, and any thing to leave, will save themselves much anxiety in sickness by making their wills while they are in health. Many foolishly neglect to do this from different motives, but I have already noticed this subject.

Though I have confined myself to observations on temporal matters, I am not unmindful how closely the subject of sickness is connected with spiritual concerns. "We must needs die, and are as water spilt on the ground, which cannot be

gathered up again;" and all who are subject to death should now seek, through the Saviour of sinners, that eternal life which is only to be found in Him.

If you have been visited with sickness, you know, and if you have not, you will know by and by, how much sickness disqualifies us from attending to any thing requiring calmness and consideration. If it be difficult to lift a weight in health, it is not likely to be an easy affair in sickness. Eternal things are weighty considerations, and they should be attended to while we have health, with all our hearts, our minds, our soul, and our strength.

How calm would our sick-beds be if we had nothing else to do than to cast our burdens on Him who has promised to sustain them; nothing else to say than "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with loving-kindness and tender mercies!" "I know, O Lord, that thy judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me. "Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory."

[ocr errors]

ON WAR.

SOME people may think that I am a very improper person to speak on the subject of war, seeing that I have, as the phrase is, never smelt gunpowder; or, in other words, never seen service; and to this I reply, If it be necessary to see men shot, and their bodies wounded and bleeding, to enable me properly to speak on the subject, may I ever remain unqualified.

Again, it may be thought, that however capable I might be to speak about war, it would not be overwise to do so now, inasmuch as this is, with us, a time of peace. But, if a state of warfare be the only opportunity which can be afforded me to express my opinion, fervently do I desire, so far as this subject is concerned, to be for ever silent.

My good friends, let me tell you, that when a man feels strongly moved to speak on any subject, he is not easily persuaded of his incapacity. Now, I feel at the present moment like a strong

man; I seem to have something pent up in my heart that must come forth; listen to my observations, and judge me accordingly.

'A time of peace is not an unfit season to speak of war; for He only, who knows all things, knows how long or how short a time the blessing of peace may be continued to us.

So long as public opinion is opposed to war, so long will it be difficult to engage in it; but remember that public opinion is made up of the private opinions of individuals, and therefore it cannot be wrong to set forth war in all its horrors, its injustice, and its iniquity.

It may be said, that many wars have been inevitable. To this I answer, from the creation of the world till now, so far as we can judge by the knowledge that is come down to us, where one war has been undertaken with a virtuous end in view, hundreds have been engaged in through envy, covetousness, pride, ambition, and revenge. "Whence come wars and fightings among you? Come they not.hence, even of your lusts that war in your members ?" James iv. 1. These are not the words of Old Humphrey.

who looked upon

as

How often have I heard men, themselves, and were regarded by others, Christian men, standing high among their professing brethren, advocating war, as though it were a

light thing with them, that ten thousand bodies should be hacked to pieces, and ten thousand souls sent in an unprepared state into eternity! Should such things be? Ought not war to be regarded as a curse? Yes. Even when clothed

with scarlet, accompanied with the flourish of trumpets, and adorned with the trophies of victory, war is the foulest offspring of sin, and that it can be loved without sin reigning in the heart is impossible.

Though I cannot tell, in many cases, how war is to be avoided, I feel that my foot is on a rock when I condemn all unnecessary hostility. If war be entered into with lightness of heart, with love of gain, or lust of power and reputation, it is an ungodly enterprise. The bravest chief who willingly draws his sword in an unnecessary war, has blood-guiltiness to answer for; his stars, and his garters, and his glittering emblems of honour, are only badges that proclaim him one of those whom God shall judge; for the "Lord hateth hands that shed innocent blood." Had I the power, I would utter a mighty cry, that should pierce the hearts of all that delight in war; I would proclaim aloud in all the palaces and the peasants' cots of the world, that when a king by an unnecessary war, forgets that he is a man, he deserves to be no longer a king: and when a man

« 前へ次へ »