^ Bishop Boyd Carpenter, Some Pages of My Life, 332.
376 THE MINISTRY OF SURPRISE
career and rendered helpless for the remainder of his days, yet who was able, almost at once, to accept his Father's will and to be content with it. Had not such humble trusting sufferers found the "blessings of goodness" in those dark providences that suddenly darkened round them and seemed to others to wreck their lives ? ^
^ Do we complain of the sorrows of life, classing them among the insoluble problems of existence ? We owe much of life's purest and happiest experiences to these sorrows. They can reveal unexpected good qualities ; they can draw human lives into sympathy with one another ; they can bridge over chasms which seemed to decree separation between soul and soul ; they can soften, refine, and elevate. Certainly, if I may speak from my own experience, hours of sorrow serve to show what an unsuspected wealth of kindness there is in the world. Here is a box, full of letters ! No, I am not going to open it, or drag forth the letters to view. Let them lie where they are, in sacred seclusion ; but they are witnesses to the width and depth of human sympathy. They are letters, written to me, by people of all classes, in one supreme, sorrowful hour of my life. Indeed, as I go about my room, and turn from one treasury of old letters to another, I realize that the sweetest and best of them are the offspring of sorrow in some form or another. Dear letters — some written by hands now cold — you still carry your message to my heart ! You are the constant witnesses that om' capacities of heart could hardly have found scope to work, or space to grow, had not sorrow opened the door of opportunity.^
(3) God is in front to strengthen us in temptation. — Temptation is the constant element in our lives that every now and then gathers itself up into some " sore hour " which tries and shakes our fidelity to the roots. The temptation to unbelief, the tempta- tion to self-indulgence, the temptation to be untrue to some heavy charge of which we would fain be quit — temptations such as these, and others like them, are no doubt dangerous, since we may give way in our weakness and fall ignobly. But with the temptation there is always a strength available for the bearing of it, of which, if we seize and are not overborne by it, nothing but good is the issue. Blessed is the man that endureth temptation. It strengthens the thews of the spirit. It toughens faith. It
^ A. Martin, JFinning (he Soul, 209.
2 Bishop Boyd Carpenter, Same Pages of My Life, 331.
PSALM XXI. 3 377
teaches to pray. Temptation, if met and dealt with fairly, brings blessing into our life, — and nothing else.
^ I would especially recommend you, as far as possible, to keep your mind fixed on our Blessed Lord's love, sympathy, and presence with you — not on the temptation. Put the temptation altogether aside. Don't think of it. Don't pray about it. Don't entangle yourself with it. But keep close to God, and feel sure that " He who is in us is greater than he that is in the world," and ask of our Blessed Lord that He would encompass you with His blessed angels, and so drive far away the evil spirit. Nothing is impossible with Him. Make proof of His power and love, and resolve, though you have failed before, now henceforth to fail no more. Let it encourage you to feel that every temptation overcome makes you stronger than you were before.^
It was my Time. The old hour struck, The ancient self without my leave —
The old impatience came to pluck, How briskly at my sleeve !
And one stood crying within my heart —
(It was not I) — " The strait is sore. Thy strength is small. So yield. Thy part
Eequires of thee no more."
Then to the god we do not know.
Whose perfect name lies not within Our speech, all speechless in her woe
My spirit fled, crying — " This is sin.
Against his coming many times
Thou gavest a secret, golden power."
Then sudden as tlie lark that climbs, I sang, and in that dolorous hour
I stood with an immortal strength. Looked out upon the dangerous way,
And singing trod its bitter length, Scatheless, as even a mortal may.^
(4) God is 'beforehand to soften trouble. — With our cares, anxieties, daily duty — whatever is commonest, whatever is most
^ J. P. F. Davidson, Letters of Spiriiual Counsel, 65. - Mildred McNeal-Sweeney, 3Ien of No Land, 56.
2,7^ THE MINISTRY OF SURPRISE
exceptional — God is before us to make them bearable, and profitable. All our experiences whatsoever bring good to us, if we will have it. Life is a constant discovery of light and help and blessing of every kind, which are waiting us beforehand. It is not by chance that these things come there. They have all the marks of a provision made by One who knows what things we have need of. Let us be sure of it and fear nothing. Eaith should recognize a friend even when sense fears a foe. And of everything that comes to meet us our hearts should be greatly able to say : " This also cometh forth from the Lord, who is wonderful in counsel and excellent in working."