ill give us
the firm reason to look steadily at our grief, and learn the lesson it
was meant to teach? Who will give us the temperate will, to keep sober
and calm amid the shocks and changes of mortal life? Above all, I may
say--Who will lead us into all truth? How much is our sorrow increased--
how much of it is caused by simple ignorance! Why has our anxiety come?
How are we to look at it? What are we to do? Oh, that we had a
comforter who would lead us into all truth:--not make us infallible, or
all knowing, but lead us into truth; at least put us in the way of truth,
put things in their true light to us, and give us sound and rational
views of life and duty. Oh, for a comforter who would give us the spirit
of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and ghostly strength,
the spirit of knowledge and true godliness, and fill us with that spirit
of God's holy fear, which would make us not superstitious, not slavish,
not anxious, but simply obedient, loyal and resigned.

If we had such a Comforter as that, could we not take evil from his
hands, as well as good? We have had fathers of our flesh who corrected
us, and we gave them reverence. They chastised us, but we loved and
trusted them, because we knew that they loved and trusted us--chastised
us to make us better--chastised us because they trusted us to become
better. But if we can find a Father of our spirits, of our souls, shall
we not rather be in subjection to Him and live? If He sent us a
Comforter, to comfort and guide, and inspire, and strengthen us, shall we
not say of that Comforter--"Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him."

If we had such a Comforter as that, we should not care, if He seemed at
times stern, as well as kind; we could endure rebuke and chastisement
from Him, if we could only get from Him wisdom to understand the rebuke,
and courage to bear the chastisement. Where is that Comforter? God
answers:--That Comforter am I, the God of heaven and earth. There are
comforters on earth who can help thee with wise words and noble counsel,
can be strong as man, and tender as woman. Then God can be more strong
than man, and more tender than woman likewise. And when the strong arm
of man supports thee no longer, yet under thee are the everlasting arms
of God.

Oh, blessed news, that God Himself is the Comforter. Blessed news, that
He who strikes will also heal: that He who gives the cup of sorrow,