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The Spirit of Prophecy Volume 2
has slighted and grieved his compassionate Saviour. Such mourning
is precious, for it will yield the peaceable fruits of righteousness.
The worldling, from his stand-point, may pronounce this sorrow a
weakness; but it is the strength which binds the penitent to the Infinite
One with links that cannot be broken. It reveals that the angels of
God are bringing back to his soul the graces which were lost through
hardness of heart and transgression. To confess and deplore one’s
errors evinces an excellence of character capable of discerning and
correcting them. The tears of the penitent are only the clouds and the
raindrops that precede the sunshine of holiness, the sorrow that heralds
a joy that will be a living fountain in the soul. Men are sowing in
God’s great field with toil and tears, yet with patient expectation; and
they will be blessed, for the heavens will open and the rain will fall,
insuring a bountiful harvest. Then when the Reaper comes, he will
return with joy bringing home his sheaves.
“Blessed are the meek; for they shall inherit the earth.” The diffi-
culties that the Christian encounters may be very much lessened by
that meekness of character which hides itself in Christ. Jesus invites
all the weary and heavy laden to come unto him who is meek and
lowly in heart, that they may find rest. If the Christian possesses the
humility of his Master, he will rise above the slights, the rebuffs, and
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annoyances to which he is daily exposed, and they will cease to cast a
gloom over his spirit. That meekness which Jesus blessed, operates
amid the scenes of domestic life; it makes the home happy, it provokes
no quarrels, gives back no angry answers, but soothes the irritated tem-
per, and diffuses a gentleness which is felt by all within its charmed
circle. It calms the inflammable spirit of retaliation, and mirrors forth
the character of Christ.
Far better would it be for Christians to suffer under false accusa-
tions than to inflict upon themselves the torture of retaliation against
their enemies. Hatred and revenge are instigated by Satan, and bring
only remorse to him who cherishes them. Lowliness of heart is the
strength that gives victory to the Christian. His reward is an inheritance
of glory.
“Blessed are they who do hunger and thirst after righteousness; for
they shall be filled.” As the body feels the necessity for temporal food
to supply the waste of the system, and preserve the physical strength,
so the soul should long for that spiritual nourishment that increases the