Religion and Contentment
641
looking for evil and brooding over borrowed trouble. But we see many
who are having a time of trouble beforehand; anxiety is stamped upon
every feature; they seem to find no consolation, but have a continual
fearful looking for of some dreadful evil.
Such dishonor God and bring the religion of Christ into disrepute.
They have not true love for God, nor for their companions and children.
Their affections have become morbid. But vain amusements will never
correct the minds of such. They need the transforming influence of
the Spirit of God in order to be happy. They need to be benefited by
the meditation of Christ, in order to realize consolation, divine and
substantial. “For he that will love life, and see good days, let him
refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: let
him eschew evil, and do good; let him speak peace, and ensue it. For
the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and His ears are open unto
their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.”
1 Peter 3:10-12
. Those who have an experimental knowledge of this
scripture are truly happy. They consider the approbation of Heaven of
more worth than any earthly amusement; Christ in them the hope of
glory will be health to the body and strength to the soul.
[633]