4 not abundant reason for gratitude to GocU It is never so bad with us as we deserve. It is never so bad with us that it might not be worse. If a man have lost property, he still has friends ; if friends have deserted him or died, he has yet health ; if health too be wanting, still he lives ; if an arm has been broken or palsied, he remains strong in his feet ; or if he be halt and lame, he has the use of his eyes ; or if sightless, he hears ; or if deaf, he yet speaks; or if at once blind and deaf and dumb, he yet feels and thinks; and for this single power of thought, allying him unto God and his angels— this function of a spirit winged and waiting for immortality—he should, were it heaven's only gift, give thanks unto God reverently with a joy unspeakable and full of gloryBut we may go further than this, affirming that, even in our worst estate, we are receiving at God's hand vastly more of good than of evil. In our experience there are always more days of sunshine than of storm, and more senses ministering to delight than to anguish; so that, reckon as we will, God has ever large claims on our thanksffivino:. ° So Meanwhile it will appear that very much of our misfortune is the result of perverted dispensations, in their design merciful. Our poverty is a result of abused, or at least neglected, opportunities of accumulation ; and our sickness is caused by a wilful violation of beneficent physiological laws. Even these sore national troubles, whereof we especially
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