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sake。〃 When surprise was expressed at the patience of a poor
Arabian woman under heavy affliction； she said； 〃When we look on
God's face we do not feel His hand。〃
Suffering is doubtless as divinely appointed as joy； while it is
much more influential as a discipline of character。 It chastens
and sweetens the nature； teaches patience and resignation； and
promotes the deepest as well as the most exalted thought。 （12）
〃The best of men
That e'er wore earth about Him was a sufferer；
A soft； meek； patient； humble； tranquil spirit
The first true gentleman that ever breathed。〃 （13）
Suffering may be the appointed means by which the highest nature
of man is to be disciplined and developed。 Assuming happiness to
be the end of being； sorrow may be the indispensable condition
through which it is to be reached。 Hence St。 Paul's noble paradox
descriptive of the Christian life；〃as chastened； and not
killed； as sorrowful； yet always rejoicing； as poor； yet making
many rich； as having nothing； and yet possessing all things。〃
Even pain is not all painful。 On one side it is related to
suffering； and on the other to happiness。 For pain is remedial as
well as sorrowful。 Suffering is a misfortune as viewed from the
one side； and a discipline as viewed from the other。 But for
suffering； the best part of many men's nature would sleep a deep
sleep。 Indeed； it might almost be said that pain and sorrow were
the indispensable conditions of some men's success； and the
necessary means to evoke the highest development of their genius。
Shelley has said of poets：
〃Most wretched men are cradled into poetry by wrong；
They learn in suffering what they teach in song。〃
Does any one suppose that Burns would have sung as he did；
had he been rich； respectable； and 〃kept a gig；〃 or Byron；
if he had been a prosperous； happily…married Lord Privy Seal
or Postmaster…General？
Sometimes a heartbreak rouses an impassive nature to life。
〃What does he know；〃 said a sage； 〃who has not suffered？〃
When Dumas asked Reboul； 〃What made you a poet？〃 his answer was；
〃Suffering！〃 It was the death； first of his wife； and then of
his child； that drove him into solitude for the indulgence of
his grief； and eventually led him to seek and find relief in
verse。 （14） It was also to a domestic affliction that we owe
the beautiful writings of Mrs。 Gaskell。 〃It was as a recreation；
in the highest sense of the word；〃 says a recent writer； speaking
from personal knowledge； 〃as an escape from the great void of a
life from which a cherished presence had been taken； that she
began that series of exquisite creations which has served to
multiply the number of our acquaintances； and to enlarge even
the circle of our friendships。〃 （15）
Much of the best and most useful work done by men and women has
been done amidst afflictionsometimes as a relief from it；
sometimes from a sense of duty overpowering personal sorrow。 〃If
I had not been so great an invalid；〃 said Dr。 Darwin to a friend；
〃I should not have done nearly so much work as I have been able to
accomplish。〃 So Dr。 Donne； speaking of his illnesses； once said：
〃This advantage you and my other friends have by my frequent
fevers is； that I am so much the oftener at the gates of Heaven；
and by the solitude and close imprisonment they reduce me to； I am
so much the oftener at my prayers； in which you and my other dear
friends are not forgotten。〃
Schiller produced his greatest tragedies in the midst of physical
suffering almost amounting to torture。 Handel was never greater
than when； warned by palsy of the approach of death； and
struggling with distress and suffering； he sat down to compose the
great works which have made his name immortal in music。 Mozart
composed his great operas； and last of all his 'Requiem；' when
oppressed by debt； and struggling with a fatal disease。 Beethoven
produced his greatest works amidst gloomy sorrow； when oppressed
by almost total deafness。 And poor Schubert； after his short but
brilliant life； laid it down at the early age of thirty…two；
his sole property at his death consisting of his manuscripts；
the clothes he wore； and sixty…three florins in money。 Some of
Lamb's finest writings were produced amidst deep sorrow； and
Hood's apparent gaiety often sprang from a suffering heart。
As he himself wrote；
〃There's not a string attuned to mirth；
But has its chord in melancholy。〃
Again； in science； we have the noble instance of the suffering
Wollaston； even in the last stages of the mortal disease which
afflicted him； devoting his numbered hours to putting on record；
by dictation； the various discoveries and improvements he had
made； so that any knowledge he had acquired； calculated to benefit
his fellow…creatures； might not be lost。
Afflictions often prove but blessings in disguise。 〃Fear not the
darkness；〃 said the Persian sage； it 〃conceals perhaps the springs
of the waters of life。〃 Experience is often bitter； but
wholesome； only by its teaching can we learn to suffer and be
strong。 Character； in its highest forms； is disciplined by trial；
and 〃made perfect through suffering。〃 Even from the deepest
sorrow； the patient and thoughtful mind will gather richer wisdom
than pleasure ever yielded。
〃The soul's dark cottage； batter'd and decayed；
Lets in new light through chinks that Time has made。〃
〃Consider；〃 said Jeremy Taylor； 〃that sad accidents； and a state
of afflictions； is a school of virtue。 It reduces our spirits to
soberness； and our counsels to moderation； it corrects levity； and
interrupts the confidence of sinning。。。。 God； who in mercy and
wisdom governs the world； would never have suffered so many
sadnesses； and have sent them； especially； to the most virtuous
and the wisest men； but that He intends they should be the
seminary of comfort； the nursery of virtue； the exercise of
wisdom； the trial of patience； the venturing for a crown；
and the gate of glory。〃 （16）
And again：〃No man is more miserable than he that hath no
adversity。 That man is not tried； whether he be good or bad；
and God never crowns those virtues which are only FACULTIES
and DISPOSITIONS； but every act of virtue is an ingredient
unto reward。〃 （17）
Prosperity and success of themselves do not confer happiness；
indeed； it not unfrequently happens that the least successful in
life have the greatest share of true joy in it。 No man could have
been more successful than Goethepossessed of splendid health；
honour； power； and sufficiency of this world's goodsand yet he
confessed that he had not； in the course of his life； enjoyed five
weeks of genuine pleasure。 So the Caliph Abdalrahman； in
surveying his successful reign of fifty years； found that he had
enjoyed only fourteen days of pure and genuine happiness。 （18）
After this； might it not be said that the pursuit of mere