was like pouring rivers of acid into seas of alkali, and
the waters of society rose and roared in foaming strife. Yet, black as
was the sky, through all the dark ages, the light of the Lord shone
above the darkness; and wild and terrible as was the war of waters, the
Spirit of the Lord moved upon them, and brought to our times the social
life, liberty, and harmony we see.

"And some of the grandest characters of history have been called out in
times of conflict and revolution; and this shows the revelation of the
Lord in all. Milton, Washington, Patrick Henry, were not the weakly
blossoms of a hot-house, nor the stately flowers that decked a velvet
lawn, or blushed in a sunny garden. No! they were live, indomitable
oaks, that grew amid rocks, and from warring winds, and dashing waters,
received strength to deepen their hardy roots, and lift to heaven their
green and magnificent branches.

"And as in Nature and History," said the Minister, "_so in Individual
Life we may say the same_. The Providence of God regards the sparrow's
flight and the insect's joy; it clothes the grass, and arrays the
lilies in glory, and therefore is mindful of you and me, and works for
our good. 'The Spirit of God moves on the waters,' as they flow in the
course of Individual Life.

"We often see darkness above us. We often hear the powers of apparent
chaos roaring like hungry dragons around. We are often the sport of
whirling eddies, and the rage of furious rapids and falls. We wind our
cold, dark way at times, as if passing under the falls of Niagara,
roofed over with roaring waters, and startled with bursts of spray, and
shrieks and whistlings of sound from chasms and gulfs beneath; where
one false step would send us to destruction.

"And yet, as we have trusted our faith and hope, we have heard the
voice of the Lord above the noise of waters; and felt that his Spirit
moved near us, breathing love and speaking peace. We have said with
George Fox, 'There is an ocean of darkness and death; but withal an
infinite ocean of light and love flows over the darkness.'

"And what if we cannot always behold the light above the clouds? What
if the time frequently comes in trials, bereavements and disasters,
when all around and above, is dark, dark; and we see not how our
prayers for light can be answered, or in what way God can educe a good
from evil? Experience and faith assure us that the light will come,
and the good be made manifest