hrown upon the theatre of this mortal life not merely
for enjoyment, but for training,--for the development of spiritual
affinities, and the attainment of spiritual ends. It thus reveals a
weaning, subduing, elevating power, in sorrow.

The origin of evil may puzzle us;--its use no Christian can deny. A
sensual philosophy may shrink from it, in all its aspects, and retreat
into a morbid skepticism or a timid submission. If we predicate mere
happiness as "our being's end and aim," there is no explanation of evil.
From this point of view, there is an ambiguity in nature,--a duality in
every object, which we cannot solve. The throne of infinite light and
love casts over the face of creation an inexplicable shadow. If we were
made merely to be happy, why this hostility all around us? Why these
sharp oppositions of pain and difficulty? Why these writhing
nerves, these aching hearts, and over-laden eyes? Why the chill of
disappointment, the shudder of remorse, the crush and blight of hope?
Why athwart the horizon flicker so many shapes of misery and sin?
Why appear these sad spectacles of painful dying chambers, and weary
sick-beds?--these countless tomb-stones, too-ghastly witness to death
and tears? Explain for me those abrupt inequalities,--the long train of
necessities, poverty and its kindred woes, those fearful realities that
lie in the abysses of every city,--that hideous, compressed mass which
welters in the awful baptism of sensuality and ignorance,--the groans of
inarticulate woe, the spectacle of oppression, the shameless cruelty of
war, the pestilence that shakes its comet-sword over nations, and famine
that peers with skeleton face through the corn-sheaves of plenty. Upon
this theory of mere happiness no metaphysical subtlety can solve
the fact of evil;--the coiled enigma constantly returns upon itself,
inexplicable as ever.

But when we take the Christian view of life, we discover that not
happiness merely, but virtue, holiness, is the great end of man; though
happiness comes in as an inevitable consequence and accompaniment of
this result. And in the light reflected from this view, evil assumes
a powerful, and, I may say, a most beautiful office. It is just as
necessary for the attainment of virtue as prosperity, or any blessing.
Nay, in this aspect, it is itself a great blessing, and

"Every cloud that spreads above
And veileth love, itself is love."

It is evident that, without the contact of sin