Alls For the Best | Page 4

his food sweet to the
taste. A just and righteous God will trouble his peace, and make
another's possessions the burden of his life."
"But that will not benefit you," said Mr. Fanshaw. "His suffering will
not make good your loss."
"My loss is made good already. I have no complaint against Providence.
My compensation is a hundredfold. For dross I have gold. I and mine
needed the discipline of misfortune, and it came through the perfidy of
a friend. That false friend, selfish and grasping--seeing in money the
greatest good--was permitted to consummate his evil design. That his
evil will punish him, I am sure; and in the pain of his punishment, he
may be led to reformation. If he continue to hide the stolen fox, it will
tear his vitals. If he lets it go, he will scarcely venture upon a second
theft. In either event, the wrong he was permitted to do will be turned
into discipline; and my hardest wish in regard to him is, that the
discipline may lead to repentance and a better life."
"Your faith and patience," said Mr. Fanshaw, as he held the old man's
hand in parting, "rebuke my restless disbelief. I thank you for having
opened to my mind a new region of thought--for having made some
things clear that have always been dark. I am sure that our meeting
to-day is not a simple accident. I have been led here, and for a good
purpose."
As Mr. Fanshaw and Mr. Wilkins left the poor man's lodgings, the
former said--
"I know the false wretch who ruined your friend."
"Ah!"

"Yes. And he is a miserable man. The fox is indeed tearing his vitals. I
understand his case now. He must make restitution. I know how to
approach him. This good, patient, trusting old man shall not suffer
wrong to the end."
"Does not all this open a new world of thought to your mind?" asked
Mr Wilkins. "Does it not show you that, amid all human wrong and
disaster, the hand of Providence moves in wise adjustment, and ever
out of evil educes good, ever through loss in some lower degree of life
brings gain to a higher degree? Consider how, in an unpremeditated
way, you are brought into contact with a stranger, and how his life and
experience touching yours, give out a spark that lights a candle in your
soul to illumine chambers where scarcely a ray had shone before; and
this not alone for your benefit. It seems as if you were to be made an
instrument of good not only to the wronged, but to the wronger. If you
can effect restitution in any degree, the benefit will be mutual."
"I can and I will effect it," replied Mr. Fanshaw. And he did!

II.
IS HE A CHRISTIAN?

"IS he a Christian?"
The question reached my ear as I sat conversing with a friend, and I
paused in the sentence I was uttering, to note the answer.
"Oh, yes; he is a Christian," was replied.
"I am rejoiced to hear you say so. I was not aware of it before," said the
other.
"Yes; he has passed from death unto life. Last week, in the joy of his
new birth, he united himself to the church, and is now in fellowship
with the saints."
"What a blessed change!"
"Blessed, indeed. Another soul saved; another added to the great
company of those who have washed their robes, and made them white
in the blood of the Lamb. There is joy in heaven on his account."
"Of whom are they speaking?" I asked, turning to my friend.
"Of Fletcher Gray, I believe," was replied.
"Few men stood more in need of Christian graces," said I. "If he is,

indeed, numbered with the saints, there is cause for rejoicing."
"By their fruits ye shall know them," responded my friend. "I will
believe his claim to the title of Christian, when I see the fruit in good
living. If he have truly passed from death unto life, as they say, he will
work the works of righteousness. A sweet fountain will not send forth
bitter waters."
My friend but expressed my own sentiments in this, and all like cases. I
have learned to put small trust in "profession;" to look past the Sunday
and prayer-meeting piety of people, and to estimate religious quality by
the standard of the Apostle James. There must be genuine love of the
neighbor, before there can be a love of God; for neighborly love is the
ground in which that higher and purer love takes root. It is all in vain to
talk of love as a mere ideal thing. Love is an active principle, and,
according to its quality, works. If the love