View source for Blight and mildew and hail.

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<p>"<strong>I</strong> smote you with <strong>blight and mildew and hail</strong>—to <em>destroy</em> all the produce of your labour." Haggai 2:17<br>
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  How destructive is the <strong>hail </strong>to the standing crops—beating the precious grain down to the ground! How grateful ought we to be when the grain is spared so terrible a ruin! Let us offer unto the Lord thanksgiving. <br><br>
  Even more to be dreaded, are <em>those mysterious destroyers</em>—<strong>blight</strong> and <strong>mildew</strong>. These turn the corn into a mass of soot, or render it putrid, or dry up the grain—and all in a manner so beyond all human control, that the farmer is compelled to cry, "This is the finger of God!"<br><br> Innumerable minute fungi cause the mischief, and were it not for the goodness of God, <em>the rider on the black horse </em>would soon scatter <em>famine </em>over the land! Infinite mercy spares the food of men; but in view of the active agents which are ready to destroy the harvest, right wisely are we taught to pray, "Give us this day our daily bread." We have constant need of God's blessing!<br>
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  "<strong>I</strong> smote you with <strong>blight and mildew and hail</strong>—to <em>destroy</em> all the produce of your labour." When blight and mildew come—they are <em>chastisements</em> from God, and men must learn to hear the <em>rod</em>, and Him who has appointed it!<br>
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  Spiritually, mildew is a common evil. When our work is most promising, this mildew appears. We hoped for many conversions, but instead—a general apathy, an abounding worldliness, or a cruel hardness of heart! There may be no open sin in those for whom we are labouring—but there is a deficiency of sincerity and holiness, sadly disappointing our desires. <br>
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  We learn from this—our <em>dependence</em> upon the Lord, and the<em> need of prayer </em>that no blight or mildew may fall upon our work. Spiritual pride or sloth will soon bring upon us the dreadful evil—and only the Lord of the harvest can remove it. <br>
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  Mildew and blight may even attack <em>our own hearts</em>—and shrivel our prayers and pious exercises! May it please the <em>great Gardener </em>to avert so serious a calamity. Shine, O blessed <em>Sun of Righteousness</em>, and drive the blights away!
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