they may rest from their labours, and their works follow them."

But, admitting the state of your departed friend to be doubtful, yet, in all cases that are really so, let us cultivate honourable thoughts of God; let us remember the Faithful Creator. Righteousness is his throne, though clouds surround it. Whatever he has left obscure, we may safely leave him to explain. Let us recollect, that amidst innumerable obscurities, he hath made things clear in proportion as they are important, and, therefore, repeatedly urges it upon our conscience, that the door is still open to us; that it is awful to stand before it unresolved; that we must trust him to-day; and that to-morrow he will equally remove our conjectures and our complaints.

Perhaps you are ready to reply, "I have heard many such things; and I also could speak as you do, if your soul were in my soul's stead; but my heart and my expectations are so crushed by this blow, that I can hear nothing but "thy bruise is incurable, and thy wound grievous; thou hast no healing medicines."

Beware, however, of falling into their sin, who "limited the Holy One of Israel." This is a charge continually

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brought against man, that in his troubles, the Source and the Resource are equally forgotten. "Though affliction cometh not forth of the dust, yet none saith, Where is God my Maker, who giveth songs in the night?" Endeavour then, in extremities, to recollect an All-sufficient Friend--a very present Help in trouble. He, at least, may add, (as he does in the passage just alluded to,) " I will restore health unto thee; and I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the Lord." Cannot the voice which rebuked a tempestuous sea, calm our troubled spirits? Is his hand shortened at all, that he cannot bless our latter end, like Job's, “ more than the beginning?" Is it not the Lord "that maketh poor, and maketh rich; that bringeth low, and lifteth up?" Many whose hearts have been desolate like yours, while they have looked around, have at length looked upward " unto him, and been lightened." A single promise has afforded them not only relief, but strong consolation.

Let us, therefore, my dear friend, "turn again to this strong-hold, as prisoners of hope; even to-day can he render double to us." Let us look to Abraham's God; and his encouragement is ours-

"Fear not; I am God Almighty." As if he should say, I am all-sufficient in all cases; I am enough," and able to do exceeding abundantly above all that you ask or think." I have taken away thy gourd; but dost thou well to be angry? have I left nothing for thankfulness? This world, however, cannot be your home, nor its objects your consolation. They are all too poor for the soul of man. "Look unto me, and be saved; acquaint thyself with me, and be at peace; follow me, and you shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” However dark and distressing the present state of things may appear," commit thy fatherless children to my care; I will preserve them alive; and let thy widows trust in ine."

Still the beloved object is gone, and your heart follows it. You can scarcely receive counsel from infinite Wisdom, or comfort from Omnipotence. To every fresh encouragement you are ready to reply," Wilt thou shew wonders to the dead: shall the dead arise, and praise thee? shall thy loving-kindness be declared in the grave? or thy faithfulness in destruction?" His word repeatedly assures you they shall; and that " all

that are in the grave shall hear his voice." But it informs you also, that He can do abundantly more for the living, than merely restore their dead friends, or revive their fainting spirits. It teaches you that He can sanctify the separation-that He can give a divine life to the survivor, though dead in trespasses and sins," and inseparably unite both in his kingdom. If the Comforter could make up for the loss of Christ's bodily presence, yea, make it even expedient that He "should go away," how much more can He supply the place of every creature?

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May this Comforter, writing his Word in your mind, help you to say, with a confidence highly honourable to himself and his Gospel, "My poor perishing gourd is indeed withered a day before I expected it; my broken reed is gone; but God is left a father to the fatherless, a husband to the widow.' And now Lord, what wait I for? truly my hope is in thee.' Thou canst give me,' in thine house, a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters; even an everlasting name that shall not be cut off; and, therefore, though the fig-tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vine, yet I

will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.""

Once more. Let us endeavour, at such seasons as these, to recognise a Gracious Monitor. Whenever the Lord strikes, he speaks. Let us listen at such a time as this with humble attention, yet with holy confidence; for it is the voice of a Friend-a wonderful Counsellor. Let us, with the Prophet, resolve to ascend the tower of observation, and observe "what he will say unto us, and what we shall answer when we are reproved." If with him we thus watch our dispensations, "at the end, like his, it shall speak."

God is continually raising up witnesses, and sending them in his name to "sound the alarm in Sion." He charges them to admonish the wise, as well as the foolish virgin, to beware of slumbering, since the bridegroom is at hand; and when one is called away, to cry to those that remain, "Be ye also ready; for in such an hour as ye think not, the Son of Man cometh." Some, indeed, like the sons of Lot, desperately scorn the admonition, and treat it as the fear of dotage. Some, like those in the Acts, are in doubt, saying one to another, "What meaneth this?" and others mocking, reply, "These men are