united far more intimately than to us. It was sent hither with the will of him who doeth nothing in vain, and by the same wise will it is summoned hence. Help us to recognize it as the sacred property of God, as it were an angel alighting among us for a little while, upon a mission of love. May we rejoice, with a joy deep beyond utterance, at the thought of that goodness which lent us that precious treasure to gladden our hearts, although but for a brief space. A messenger from heaven has been here. May the heavenly tidings which it brought be graven on our inmost souls, not to be erased by the grief of the present hour, but deepened by the tears which we shed. Sanctify the memory of this dear child, and may it prove a fountain of blessed and saving thoughts. May that other world which thy Gospel hath unveiled rise before our faith in new brightness, as the home of the beloved. May we be drawn unto him who took children in his arms and said, Suffer them to come unto me, for of such is the kingdom of heaven. O may we henceforth be more in earnest in the great work of life. May we strive more diligently to prepare ourselves for communion and fellowship with the pure and the blessed in thine everlasting kingdom.

Almighty God, what shadows we are! What is our life? It is vapor, which appeareth for a little while, and then vanisheth away. We take a few steps in life. We suffer and we enjoy, and then we

disappear from the face of the earth forever. But, blessed be God, we are not wholly dust. There is a spirit within us which can never taste death, and which, by all the changes of life, thou art calling, as by so many voices from heaven, to glory, honor, and immortality. Thou art speaking to us now by this event which hath filled our souls with sadness. Speak on, O Lord; for thy servants hear. Hearkening to the warning voice, let us not indulge in idle sorrow, but may we arise and gird up our loins, and resolve to use diligently every moment of our sojourn on earth, seeing that we know not what an hour may bring forth, and that now is the accepted time, now the gates of salvation stand open before us, and we may enter into life eternal.

O thou God of parents and children, since we may be so soon and suddenly separated, quicken us in the discharge of our duties one towards another. When we are called to part, save us then from the anguish of bitter remembrances, from the painful recollection of unkind words, and unfeeling neglects. Let the thought of the parting hour rise before us to check every evil disposition, to allay our rising anger, to quench all unhallowed heats. May every day bind us more and more closely together. And when we go, one after another, to the narrow house appointed for all the living, O, may immortal hopes sanctify our departure. Thou wilt watch over our slumbering dust, and not one of us shall be forgotten before

thee. Thou wilt welcome us to a higher sphere; we shall behold the good and just that have gone before us, and our joy shall know no interruption, and no end. O, fulfil our holy desires. Inspire our hearts. Guard and guide us now and forever, and to thee shall be rendered everlasting praises. Amen.

XI.

Death of a Friend.

But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them who are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others who have no hope.

For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also who sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne will dwell among them.

They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.

For the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will feed them, and will lead them to living fountains of waters: and God will wipe away all tears from their eyes.

O THOU, our refuge in trouble, and the rock of our trust, thou art our only abiding stay; and although clouds and darkness are now round about thee, we doubt not thine infinite good-will. O Lord, hear us,

and be very present in our hearts, and fill them with thy consolations.

It has pleased thee to enter our family circle by that most mysterious of all human events, death. One with whom a little while ago we exchanged sweet counsel hath vanished, and these familiar places will know the departed no more. Our hearts are filled with sorrow; and as the beloved image of our friend rises before us, we are ready, in the anguish of bereavement, to exclaim, "Would to God we had died for thee!

And now, as all things around us wear looks of sadness, and life is wrapped in gloom, we would turn unto thee, O Father, with hearts wounded and desolate, but, blessed be God, not without hope. Put underneath us the everlasting arms of thy power, and lift us out of the shadow of this affliction. Lead us from this darkness into the light, full of glory, in which thou dwellest. Let not this sorrow prove too great for us, blinding our minds, and hardening our hearts. May we receive it as descending from heaven, bringing heavenly gifts. Dispose us to discern the working of thy hand; and while our dearest earthly joys are departing, come thou. in the fulness of thy love, and abide with us and in us forever, and may we have abundant cause to say, "It is good for us that we have been afflicted."

While in times past we have been prone to live forgetful of the grave, though always open before us;

while we have promised ourselves that to-morrow will be as to-day, and even more abundant, and that the mountain of our prosperity stands strong and cannot be moved, now, O Father, break up our insensibility to the nearest and most solemn realities, that we may no longer pursue shadows which fade away in our grasp. By the removal of the near and dear, may we be led to commune with ourselves and with thee; to see the vanity of life, and the momentous interests of eternity. Blessed be God, light hath streamed down upon us from above, through the opening into the heavens which received the ascending Lord and Saviour. O, help us to hear his voice in gentle accents of love say to each of us, Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. In my Father's house are many mansions. Whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Give us, gracious God, O give us unspeakable thanks for the comfort of these precious truths.

And now, heavenly Father, who hast purposes of good in all thy dealing with thy children, we pray that we may clearly see and deeply feel this present affliction to be sanctified to our eternal welfare. To this end may it be met and endured with profound submission to thy most holy will. May we take heed to that divine example which, in thy great goodness, has been granted in our Lord and Saviour, the Man of Sorrows. Help us to learn of him how to obtain strength from the heaviest burdens, and draw the