erable is the thought that it is nothing to them that pass by, that others are going about their business and enjoying themselves as usual, while our house is made desolate by grief; and to hear others rejoice in that suffering is more than we can bear. Even Jesus Christ, when he saw the smiles of malicious triumph, and heard the acclamations round his cross, felt for a moment as if all were against him, as if he was deserted even by his God.

If we will have a support in sorrow then, one which will sustain us when we have no other, we must make a friend of God. A friend to man he is, however unworthy; but we must feel his friendship, we must have an answering feeling awakened in our own breasts. Otherwise, though we are not alone, we shall feel as if we were alone; we shall endure all the sorrow of desolation when our friend is standing nigh. And who can say that he will remain with those who coldly disregard him? We know it is what we should never do for others, and we should ask ourselves what right, what reason, we have to expect it of God.

The reflection that we are not alone, but our Father is with us, is the best inspiration we can have in duty. And if our lot in life is a hard one, or if our interest in duty leads us to make great exertions, there will be many times when

we shall want all the encouragement which a thought like this can give. Those who have never done a duty from principle may not know it; but there are times when, though the heart retains its resolution, the weak nature faints and cannot go through. Such times there were even to Jesus Christ; divine as his resignation was, there were times when he felt as if he could go no farther, though the universe could not make him retreat one step. In such a time you will find it written of him that he withdrew into the wilderness and prayed, — that he fell on his face and prayed, while sometimes the drops wrung from him by deep agony were flowing from his brow ;

"Cold mountains and the midnight air
Witnessed the fervor of his prayer."

Our duty in life is as different from his, as the fireside from the field of battle; our yoke is easy and our burden light. But even in our duty, when all goes well, when devotion is a pleasure, when it is our enjoyment to do good, when we feel that every day bears us onward as a wave to that improvement which ends in heaven, it is cheering to think that there is joy in heaven at witnessing the growth of religious excellence in any human heart. This happiness we may enjoy when we will, for if there is joy in heaven over the sinner that repenteth, there is a calmer,

a less distrusting joy at witnessing the change from glory to glory which will, when the short labor of life is over, add another radiant spirit to the seraphs and sons of light.

But what is inspiring in the prosperous hours is necessary in those times of despondency from which no course of duty will ever be free There is a time when the heart sinks, when the confidence fails, when we feel as if we had labored in vain. There is a time when we seem with all our exertions forced downwards as by the rush of the stream, when we feel as if each coming year of life found us standing still farther from God. There is a time when everything connected with the world, even its cares and duties, makes us weary and sick at heart. Then we can find encouragement in the thought of God, and of God alone. If all earthly things sink beneath us, we have left Him who alone has immortality; everything earthly is unsatisfactory, and there will be times when we shall feel it in our hearts. But we have no need to trust in the perishing world; and if we do, we do it in defiance of warning. When the doors of mansions of light are thrown open for us to enter, why should we insist on making our bed in the grave?

Such is the security and support afforded us by the presence of God in life; but all these are hardly to be compared with the support it affords

in death, I mean to those who have not been strangers to God. It is as well to bring that hour before us, because it is one which we must all of

us go through, some of us very soon. It is well to ask whether we shall be sustained by the presence of God when the eye is closed to everything it has loved and treasured on earth, and the last breathings of affection have died away upon the ear for ever, All the past but the remembrance of our goodness or our guilt will perish from the soul; all the eternal future will spread itself out before us, a dark and dreary wilderness to those who have left their affections behind them in the world, a place of glory and joy to those who have prepared for the heavenly country. In all the wide reach of the universe, not a single being can be near to sustain us then beside our God. Let us, then, secure his favor, which is life; let us provide a stay and solace against that awful hour to which we all shall come.

Then we shall not be alone in death. The Father, our Father, will be with us; the gates of mercy will open to receive us; Jesus, the mediator of the new covenant, will welcome us to the many mansions, and we shall receive the crown of righteousness from the hand of God.

HOPE IN DEATH.

FROM THE GERMAN OF KLOPSTOCK.

How will it be with me then, O then!
When I, to rejoice in the Lord,
Shall fall asleep in Him!

No longer stained with any sin,
Set free from mortality,
Rejoice thyself, my soul!
Strengthen, console thyself,
Redeemed one, with the life

That thy God will give thee then!

I rejoice and I tremble!

The yoke of my misery presses me so,
The curse of my sin casts me down!
But the Lord makes easy my yoke;
Through Him does my heart
It believes and rises again.
Jesus! Christ! Let me strive

grow strong:

To live to thee, to die in thee,
To inherit thy Father's kingdom!

Scorn then all terror of death,
My soul! 't is a path to look upon,
The way through the dark valley.
Let it be no more fearful to thee!

Unto the most Holy it leads,
The way into the dark valley
The rest of God

Is imperishable, abundant;

The redeemed may trust in him!