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they have thought of this life beyond life! Then it is, when the powers of heart and brain are failing, that the prayers of the sufferer and those who love him are most earnest and impetuous, as if they would take heaven by storm. At the time when, according to the materialist, the soul is about to perish with the human organisation, it often, even when stolid before, most earnestly asserts its vitality and absolute conviction of futurity. What words, even as we have seen, of calmest wisdom, and ripest experience, and unconquerable faith, and truest consolation, have flowed from lips that ere a little while will be altogether dumb! How thickly in the dying moments come the dying comforts! It would almost seem that, for the departing saint, the veil is withdrawn, or well-nigh becomes translucent, which separates eternal things from human vision. When the eyes of all around are dim, his eye is bright and courageous, and may be vouchsafed to witness the gathering together on the threshold of the ministering angels, who shall convey the redeemed soul to the Paradise of God.

We know not how these things may be. We may not know, either, how to yield a clear assent to the abstract reasoning in favour of the theory of a future life. But we are not left to "the sepulchral gloom and pale moonlight, like that which shines upon the solitary churchyard." When we are lost in speculation, bewildered in difficulties, or, likelier still, over

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whelmed by grief, we have the testimony of Jesus, which throws a broad, clear illumination over the wide empire of the unseen world. He who died for sin of ours, and again is alive for evermore, draws near to us, even as to those at Bethany, and, in tones of majesty and compassion, saith unto us as unto them : "I am the Resurrection and the Life. He that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live; and whoso liveth and believeth in Me shall never die." Oh, what most blessed words are these! That most true and loving Saviour, than whom truth is not so true, the Angel of the Covenant, who has led His pilgrims to the very gate of heaven,-assures them of abundant entrance there, and again and again and again reiterates His promise: "I will raise him up at the last day." Here, then, I take my stand. On this hope, full of immortality, as upon a rock, do I repose. All men may be liars, yet Thou art true. All words of human wisdom may fail, but Thy worl abideth evermore. O Saviour, tender and true, so far and yet so near, so little loved and obeyed, and so loving, and who wilt not deny Thy own name of Love, teach Thy pilgrims with unfaltering courage to descend that chamber of the grave which, no less than the marriage-feast, Thou hast adorned and made beautiful by Thy presence. For us unworthy, in the infinite goodness of God, are the words true as of the Redeemer and Elder Brother of Saints: "I have set the Lord always before me; because He is at my

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right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope. For Thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt Thou suffer Thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou wilt show me the path of life: in Thy presence is fulness of joy; at Thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore."