esolate chambers。 We are stricken and afflicted。 But must this； should this； be always and only so？ Are we not looking merely at the earthly aspect of the event？ Has it not a spiritual phase for us？ Nay； do we not begin to consider how through our temporal affection an eternal good is wrought out for us？ Do we begin to realize that in our souls we have derived profit from it already？ Do we not begin to learn that life is not a holiday or a workday only； but a discipline；that God conducts that discipline in infinite wisdom and benevolence；mingles the draught； and； when he sees fit； infuses bitterness？ Not that constant sweet would not please us better； but that our discipline； which is of more importance than our indulgence； will be more effectual thereby。 This is often talked about； I ask； do not we who are called upon to mourn the loss of children realize it；actually realize that that loss is for our spiritual gain？ If we do not； we are merely looking upon the earthly phase of our loss。 If we do not realize this spiritual good； we may。
Yes； in death the little child has a mission for us。 Through that very departure he accomplishes for us； perhaps； what he could not accomplish by his life。 These affections which he has awakened； we have considered how strong they are。 They are stronger； are they not； than any attachment to mere things of this earth？ But that child has gone from us；gone into the unseen； the spiritual world。 What then？ Do our affections sink back into our hearts；become absorbed and forgotten？ O； no！ They reach out after that little one； they follow him into the unseen and spiritual world；thus is it made a great and vivid reality to us；perhaps for the first time。 We have talked of it； we have believed in it； but now that our dead have gone into it； we have； as it were； entered it ourselves。 Its atmosphere is around us； chords of affection draw us toward it； the faces of our departed ones look out from itand it is a reality。 And is it not worth something to make it such a reality？
We are wedded to this world。 It is beautiful； it is attractive； it is real。 Immortality is a pleasant thought。 The spiritual land is an object of faith。 But the separation between this and that is cold to think of； and hard to bear。 It needs something stronger than this earth to draw us toward that spiritual world； to break some of the thousand tendrils that bind us here。 My friends； though many powerful appeals； many solid arguments； cannot break our affections from this earth； the hand of a departed child can do it。 The voice that calls us to unseen realities； that bids us prepare for the heavenly land； that says from heights of spiritual bliss and purity； 〃Come up hither；〃that voice that we loved so on earth； and gladly can we rise and follow it。
Behold； then； what a little child can perform for us through its death！ It makes real and attractive to us that spiritual world to which it has gone； and calls our affections from earth to that true life which is the great end of our being； which is the object of all our discipline； our mingled joy and suffering； here upon this earth。 That little child； gone from its sufferings of early；gone
〃Gentle and undefiled； with blessings on its head；〃
has it indeed become a very angel of God for us； and is it calling us to a more spiritual life； and does it win us to heaven？ Is its memory around us like a pure presence into which no thought of sin can readily enter？ Or is it with us； even yet； a spiritual companion of our ways？ From being the guarded and the guided； has it risen in infant innocence； yet in the knowledge and majesty of the immortal life； to be the guard and the guide？ Does it； indeed； make our hearts softer and purer； and cause us to think more of duty； and live more holy； thus clothing ourselves to go and dwell with it？ Does it； by its death； accomplish all this？ O！ most important； most glorious mission of all； if we only heed it； if we only accept it。 Then shall we behold already the wisdom and benevolence of our Father breaking through the cloud that overshadows us。 Already shall we see that the tie； which seemed to be dropped and broken； God has taken up to draw us closer to himself； and that it is interwoven with his all…gracious plan for our spiritual profit and perfection。 And we can anticipate how it will all be reconciled； when his own hand shall wipe away our tears； and the bliss of reunion shall extract the last drop of bitterness from 〃the cup that our Father had given us。〃
Our Relations to the Departed
〃She is not dead； but sleepeth。〃 Luke viii。52
A Great peculiarity of the Christian religion is its transforming or transmuting power。 I speak not now of the regeneration which accomplishes in the individual soul； but of the change it works upon things without。 It applies the touchstone to every fact of existence； and exposes its real value。 Looking through the lens of spiritual observation； it throws the realities of life into a reverse perspective from that which is seen by the sensual eye。 Objects which the world calls great it renders insignificant； and makes near and prominent things which the frivolous put off。 Thus the Christian； among other men； often appears anomalous。 Often； amidst the congratulations of the world； he detects reason for mourning； and is penetrated with sorrow。 On the contrary； where others shrink； he walks undaunted； and converts the scene of dread and suffering into an ante…chamber of heaven。 In this light； the Apostle Paul speaks of himself and others； 〃As sorrowful； yet always rejoicing； as poor； yet making many rich； as having nothing； and yet possessing all things。〃 Indeed； all the beatitudes are based upon this peculiarity； for the true blessing； the inward； everlasting riches； are for those who； in the world's eye； are poor； and mourning； and persecuted。 Jesus himself weeps amid triumphant psalms and sounding hosannas； while on the cross he utters the prayer of forgiveness； and the ejaculation of peace。
No wonder； then； that the believer views the ghastliest fact of all in a consoling and even a beautiful aspect； and death itself becomes but sleep。 Well was that trait of our religion which I have now suggested illustrated at the bed…side of Jairus' daughter。 Well did that noisy； lamenting group represent the worldly who read only the material fact； or that flippant skepticism which laughs all supernatural truth to scorn。 And well did Jesus represent the spirit of his doctrine； and its transforming power； when he exclaimed； 〃She is not dead； but sleepeth。〃
Yes！ beautifully has Christianity transformed death。 To the eye of flesh it was the final direction of our fate；the consummate riddle in this mystery of being；the wreck of all our hopes；
〃The simple senses crowned his head； Omega！ thou art Lord； they said； We find no motion in the dead。〃
Ever； though with higher desires and better gleamings； the mind has struggled and sunk before this fact of decay； and this awful silence of nature； while in the waning light of the soul； and among the ashes of the sepulchre； skepticism has built its dreary negation。 And though the mother could lay down her child without taking hints which God gave her from every little flower that sprung on that grassy bed；though the unexhausted intellect has reasoned that we ought to live again； and the affections； more oracular； swelling with the nature of their great source； have prophesied that we shall；never； until the revelation of Christ descended into our souls； and illuminated all our spiritual vision； have we been able to say certainly of death； it is a sleep。 This has made its outward semblance not that of cessation； but of progressionnot an end； but a changeconverting its rocky couch to a birth…chamber； over…casting its shadows with beams of eternal morning； while behind its cold unconsciousness the unseen spirit broods into higher life。 〃He fell asleep；〃 says the sacred chronicler； speaking of bloody Stephen。 〃Our friend Lazarus sleepeth；〃 said Christ to his disciples； and yet again； as here in the text； the beautiful synonyme is repeated； 〃She is not dead； but sleepeth。〃
But I proceed to remark； if the Christian religion thus transforms death； or； in other words； abolishes the idea of its being annihilation； or an end； then it gives us a new view of our relations to the departed。 What are these relations？ The answers to this question will form the burden of the present discourse。
I。 There is the relation of memory。 It is true； we may argue that this relation exists whether the Christian view of death be correct or not；so long have those who are now gone actually lived with us；so vivid are their images among the realities of the soul；though the grave should forever shut them from our communion。 But this relation of memory has peculiar propriety and efficacy when associated with a Christian faith。 If the dead live no more； what would memory be to us but a spectre and a sting？ Should we not then seek to repress those tender recollections；to close our eyes to those pale； sad visions of departed love？ Should we not invoke the glare and tumult of the world to distract or absorb our thoughts？ Would we not say； 〃Let it come； the pleasure； the occupation of the hour； that we may think no more of the dead； plucked from us forever；let us drive thoughtlessly down this swift current of life； since thought only harrows us；let us drive thoughtlessly down； enjoying all we can； until we too lie by the side of those departed ones； like them to moulder in everlasting unconsciousness。〃 I don not say that this would always be the case without religious hope； but it is a very natural condition of the feelings in such circumstances；it is the most humane alternative that would then be left。 At least； no one so well as the Christian can go into the inner chambers of memory； feel the strength of its sad yet blissful associations； and calmly invoke the communion of the dead。
I speak not now of what occurs in those first bitter days of grief； when the heart's wound bleeds afresh at every touch；when we are continually surprised by the bleak fact that the loved one is actually dead。 But I speak of those after seasons； those Indian