corruptible shall become incorruptible; the dishonoured, glorious; the feeble, powerful; and the natural, spiritual; that death shall be swallowed up in victory. Oh! that we may thankfully acknowledge the inestimable value of that holy volume by which these sublime discoveries are disclosed to us. Let us remember that there was a time when the conscious heart of man vibrated with the palpitations of fearful anticipation and suspense, as he descended "the valley of the shadow of death;" for Revelation was not there to guide and to support his trembling and uncertain steps, and a darkness which might be felt oppressed and overwhelmed the departing spirit:

Ah, not for them had Mercy's tranquil ray
Chas'd the dark horrors of the grave away;

No rude-carv'd record o'er the hillock's breast
Told the bright hope that sooth'd the slumb'rer's

rest;

No spring flowers budding from the fun'ral ground
Whisper'd their still "resurgam " all around;
But one cold shroud of unrelenting gloom,
Curtain'd the silent chambers of the tomb.

WHYTHEAD.-St. John's College.

Blessed be the hand which has dispelled the cloud from the mouth of the grave, and for ever chased the horrors that encompassed it! Blessed, thrice blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, we may now approach that awful hour, assured that he, the friend of sinners, is with us, and through him death is swallowed up in victory. He will ransom us from the grave. Through the gospel, truly styled "good tidings,” life and immortality are brought to light, full, clear, unclouded light. Now all is plain to those who wilfully close not their eyes to the refulgency. The imperishable record is ours, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

In this blessed volume the riches of all spiritual blessings are disclosed. It places them within the reach of every human being, and sweetly, powerfully, impressively instructs us how we may possess them. Shall we not then continually study it as the very transcript of God's will, the gracious message of his transcending love—the great

charter of our privileges, and the bright pledge of our Immortality?

To the affecting purposes of Christian solace and encouragement, how applicable is this grand doctrine of the resurrection! It is through much tribulation that we must enter the kingdom of God. Temptations, sufferings, bereavements, constantly attend us :

"Dark e'en at noon-tide is our mortal sphere ;"

and there are none but must have cause to confess with the afflicted patriarch, “I know that thou wilt bring me to death and to the house appointed for all living." But He who wounds has also conferred blessings for our comfort and peace, even in the midst of desolation, in granting us the prospect of renewed and perpetuated life. This can irradiate with joy even the darkest earthly lot. O Lamb of God, suffering Redeemer! who humblest thyself to earth for us sinners, who died to redeem the lost, infuse thy patient spirit into our hearts; let us have peace in thee, whether in tribulation, sorrow, anguish, or bereavement

here below enable us, O compassionate Saviour, meekly to take up every cross, and hope to the end for the grace which thou hast promised at thy final revelation. Most assuredly it is from the hope of a future reunion that we may draw strong consolation for the present loss of our friends and relations.

Death is one of those tribulations to which we and all who are dear to us must submit. Death will one day divide us: we must be parted from the objects of our tenderest affection. It may, perhaps, be suggested to us, that they who are taken away from us are happy, that they are with the Lord. But we know from experience that love is stronger than death, and resists whatever threatens to extinguish it; we feel the bitterness of this parting, and we who survive lament and

mourn.

Yet if the friend, the parent, the brother, the child, who seems to be snatched away from us for ever, is only gone a little before us; if this death be a short interval, preceding an eternal reunion, if amidst our dejection of mind, faith and reason jointly assure us,

2

"Cease, O bereaved one, to look at outward appearances! He who is now taken away shall one day be restored to thee,"

what comfort

Then, in the

is here for the wounded heart! several relations we have named, it may be said, death hath only divided us for a short time. I will not be sorry like those who have no hope. "Wilt thou not revive us again, O Lord, that thy (children) may rejoice in thee?" Let us then, in all our trials, comfort one another with these words-that we shall be together with the Lord.

"Say, Power Supreme! shall those on earth we love
Nor feel, nor know the intercourse above?
Shall all those hopes that swell the heart the while
Not meet in heaven the transport of a smile?
Shall the dear friends in memory's page that dwell
Not hear we linger'd o'er their narrow cell?
Say, shall no more our scenes of youth be dear-
Lost, the fine link of sweet communion here?
Shall all the buds of op'ning life that blew
In Hope's fair garden, and in Fancy's dew,
No more the smile of fond remembrance claim,
And picture hours of innocence the same?
Shall we not then each well lov'd feature trace,
The smile recal, and share the fond embrace?