and infinity and eternity are spread before him and around him. Yes, my friend, the life thou leadest—the life thou thinkest of is the interpreter of thine inward being. Such as life is to thee, such thou art. If it is low and mean, and base-if it is a mere money-getting or pleasure-seeking or honor-craving life-so art thou. Be thou lofty-minded, pure and holy-and life shall be to thee the beginning of heaven-the threshold of immortality.

DISCOURSE IX.

LIFE'S CONSOLATION IN VIEW OF DEATH.

JOHN XI. 25. JESUS SAID UNto her, I am tHE RESURREC

TION AND THE LIFE.

THESE words, my brethren, so stupendous in their import, so majestic in their tone-when and where were they uttered? They were uttered in a world of the dying; in a world which is the tomb of all past generations; in a world from whose dreary caverns, from whose dark catacombs, and alike from whose proud mansoleums and towering pyramids, no word ever issued that spake of any thing but death. They were uttered in an hour, when bereavement, dimmed with tears and fainting with sorrow, was sighing for help more than human.

It was at Bethany. You remember the affecting story of Mary, and Martha her sister, and of Lazarus their brother. So simply and truly is it told, that it seems as if it were the relation of what had taken place in any village around us. "Now a certain man,

named Lazarus of Bethany, was sick." How does such an event when it becomes sufficiently marked with peril to attract attention, spread anxiety and apprehension through a whole neighborhood. Life pauses, and is suspended on the result. "Lazarus was sick." What fears, watchings, and agonies of solicitude, hover around the sick man's couch, none but the inmates of his dwelling can know. It was in such an emergency that Mary and Martha fearful and troubled, sent a message to their chief comforter and friend, saying, "behold, he whom thou lovest, is sick." Jesus, for reasons perhaps beyond our knowledge, does not immediately answer the call of distress. He remains two days in the same place. Then the dreaded event had taken place; all was over; and he calmly says to his disciples, "our friend, Lazarus sleepeth." So does he contemplate death, not as a dread catastrophe, but as a quiet sleep, a sacred repose, succeeding the weary and troubled day of life. Beautifully says our great dramatist,

"After life's fitful fever, he sleeps well."

But so does it not appear to the bereaved and sorrowing sisters. They are plunged into the deepest distress. It is a time of mourning in that still and desolate house at Bethany. The dead is buried; but grief lives, and the hours pass in silent agony. The sympathizing neighbors from the village are still there, and many friends from Jerusalem are with the afflicted sisters to comfort them concerning their brother.

At length, the Master approaches. Martha, ever

more alert and attentive to what is passing, first hearing of it, goes forth to meet him. Soon however she returns, and says to Mary, her sister, secretly—gives her a private intimation-how much passes in the dumb show, in whispers, where deep grief is !—she says, in a low tone, "the Master is come, and calleth for thee. And as soon as she heard that, she arose quickly and came unto him." The language of both when they meet him is the same-turns upon the same point-" Lord, if thou hadst been here, our brother had not died." What natural and living truth is there, in this simple trait of feeling! How natural is it for the bereaved to think that if this or that had been doneif this or that physician had been called-if some other course had been adopted, or some other plan or clime had favored, the blow might have been averted. The thoughts all shrink from the awful certainty-revert to the possibility of its having been avoided; and catch at all possible suppositions to find relief. But the awful certainty nevertheless overwhelmed the mourning sisters ; "the end had come; their brother was dead-was dead!-no help now-no change to come over that still sleep"-so mourned they; and Jesus beholding their distress, groaned in spirit and was troubled. "Jesus wept." He was not one, who, with cold philosophy or misplaced rapture in his countenance, looked on bereavement and agony-looked on death. He was not one who forbade tears and sorrows. He was not one who approached the grave with an air of triumph, though he had gained a victory over it; but it is written, that "again groaning within himself, he came to the grave." No, humanity shud

ders, and trembles, and groans when it comes there, and may not, by any true religion, be denied these testimonies to its frailty.

But still there were words of soothing and comfort uttered by our Saviour on this occasion; and let us now turn to them and consider their import. "Martha said to Jesus, Lord if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. Bnt I know that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee. Jesus saith unto her, thy brother shall rise again. Martha saith unto him, I know he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day." She had probably heard the doctrine of a future life from himself; but alas! that life seems far off; dim shadows spread themselves over the everlasting fields; they seem unreal to a person of Martha's turn of mind; she wants her brother again as he was but now by her side; she entertains some hope that Jesus will restore him; she says, even now, I know that whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee." Jesus does not reply to this suggestion; he does not tell her whether her brother shall immediately come back to her; but utters himself in a more general and a grander truth. "I am the resurrection and the life; he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live; and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die; believest thou this?" As if he had said, be not too curious nor anxious in your thoughts, but confide, Martha, in me. You believe in a future resurrection, or renewal of life; you hope for the immediate resurrection of your brother; but be satisfied with this,"I am the Resurrection;" all that resurrection, re

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