made the breach, and His alone can bind it up. We are powerless-never so seen as in a time like this-physicians of no value, miserable comforters. If we essay or try to comfort, the poor afflicted one says, "The hand of God hath touched me."

But, is His hand shortened that it cannot help, or save, or comfort? and will He not appear now, will He not shew Himself? are His consolations small, or is He now straitened that He cannot bring relief? Oh let us not think so, no, not for an hour, or instant. Let us not question His love, His power, His will. They are all here, and with us. He Himself is with us; God is on our side, doubt it not. The spirit that is fled, the soul He has taken, was His own, precious to Himself, and He has taken it up to be with Himself.

Are we not looking up and expecting to be with Him? Then why mourn, as though the cloud which now has received

him, should not again open and restore him to our view. It is but a "little while." Is it not a little while? Yea, how short we do not realise. It is but a little while and we shall meet, and join the absent and those gone before. Our circle narrows, and our company lessens as we approach the confines. We sorrow not as those without hope, and we live not as those whose homes and whose hearts are here. Let us look upwards, onwards, and in a little while all shall be well. We shall meet together at His coming, and shall be ever with the Lord. His sustaining grace, and His loving arm be underneath and around and with you, loved and bereaved one, and with your sister also.

Yours in the Lord.

-0000-00

4

Hymns suited to Mourners.

"WE would see Jesus"-for the shadows

lengthen

Across the little landscape of our life:

We would see Jesus, our weak faith to strengthen

For the last weariness-the final strife.

"We would see Jesus"-for life's hand hath rested

With its dark touch npon both heart and brow;

And though our souls have many a billow breasted,

Others are rising in the distance now.

"We would see Jesus"-the great rock foundation,

Whereon our feet were set by sovereign

grace;

Not life nor death, with all their agitation,

Can thence remove us, if we see His face.

"We would see Jesus"-other lights are paling,

Which for long years we have rejoiced to

see:

The blessings of our pilgrimage are failing, We would not mourn them, for we go to Thee.

"We would see Jesus"-yet the spirit lingers Round the dear objects it has loved so long, And earth from earth can scarce unclasp its fingers

Our love to thee makes not this love less strong.

"We would see Jesus". -sense is all too blinding,

And heaven appears too dim-too far away;

We would see Thee, to gain a sweet reminding,

That Thou hast promised our great debt

to pay.

"We would see Jesus"-this is all we're needing

Strength, joy, and willingness come with the sight.

"We would see Jesus," dying, risen, pleading,

Then welcome day, and farewell mortal night!

NATURE AND FAITH.

WE wept 'twas Nature wept-but Faith
Can pierce beyond the gloom of death,
And in yon world so fair and bright
Behold thee in refulgent light!

We miss thee here, yet Faith would rather
Know thou art with thy Heavenly Father.
Nature sees the body dead-
Faith beholds the spirit fled.
Nature stops at Jordan's tide-
Faith beholds the other side ;
That but hears farewell and sighs,
This, thy welcome in the skies;
Nature mourns a cruel blow-

Faith assures it is not so;

Nature never sees thee more

Faith but sees thee gone before;