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the midst of iniquity, prepares us by his death for our own. What can we desire for ourselves and our friends in this vain and corrupted world? If it be true that faith and love constitute the life of our soul, can we weep because God loves us better than we know how to love ourselves; shall we lament his taking out of temptation and sin, those that are dear to us? Does he hurt us, by contracting the days of misery? Do we desire a continuance of danger, and greater temptations? We would have every thing that flatters self-love, in order to make us forget ourselves in this place of exile. Your son was prosperous in the midst of a corrupted world; it is this afflicts you, in the loss of him. But his success was, perhaps, the cause that the thread of his life was cut short by a design replete with mercy, both for him and his friends. Let us, then, adore God, and be silent. Nothing but prayer can comfort us. As soon as we are with God, by an union of heart in the simple view of faith, we are in prayer. And every occupation, even in the most holy things, that does not place us in this presence, and this society of love, is rather a study than a prayer. At this time

nothing but the society of the true Comforter can comfort us. Let us, then, rest in silence; he will comfort us, and we shall find all in him alone. Blessed are those who desire no other comfort! This is pure and inexhaustible.

THE FUTURE LIFE.

J. G. C. BRAINARD.

THERE is a world of bliss hereafter-else
Why are the bad above, the good beneath
The green grass of the grave? The mower fells
Flowers and briers alike. But man shall breathe
(When he his desolating blade shall sheathe
And rest him from his work) in a pure sky,
Above the smoke of burning worlds; - and
Death

On scorchéd pinions with the dead shall lie, When Time, with all his years and centuries, has passed by.

FOR the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee.

ISAIAH.

TRUST IN THE LORD.

'Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is.'

THOUGH rising griefs distress my soul,
And tears on tears successive roll,
And silent memory weeps alone

O'er hours of peace and gladness flown;
Ah why, by passing clouds opprest,
Should vexing thoughts distract my breast;
Turn, turn to him in every pain,

Whom never suppliant sought in vain
Thy strength in joy's ecstatic day,
Thy hope when joy has passed away.

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THAT the trial of your faith being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise, and honor, and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: whom having not seen, ye love: in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

FIRST EPISTLE OF PETER.

TO A MOTHER ON LOSING AN INFANT

DAUGHTER.

REV. HERMAN HOOKER.

-

That it may

GOD does nothing without a reason. reason may have respect to youhave respect to your child, and not unlikely to both. He sees effects in their causes. Your case may have been this: you may have been in danger of loving the world too much, and he removed the cause in time. Her case may have been this: she may have been in danger from the growth of a corrupt nature, and he took her in the bud of being that she might grow without imperfection, 'for of such is the kingdom of heaven.' Think of your child then not as dead but as living, not as a flower that is withered, but as one that is transplanted, and, touched by a divine hand, is blooming in richer colors and sweeter shades than those of earth, though to your eyes these last may have been beautiful, more beautiful than you will hope to see again.

'With patient mind thy course of duty run,

God nothing does, nor suffers to be done,
But thou wouldst do thyself, if thou couldst see
The end of all he does as well as he.'

CAST THYSELF UPON GOD.

CAST thyself upon God, for his power is equal to his love, and he knows better than thyself, or we can, what is proper and expedient for thee. In due time he will cause thy pains to cease, and will take his thorn from thy flesh. Either he will drive from thee the spirit of infirmity that afflicts thee, or else he will make his strength perfect in thy weakness. He will endue thee with so much patience, arm thee with such constancy, and fill thee with such extraordinary joy and consolation, that every one shall visibly perceive that God himself is thy helper, and that his strength sustains thee. O, how sweet and pleasant is God's assistance to a Christian soul! It brings with it such vast and precious delights; it causeth such undeniable testimonies of our adoption to shine forth; it gives us such a transporting earnest of our celestial inheritance, such a ravishing foretaste of paradise, that St. Paul prefers it not only to all the riches, pleasures, and honors of the world, but also to his being caught up to the third heavens, where he heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.

DRELINCOURT.

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