awake, while Satan is wide awake, while hell is filling, while eternity is fast approaching, while God is calling to us, and the Scripture admonishes us? Slumber! What! when Jesus is coming, when preparation for the judgment is making, when laurels way be won, when the plaudit of the Master may be gained? when, if we do, we shall soon, from our dying pillow, look back with regret and bitter sorrow on our present folly, and in tones of sadness condemn our sinful sleep? If there be mercy for men, if there be love for Jesus, if there be zeal for God, if there be hatred to sin, if there be opposition to Satan in our bosoms, let us wake up, thoroughly wake up, and keep one another awake, too!

Jesus, the word of mercy give,
And let it swiftly run,

And let the priests themselves believe,
And put salvation on:

Cloth'd with the grace of holiness

May all thy people prove

The plenitude of gospel-grace,

The joy of sacred love.

TO THE BEREAVED.

"THE Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord." So spake the patriach Job, when stripped of his property and bereaved of his children in one day. Reduced at once from affluence to poverty, from the highest elevation to the lowest point of human suffering, he exclaimed, "Blessed be the name of the Lord." Such language becomes us; for all we have is from the goodness of God; it is frome favour, not because we have a right to it: all claim upon God was forfeited by sin, therefore all we receive is a proof of his kindness. All we have, he gave, or rather lent us; and whatever he has lent us he may recall-may recall at any time, and in any way, he pleases. There is nothing upon which we can lay our hand and say, This is absolutely mine. All is lent us by a gracious God-lent us to enjoy, improve, and return to its proper owner. And

305

shall we complain? shall we repine? shall we murmur if God take from us any one thing which he has lent us, especially when he leaves us so much?

The Lord has just bereaved you. He has taken away your beloved relative. The stroke is painful, very painful. You feel it deeply. Your hopes are, perhaps, blighted. Your prospects are now be clouded. The trial is severe. You are

touched in a very tender part. You can not but weep; perhaps you refuse to be comforted. You dwell upon the excellencies of the departed, upon the plans you had formed, the hopes which were excited in your bosom, the pleasure you anticipated from that beloved one; but death appeared, you trembled, you used all proper means to ward off the blow, but he has taken away the desire of your eyes with a stroke." Your heart feels de solate, the world has lost one of its principal charms, you sit alone and weep; but beware lest, while you mourn over your loss, your heart should rise in rebellion against God. You need consolation, you require sympathy, you want solace for your wounded heart, and the object of these pages is to endeavour to impart it.

The author of this bereavement is THE LORD. This should silence your objections. It silenced the Psalmist's complaining mind. He says, "I was dumb, I opened not my mouth; because THOU DIDST IT." Ps. xxxix. 9. Had a creature done it, he might have acted unwisely, or unkindly, or both; but the Lord did

it.

Whatever was the means, His hand guided and directed the stroke. It was not by chance, but by Divine direction. "Is there not an appointed time to man upon earth? are not his days also like the days of an hireling ?" Job vii. 1. "There is a time to die." Eccles. iii. 2. This time is arranged by infinite wisdom. Beware how you cast suspicion upon that wisdom. The Lord did it, and "the Lord is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works." Ps. cxlv. 17. He has made no mistake. He has inflicted no injury. He has not. infringed upon any one's right. You may not, at present, see why he has done it, because "clouds and darkness are round about him;" but you are sure that his hand has done it, and he says to you, "Be still, and know that I am God." Ps. xlvi. 10. This painful visitation may be among his choicest mercies; it may be

intended to prevent many evils, or to be a source of the greatest good to your soul, or to your family. There is a cause. The Lord has acted worthy of himself; and if you could only see the whole, instead of having your mind fixed upon a part of his plan, you would adore the wisdom, admire the purpose, and bow, in deep submission, before the throne of the God who is chastening you.

It will be a great relief to you, if, at this time, you fix your mind upon God's character, as it is revealed in his word. There he reveals himself, not only as just, but gracions; not only as holy, but merciful; not only as angry with sinners, but as pardoning iniquity, transgression, and sin. Jehovah has revealed himself to us in Jesus. "The only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he bath declared him.". John i. 18. If you would understand the character of God, if you would know him correctly,-know him so as to love him, so as to trust in him, so as to be satisfied with all he does,-then study the character, works, preaching, sufferings, and death of Christ. There, as in a mirror, God is seen. When, therefore, "Philip said unto him, Lord show