as I write; and since
its pathetic sadness makes it stand out even from the sorrows of this
sad world, I would take it as a direct illustration of Ecclesiastes's
groan. At Nyack on the Hudson a Christian family retire to rest after
the happy services of last Lord's Day, the 21st of October--an unbroken
circle of seven children, with their parents. Early on the following
morning, before it is light, a fire is raging in the house, and four of
the little children are consumed in the conflagration. The account
concludes: "The funeral took place at eleven o'clock to-day." That is,
in a little more than twelve hours after retiring to sleep, four of the
members of that family circle were in their graves! Here is an "evil
time" that has fallen suddenly indeed; and the sad and awful incident
enables us to realize just what our writer felt as he penned the words.
With one stroke, in one moment, four children, who have had for years
their parents' daily thought and care, meet an awful doom, and all that
those parents themselves have believed receives a blow whose force it
is hard to measure. Now listen, as the heathen cry, "Where is now
their God?" Why was not His shield thrown about them? Had he not the
power to warn the sleeping household of the impending danger? Is He so
bound by some law of His own making as to forbid his interfering with
its working? Worse still, was He indifferent to the awful catastrophe
that was about to crush the joy out of that family circle? If His was
the power, was His love lacking?

Oh, awful questions when no answer can be given to them;--and nature
gives no answer. She is absolutely silent. No human wisdom, even
though it be his who was gifted "with a wise and understanding heart,
so that none was like him before him, neither after him should any
arise like unto him," could give any answer to questions like these.
And think you, my reader, that nature does not cry out for comfort, and
feel about for light at such a time? Nor that the enemy of our souls
is not quick in his malignant activity to suggest all kinds of awful
doubt? Every form of darkness and unbelief is alive to seize such
incidents, and make them the texts on which they may level their
attacks against the Christian's God.

But is there really no eye to pity?--no heart to love?--no arm to save?
Are men really subject to blind law--"time and doom"?

Hark, my reader, and turn once more to that sweetest music that ever
b