urn ourselves to them. We never can be
happy by searching for happiness; but when we give up this search, and
duty becomes the motto of life, we are inevitably happy. God must
satisfy us--his personal love to us, communion with him, the
contemplation of his character, ways, and works; in short, the
consciousness of having him for a personal friend, disclosing all our
thoughts to him, looking to him and waiting for him in all things, and,
as the Bible expresses it, "walking" with him. Then he makes our wants
his care; and while he leads us through strange paths which we should
not have chosen, it is to bring us, at the last, into a condition which
will make us happy chiefly from the reflection that God himself
appointed it. Disappointments, of which we were forewarned, and which we
had every reason to expect, embitter that life whose only sources of
happiness are confined to this world, and do not relate to God. Making
him the supreme source of our happiness, we give up undue sorrow for
departed friends, feeling that they are removed from all need of our
commiseration, and all power to afford us comfort and help, any further
than their example and remembered words instruct us. We shall then be
chiefly concerned to know and to do the will of God, to watch over the
interests of our souls, preparing for life, with its important duties,
and storing up those recollections which are to occupy our thoughts in
the review of life beyond the grave. We shall bear in mind that we, too,
are to have survivors, to whom it will be the greatest favor if we leave
a good assurance, based upon their remembrance of our piety, that we are
happy, thus constraining them to follow us to heaven. We shall do well
if we habitually say, as Elijah said to Elisha, "The Lord hath sent me
to Jordan;" and that we are one day to be taken up and conveyed to that
same heaven whither Elijah went, and from which he came to meet Christ,
and to speak with him of his decease, which he should accomplish at
Jerusalem. What if we knew that some day, not far distant, flaming
chariots and horses, over our dwelling, would wait to bring us home to
God? The ministering spirits are already designated who are to perform
this office for those who are heirs of salvation. What, then, are we
searching for among the dark, gloomy valleys of sorrow, or on the hills
of earthly vision? If our friends are with Christ, we must be prepared
to be with him, or lose their society; and tha