l!" and instead of
exciting fear, leading us almost to hasten the hand which is removing
the veil. Some well-known voice, so long silent, may be the first to
utter our name; we are recognized, we are safe. A face, a dear, dear
face, breaks forth amidst the crayoned lines of the dissolving night;
a form--an embrace--assures us that faith has not deceived us, but
has delivered us up to the objects hoped for, the things not seen.
O beatific moment! awaiting every follower of them who, by faith and
patience, inherit the promises--dwellers there "whither the Forerunner
is for us entered."

* * * * *

As we are soon to be utterly silent towards surviving friends, and the
world in which we now live, we should use our speech as we shall wish we
had done when we are silent in death. Any counsels, instructions,
records, explanations, communications of any kind, which we would make,
we should be diligent to perform. All the loving words, and tokens of
affection, which we may suppose we shall hereafter desire to
communicate, we shall do well habitually to bear in mind, and let them
influence our feelings and conduct, day by day. In times of sickness, of
separation, of absence, at happy returns, our feelings towards familiar
friends and members of the family are such as might well be the
standard, and pattern, of our general intercourse, especially when we
think that the days will come when we shall highly prize and long for
that intercourse, which now we have such opportunity to enrich with
sweet and fragrant recollections, occasioning no pang of regret, nor
sting. It is well to remember that, one day, we must part, and to let
that anticipation intensify our love, and add charms to this daily
companionship, which may soon appear to be a privilege which we did not
sufficiently prize.

The time will come, when, to many a beloved survivor, a word or sign,
breaking the silence of the departed spirit, and giving some assurance
that it is happy, would, perhaps, be the means of dispelling a life-long
sorrow--would lift a crushing burden from the heart. The time to prepare
that assurance, so that it shall come with most effectual power, is now,
in days of health, when the evidences of our piety shall not be
attainted by a suspicion of constraint and insincerity, arising from
late repentance and an apparently forced submission to God. Our
recollections of a departed Christian friend, of whose salvation his