arms.
Now what bids my heart rejoice,
Clasped in arms I cannot see?
Hark, I hear a soothing voice
Sweetly whispering, Come to me.
ANGEL. Yes, it calls thee from on high;
Come to God's most holy mountain;
Thou hast drunk the stream of life;--
I will lead thee to the fountain."

Some dread the thought of being out of the body and finding themselves
spirits. This is wholly without reason. The soul will not suffer from
losing this body of sin and death; it will have as perfect a
consciousness, it will know where it is, and what is passing before it,
as seems to be the case in a vivid dream when the bodily senses are
locked in slumber.

As to the natural repugnance which we have to the thoughts of burial and
the grave, it is probable that the soul of a redeemed spirit thinks and
cares as little concerning these things, so far as painful sensations
are concerned, as we do about our garments when we are falling asleep.
The vesture which we formerly wore gives us no solicitude. It is
wonderful to hear the sick, long before they die, give directions, or
express desires, respecting their burial. So far from thinking of the
grave as a melancholy place, no doubt the departed spirit will often
think of it in the separate state with pleasure, as the place where it
is hereafter to receive a form like Christ's; and the thought of
resurrection adds greatly to the joys of heaven.

* * * * *

There is something still which affects the minds of many Christians with
fear as they think of dying; and that is, their appearing before God.
They cannot imagine the possibility of seeing him without distraction;
his infinite majesty, and their own sense of unworthiness, make them
afraid.

But who is God? Is he the Christian's enemy? Will he sit like a king on
his throne, and see his subject come trembling into his presence? Is
this the God who loved him? Is this the Saviour that died for him? Is
this the Holy Spirit who awakened, converted, sanctified, comforted him,
and promised to present him faultless before the presence of his glory
with exceeding joy? God will not have done so much to bring him to
heaven, and, when he comes there, make his appearance before his throne
a matter of fear and uncertainty. He who fell on the neck of the
returning prodigal and kissed him, will not keep him at a distance when,
with the best robe,