ith. Man
must examine and reason, contend with doubt, and wander through mystery.
But I would have him cherish the feeling that he too is a child, the
denizen of a Father's house, and have sufficient confidence in that
Father to trust his goodness; and to remember, if things look perplexed
and discordant to him, that his vision is but a child's vision-he cannot
see all. Indeed, there is a beautiful analogy between a child in its
father's house and man in the universe, and much there is in the filial
sentiment that belongs to both conditions. Beautifully has it been shown
by a recent writer how the natural operation of this sentiment in the
child's heart, and in the sphere of home, stands somewhat in the place
of that religion which man needs in his maturer conditions. "God
has given it, in its very lot," says he, "a religion of its own, the
sufficiency of which it were impiety to doubt. The child's veneration
can scarcely climb to any loftier height than the soul of a wise and
good parent...How can there be for him diviner truth than his father's
knowledge, a more wonderous world than his father's experience, a better
providence than his mother's vigilance, a securer fidelity than in their
united promise? Encompassed round by these, he rests as in the embrace
of the only omniscience he can comprehend." (Martineau)

But O! my friends, when our childhood has passed by, and we go out to
drink the mingled cup of life, and cares come crowding upon us, and
hopes are crushed, and doubts wrestle with us, and sorrow burdens our
spirits, then we need a deeper faith, and look up for a stronger Father.
A kind word will not stifle our grief then. We cannot go to sleep upon
our mother's arms, and forget it all. There is no charm to hold our
spirits within the walls of this home, the earth. Our thoughts crave
more than this. Our souls reach out over the grave, and cry for
something after! No bauble will assuage this bitterness. It is spiritual
and stern, and we must have a word from heaven-a promise from one who is
able to fulfill. We look around us, and find that Father, and his
vary nature contains the promise that we need. And as the child in his
ignorance has faith, not because he can demonstrate, but because it
is his father, so let us, in our ignorance, feel that in this great
universe of many mansions, of solemn mysteries, of homes beyond the
earth, of relationships that reach through eternity, of plans only a
portion of which