a grand way. At
last, according to the story of the gospel, the time came when it was
fit that the Father of men should show himself to them in his son, the
one perfect man, who was his very image. So Jesus came to them. But
many would not believe he was the son of God, for they knew God so
little that they did not see how like he was to his Father. Others, who
were more like God themselves, and so knew God better, did think him
the son of God, though they were not pleased that he did not make more
show. His object was, not to rule over them, but to make them know, and
trust, and obey his Father, who was everything to him. Now when anyone
died, his friends were so miserable over him that they hardly thought
about God, and took no comfort from him. They said the dead man would
rise again at the last day, but that was so far off, the dead was gone
to such a distance, that they did not care for that. Jesus wanted to
make them know and feel that the dead were alive all the time, and
could not be far away, seeing they were all with God in whom we live;
that they had not lost them though they could not see them, for they
were quite within his reach--as much so as ever; that they were just as
safe with, and as well looked after by his father and their father, as
they had ever been in all their lives. It was no doubt a
dreadful-looking thing to have them put in a hole, and waste away to
dust, but they were not therefore gone out--they were only gone in! To
teach them all this he did not say much, but just called one or two of
them back for a while. Of course Lazarus was going to die again, but
can you think his two sisters either loved him less, or wept as much
over him the next time he died?"

"No; it would have been foolish."

"Well, if you think about it, you will see that no one who believes
that story, and weeps as they did the first time, can escape reproof.
Where Jesus called Lazarus from, there are his friends, and there are
they waiting for him! Now, I ask you, Davie, was it worth while for
Jesus to do this for us? Is not the great misery of our life, that
those dear to us die? Was it, I say, a thing worth doing, to let us see
that they are alive with God all the time, and can be produced any
moment he pleases?"

"Surely it was, sir! It ought to take away all the misery!"

"Then it was a natural thing to do; and it is a reasonable thing to
think that it was done. It was natural that God should want to let his
chi