for all these ills culminating in death was the tree of
life. When man sinned against his God he was put away from the tree of
life. If he had remained with it he would have been beyond the reach of
the motive of life, and beyond the restraining power of the fear of
death. He would have lived forever, subject, like fallen angels, to
mental suffering during the ages to come. But being placed beyond the
reach of the tree of life he may be redeemed by the love of life to a
higher state. When the rebellious see and realize this great truth,
being exercised by the chastening hand of God, they are often subdued to
submission, to peace, and under the heaviest calamities they often look
upward and say, "It is the Lord, let his will be done." And this, of
itself, is a source of unbounded bliss.

We often submit to present pain when counseled to do so by those in
whose wisdom and goodness we trust. As Christians we extend this
principle to all the sufferings of this life. Doing so, we have that
feeling of quiet submission growing out of permanent confidence in God
which supports us under all the trials to which we have been subjected
by an all-wise Father. This principle is wonderfully fruitful in
consolations to the bereaved and mourning--it is the joy of all
Christian hearts. "The Lord reigneth, let the earth rejoice." What shall
we say of the hopes and prospects of bereaved souls? Is it blind
conjecture that there is an existence beyond the shadows? Is there no
life to come? No great resurrection? No comforter to arrest the current
of mourning and lamentation?

How natural it is, when reminded of our loss, to exclaim, Shall we not
meet them again? Is this parting to last forever? Is there a God? Has he
not answered this agonizing inquiry? When we sit down upon the brink of
those waters which have swallowed up our living treasures and weep and
call upon the waves of eternity to give back our dear ones, when, from
the shores of time, we look and gaze and listen, does no voice reach us?
_Yes!_ To the ear of faith there is a voice. It is the voice of our God.
We listen. The words come ringing in our hearts, "For if we believe that
Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will
God bring with him." _Our grief is allayed._ We believe and are
comforted. We look forward to a happy meeting. A reunion for eternity
hovers before us like a bright star, lights up our pathway, and leads us
forward in a living hope.