WHAT! can this be true in this dark world of ours, where the thickclouds of sorrow, disappointed hopes, and bereavements arecontinually hanging over us, obscuring even the bright star of hope;where upon every passing breeze is borne deep wailings of woe,bitter sighs ascending from bruised and broken hearts mourning overlost hopes, crushed affections, wasted love; struggling vainly forvictory in the fierce battle of life; groping about in darkness tocatch, if possible, one gleam of sunlight from the heavy clouds--butin vain?
"Ashes to ashes, dust to dust." Another shrine robbed of its idol;another hearth left desolate. See, how the black clouds settle downand press more closely around that lonely widowed one. Grim Deathmocks at his grief from the open grave, so soon to receive hisheart's idol. Ay, remove the coffin lid; gaze with all the agonizingbitterness of a last look upon that cold marble face; was aught onearth so lovely? Kiss for the last time the pure forehead. Ah! thosepale white lips give back no answering pressure of love; sealed forever by that last chilling blast from the cold river.
And now the damp earth presses heavily over that cherished form; fardown in the darkness and silence of the grave must the loved oneremain, never more to cheer by her gentle words of love andkindness, the heart of him who so needed her sympathy and love.Gone, gone for ever.
What on earth is now beautiful or bright since the dearest, besttreasure is removed? Oh, no! there can be no bright spot inaffliction like this; there can be no bright ray to gild this nightof sorrow.
Ah! thou erring mortal, repine not. The all-wise Father knew thyfrail heart, saw thy whole life and soul bound up in that onecreature, weak and sinful like thyself; forgetful of the Creator;and wilt thou dare raise thy feeble voice against the Almighty whenHe removed the idol that He alone may reign? Wilt thou not bowmeekly, kiss the rod, and accept the bitter cup of bereavement,offered as it is in mercy?
And is this all? Is there no life beyond the grave? Is the spiritwhich held such communion with thine for ever quenched?
Can the grave contain for ever the immortal part? Look up, oh!mourning one; thy loved one is not there.
Hark! hearest thou not soft, heavenly voices, whispering sweetly ofa life beyond the dark river, where Death can never come; ofglorious mansions where is peace and joy for ever more, and ofanother freed spirit welcomed to the blissful home? Dost thou notfeel upon thy tear-moistened cheek, gentle wavings of angel wingsperfumed with the breath of heavenly flowers?
Even now, may the happy glorified spirit of thy loved one behovering around; think you it would return again to that perishingbody of clay?
The sweet star of faith is already rising over thy grief; theclouds, all bright and shining with hues caught from heavenly skies,are no longer dark and rayless; and now, even with thy lonelybleeding heart, canst thou humbly receive the chastisement from Himwho doeth all things well.
Henceforth will earth seem less dear, heaven nearer, and more to bedesired; thy own cherished companion is there, and who can know butthat her pure spirit may sometimes look down upon thee, still toencourage thy endeavours to battle manfully with life and itstrials, still to cheer and console in thy hours of distress; butnow, with heart and affections all purified from the dross of earth,will not the influence be more blessed than when she walked withbodily presence at thy side?
Yes, thanks to our merciful Father, every cloud has a silverlining, however dark the side presented to our view, ladened heavythough it be with sorrows and woes, which almost crush the life fromour hearts as it presses upon us; yet there away, hidden from ourshort mortal vision, gleams the soft silvery lining, ever gentlyshining, perhaps never to be revealed in this world, reserved for usto discover after we too have been called from this to our heavenlyhome, and look back upon our earthly pilgrimage with rejoicings thatwe have been so safely borne through every trial and temptation.
Ah! then will our sky be without a cloud. All joyous and happy willwe tune our harps anew to the praise of Him who loved us and hathgiven us the victory!
THE END.
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