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Natural piety would forbid us to sorrow as men without hope for one so early perfected—for one who needed not the discipline of sorrow for her purifying. Rather might we almost joy that she was thought worthy[1] to enter so soon upon her inheritance; that she was taken before the dull vapours of this world had settled on her soul, and the fine gold become dim.[2]
Now she is "in perfect peace:"[3] and in due time shall receive a glorious kingdom, and a beautiful crown from the Lord's hand."[4]
To those of you who are left to walk henceforth amid the shadows of life in some degree alone, let me offer a word of consolation. Though the way seem dark now that the light of your homes is withdrawn, "wait you still upon God," for of Him shall come "salvation" to you even yet. "Unto the righteous ariseth up light in the darkness," and so also shall there to you if you will but look to the Lord, and let your souls wait for Him. That blessing, for the bereavement of which you are now mourning; all our blessings in short are but so many rays from the presence of Him whose love is the life of all things that live. And if you be patient and submissive to His will, He will yet again "lift up the light of His countenance upon you," and your wounded hearts shall be whole. Even now I seem to see that you are not bound in the
