kindred, because he has learned to love Christ. The love of Christ destroys no affection between friend and friend, but elevates and purifies it- makes it stronger, more abiding, and holier. Why will it not be thus in heaven? Rather will not the ties of kindred there be more complete because of the augmented love of Christ? The Scriptures declare "that we love the children of God, when we love God," and command that he who loveth God, love his brother also.” Hence, the great love of Christ, that will fill the hearts of the glorified above, becomes an additional reason for believing, that the social ties of sanctifed humanity will exist there. We have now prested some of the reasons for believing that Christian friends will recognize each other in the " many mansions." There are many natural and moral truths which men receive upon far less evidence than that which supports the doctrine under consideration. We have seen that the doctrine is sustained by the universal desire and belief of mankind, by the existence of the remembering faculty, by the increasing knowledge of the mind, by the principle of sociality implanted in the human heart, and by the unerring Word of God. Upon this we are willing to rest our belief in the doctrine, and fondly cherish the hopes and desires which it awakens. We hail it as a real God-send in this world of broken ties, worthy of a place in the formulary of the Christian faith, and glorifying to its Divine Author. Here, then, we base our plea for The Whole Family in Heaven. It surrounds the heavenly abode of the saints with sweeter attractions, to feel that in addition to the joy of be holding Christ, we may also meet father and mother, husband and wife, son and daughter, brother and sister, never to be parted more. "Oh happy world! Oh glorious place! Where all who are forgiven, Shall find their loved and lost below, And hearts like meeting streams, shall flow Eternal home of the Christian family! How beautiful is our holy religion, when it hallows the various relations of the household, and finally brings its members from the divergent paths of life to their " Father's house," a joyous, unbroken band! 'There," as another has said, "the mother again clasps her beautiful babes to her bosom, all resplendent in the glory of that Saviour who carried them in His arms thither. There, she who was the solitary widow, and who for long had to tread the melancholy path of immaculate sorrow for the husband of her heart, and who, perhaps, had to accept of life's coldest conditions to secure for herself and orphans a piece of bread-there, she finds the desire of her eyes; and, in garments of white, they together walk the streets of the heavenly city. There the orphan, the poor, shivering, timid orphan, who stood over a father's and a mother's grave, ere he knew or could appreciate such a loss, and who struggled on unbefriended through the battles and breezes of this selfish world, at length beholds and luxuriates in parental love. There the kind friends, the choice benefactors, to whom we have been indebted during our pilgrim passage for many comforts and precious aids, and whose departure from us to the world of spirits has made earth more gloomy, and life less joyous, shall again be met and again enjoyed. In a word, all the blessed dead who have died in the Lord there meet again, and meet to part no more. What consolation is here for the bereaved! The separation, which death has caused between Christian friends is only for a transient season. The translation of every saint * McFarlane. ed one to Canaan's shore becomes a cause for thanksgiving; for they are safe; safe from the power of sin, safe from the wiles of the arch-apostate, safe from the snares and temptations of the world. A few more years will pass away swiftly as flies the weaver's shuttle, a few more moons will light the path of night, a few more suns will rise and set, when the "loved and parted" will meet again in that temple whose builder and maker is God. Viewed thus, there is no death to the pure in heart. So-called death is only a transition state a passage from a shadowy to a resplendent world—a putting off the soiled garments of mortality, for the unsullied robes of immortality. Death is gain, such as figures cannot compute an exchange of life mortal for life immortal. Such a view of the death of Christian friends has poured the oil of joy into many wounded hearts. It has dried up many tears, and mitigated many of the ills and sorrows of life. It has shed a softening and elevating influence over many bereaved circles, by bringing them into a more familiar relation to the world of light. Heaven is no longer a distant and indefinite state or condition; it is the alluring abode of their sainted friends. Their thoughts are often there. Their afflictions are lightened. They wait with patience for the day of final reunion. Here, too, is found a powerful motive to piety! An eternal separation will sever the impenitent from their sainted friends. Sin cannot enter "those holy gates." There is no communion in all those glorious mansions for holy and unholy hearts. It is a thought which ought to deeply impress the unbelieving members of families. Are they ready to meet the dreadful alternative ? Can they endure the thought of receiving no welcome to the abode where their ransomed kindred are? Say, thou unbelieving parent, if the love of Christ cannot constrain you, will you not serve God for the sake of meeting your redeemed child? And ye Godless children, ye scoffing partners, ye thoughtless brothers and sisters, what more can be offered to persuade you to seek Christ, than this meeting of kindred to part no more ? Thou unconverted mother, weeping your very heart away over the dust of your beautiful babe, and yet not prepare to meet it in the skies! The little creature has joined the heavenly choir, and is now a harper! Carest thou for this enough to strive to enter into the "strait gate ? " Thou wast proud of its beauty on earth; it is more beautious in heaven! Thou delighted to hear its voice below, it was music to your ears; it is sweeter above than the richest tones of earthly minstrelsy! Hadst thou such a child in a distant land, thou wouldst talk about it by day, and dream about it by night! Thou wouldst gather up thy treasures, and prepare to visit the far-off clime, though it periled life on stormy seas and pestilential shores! How much more inspiring to hope and love when that land is heaven, and the child an heir of glory! Reader, I have done. I have penned some hints concerning the family relation which may be of service in your efforts to form a model family on earth as the germ and promise of an unbroken family in heaven. They are both embraced in God's plan of human happiness and salvation. They are the two parts of a beautiful and infinite whole. May you be enamored with the peace and symmetry of one, and aspire after the joy and glory of the other. May you be allured to a brighter world by the communion that obtains between sainted friends above. May your faith fasten upon the "many mansions," fitted up for the abode of friends and kindred, and your heart be waxing meet to fellowship with the redeemed ones in "celestial pastimes." May heaven kindle before your imagination with new attractions, as you reflect upon the "Father's house, and incite you to toil and pray, that no loved one may be missed from the heavenly circle. May you be true and faithful in the family on earth, that you may at length enjoy that blessing, which beggars language to describe the whole family in heaven. "When shall we meet again? Meet ne'er to sever? When will peace wreathe her chain Round us forever? Our hearts will ne'er repose Safe from each blast that blows In this dark vale of woes Neverno, never! "When shall love freely flow, Pure as Life's river? Where joys celestial thrill, Where bliss each heart shall fill, Never-no, never! "Up to that world of light, Take us, dear Saviour; May we all theie unite, Where kindred spirits dwell, There may our music swell, And time our joys dispel - Never |