and as an evidence of it, produce in our minds its suitable effects. Death is at all times solemn and affecting in the world, in the neighbourhood, and amongst our acquaintance; but when sent more immediately into our families, to bereave us of those who are very dear to our hearts, we are the more sensibly touched with the stroke, when the Lord says to us, as he did to the prophet Ezekiel, "Son of man, behold I take away from thee the desire of thine eyes with a stroke; and at even my wife died." {4} Such painful dispensations are most keenly felt; and while we deplore the ravages of death, we cannot help reverting to its instrumental cause--"Sin, which brought death into the world, and all our woe:" to this king of terrors, and often a terror to kings, all _have_ submitted but two, Enoch and Elijah; and all _must_ submit, except those of the people of God, who will be found alive at the second coming of our Lord; these will probably experience a momentary change, equivalent to the stroke of death, and be changed body and soul, in the twinkling of an eye. This great mystery was revealed to the apostle Paul; perhaps, the first that was ever led to know it. All beside, the Lord's people as well as the world at large, must pass through the gloomy territories of this king: but, the dear Saviour has engaged to go with all his people, and conduct them safely through; and though all do not go through with the same joy, yet all are led on safely. Their enemies keep still as a stone, while the purchased people passed over. Nothing, in heaven above or the earth beneath, can possibly prevent the execution of the decreed sentence, "Dust thou art and unto dust shalt thou return." It is the pulling down of the house,--it must come down--the leprosy is in it,--sin has entered every room in the house; and in consequence of bad tenants, which occupy it, the Almighty Landlord has ordered us to quit it; we have received, with many a pain, a writ of ejectment; but we feel reluctant to leave this house of clay, though in such a damaged state; the indescribable unity which subsists between the soul and the body, like mutual friends, renders parting painful here, although they have often been clogs to each other; but they will meet again under the most glorious and happy circumstances in the resurrection morning. And what soul can conceive the joyful meeting of the glorified spirit, and the newly-raised, beautiful, immortalized body? Each will know its own again. --"Nor shall the conscious soul Mistake its partner, but amidst the crowd, Singling its other half, into its arms Shall rush, with all the impatience of a man That's new come home; and having long been absent, With haste runs over different rooms, In pain to see the whole. Thrice happy meeting! Nor time nor death shall ever part them more."