"IF _Thou_ hadst been here!" Can we, _dare_ we doubt it? Is the departure of the immortal soul to the spirit-world so trivial a matter that the life-giving God takes no cognisance of it? No! Mourning one, in the deep night of thy sorrow, thou must rise above "untoward coincidences"--thou must cancel the words "accident" and "fate" from thy vocabulary of trial. God, _thy_ God, was _there_! If there _be_ perplexing accompaniments, be assured they were of _His_ permitting; all was planned--wisely, kindly planned. Question not the unerring rectitude of His dealings. Though _apparently_ absent, He was _really_ present. The apparent veiling of His countenance is only what Cowper calls "the severer aspect of His love." Kiss the rod that smites--adore the hand that lays low. Pillow thy head on that simple, yet grandest source of composure--"_The Lord reigneth!_" It is not for us to venture to dictate what the procedure of infinite love and wisdom should be. To our dim and distorted views of things, it might have been more for the glory of God and the Church's good, if the "beautiful bird of light" had still "sat with its folded wings" ere it sped to nestle in the eaves of Heaven. But if its earthly song has been early hushed; if those full of promise have been allowed rather to fall asleep in Jesus, "Even so, Father; for it seems good in Thy sight!" It was from no want of power or ability on God's part that they were not recalled from the gates of death. "We will be dumb--we will open not our mouths, because _Thou_ didst it." Afflicted one! if the brother or friend whom you now mourn be a brother in glory--if he be now among the white-robed multitude--his last tear wept--for ever beyond reach of a sinning and sorrowing world--can you upbraid your God for his early departure? Would you weep him back if you could from his early crown? Fond nature, as it stands in trembling agony watching the ebbing pulses of life, would willingly arrest the pale messenger--stay the chariot--and have the wilderness relighted with his smile. But when all is over, and you are able to contemplate, with calm emotion, the untold bliss into which the unfettered spirit has entered, do you not feel as if it were cruel selfishness alone that would denude that sainted pilgrim of his glory, and bring him once more back to earth's cares and tribulations? "We sadly watch'd the close of all, Life balanced in a breath; We saw upon his features fall The awful shade of death. All dark and desolate we were; And murmuring nature cried-- 'Oh! surely, Lord! hadst _Thou_ been here Our brother had not died!' "But when its glance the memory cast On all that grace had done; And thought of life's long warfare pass'd, And endless victory won. Then faith prevailing, wiped the tear, And looking upward, cried-- 'O Lord! Thou surely _hast_ been here, Our brother has _not_ died!'"