Now let us none suppose that real, true, heartfelt, and sympathizing sorrow is inconsistent with the christian character, for if such a thought could be for a moment entertained, it would be removed at once by the one simple statement, “Jesus wept.” The tears of true sorrow, therefore, are in perfect harmony with the character of Christ. Sorrow is not eradicated by the Gospel, but has its character changed by it. The Holy Spirit does not harden the heart against grief, but comforts the mourner in the midst of it. The deep waters are not frozen, so that the child of God can coldly walk across dry footed; but they retain their character, and are deep waters still; and the believer is held up in passing through them, so that, though deep, they cannot overflow him. The effect is much the same as that of the coloured glass upon the light; the light shines still, but a new hue is given to it. Just so is it with sorrow. Like the light it remains within the soul, and is not extinguished by the power of grace; but like the light passing through the coloured glass, it acquires a new colouring, and is beautifully softened by the sacred hope presented to us in Christ Jesus. Thus the passage does not simply say “that ye sorrow not,” for if it did, it would imply that grief was sinful, but it says “that ye sorrow not even as others that have no hope,” so teaching us that through still felt, sorrow may be softened within the heart. The passage also teaches what is the principle by which this change is to be effected, viz: hope; for when there is no hope, there is nothing left but the sorrow of the world. I feel therefore that I cannot select a safer subject for our careful study on this solemn day. The Spirit indeed appears especially to have stamped it with his own authority as peculiarly suitable for such a season, for He has said in v. 18, “Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” May He grant then his own blessing on the words which shall be now spoken! May He raise our thoughts to things above! May he teach us to realize the blessed hope! And may He so make use of the present sorrow as to prepare our souls for a tearless re-union before the throne of Jesus! I. The first thing to be noticed in the passage, is the light which it incidentally throws on the _present state of departed believers_. The prominent point of hope presented to our view is very clearly the glorious coming of our blessed Lord, with the accompanying resurrection and reunion of his saints. But the present position of the soul is three times incidentally mentioned, and each of these times is described under the beautiful figure of sleep. Twice are our dear brethren described as those “which are asleep,” and once as those “which sleep in Jesus.”