Now, there is something inexpressibly solemn in such a thought to the unconverted and unprepared; for the night, in such a case, is the deep, dark, cheerless night, that settles down on the wicked; a night of black darkness, and without one ray of light or hope; a night in which there is not even one star visible, nor the least encouragement from the most distant hope of morning. “To what end,” saith the Prophet, “is the day of the Lord to you? The day of the Lord is darkness and not light.” Oh! that every unconverted man would consider well what is his own prospect when his sun sets, and would make haste in seeking that blessed Lord who can turn darkness into light, and death into immortality and life! But how different is the night to the believer,—to such an one as we are now called to mourn! When the evening was closing in, and the sun just setting, she was not aware of her great danger, and still thought she had strength to recover; but when a dear friend thought it her duty to inform her that the time of separation was very nearly come, her reply was that of calm faith and full submission,—“Let us then obediently receive it.” The truth was realized, and accepted at the hand of God. There is no real night in such a case; or, if there be, it is like the night in the Arctic summer, in which the sun is always visible; for such are never separate from Him who is both light and life. “Sun of my soul, thou Saviour dear, It is not night if thou art near.” Or it is like the night in the height of summer, when the twilight of evening waits to welcome the dawn of morning, and it is almost difficult to discover whether it is the past sunset or the coming sunrise that sheds a soft brightness over the heavens. So, throughout the believer’s night-time, there is continuous light till the morning dawns. And then what a morning will it be! The morning of resurrection, the morning of righteousness, the morning of joy, the morning of the Redeemer’s triumph! “Sorrow may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” Every tear will then be dry; every anxious soul will then be satisfied; every aching heart will then be healed, and every care forgotten in the sweet peace of uninterrupted union with Christ.