"Wherefore, O judges, be of good cheer about death, and know of a certainty that no evil can happen to a good man, either in life or after death. He and his are not neglected by the gods; nor has my own approaching end happened by mere chance. But I see clearly that to die and be released was better for me; and therefore the oracle gave no sign. For which reason, also, I am not angry with my condemners, or with my accusers; they have done me no harm, although they did not mean to do me any good; and for this I may gently blame them. The hour of departure has arrived, and we go our ways--I to die and you to live. Which is better God only knows." In the _Wisdom of Solomon_ we are promised that-- "The souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, and there shall no torment touch them. "In the sight of the unwise they seemed to die; and their departure is taken for misery. "And their going from us to be utter destruction; but they are in peace. "For though they be punished in the sight of men, yet is their hope full of immortality. "And having been a little chastised, they shall be greatly rewarded: for God proved them, and found them worthy for himself." And assuredly, if in the hour of death the conscience is at peace, the mind need not be troubled. The future is full of doubt, indeed, but fuller still of hope. If we are entering upon a rest after the struggles of life, "Where the wicked cease from troubling, And the weary are at rest," that to many a weary soul will be a welcome bourne, and even then we may say, "O Death! where is thy sting? O Grave! where is thy victory?" On the other hand, if we are entering on a new sphere of existence, where we may look forward to meet not only those of whom we have heard so often, those whose works we have read and admired, and to whom we owe so much, but those also whom we have loved and lost; when we shall leave behind us the bonds of the flesh and the limitations of our earthly existence; when we shall join the Angels, and Archangels, and all the company of Heaven,--then, indeed, we may cherish a sure and certain hope that the interests and pleasures of this world are as nothing compared to those of the life that awaits us in our Eternal Home. [1] Montgomery. [2] Emerson. [3] Seneca. [4] Milton. [5] Cicero. [6] Shakespeare. [7] Longfellow. [8] Waller. [9] Trench. [10] Trench.