be an eternsd morning, because derived from Him who is "the bright and the Morning Star."
This thought of eternity, indeed, is as solemn as it is sublime. Ccmsider what we are laboring for! Consider for what it is we are toiling on through temptations, trials, afflictions of body and of mind, sorrows and distresses of many kinds, to which we are subjected in this life:—^to purify and prepare us for that glorious life beyond the grave I Is not the mag^ nificent reward well worth all the pains, though they were multiplied a thousand-fold? And to the thinking man, is not the prospect most ample encouragement to bear up and bear on, steadily and manfully, for the few remaining years, till the purifying furnace is passed quite through, and we emerge at length out of its smoke and flame, into the glorious sunlight of a heavenly paradise? There, the trees wave softly in delicious airs, and the flowers bloom eternal, and prospects and vistas ever new and ever more charming will open on the ddighted sight, and troops of loving and joyous Jfriends will throng about us, all things around breathing perpetual peace, joy, and love; and, from above, the Lord's blessed coimtenance looking down and smiling upon all! It is—^it is a glorious prospect and ample encouragement, and we will strive and struggle on, till the happy time comes.
On the other hand, is not the thought (^ eternal existence a most grave one— ^ most sad one— when we contemplate a man, who is going a downward path, to* wards that gloomy region where are no paradises and no flowers, but a desert sterility; where peace is unknown, but there exist ceaseless rages, revenges, quarrelings, blasphemies;— where are assembled the robbers d by Google
