"Precious (says David) in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints." (Psalm cxvi. 15.) Surely what is precious in the sight of God, ought to give comfort and real joy to man. Scripture teaches that those are indeed blessed who die in the Lord; and as God is Life itself, so to die in Him denotes an extinction in the saint of the love of all that is iniquitous and false. The death of such evil love is precious, because it is the threshold that leads to conjunction with Him who is the Resurrection and the Life. Weeping friends may assemble round the death-bed of the Christian, loth to part with one that has been dear to them; but they weep not for him, but for themselves. While in humble resignation on account of their loss, they bow to the Divine Will, they secretly rejoice at his gain. What is the death-chamber of the Christian but the gate of life—the very vestibule of heaven! while here he lingers, he is quietly putting off the grave-clothes of the body—undressing for a brighter world, to put on the beautiful garments of immortality—that bright robe, or spiritual body, suited to his new existence! Often, while his friends are weeping around, does he hear the soft whisperings of angels—"Kindred spirit! come away!—we will conduct thee to the mansions of the blessed!" Yes, it is a truth that at bodily death man finds himself in another life, and lives an immortal spirit among his spiritual kindred, appearing to himseif and to all others in that life, altogether as a man endowed with every sense and faculty that can render his future life an eternal charm! Here he will flourish for ever, increasing in love and wisdom, pressing onward to eternal youth and beauty.
Paul, in his second epistle to Timothy, says, "God
