The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1845-07-14
Moral and Religious,
THE FAMILY CIRCLE IN HEAVEN.
els not the Pilgrims toll DER paid


And see ye not up earth's dark glade
The gate of Heaven Enclosed ~
"Saith the Psamist, =" "God setteth the solitary in
families" and truly is Of the most beautiful Of
Gods dealings with the children Of men Binding
them by this holy tic, he forms link, over which
death has virtually no power. Though the severlng
angel seems a. times, to have broken tho rare chan
in truth, the loved still dwell among us. Too much
do we count them lost who but gone before, too
much does sadness gather the musng heart be-
the visible lneaments of parent, child, brcther
sister, no longer greet the eye, nor their warm hand
ours Too much wo think Of the distant hour OF re-
union. Those precious beings are still in our midst
rejoicing in our Joy consoug in sorrow strength
snng in our trial To my own heart is anything but
fancy, visionary, mere opinion, that the angels
ate lowering round my pathway Iknop IL. feel
the light touch Of their wings in hours when the
world is naught, and mine own lonely, spiritual ex-
istence everything. feel their promptings apart
fror those of God and my own conscience ! need
no revelations from heaven TO assure me that
the Word true. "They are all mnisoTng spirits!'
If God hath made the earthly family circle with all
its mingling harmony and discord smiles and tears,
SO dear beautiful how perfect in beauty must be
that home above which lie presidss. who is IN
iinitely wise, and eternally unchangeable How de-
ghlfu TO know, amid all the phases Of feeling, and
action in moral dongs around US, that seen to
be only under His influence, "wth whom there is
no verableness, neither shadow ofturning - What
Joy to dwell in that family where speaks in
other than tone Of gentleness. where no altered
looks meet the returned messenger, no hidden guest
receives a cold welcome, peculiar emphasis sud-
denly chills the feelings Of the heart, making
them retreat inner caves, and often times booming
ihem TO early death What joy to walk in the
steady, unvarying light Of the bright and morn
ing Star, where the glad child OF recognition may
be dimmed by any nstiof prejudice o, twice-told
tale We thank thee, Lord, that, thou hast made
so fair home for thy unworthy children, and pray
thine aid that, at the last may not fail to enter
into the glorious rest
love 70 think Of those who will be my dear
panions there; il makes, olentimes my pleasantest
rnusing in solitary hours.-The good, what by care
full improvement Of natural talents, make to them
selves conspicuous niche in the temple Of earthly
fame, are now dweers in that brightest family; here
they might have been Landed for genius rather than
honess there, their holiness rather than their genius
found them ready admttance. But,
GLOW beautiful is genius when combined
With holiness o how divnely sweet
The tones of earthly harp, whose chords are touched
by the soft hand Of pety, and hung
Upon religions shrine, there vibrating
With solemn music in the of God 90
Not few shall mingle with, who were never
known to 'the world" in any way; who lived the
life of God in the spirit, in the humblest seclusiou
who in
"The trivial round, the common task,
denied themselves, did good TO others, their Father,
and so laid up for themselves treasure to be enjoy
ed forever. Feeling that sufficient unto the day were
the evils thereof, they envied no, those who spent
their nights in anxious toll and restessness. but
tent with the few good things falling on their o'
here, dwelt with the more peculiar satisfaction on
their Inheritance hereaer.-There is something beau
tiful in the thought Of the poor and lonely earth
crowned in heaven with glory, made equal to the
minstrel king, the once weeping but now rejoic'
ing prophet, the glorious lsaiah and the sained Paul
when they not meet for tho presence of rich
man earth ! mot many wise men, not many
mighty, not many noble; but the poor of this world
rich in faith, hath he chosen to be heirs of the king
DOM o who would rather trust the things which
are unseen, than those which stand in the wohd
brightest blaze