Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-05-14
Religion in the Hour of Trial.

How shall Christian believers meet the
death of their loved ones, in the light ot
what the Redeemer teaches them to believe
in and hope for beyond the grave Z Our re
ligion stands solitary in its assurance that
death has been robbed of its sting, the grave
of its victory, and that " to die is gain
| With such blessed assurances, is it not our
duty to trust Now and then ! meet in.
stances of those more experienced in sore
bereavement than ], who yet do not sorrow
Gas they that have no hope" but rather
"weep rs if they wept not" that is, as il as
sured that " the time of weeping" is short
aud that there is occasion for rejoicing, when
a Christian friend has q gone home" Now
let us show that our Christian belief and
godly trust can sustain and cheer u.s."
heard a brother minister say to his wife, as
she stood quivering like an aspen by the
casket of their first-born. Her piety was as
genuine as his, but her nerves were weaker
Possibly if she had felt, as he, that the
honor of religion was at stake, she might
have summoned up her faith and been more
composed. Indeed | observed that she
seemed to take new strength from his sug-
gestion. Revisiting, after several years alb
sence, neighborhood of my former ac-
quaintance, | bethought me that Mrs.
had buried her only daughter few months
before-a young lady beloved by all, and
companion for her mother. almost dreaded
to see this bereaved mother for she was of
feeble health and keen sensibilities and had
loved that daughter as her very life. When
a little girl the daughter and had been
special friends, and its mother knew it.
shrank from meeting such agony as |
was certain my first visit after that bereave-
NJ -. D..t
did. To my surprise the mother met me
with unusual cheerfulness. ! feared to al
lude to her sorrow, but finally ventured,
when her countenance lighted with new
lustre. | began to suspect the cause and
remarked her peace and comfort 90 yes,"
she said, 81 am so happy that - is with
her Saviour in heaven" " How long have
you felt thus :" | asked. "Since two weeks
before she passed away" /" am thankful
to have your testimony" said |, for so it
has seemed to me ! should feel if God should
take my children" had never before found
a bereaved parent so entering into the Joy of
a child gone to be with its Redeemer as to
take away almost entirely the sense of pres
ent bereavement. Since that | have met
several marked instances of unfaltering trust
and even exultant Joy at the thought that |
the dear departed had won the victory and
entered into rest.
Of course all are not constituted alike. |
But neither are we alike with reference to |
any temptation. And what after all, is the |
giving way to our distress at parting, but
to doubt the blessed reality of |
,he life to come, and all that is implied in
being "with Christ 2" | have seen a Chris
ian woman crushed as few women are by
he sudden death of noble young husband,
get so calm and sweet-sprited between the
leath-bed and the grave as to cause one who
vas himself an unbeever, or at best
loubter, to say, "That woman's belief in
is a reality to her." No preacher
n the pulpit could set forth " the power of
he life to come " as did that bereaved vet
rusting woman.
Sorrowing one, loving your religion, low
ng your Lord, and believing that when he
oiled the stone from his own sepulchre he
Ilso opened the grave for you, and for all
Who trust in him, will you not be more calm
md composed when death comes to those
Who are very dear TO you, and so convince
he unbelieving that what You profess to be-
ieve is indeed "A reality to you Why do the
leathen weep and wall so for the dead
5ecause they have no strong faith in the fu-
ure life. Has the Christian no better sup
'ort, when he is called to part from friends?
such separation awaits us all. Anticipating
t, let us accustom ourselves to dwell on the
lnspeakabie gain of departing to be with
jhrlst; aud then reflect that however God
nay strip us of our heart-treasures, he does
lothing 10y mistake, and nothing which is
lot in the end for our good "As we have
'orne the image of the earthly, we shall also
'ear the image of the heavenly" The grave
,ut hides the earthly. Heaven shall reveal its
eavenly, and that will never die from our
,rasp.-New York Evangelist.