'let grace triumph. I have long thought that the grief of God's children for the death of their infant offspring should be very moderate. The view taken of the state of such by the best Reformed Churches, has always been cheering. Hear the Synod of Dort: 'Seeing that we are to judge of the will of God by his Word, which testifies that the children of believers are holy, not indeed by nature, but by the benefit of the gracious covenant, in which they are comprehended along with their parents, pious parents ought not to doubt of the election and salvation of their children whom God hath called in infancy out of this life.' And our own Confession very clearly and delightfully states how they are saved: Elect infants, dying in infancy, are regenerated and saved by Christ, through the Spirit, who worketh when, and where, and how he pleaseth.' If, therefore, you still weep, weep as one full of hope, and peace, and comfort.

"Your present trial will furnish you with many an occasion of showing your readiness to perform two duties united by the Psalmist : 'Trust in the Lord, and do good.' It can hardly be doubted that, great as your affliction is, you can easily find others who need your

Visit them; write to

sympathy and aid.' them; speak comfortably to them; weep with them; if they need it, give them alms; in short, be as useful as you can. In watering others, you shall be watered. Beware of moping over your trials.

"It is a painful but universal conviction among Christians, that they need correction. Their tempers, their tongues, their lives, their inconstancy, all show that fewer chastisements would leave them in a sad state. I know not what the Lord would accomplish in you by this heavy stroke; but sure I am that he would cause all things to work together for good to them that love him. You have found former trials good. This, too, shall yield the peaceable fruit of righteousness.

"And as to your loved one, has not God already done for it more than you and all the world could have done in a thousand years? He has made it a king and a priest unto God, to serve him day and night in heaven. If Hannah was willing to give up Samuel to serve in the earthly tabernacle, surely you should be willing to resign your darling to serve in the temple not made with hands, especially as you hope so soon to follow him, and be for ever with him.

"At most, will not all this darkness soon be gone? Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.' 'It is but a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.' 'The time is short.' Let us wait patiently for him. His deliverances are as seasonable as they are effectual. When you reach the blessed home above, you will be the first to say that God hath done all things well.

"And now, if the tempter should annoy and insult you, saying God has forsaken you, believe him not, but say, 'Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy; when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord shall be a light unto me. I will bear the indignation of the LORD, because I have sinned against him, until he plead my cause, and execute judgment for me. He will bring me forth to the light, and I shall behold his righteousness.'

"Very truly yours,

"W. S. P."

CHAPTER IX.

Two Years in Heaven.

Two years ago to-day he went to heaven. With us they have been long, long years, since we heard the sound of his sweet voice, and the merry laugh that burst from his glad heart.

He was the youngest of our flock. Three summers he had been with us, and oh! he was brighter and sunnier than any summer day of them all. But he died as the third year of his life was closing. The others were older than he; and all we had of childhood's glee and gladness was buried when we laid him in the grave. Since then our hearth has been desolate, and our hearts have been yearning for the boy who is gone. "Gone, but not lost," we have said a thousand times; and we think of him ever as living and blessed in another place not far from us.

Two years in heaven! They do not measure time in that world; there are no weeks, or months, or years; but all the time we have been mourning his absence here, he has been

happy there. And when we think of what he has been enjoying, and the rapid progress he has been making, we feel that it is well for him that he has been taken away.

Two years with angels! They have been his constant companions, his teachers too; and from them he has drawn lessons of knowledge and of love. The cherubim are said to excel in knowledge; while love glows more ardently in the breasts of seraphim. He has been two years in the company of both, and must have become very like them.

Two years with the redeemed! They have told him of the Saviour, in whose blood they washed their robes, and whose righteousness is their salvation. The child, while with us, knew little of Jesus and his dying love; but he has heard of him now, and has learned to love him who said, "Suffer little children to come unto me." There are some among those redeemed, who would have loved him here, had they been living with us; but they went to glory before him, and have welcomed him now to their company. I am not sure that they know him as our child; and yet do we love to think that he is in the arms of those who have gone from our arms, and that thus broken families are reunited around the throne of God and the Lamb.