the crown of thorns-第18节
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ch is the object of all our discipline； our mingled joy and suffering； here upon this earth。 That little child； gone from its sufferings of early；gone
〃Gentle and undefiled； with blessings on its head；〃
has it indeed become a very angel of God for us； and is it calling us to a more spiritual life； and does it win us to heaven？ Is its memory around us like a pure presence into which no thought of sin can readily enter？ Or is it with us； even yet； a spiritual companion of our ways？ From being the guarded and the guided； has it risen in infant innocence； yet in the knowledge and majesty of the immortal life； to be the guard and the guide？ Does it； indeed； make our hearts softer and purer； and cause us to think more of duty； and live more holy； thus clothing ourselves to go and dwell with it？ Does it； by its death； accomplish all this？ O！ most important； most glorious mission of all； if we only heed it； if we only accept it。 Then shall we behold already the wisdom and benevolence of our Father breaking through the cloud that overshadows us。 Already shall we see that the tie； which seemed to be dropped and broken； God has taken up to draw us closer to himself； and that it is interwoven with his all…gracious plan for our spiritual profit and perfection。 And we can anticipate how it will all be reconciled； when his own hand shall wipe away our tears； and the bliss of reunion shall extract the last drop of bitterness from 〃the cup that our Father had given us。〃
Our Relations to the Departed
〃She is not dead； but sleepeth。〃 Luke viii。52
A Great peculiarity of the Christian religion is its transforming or transmuting power。 I speak not now of the regeneration which accomplishes in the individual soul； but of the change it works upon things without。 It applies the touchstone to every fact of existence； and exposes its real value。 Looking through the lens of spiritual observation； it throws the realities of life into a reverse perspective from that which is seen by the sensual eye。 Objects which the world calls great it renders insignificant； and makes near and prominent things which the frivolous put off。 Thus the Christian； among other men； often appears anomalous。 Often； amidst the congratulations of the world； he detects reason for mourning； and is penetrated with sorrow。 On the contrary； where others shrink； he walks undaunted； and converts the scene of dread and suffering into an ante…chamber of heaven。 In this light； the Apostle Paul speaks of himself and others； 〃As sorrowful； yet always rejoicing； as poor； yet making many rich； as having nothing； and yet possessing all things。〃 Indeed； all the beatitudes are based upon this peculiarity； for the true blessing； the inward； everlasting riches； are for those who； in the world's eye； are poor； and mourning； and persecuted。 Jesus himself weeps amid triumphant psalms and sounding hosannas； while on the cross he utters the prayer of forgiveness； and the ejaculation of peace。
No wonder； then； that the believer views the ghastliest fact of all in a consoling and even a beautiful aspect； and death itself becomes but sleep。 Well was that trait of our religion which I have now suggested illustrated at the bed…side of Jairus' daughter。 Well did that noisy； lamenting group represent the worldly who read only the material fact； or that flippant skepticism which laughs all supernatural truth to scorn。 And well did Jesus represent the spirit of his doctrine； and its transforming power； when he exclaimed； 〃She is not dead； but sleepeth。〃
Yes！ beautifully has Christianity transformed death。 To the eye of flesh it was the final direction of our fate；the consummate riddle in this mystery of being；the wreck of all our hopes；
〃The simple senses crowned his head； Omega！ thou art Lord； they said； We find no motion in the dead。〃
Ever； though with higher desires and better gleamings； the mind has struggled and sunk before this fact of decay； and this awful silence of nature； while in the waning light of the soul； and among the ashes of the sepulchre； skepticism has built its dreary negation。 And though the mother could lay down her child without taking hints which God gave her from every little flower that sprung on that grassy bed；though the unexhausted intellect has reasoned that we ought to live again； and the affections； more oracular； swelling with the nature of their great source； have prophesied that we shall；never； until the revelation of Christ descended into our souls； and illuminated all our spiritual vision； have we been able to say certainly of death； it is a sleep。 This has made its outward semblance not that of cessation； but of progressionnot an end； but a changeconverting its rocky couch to a birth…chamber； over…casting its shadows with beams of eternal morning； while behind its cold unconsciousness the unseen spirit broods into higher life。 〃He fell asleep；〃 says the sacred chronicler； speaking of bloody Stephen。 〃Our friend Lazarus sleepeth；〃 said Christ to his disciples； and yet again； as here in the text； the beautiful synonyme is repeated； 〃She is not dead； but sleepeth。〃
But I proceed to remark； if the Christian religion thus transforms death； or； in other words； abolishes the idea of its being annihilation； or an end； then it gives us a new view of our relations to the departed。 What are these relations？ The answers to this question will form the burden of the present discourse。
I。 There is the relation of memory。 It is true； we may argue that this relation exists whether the Christian view of death be correct or not；so long have those who are now gone actually lived with us；so vivid are their images among the realities of the soul；though the grave should forever shut them from our communion。 But this relation of memory has peculiar propriety and efficacy when associated with a Christian faith。 If the dead live no more； what would memory be to us but a spectre and a sting？ Should we not then seek to repress those tender recollections；to close our eyes to those pale； sad visions of departed love？ Should we not invoke the glare and tumult of the world to distract or absorb our thoughts？ Would we not say； 〃Let it come； the pleasure； the occupation of the hour； that we may think no more of the dead； plucked from us forever；let us drive thoughtlessly down this swift current of life； since thought only harrows us；let us drive thoughtlessly down； enjoying all we can； until we too lie by the side of those departed ones； like them to moulder in everlasting unconsciousness。〃 I don not say that this would always be the case without religious hope； but it is a very natural condition of the feelings in such circumstances；it is the most humane alternative that would then be left。 At least； no one so well as the Christian can go into the inner chambers of memory； feel the strength of its sad yet blissful associations； and calmly invoke the communion of the dead。
I speak not now of what occurs in those first bitter days of grief； when the heart's wound bleeds afresh at every touch；when we are continually surprised by the bleak fact that the loved one is actually dead。 But I speak of those after seasons； those Indian summers of the soul； in which all the present desolation is blended with the bloom and enjoyment of the past。 Then do we find that the tie which binds us so tenderly to the departed is a strong and fruitful one。 We love； in those still retired seasons； to call up the images of the dead； to let them hover around us； as real； for the hour； as any living forms。 We linger in that communion； with a pleasing melancholy。 We call up all that was lovely in their character； all that was delightful in their earthly intercourse。 They live again for us； and we for them。
In this relation of memory； moreover； we realize the fact； that while the departed were upon earth we enjoyed much with them。 This is a truth which in any estimate of our loss we should not overlook。 do we mourn that the dead have been taken from us so soon？ Are we not also thankful that they were ours so long？ In our grief over unfulfilled expectation； do we cherish no gratitude for actual good？ So much bliss has God mingled in our cup of existence that the might have withheld。 He lent it to us thus far； why complain； rather； that he did not intrust us with it longer？ O！ these fond recollections； this concentrated happiness of past hours which we call up with tears； remind us that so much good we have actually experienced。
In close connection with this thought is the fact； that； by some delicate process of refinement； we remember of the dead only what was good。 In the relation of memory we see them in their best manifestation； we live over the hours of our past intercourse。 Though in extraordinary instances it may be true that 〃the evil which men do lives after them；〃 yet even in regard to the illustrious dead； their imperfections are overlooked； and more justice is done to their virtues than in their own time。 Much more is this the case with those around whom our affections cling more closely。 The communion of memory； far more than that of life； is unalloyed by sharp interruptions； or by any stain。 That communion now； though saddened； is
