Oh, when dull faith is changed to sight, When "dark" and "light" their conflict cease, Then shall I know these words of peace "At evening time it shall be light." So wondrously bestrewn the world without Can have no pleasure in the sigh and tear And sackcloth pall. The moan of fretful sea, On wreck-strewn coasts, are not the normal things Is set the varying music of that vast The gentle hand of time will yet unbar The iron grating, and invite the sun To flood the rayless corridors! Although Dark may the present be, and lowering storm III. THE EARLY DEATH OF AN ONLY DAUGHTER. AND, BEHOLD, THERE CAME A MAN NAMED JAIRUS, AND HE WAS A RULER OF THE SYNAGOGUE; AND HE FELL DOWN AT JESUS' FEET, AND BESOUGHT HIM THAT HE WOULD COME INTO HIS HOUSE: FOR HE HAD ONE ONLY DAUGHTER, ABOUT TWELVE YEARS OF AGE, AND SHE LAY A-DYING. . . . WHILE HE YET SPAKE, THERE COMETH ONE FROM THE RULER OF THE SYNAGOGUE'S HOUSE, SAYING TO HIM, THY DAUGHTER IS DEAD; TROUBLE NOT THE MASTER. BUT WHEN JESUS HEARD IT, HE ANSWERED HIM, SAYING, FEAR NOT: BELIEVE ONLY, AND SHE SHALL BE MADE WHOLE. AND WHEN HE CAME INTO THE HOUSE, HE SUFFERED NO MAN TO GO IN, SAVE PETER, AND JAMES, AND JOHN, AND THE FATHER AND THE MOTHER OF THE MAIDEN. AND ALL WEPT AND BEWAILED HER BUT HE SAID, WEEP NOT; SHE IS NOT DEAD, BUT SLEEPETH. AND THEY LAUGHED HIM TO SCORN, KNOWING THAT SHE WAS DEAD. AND HE PUT THEM ALL OUT, AND TOOK HER BY THE HAND, AND CALLED, SAYING, MAID, ARISE. AND HER SPIRIT CAME AGAIN, AND SHE AROSE STRAIGHTWAY: AND HE COMMANDED TO GIVE HER MEAT. AND HER PARENTS WERE ASTONISHED: BUT HE CHARGED THEM THAT THEY SHOULD TELL NO MAN WHAT WAS DONE.-LUKE viii. 41, 42, 49 56. THE EARLY DEATH OF AN ONLY DAUGHTER. N ONLY DAUGHTER!-the most sacred and hallowed link that can bind heart to heartthe theme of poetry's tenderest epics, lyrics, elegies:-Can such be included in the record of early departures, the calendar of "early graves?" Alas! too true, as is the experience of ten thousand sorrowing parents. It is so in the touching incident we are now to consider. Death is here described as entering another home of the Gospel era, and evoking the wail of desolated mourners. But, the Prince and Lord of Life draws near. He storms the Invader in his own citadel, compels him to relinquish his prey; and to every bosom in all time thus rudely rifled, bequeaths consolatory words and lessons. Let us first rehearse the narrative, and then endeavour to gather up some of the more solemn and comforting truths which that narrative enforces. We have no farther light thrown in Gospel story on the principal personage in this scene. He was Ruler or Prefect of the synagogue of CAPERNAUM ; supposed to be one of those "elders of the Jews" we find coming in a body or deputation to intercede with 1 Jesus in behalf of the Centurion's servant, saying, that "he was worthy for whom He should do this, for he loveth our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue." This pious Israelite had urged his suit successfully for another, the slave of a Gentile soldier, who had been stretched on a couch of sickness, " ready to die." The Divine Philanthropist had listened to the pleadings of faith and gratitude, and straightway accompanied him in the direction of that soldier's abode. But a very different case now engrosses this Ruler's thoughts a very different sorrow weighs down his own heart. The silent Messenger is now standing at his own portal! She had An only daughter gladdened his home. arrived, too, just at that age when a father's heartstrings are bound fastest and firmest around his child's soul. With her had been doubtless interwoven every thought of the future ;—she was the pride of the family; the prop of the present; the promised comforter of her parents' old age. Often perhaps, in the midst of other trials, they would glance at the loving spirit at their side, assured of one abiding stay and solace. But health and strength, youth and intelligence, are unable to exclude the sleepless foe of human happiness. The darkest of shadows are falling around that dwelling! We have not detailed to us, as in other cases recorded in sacred story, the circumstantials of that hour 1 Luke vii. 4, 5. of anxiety and sorrow; whether disease had crept imperceptibly upon her; the King of terrors coming with noiseless step-velvet footfall; the taper of decaying life burning down slowly till it reached its socket; or whether, with appalling suddenness, the arrow had sped; -the sun, which perhaps that morning rose on a cheerful home, setting over the valley of death amid weeping clouds. All the entry we have in the inspired record is, "She lay a-dying." She had reached that terrible crisis-hour when hope's last glimmerings were being ex tinguished the last tides of life were slowly ebbing. Can nought be done to arrest the arrow in its course -to stay that sun from so premature a setting? The anguished father thinks of the only ONE voice which can say, "Sun, stand thou still!” "Can that same Jesus" (he might think to himself), "who cured a humble slave, who gave back to a fond master the life of a faithful servant-can He not (will Ile not) pity one of the lost sheep of the house of Israel?' If I rush to Him in this hour of my sorrow, will He deny me His compassionate love, and the exercise of His wondrous power ?" There is no time for delay. With fleet footsteps he betakes himself to the Prophet of Galilee, and in an agony of prayer beseeches Him to follow him to his dwelling. The Saviour obeys; accompanied by a promiscuous crowd, among whom deeper and holier feelings and sympathies mingle with vain curiosity. An incident, meanwhile, takes place by the way, F |