-EAR OF DEATH. 413 enjoyments. Theybanish it, indeed, from their thoughts, as theydootherunpleasant subjects ; but it is no proof that we do not fear a thing, because we manage to keep it out of sight ; on the contrary, the effort betrays the very fear which it denies. There is an inconsistency in the charac- ter ofman, sopreposterous, thatwe should not believe it, if we did not feel as well as see it. We continue eagerly to catch at the. things which are always sliding from us, and which no grasp of ours can re- tain, whilst we forget the things that are not only hastening to meet us, but which will remain withus, not through' ime only, but eternity. The more we grasp at the temporal, themore the eternalslips fromus. Others are afraid to think ofdeath, for the same reason that they are afraid to make their will, lest it should bring it nearer: but we know that the thought will keep up the remembrance without acce- lerating the approach ; familiarity with the idea is the best means of conquering the fear. It is not pusillanimity, but T 3
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