MISCELLANEOUS T$OCOAT$. 359 fruitfulness and service than in times past ? If so, then repine not at the pruning-knife; but adore the conduct of the hea- venly husbandman, and say, " All his ways are wisdom and mercy." But I have not yet done with my parable. When the granary was well stored with excellent fruit, and before winter came upon the tree, the gardener took it up by the roots; and it appeared as dead. But his design was not to des- troy it utterly ; for he removed it far away from the spot of earth where it had stood, and planted it in a hill of richer mold, whieh . was sufficient to nourish it with all its attendants. The. spring appeared, the tree budded into life again, and all those fair little standards that had been cut off, broke out of the ground afresh, and stood up around it (a sweet young grove) flourishing iu beauty and immortal vigour. You know now where you are, Velina, and that I have carried you to the hill of paradise, to the blessed hour of the re- surrection. What an unknown joy will it be, when you have fulfilled all the fruits of righteousness in this lower world, to be transplanted to that heavenly mountain ? What a divine rapture and surprise of blessedness, to see all your little offspring around you that day, springing out of the dust at once, making a fairer and brighter appearance in that upper garden of God, and re- joicing together, (a sweet company) all partakers with you of the same happy immortality; all fitted to bear heavenly fruit, with- out the need or danger of a pruning knife. Look forward by faith to this glorious morning, and admire the whole scheme of providence and grace. Give chearful honours beforehand to your almighty and all -wise Governor, who by his unsearchable counsels has fulfilled your best wishes, and secured your dear infants to you for ever, though not just in your own way ; that blessed hand which made the painful separation on earth, shall join you and your babes together in his own heavenly habitation, never to be divided again, though the method may be painful to flesh and blood. Fathers shall not hope in vain, nor 00 Mothers bring forth for trouble : They are the seed of the blessed Lord, and their offspring with them ;" Isaiah lxiii. 23. Then shall you say, " Lord, here am I, and the children that thou hast given me. For he is your God, and the God of your seed, in an ever- lasting covenant." Amen. XXXII. Earth, Heaven, and Hell. I HAVE often tried to strip death of its frightful colours, and make all the terrible airs of it vanish into softness and delight : To this end, among other rovings of thought, I have sometimes illustrated to myself the whole creation, as ane..immense building, with different apartments, all under
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