286 THE PALE BELL OF THE HEATH. 



home after a more lengthened pilgrimage, we 

 sometimes behold extraordinary foretastes of the 

 joy set before them, which they are able to com- 

 municate to surrounding friends, who doubtless, 

 with the church at large, experience much comfort 

 and encouragement therefrom. They seem, indeed, 

 to be granted for that purpose : and why should 

 not a peculiar demonstration of indwelling grace 

 be occasionally afforded to the watchful eye of a 

 tender mother, whose infant is about to be taken 

 from her bosom ; and to cheer, as it surely is cal- 

 culated to do, the hearts of many mourning parents, 

 who may be longing to accumulate proofs as to 

 the actual manifestation of Christ's love to little 

 babes, even in the flesh? 



In this case, the Lord had emphatically lent the 

 infant heirs of glory to parental care, and very 

 early received them to his own kingdom. Is it 

 too much to believe of him whose name is "Love," 

 and whose nature is " very pitiful," that under a 

 reiterated blow, upon the shrinking heart of a most 

 fond young mother, he should vouchsafe an es- 

 pecial cordial ? was it not a sharp trial to see five 

 little coffins successively borne away from her 

 door, leaving but two of her household flock over 

 whom to watch and to tremble ? Mothers, per- 

 haps, can rightly answer this question. We do, 

 most shamefully, limit the Holy One of Israel; 

 and to Him alone is it known how many cups of 



