THE PALE BELL OF THE HEATH. 289 



of knowledge, to which the proudest attainments 

 of reasoning man in his full maturity, are as the 

 winding of the earth-worm through his dark and 

 slimy crevices, compared with the loftiest flight 

 of the eagle towards the morning sun. It is no 

 questionable speculation : " I say unto you," said 

 the Lord Jesus Christ, "that in heaven, their 

 angels do always behold the face of my Father, 

 which is in heaven." Oh, it is delicious to think 

 of the rapture that is experienced by the glorified 

 soul of such a one, when, mounting to the innu- 

 merable company of angels, and to the spirits of 

 just men made perfect, it sings the song of the re- 

 deemed, at the moment of becoming acquainted 

 with the mystery of redemption ! " Unto him 

 that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his 

 own blood," is the sound first heard, on entering 

 the everlasting gates ; and then to learn the story 

 of Christ's cress at the foot of Christ's throne ! to 

 gaze on the Lamb that had been slain, while the 

 tale of that propitiatory slaughter is drunk in 

 amid the songs of heaven ! To look back upon 

 the world, while its snares are first unfolded, and 

 know that it is fully, and for ever escaped ! Oh, 

 ye weeping mothers ! bring such thoughts as these 

 to the death-beds, the coffins, the graves of your 

 happy, happy little ones, and you will feel that 

 God does give you wages for nursing, through a 

 few short tearful days, those children for Him. 



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