THE SERMON. 139 



though when welcome to die, it. will be found but a line, 

 like that which the wave leaves on a sandy shore. Let it 

 satisfy us in the meanwhile, that, whatever the mode in 

 which the soul of the righteous is dismissed whether that 

 mode be imaged in Peter's casting himself into the sea, 

 and struggling to the land, or whether it be represented in 

 the quieter approachings of the boat with the other 

 disciples the soul will find preparation, as it were, for its 

 reception; Christ stands there expecting his faithful 

 servants, and of all of them it will have to be said, ( As 

 soon as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals 

 there, and fish laid thereon and bread.' Oh, this may 

 well shadow out, what we have abundant warrant for 

 believing from more express statements of Scripture, that, 

 to the faithful in Christ, the moment of being detached 

 from the body is the moment of being admitted into a 

 state of rest and peace and happiness. ( As soon as they 

 were come to land,' all that was needed was found ready ; 

 the fire kindled, and the banquet spread. 



" Yet who doubts that the righteous will not only find the 

 material of happiness prepared, but that they will carry 

 with them, so to speak, additions to that material, and 

 make heaven all the richer and brighter by their arrival ? 

 It is ' the communion of saints ' ; and whilst each saint 

 shall draw cause of rapture from those who have gone 

 before, they also shall draw cause of rapture from him. 

 How beautifully apposite then is the direction, ' Bring of 

 the fish which ye have now caught.' The banquet, the 



