but they console themselves with the thought that they have other children. Poverty and destitution are a bitter trial, especially for those who were formerly in a good position and have been reduced to want by misfortune; yet they hope for and find help and comfort in the compassion of their fellow-men. Bodily pains and sickness are a grievous trial; yet there is comfort in the hope that the doctor may do something to give relief. Unjust persecution and oppression are a heavy cross for the innocent; yet their innocence is their consolation. Public shame and dishonor is a terrible thing for a respectable man to bear; but he can console himself with the testimony of his good conscience. Anguish and mental suffering are an intolerable torture for all men; but they look to some future time when they will be at an end, and be succeeded by a period of repose. So that, generally speaking, as long as we live we have consolation mixed with suffering; one finds here, another there something to grieve him, but at the same time, too, something that brings him comfort.
The dying sinner is surrounded by anguish on all sides, when he thinks of his friends. But the death of the unrepentant sinner, oh! that is indeed the misery of all miseries! All those that we have mentioned as occurring to different individuals shall come together and assail him at once. Then will be verified for him the words that the weeping Saviour spoke over the city of Jerusalem, alluding to its future destruction: “The days shall come upon thee: and thy enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and straiten thee on every side.”[1] Wherever the unhappy man turns on his bed of death, he finds nothing but pain and sorrow. If he looks at his friends, oh, what grief! he has to part from them. Good-bye, father, he says with sorrowful heart; good-bye, mother, dear children, husband, wife, sister, brother! I have looked at you for the last time; in a few moments all love and friendship will be at an end between us, and that forever. For I am going to hell, and if you go to heaven, oh, what a great chaos will be fixed between me and you![2] There will be no post from one place to the other to bring me news of you; so that I shall have my sufferings embittered by the thought that you are in joys that I too might have had if I had wished, and that you will not have the least sympathy with me. Or if you follow me
