those dispensations, which while here, filled them
with wonder. But it seems that the wicked are not let into these
things, but driven away in darkness, and left enveloped in it--"None
of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand."

This may serve to explain a passage in Job, which might seem opposed
to our construction of the text--"His sons come to honor and he
knoweth it not; and they are brought low, but he perceiveth it not of
them." * If we understand this of the wicked, it will harmonize with
the other scriptures which have been adduced. Though some understand
the words of Job, as descriptive of a man's state at the approach of
death, at which period he is often lost and bewildered, and
consequently unaffected with, any thing which may happen to his
dearest connexions, for whom, in health, and while possessed of
reason, he felt greatly interested. This construction is favored by
the words which follow, in which he is represented as still pained in
body, as well as mind--"But his flesh upon him shall have pain, and
his soul within him shall mourn." +

* Job xiv. 21. + Vid. Henry in locum.

If we do not mistake the scriptures, our pious departed friends may
sometimes attend us, and witness the manner in which we act our parts.

Natural relations terminate with life; but we do not believe that the
friendships here contracted cease at death; that the remembrance of
the kind offices done to a good man here is then obliterated; that
those who had been helpers of one another in this life are forever
lost to each other when they cease to be together here; or that the
endearments of friendship and reciprocal affection are then
extinguished to revive not more.

Departed spirits must retain a remembrance of what they did here, and
of those who acted with them. They cannot otherwise give account of
themselves; or witness the divine justice and impartiality relative to
matters which had been common to themselves and others. But these will
be made manifest. All in heaven and on earth will see and confess the
perfect rectitude of the divine administration.

Some suppose that the knowledge of things done on earth, and regard
for mortals would render departed saints unhappy; that therefore they
are incredible.

But is not God grieved at the obstinacy of sinners? "When God saw
that the wickedness of man was great in the earth--it repented the
Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at hi