ones.

In this connection, too, what could be more exquisitely harmonious than
the way in which the Lord thus presents Himself to the expectant faith
of His earthly and heavenly people? To the former the full plain Day
is ushered in by the Sun of Righteousness arising with healing in His
wings: for that Day they look. To the latter, who are watching through
the long hours of the night, the Bright and Morning Star shining ere
the first beams of the Sun are thrown upon the dark world is the object
of faith and hope.

Is not the word that believers shall, "meet the Lord in the air" in
absolute accord with these different aspects of the Lord as Star and
Sun? Most certainly it is.

More than at any other time, a solid foundation for comfort is needed
in times of deep grief. Then the hosts of darkness press round the
dismayed spirit; clouds of darkness roll across the mental sky; the sun
and all light is hidden; in the storm-wrack the fiery darts of the
wicked one fall thick as rain. Every long-accepted truth is
questioned; the very foundations seem to dissolve. A firm foothold,
indeed, must we have on which to stand at such a time. Faith must be
seen not at war with her poor blind--or at least short-sighted--sister
Reason, but in perfect accord, leading her, with her feebler powers, by
the hand. But here is where the world's efforts to comfort--and,
indeed, alas, the worldly Christians too--lack. Sentimentalism abounds
here; and the poor troubled heart is told to stand fast on airy
speculations, and to distil comfort from wax-flowers, as it were,--the
creations of the imagination. How solid the comfort here given in
contrast with all this. _God_ speaks, and in the _Light_, that with
clear yet gentle ray, exactly meets the needs of our present
distress,--in the _Love_ that in its infinite tenderness and beautiful
delicacy knows how to heal the wounded spirit,--in the grand
_authority_ that rests on no other word or testimony for proof,--and
yet in the perfect, absolute _harmony_ with the whole scope of His own
holy word, we, His children, recognize again His voice; for never man
could speak thus, and we are comforted, and may comfort one another.

_It is true_. _It is divine_. We shall meet the Lord in the air.
Happy journey that, in such a company to such a goal,--to meet the
Lord! Who can picture the joy of that upward flight? What words
extract the comfort of that meeting,--the Lord,--our Lord,--alone wi