cribing minutely the whole of that
preternatural scene; he probably related the conversation which Elijah
had with him as they walked; and this inspired companion of the departed
prophet, having himself no doubt that Elijah had gone to heaven, so
instructed these sons of the prophets. But how hard it is for the things
which are unseen and eternal to seize and hold our minds! how readily we
yield to surmises, rather than admit the clear disclosures of spiritual
things! Straightway these sons of the prophets, who should have retired
each to his secret place, for contemplation and prayer, and, in the
solemn assembly, should have directed the thoughts of each other and of
the people to the instructive lessons suggested by the departure of
Elijah to heaven, were making up an exploring party, to prove that their
illustrious chief had met with some disaster in being left forlorn upon
some mountain, or in a valley; that the spirit of God had entranced him,
and that his weary feet, instead of treading the pavement of heaven,
were ensnared in some dark place; and so, in pity for him, and with
filial love, they would seek him, and bring him back to Jericho!

If we had clear and strong faith, our joy at the thought of a glorified
spirit, however necessary its presence to us here, would transcend all
our sorrows; the streaming beams of sunshine would irradiate our
weeping; we should think more of his happiness than of our discomfort.
Instead of departed spirits falling asleep, it is we who have a spirit
of slumber. O that we might walk by faith with glorified spirits before
the throne, instead of remanding them,--as it seems we sometimes would
do, if we could,--to the ignorance and infirmity of our condition.

Our feelings towards the departed are the same as towards other
prohibited things. Many are continually seeking for pleasures which God
has taken away, or is purposely withholding from them. Let any one look
at the history of his feelings, and see if his state of mind be not one
of perpetual expectation of some form of happiness yet to arrive; an
ideal of bliss, some prefigured condition, in which contentment and
peace are to abide; while the discovery that he is not to have it, would
make him inconsolably miserable. Our search for lost joys, or for those
which God is not prepared, or not disposed, to give us, and the
happiness which he desires rather to give us, and to have us seek, are
severally represented to us by this sea