A VOICE FROM THE GATES OF DEATH.

THERE are pains of body and trials of the spirit, which, from their very protractedness, declare to us that "it is not all of death to die;" that death may be long endured ere the last pang comes, and the free spirit has escaped from its earthly thraldom. We have an instance before us in the history of one who was struck down with disease, and a part of whose frame was paralyzed. His disorder was painful, his agonies very great, the paroxysms causing him to cry out in anguish, and to writhe in almost unendurable torment. He had, when in health and strength, officiated as a Christian minister, attempting to impart consolation to others in the midst of their afflictions of body and soul. Now, in his time of adversity, he needs himself the same truth of God to lean upon. And he finds it. Though apparently dying during each week and month of these years, and having, in addition to his bodily afflictions, the unwelcome presence of something like want of the temporal blessings of life, still he has faith and hope in the all-wise Disposer. He thus writes to a faithful friend, from the place of severe discipline which the Father had assigned him, this testimony of a believing heart :

"Dearly beloved: -The afflicting hand of the Lord has lain heavily upon me for the last three and a half years. For the last two years I have been entirely confined to my bed, and am not able now to sit up a minute; - hence what little I write is done while lying down. My complaint is an affection of the spine, and is attended with the most excruciating pain. No pen can describe, no imagination can conceive, the agony that I endure; and I expect it will soon bring me down to the grave. Truly can I say,

that long days and wearisome nights are appointed unto me. Much of the time, for the two last years, I have viewed myself as just entering upon a boundless eternity; and I can say, in the sincerity of my heart, that at such times I found Universalism just what I expected, and just what I needed in that trying hour. Indeed, it is the one thing needful,' the 'pearl of great price,' 'the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth.' How much longer I shall be called to grapple with the pain and distress of this 'body of death,' I know not; but fully satisfied am I, that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us'- For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God'-'Because the creature itself, also, shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption, into the glorious liberty of the children of God."

"If God is a being of infinite wisdom, as we firmly believe he is, he can make no mistake in devising the best plans. If he possesses almighty power, as none will deny, then he will carry into effect all the purposes of his unbounded wisdom. Moreover, if he is infinitely good, if he is love, if his tender mercies are over all his works, then his wisdom and power will be directed to benevolent ends.

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With these premises, which none will deny or controvert, how can I, how can any one, come to the conclusion that a part of the human family will wail in hopeless misery in the future world? Will God change? will he cease to be love? will his tender mercies be withdrawn from a part of his creatures? will the Saviour change? will he become the enemy of some of those for whom he died? I cannot believe it! God is unchangeable, Christ is the same yester

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day, to-day, and forever. It is God's will that all men shall be saved and come unto the knowledge of the truth. Jesus came down from heaven to do the

will of his Father. All power was given into his hands; power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as were given him; and this is life eternal, that they might know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent.' What stronger evidence of the final restitution can we desire? It is enough Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.' With this view of the subject we can say with the apostle, 'We know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a. building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.'

"During my long illness, reports have come from distant neighborhoods, that I had renounced my faith. But, bless God, it is not so! No, I have no faith to spare, none that I can renounce, surely. I would that I had much more of the same than I now possess. I only regret that I have not believed the doctrine longer, preached it more faithfully, and lived more in accordance with its holy requirements. Were I to renounce Universalism, I should renounce my belief in God, in Christ, in a future state of existence, and in everything that belongs to the Christian religion.

'Should all the forms which men devise
Assault my faith with treacherous art,

I'd call them vanity and lies,

And bind the Gospel to my heart.'

"In this assurance of God's goodness, let me live my few remaining days; with these consoling hopes, let

me pass through the valley and shadow of death, and I shall fear no evil. Whatever else I may lose, O, deprive me not of the consolations of this precious faith! It is my meat and my drink; sweeter than honey, or the honey-comb. It is my meditation all the day, my comfort and solace all the long and weary night. 'As the hart pants for the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God!'"

How infinitely superior are the comforts and consolations of the believer in the great restitution, compared with those of the believer in a partial and limited salvation! And how foolish the oft-repeated declaration, that "if Universalism is true, there can be no benefit in believing it!" Look at the sad countenances of the believers in endless suffering! Witness their sighs and lamentations, when called to part with dear and loved ones whom they consider unprepared to meet God. Does it make no difference with them, whether their friends go to heaven or to hell? Would it not greatly increase their happiness, to believe their departed friends were happy?. Indeed it would. Thousands, myself among the number, who have once believed the doctrine of endless punishment, are now rejoicing in the faith and hope of meeting a ransomed world, purified from every stain of sin, — death swallowed up in the victory. of life, and tears wiped from every face. And think you our happiness is not increased? Yea; more than an hundred fold! Most affectionately, then, would I invite all who may read or hear these words, to examine the evidences of impartial grace and salvation recorded in the Scriptures, and spread out before us in the volume of nature. There shall they find that expression of truth which led an apostle to say, "For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor

angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

SHALL WE KNOW ONE ANOTHER IN THE FUTURE?

"How shall I know thee in the sphere which keeps
The disembodied spirit of the dead,

When all of thee that time could wither, sleeps
And perishes among the dust we tread?"

BRYANT.

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It was an anxious inquiry of a young mother, with whose death I was not long since acquainted,. inquiry made in view of her speedy departure from the present life, if she should know her companion and children and friends in the future? She seemed to have no doubt of the life to come, and of that ample goodness which should provide for all the wants of mankind. But then, in reference to one desire of the soul,- that desire to know and to mingle with other loved and kindred souls, there was this anxiousness which could not be suppressed.

It was a natural anxiousness. Many are the instances where this inquiry has been made, near or remote as the time of death might have been to those who raised it. It is a question full of deepest interest to every one who has shared the social blessings of the present life, and looks forward only through a separation from these endearments, to a new sphere of existence beyond the grave. Conscious as we may feel of the certainty and reality of the future being,