"To think his child is blest above,
To pray their parting grief,
These, these may soothe, but death alone,
Can heal a father's grief."
But this grief should never amount to dissatisfaction with God. Though it
is right to weep, it is wrong to murmur. Many parents murmuringly mourn
the loss of their children, and in wrestling with God to spare them, betray
the want of a true submission to His will. It is sinful to murmur at the
decrees of God. We have seen that they are wise, and all designed for our
good. Methinks if your dying babe could respond to your murmuring sighs and
tears around its crib, it would thus reprove you:--
"Nay, mother, fix not thus on me
That streaming eye,
And clasp not thus my freezing hand;
For I must die.
To Him ye gave the opening bud,
The early bloom;
Then grieve not that the ripened fruit
He gathers home."
But we should not only refrain from murmuring, but meekly submit to the
providential afflictions of our home. We should remember that all the
adversities of life are from the Lord, and that when death invades our
household, and crushes the fond hopes of our hearts, it is for some wise
and good purpose. Though we may not understand it here, where we look
through a glass darkly; but eternity will reveal it. Though the dying of a
child is like tearing a limb from us; but remember God demands it.
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