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PREFACE.

Ir may, perhaps, be well to apprise the readers of this interesting and consolable manual, that it is intended to be a companion volume to "The Hope of the Bereaved; or, Recognition in Heaven," which was published a short time ago, the first edition of which was sold off in less than three months, and a second has recently been issued, thus affording a strong proof of the needful increase of books of such a class. In the work to which allusion has just been made, the Author attempted to relieve the anxious minds and comfort the sorrow-pierced hearts of those who lamented the loss of beloved Christian friends, with the confident hope of re-union and recognition where there is "no more death," and, consequently, no more separation and mourning. He sought, by holy words and Scriptural arguments, to excite their highest and strongest anticipations concerning the future happy estate of "the whole family in heaven." He now addresses himself specially to bereaved parents, whose choice Spring flowers have been gathered by the

"Reaper, whose name is Death,"

and whose once-blooming infants now moulder in the quiet dust of "God's Acre." Such-especially mothers, who feel far more intensely than fathers can

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need the catholic sympathy of every disciple of the Lord Jesus, and all the works that can be written to still and soothe their agonized hearts, and reconcile them to those sorrowful dispensations which, in the Providence of God, so often befall humanity. The world abounds with such mournful calamities. Many a weeping Rachel refuses to be comforted, because her children are not; and many a bereaved Jacob pathetically exclaims- "Joseph is not; and Simeon is not; and ye will take Benjamin away!" The age in which we are privileged to live is the most prolific which has ever been known in book. making. Works on science, and philosophy, and theology, have issued from the press with amaz ing rapidity, and have been as eagerly devoured by the reading public: yet, strange to tell, the vast host of Christian mourners have been well nigh forgotten by Christian writers; and had it not been for the pitiful and timely remembrance of Him" who comforteth us in all our tribulations," they must have sunk under the crushing pressure of terrestrial sorrow. It is a notable fact, that until within the last few years, the poor widow was without a work specially devoted to alleviate her sorrowful condition; at least, if one was in existence previously, it had perished under oblivion's wave. At the kind and thoughtful suggestion of his dying partner, who had felt the acute sorrows and deep loneliness of the widowhood state before she became his wife, the Rev. John Angell James wrote a volume, entitled, "The Widow directed to the Widow's

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