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life； is unalloyed by sharp interruptions； or by any stain。 That communion now； though saddened； is tender； and without reproach。
And even if we remember that while they lived our relations with them were all beautiful； shall we not believe that when they were taken away their earthly mission for us was fulfilled？ Was not their departure as essential a work of the divine beneficence as their bestowal？ Who knows but if they had overstayed the appointed hour； our relations with them might have changed？some new element of discontent and unhappiness been introduced； which would have entirely altered the character of our recollections？ At least； to repeat what I have just suggested； what Christian doubts that their taking awaythis change from living communion to the communion of memorywas for an end as wise and kind as were all the love and intercourse so long vouchsafed to us？
Vital； the； for the Christian； is this relation which we have with the dead by memory。 We linger upon it； and find in it a strange and sweet attraction。 and is not much of this because； though we may be unconscious of it； the current of faith subtilely intermingles with our grief； and gives its tone to our communion？ We cannot consider the departed as lost to us forever。 The suggestion of rupture holds a latent suggestion of reunion。 The hues of memory are colored by the reflection of hope。 Religion transforms the condition of the departed for us； and we consider them not as dead； but sleeping。
II。 There is another relation which we have with the dead；the relation of spiritual existence。 We live with them； not only by communion with the past； by images of memory； but by that fine； mysterious bond which links us to all souls； and in which we live with them now and forever。 The faith that has converted death into a sleep has also transformed the whole idea of life。 If the one is but a halt in the eternal march；a slumbrous rest preceeding a new morning；the other is but the flow of one continuous stream； mated awhile with the flesh； but far more intimately connected with all intelligences in the universe of God。 What are the conditions of our communion with the livingthose with whom we come in material contact？ The eye； the lip； the hand； are but symbols； interpretations；behind these it is only spirit that communes with spirit； even in the market or the street。 But not to enter into so subtle a discussion； of what kind are some of the best communions which we have on earth？ We take up some wise and virtuous book； and enter into the author's mind。 Seas separate us from him；he knows us not； he never hears our names。 But have we not a close relation to him？ Is there not a strong bond of spiritual communion between us？ Nay； may not the intercourse we thus have with him be better and truer than any which we could have from actual contact；from local acquaintance？ Then； some icy barrier of etiquette might separate us；some coldness of temperament upon his part；some spleen or disease； we might be shocked by some temporary deformity； some little imperfection might betray itself。 But here； in his book； which we read three thousand miles away from him； we receive his noblest thoughts；his best spiritual revelations； and we know him； and commune with him most intimately； not through local but through spiritual affinities。
And how pleasing is the though that not even death interrupts this relation。 Years； as well as milesages may separate us from the great and good man； but we hold with him still that living communion of the spirit。 Our best life may flow to us from this communion。 Some of our richest spiritual treasures have been deposited in this intercourse of thought。 Some of our noblest hopes and resolutions have been animated by those whose lips have long since been sealed；whose very monuments have crumbled。
A dear friend goes away from us to a foreign land。 We watch the receeding sail； and feel that that is a bond between us； until it fades away in the far blue horizon。 Then it is a consolation to walk by the shore of that sea； and to realize that the same waters lave the other shore； where he dwells；to watch some star； and know that at such an hour his eye and thought are also directed to it。 Thus the soul will not entertain the idea of absolute separation； but makes all those material objects agents for its affinities。 But how much nearer does that absent one come to us； when we know that at such an hour we both are kneeling in prayer； and that our spirits meet； as it were； around the footstool of God！
Thus we see that even in life there are spiritual relations which bind us to our fellows； and that often these are dearer and stronger than those of local contact。 Why should we suppose that death cuts off all such affinities？ It does not cut them off。 It only removes the loved from our converse and our sight； but if； when absent in some distant land of this earth； we are conscious of still holding relations to them； do we not retain the same though they have vanished into that mysterious and unseen land which lies beyond the grave？ 〃She is not dead； but sleepeth。〃 Christianity has taught us to look away from the ghastly secrets of the sepulchre； and not consider that changing clay as the friend we mourn； but as only the cast…off and mouldering garment。 It has kindled within us a lively appreciation of the continued existence of those who have gone from us； taught us to feel that the thoughts； the love； the real life of the departed； all； in fact； that communed with us here below； still lives and acts。 And our relations to them are relations which we bear； not to abstractions of memory； to phantoms of by…gone joy； but to spiritual intelligences； whose current of being flows on uninterrupted； with whose current of being our own mingles。 I know not how it is with others； but to me there is inexpressible consolation in this thought。
But I would suggest that； as spiritual beings； we bear even a closer relation to the departed。 I said that Christianity has transformed the whole idea of life。 It has shown that we are essentially spirits； and that our highest relations are spiritual。 If so； it seems an arrogant assumption to deny that any intercourse may exist between ourselves and the spiritual world。 Possessing as we do this mysterious nature； throbbing with the attraction of the eternal sphere； who shall say that it touches no spiritual confines；that it has communion only with the beings that we see？ It is a dull atheism which repudiates all such intimations as superstitious or absurd。 To speak more distinctly； I allude to the consoling thought which springs up almost intuitively； that the departed may； at times； see us； and be present with us； though we do not recognize them。 For wise and good reasons； our senses may so constrain us that we cannot perceive these spiritual beings。 But the same reasons do not exist to shut them from beholding and visiting us。 The most essential idea of the immortal state is that it yields certain prerogatives which we cannot possess in our mortal condition。 may it not be； therefore； that while it is our lot to be restricted to sensuous vision； and to behold only material forms； it is their privilege； having received the spiritual sight； to see both spiritual and material things？
Nor need we imagine that immortality implies distance from us；that change of state requires any great change of place。 Looking through this earthly glass； we see but darkly； but when death shatters it we may behold close around us the friends we have loved； and find their spiritual peculiarity is not incompatible with such near residence。 The homes of departed spirits may be all around us；these spirits themselves may be ever hovering near； unseen in our blindness of the senses。 At all events； we deem it one of the grand distinctions of spirit that it is not confined to one region of space； but may pass； quick as its own intelligence； from sphere to sphere。 And while I would rebuke rash speculation； I would also rebuke the cold materialism which unhesitatingly rejects an idea like this which I have now suggested。
I maintain； moreover； that such speculation is not all idle。 It serves to quicken within us the thought of how near the dead may be to us； to purify that thought； and to breathe upon our fevered hearts a consoling hope。 And when I combine its intrinsic reasonableness with the spirit and spiritualism of Christianity； and that intuitive suggestion which springs up in so many souls； I can urge but faint objection to those who entertain it； and would； if possible； share and diffuse the comfort which it gives。 Nearer； than； than we imagineclose as in mortal contact； and more intimatelymay be those whom we； with earthly vision behold no more； visiting us in hours of loneliness； and affording unseen companionship； watching us in the stillness of slumber； and reflecting themselves in our dreams。
But； whether we indulge this notion or not； let us realize the relation which we have with the departed by the ties of mutual spirituality。 Let us not coldly restrict or weaken this relation。 If the material world is full of inexplicable things；if we cannot explain the secret affinities of the star and th