Chapter XXVI: The Parting Place, and the Meeting Place

The following circumstance took place not long after the last meeting. Two mothers, who were both present at the Class, about a fortnight after met in the Cemetery, sorrowing at their children’s graves. Each had during that interval lost a child, but not having heard of each other’s trouble, the meeting was unexpected.

On this occasion the following subject was taken.

I. The parting place—the child’s death-bed. This is,

1. A parting place.

All must die alone. The mother may have watched over her child with
untiring care during its years of infancy, the trials of youth, and the
snares and cares of riper years, but here they _must part_. 2 Sam.
xii. 15, 23.

2. A weeping place. Gen. xxi. 16.

2 Sam. xii. 21. Jer. xxxi. 15.

Mark, v. 38. Luke, vii. 13. Not _wrong_, for Jesus wept at the grave
of Lazarus. John, xi. 35.

3. A birth place

To a new and heavenly life. But not so to _all_. To _some_, namely,
to those who have indeed been born again. Luke, xvi. 22; and to babes.
Isa. xl. 11.

Contrast David’s sorrow for his infant, (2 Sam. xii. 23) with his
sorrow for Absalom, 2 Sam. xix. 4. To one death was the door of
_life_, to the other of _death_.

II. The meeting place—the judgment-seat. Rev. xx. 12. Rom. xiv. 10.

You cannot avoid it.

It will be.

1. To all a place of recognition.

The child you led to Christ—the child you led astray. The child you
trained for heaven—the child you trained for hell. _All_ will be
there.

2. To many a place of weeping. Matt. xxv. 30. Luke, vi. 25.

3. To many a place of rejoicing. Matt. xxv. 34.

Believing mother! Your night of weeping will then be over, your
morning of joy will dawn, of which the sun will never set! Ps. xxx. 5.

Which will it be to you—a meeting-place of joy or sorrow?

May you and your children be so united in Christ here, that you may
both part and meet in peace!