There are two thoughts in this verse which seem to me to be fraught with comfort and hope to us as we gather round this grave.  There is the thought of rest.  “They rest from their labors.”  Bethink you of the long life marked by the discipline of sorrow, and by those unwearied labors for others.  Bethink you of the racking agony of the last two days; and how blessed, how soothing the contrast introduced by the words—­“She rests from her labors.”  Still is the busy hand; at rest the active brain; completed the discipline; the pain ended forever.

The other thought is that her work is not done, so far as its results are concerned.  “Their works do follow them.”  Think you that because she will no longer meet you in her weekly Bible-readings, because her pen will no more indite the thoughts which have made so many patient under life’s burdens, and helped so many to make of their burdens steps on which to mount heavenward—­think you her work is ended?  Nay.  Go into yonder field, and pluck a single head of wheat, and plant the grains, and you know that out of each grain which falls into the ground and dies, there shall spring up an hundred-fold.  Shall you recognise so much multiplying power in a corn of wheat, and not discern the infinitely greater power of multiplication enfolded in a holy life and in a holy thought?  No.  Through the long years in which her mortal remains shall be quietly resting beneath this sod, the work of her tongue and pen shall be reproducing itself in new forms of power, of faith, and of patience.

And yet we seem to want something more than these two thoughts give us.  It does not satisfy us to contemplate only rest from labor and the perpetuated fruits of labor.  And that something this same little volume gives us in the words appointed for this day, on which we commit her mortal part to the grave:  “For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of love, which ye have showed toward His name, in that ye have ministered to the saints and do minister.  Be not slothful, but followers of them who, through faith and patience, inherit the promises.”  Here the veil is lifted, and we get the glimpse we want of her inheritance and reward in heaven.  She has inherited the promises; such promises as these:  “If children, then heirs, heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be also glorified together.”  “They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more, neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat; for the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them to living fountains of waters, and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.”  “They shall see His face, and His name shall be in their foreheads.”  “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in His throne.”