Consider to whom the departed has gone, and take comfort.  He has gone where Paul is, and Peter, and the whole company of the saints.  Consider how he shall arise, with what glory and splendor.  Consider that by mourning and lamenting thou canst not alter the event which has occurred, and thou wilt in the end injure thyself.  Consider whom you imitate by so doing, and shun this companionship in sin.  For whom do you imitate and emulate?  The unbelieving, those who have no hope; as Paul has said—­“That ye sorrow not, even as others who have no hope.”  And observe how carefully he expresses himself; for he does not say, Those who have not the hope of a resurrection, but simply, Those who have no hope.  He that has no hope of a future retribution has no hope at all, nor does he know that there is a God, nor that God exercises a providential care over present occurrences, nor that divine justice looks on all things.  But he that is thus ignorant and inconsiderate is more unwise than a beast, and separates his soul from all good; for he that does not expect to render an account of his deeds cuts himself loose from all virtue, and attaches himself to all vice.  Considering these things, therefore, and reflecting on the folly and stupidity of the heathen, whose associates we become by our lamentations for the dead, let us avoid this conformity to them.  For the apostle mentions them for this very purpose, that by considering the dishonor into which thou fallest, thou mightest recover thyself from this conformity, and return to thy proper dignity.

And not only here, but everywhere and frequently, the blest Paul does the same.  For when he would dissuade from sin, he shows with whom we become associated by our sins, that, being touched by the character of the persons, thou shouldest avoid such companionship.  To the Thessalonians, accordingly, he says, Let every one “possess his vessel in sanctification and honor, not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God.”  And again—­“Walk not as the other Gentiles in the vanity of their mind.”  Thus also here—­“I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not even as others who have no hope.”  For it is not the nature of things, but our own disposition, which makes us grieve; not the death of the departed, but the weakness of those who mourn.

We ought, therefore, to thank God not only for the resurrection, but also for the hope of it; which can comfort the afflicted soul, and bid us be of good cheer concerning the departed, for they will again rise and be with us.  If we must have anguish, we should mourn and lament over those who are living in sin, not over those who have died righteously.  Thus did Paul; for he says to the Corinthians—­“Lest when I come to you God shall humble me among you and that I shall bewail many.”  He was not speaking of those who had died, but of those who had sinned and had not repented of the lasciviousness and uncleanness