“Hark! they whisper; angels say,
    Sister spirit, come away.”

It is not improbable—­it seems accordant with divine goodness—­that such methods should be employed to relieve the anxiety of the departing spirit.  Sometimes the dying Christian has declared that he heard enrapturing music.  It is possible that voices were employed to soothe him to sleep, and to soften the transition, from the full consciousness of life, to the revelations of the heavenly world.  Perhaps the effect of disease upon the organs of hearing was such as to produce something like sounds, which, in a joyous state of mind, were pleasurable.  During the siege of Jerusalem in 1836, the wife of an American missionary sung while dissolution was actually taking place.  The tones of her voice, they said, seemingly more than mortal, were far different from any thing which they had ever heard, even from her.  God is often pleased to use these natural effects of dissolution on the body, to comfort the passing spirit of his child.  Whether visions or real voices are actually seen or heard, is of no consequence, so long as the soul has a rational and assured hope.  Some means are unquestionably used in every case to make the dying believer feel that he is safe.  He is not compelled to wait in uncertainty and fear for a moment.  His fears are anticipated; he is among other friends, the moment that he grows insensible to those who watch his departing breath.  Neither are we to suppose that heaven breaks upon the senses of the spirit with such an overpowering brightness, as to excite confusion and pain.  No doubt the revelation is gradual and most pleasant.  Perhaps the celestial city appears at first in the distance, having the glory of God most precious; the approach to it is gradual; voices are heard afar off, and from the convoy of ministering spirits, such information and instructions are received as prepare it for the full vision of heaven.  Every thing is calm and serene; the light is attempered to its new and feeble vision.  He who makes the sun to rise by slow degrees, and does not pour straight, fierce rays upon the waking eyes even of sinful men, certainly will not torment the soul of his child with any such revelations of unseen things as will give pain.  The same care which has redeemed and saved him, will order all these things in covenanted love.

Some of the preceding thoughts are well expressed in the following anonymous lines, written on seeing Mr. Greenough’s group of the Angel and Child ascending to Heaven:—­

“Child.  Whither now wilt thou proceed? 
Angel.  Come up hither; I will show thee. 
Follow me with joyful speed;
Leave thy native earth below thee. 
Child.  Stop! mine eyes cannot contain
Such a wondrous flood of light. 
Angel.  Come up hither.  Thou shall gain,
As thou risest, stronger sight. 
Child.  Lost in wonder without end,
Joyful, fearful, longing, shrinking,