Christian life in this world is not a voyage in the sunshine, darkening as it progresses and growing stormy, ending in utter wreck on death's shores; rather, it is a voyage through earthly storm and shadow, but at last out into the broad ocean of eternal blessedness. Death is not the end, but the beginning. It is not loss, but gain. It is not into darkness, but into marvellous light. It is not to silence and stillness, but into life far more real and active. It is not away from joy and gladness and beauty, but is out of the mere hints and shadows and hopes of blessedness into the full revelation of Christ, into his very presence, where there is fulness of joy, where there are pleasures for evermore.