beyond the reach of sorrow. Jairus was a " ruler ;" yet sickness and trouble came to his house. Jairus probably had wealth, and all the medical help that wealth can command ; yet money could not keep death away from his child. The daughters of rulers are liable to sickness, as well as the daughters of poor men. The daughters of rulers must die.
It is good for us all to remember this. We are too apt to forget it. We often think and talk as if the posses- sion of riches was the great antidote to sorrow, and as if money could secure us against sickness and death. But it is the very extreme of blindness to think so. We have only to look around us and see a hundred proofs to the contrary. Death comes to halls and palaces, as well as to cottages — 'to landlords as well as to tenants — to rich as well as to poor. It stands on no ceremony. It tarries no man's leisure or convenience. It will not be kept out by locks and bars. "It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment." (Heb. ix. 27.) All are going to one place, the grave.
We may be sure there is far more equality in the por- tions appointed to men than at first sight appears. Sick- ness is a great leveller. It makes no distinction. Heaven is the only place where " the inhabitant shall not say, I am sick." (Isa. xxiii. 24.) Happy are they who set their affections on things above ! They, and they only, have a treasure which is incorruptible. Yet a little while, and they will be where they shall hear no more evil tidings. All tears shall be wiped from their faces. They shall put on mourning no more. Never again shall they hear those sorrowful words, "thy daughter — thy son — thy