Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1841-08-10
Religious MtstflIanp.
THE DESTROYER OF DEATH.
ny nR. CHALMERS.

When we look at the wide extent and uni
versatility of the Tavagcs OF death, how hopeless
is our escape! We see no exceptional scat
ter. lis dcsolatIons with unsparing regularity
among all the sous and daughters of Adam
il perhaps adds 10 our despair when we see il
offending 20 the lower animals, or behold the
lowell, forms of the vegetable creation dissolv-
ing into nothing. 1T carries to our observa-
ton all the immutabli,y of n general law: we
can look Tor no mitigation Of the incorigblc
ds,empcr; we cannot reverse the process Of
haiurc, nor bid her elements TO retire. Is there
mo power, then, superior to nature which can
control IL To us, a law of the universe car
res an idea of some fixed and unatcrablc ne
ccssl,y along with il: and of none more strict,
more unialllng and more widely extensive in
lis operations than the law Of death. In the
wide circuit of things does there exist no high
CT authority that can abolish this law?-no
power that can overthrow dcath--that can
grapple with this mighty conqueror and break
ms tyranny TO pieces! We never saw that
being, but the records Of past ages have come
down to us, and VIC there read of the cxiraor-
binary visitor who lighted on these realms
where death had rclgned so long in all the tri-
pmphs of extended empire. Wonderful en-
prpsise! He came TO destroy death! Vast
undertaking. he came to dcpose nature from
this conceived lmmutabiity; and law which
embraced within its wide grasp all who live
and move on the taco Of the world. he came Ia
oycriurn; and he soon gave token Of n power
commensurate 10 the mighty undertaking. -
That nature, To whose operations we are so apt
to ascribe some stubborn aud inv,ncibe ne
cesstiy, gave way at his coming; she felt his
authority through all her regions, and she
obeycd It. Wonderful perlod-whcn the
cons'ancy Of nature was broken in upon by
HIM who established ii-when the Deity WIN
dIcatcd his honor and the miracles of single
age, committed 10 authentic history, gave eyi'
dence TO all iuturIty that there IS n power a
boyc nature and beyond II. What more IN
Changing than the aspect Of the starry hea
'ens-snd IN what quarter of her domInlon'
docs nature maintain more silent and sol
emn intiehibllIty, than m the orbs which rol
around u.s. Yet, at the coming ofihat mighty
SAVIOR, these heavens broke silence music
MAS heard iiom their canopy, and 1t came from
congregation of living voices, which SUM
The praises of God and made them fall in ar
hcuiate language on human ears. After this
Who can call nature unaierable, Jesus Chris
hath abolished death, he has made perpeiua
insasion on natures consiancy and she neye
~ aHngle instance resisted the word OF III
power. What manner Of man is ,hls;" sal,
his disciples, "evon the winds of the sea ODE
hm'' Philosophers love 10 erpaiia,e, an
they tell US Of the laws ofthe animal and veg
eiable Kingdom. These lass may prove a
impossible barrier 10 us, but IN the hand q
The omnpoten, SAVIOR they were nothing-h
reversed or supported them at pleasure; h
blasted the hg-tree 10y single word; and ~ha
70 Us was the basis Of high anticipation, h
made the subject Of his miracles. lie resio
ed sight TO the blind, he restored speech I
tie dumb, lac restored molten tn the palsle'
and 10 crown his triumph over nature and be
Processes, he restored life TO The dead-h
s.d down has own lfe, and took Il up agar
The disciples gave up ell fer Lost when ne