The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1849-01-17
PREPARATION FOR DEATH.

PREPARATION FOR DEATH.
The aspect of our subject suggests to us the
importance of preparation, While it procams
the melanchol ly truth, that death has passed
upon all men, il reveals 10 US the pleasing intel
lgence, that il any man believe in Christ,
though he were dead, yet shall he live. 10
submit to an inevitable evil: will find an apollo
gy in lis necessity; but to perish, when by a
single e1erion, or simple application OF a
remedy, we may live, betrays an objectionable
insensiblity. The principle of death, with all
its attendant evils, and the principle of eternal
life, through Christ, with its elevated enjoy.
ments; the fear Of death, on one hand, to
alarm, and the love of eternal life on the other,
| 10 persuade, are but different modes employed
to accomplish the same object. There is a
spirit of love in both and 10 resist their mercl-
Gnl intentions, is to incur the highest censure.
| The loss Of an object is not to be estimated by
itself, but by the adverse evils which that loss
inhcts. The loss of eternal life excludes the
SOUL not only from its pleasures, but conslgns
| it 10 the most e3crucialing remorse.
Preparation for death is one Of the Plainest
lessons taught by revelation, and one which
the providence Of God has enforced more i'm.
pressively than any other. For nothing else
has there ever been such an august and impos.
ing array of motives TO bear upon The consid.
Grafton of man. II seems as if the wisdom OF
God had exhausted itself in striving TO accom-.
plish this end. And when We look for a cor
responding offart on the part of man, alas
there is marked, painful negligence, aggra
vailed by a preparation for every thing else.
The death of friend may excite momenary
fear, lest we may fall the next; but we soon
recover our confidence, and float as carelessly
upon the stream Of life, as though there were
no dangers to surprise US.
Every day you live. not only brings you
nearer the grave, but lessons your ability Tor
preparation. That which you seek with so
much fondncss at the expense Of your spiritual
good, will cover you hereafter with shame and
dishonor. The experience of the world should
teach you the vanity Of all earthly advantages.
The attainment of the highes, distinction is no
security against the evils of life, and nothing
will he Of any permanent advantage 10 you;
that is disconnected with your duty to man, and
your duty to God. The secret Of human hap
piness consists not in wealth; no, in human
honor; not in sensual pleasure; but i'll sane.
tilted affection. This, and only this, can arm
YOU for that painful crisis, which will occur in
the history of every man. Had we nothing
by which to determine what sphere of life God
intended US to move in, but our capacities Tor
endowment, we would select heaven as the pro.
per element Of our being.
1t is an objectionable disregard of our inter.
est to prosecute these objects that degrades such
capacities. The costly expenditures OF divine
grace never would have been made, were our
Importance like that of the brute that perlsheth.
Rise, then, 10 the station which Col designs
YOU to fill. There is real and solid dignity
in such a station. /! lbcrales you from the
servitude of sin. 1t elcvates you above the
ignoble lear of death. 1t unitcs you to God, by
a relation the most pleasing. II clothes you
with honor, glory. and Immortality. kIse! my
pc rishing fellow creatures, rise! The hour OF
death is at hand! The day of grace is ebbins
TO its finish The grave is almost open to re.
ccive you! Your friends are almost gathering
around your remains to pay you the last tcstl'
mony of respect! Your funeral requiem is al
most ready to be sung! The bell is almost
tollins your funeral knell! Another month,
another day, another hour, and all may be
reality! "'rimo is short! ask dea'hbeds, and
they will tell you."-Suarc's Sermons.
F1RMSEss.- should be firm-woman
should bo firm-all our decisions and doings
should show firmness and reason. What can
we effect by triAing vibrating course! Does
any one know of a man who becam" rich or
happy on account of there being no depend.
ence to be put in him? We presume not
Firmncss of character carries man through
the world easily and makes him respected ny
all, gains for him a good name and sheds
around him innumerabe blessings. Without
it he is despiscd by his friends, led into thou
sand snares by his enemies, en'iccd from Wiz
tue by those we least expect, and flna'ly may
commit crimes for want of frmness to resist al
uremcnts OF vice.
Firmness of character stamps the image OF
man with something more than animal
raises him above temptation from the path OF
virtue, above all pretty feelings of,he heart. =
1t is the main composition of General-the
necessary accomplishment of Priest-'hfe
making ola Judge-and finally the security OF
men and pretty women.