Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1851-08-28
The Character and Blsssedness Of those who die in
fhn Inrd


By w. SALTER, Minister of the Church.
Rev. IL: 10. And heard voice from heav-
ell. saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead
wirch de in the Lord from henccforta: Yea,
saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their la
bors and their works do follow them.
The early ages OF Christianity We're martyr
ages. Its chief minister and advocate received
five times Of the Jews, forty stripes one, was
thrice beaten with rods, and was once stoned. 1t
was while in exile, Fin The isle that is called Pat
mos. for the word Of God, and for the testimony
Of Jesus CHRISTI that the visions recorded III the
book OF Revelation appeared to John. He had
seen and felt the rage of the prosecutors. From
various quarters tdngs were brought to him of
the faiihfulness of those who Flowed not their
lives unto the death.' To comfort and cheer the
faithful who survived, was the great object Of the
visions which John saw. 10 human appearance
the relentless persecution which was wagea
against the Church, mus. have threatened ts rx-
tinction. And those whose faith was weak could
not at times reprcss the complaint, that their
Christian friends Were removed by violence and
before their time To meet this very state of
mind, God gave TO his servant visions OF the TIL
umph Of christianity and of the overthrow of all
its enemies, under the mystical representation Of
Babylon, and uttered i'm his ear a voice saying
write, Blessed are the dead which die in the
Lord from henceforth." To this voice the pros
phetic Spirit in the Apostle responds Yea,
that they may rest from their labors and their
works do follow them"
How consoling and annat,ng were these words
No wonder that inspired by such hopes, the blood
OF the martyrs became the seed OF the Church.
ami thousands were raised up 10 fill their places
The truth here stated is applicable not only 10
martyrs. but also TO all snch ~ hold the faith BY
which the martyrs tumphed.
Let us consider the character and bicsSciness NJ
those thus spoken Of dying .'tH the Lord" This
phrascology Is of very frequent use in the New
Testament. II denotes connexion OF faith and
love, vital union. If any man be in Cirist, q
Cor. ): H. he is new creature. Abide in nae.
said orr Saviour 10 his disc pies. Just before lie
suffered. and | in yoa. As the branch cannot
bear fruit OF itself, except it abide in the vine:
no more can We, except ye abide in me. This
union il manifested and perpetuated by obedience
ments, We shall abidc in nay lore even as have
kept my Fathers commandments, and abide in
his love. Hence john says in his first EPistle
g: g. He that saith he abideth in Him, ought
himself also so 10 walk, even as He walked.
And now, little children, abide ia hiH,. that when
he shall appear, we may have confidence, and moi
be ashamed before him at his coming. Hence
Paul represents il the great desire of his heart,
that he may win Christ and b. fonnd in Him."
Phil. 8: 3, Q: and he declares il 10 be the great
object of the ministry--"that we may present
every man perfect IN Christ JESUS" Col. /: %.
"To de in the Lord therefore. implies dying in
A state Of reconciliation with God through our
Lord jesus Christ. It implies hearty acques-
cence 10 all the prime pies of the Christian Reli-
gion. AMI al assured confidence in it, immortal
hopes. II implies penicncc for sin, and hunger
iHg and thirsting after righteousness. II implies
moral likeness 10 Christ. aud some degree Of
meetness for tho inheritance Of the saints in light.
lie, then. WHO is ignorant Of Christ. or destitute
Of faith in Him, or who is wanting in love To His
person. or in devotion 10 Ills serv &C. O. who does
not possess His spirit, cannot be said 10 die in the
Lc'd Opposite phraseo!egv is frequently used
Ia describe the character of the impcaitent and
unbeIieving. They are said 10 be dead IN tres
passes ana sins, 10 be in darkness, and TO be uu-
der the dominion of the Spirit that woTketh in
the children Of disobedierce. They arc without
Christ. aliens from the commonwealth OF Israel.
and strangers from the covenants Of promise. hav-
ing no hope. and without God in the world. No
language can be found 10 represent traits of char
acter more widely diverse than are ndcn'sd by
the phrases, 10 be in Carsi. and 10 be piil9m
Chrisf.
The text speak Of that portion Of The blessed
ness Of those who die in the Lord, which consists
in their restia. from their labor=, and IN their
works following them. II il interesting to no
tirn that The statement OF this is suggested by the
prophetic spirit Of the Seer. John knew by eN-
perience how severe were the labo.s of the fol-
lowers of Christ, and how great hardshiP' they
were called 10 endure. The idea Of rest from
sach tolls was most delightful 10 him. To
be where reproach would cease and beyond The
prosecutors malice where no prison doors threat
ened to open upon them, and no rack stood ready
for their torture. and no wild beasts thirsed for
their blood, was indeed joyful prospect to those
who had long suffered the spelling Of their goods
and the loss OF all things for Christ. 1t was
cheering 20 them also, 10 think of their departed
christian friends as al rest-aot indeed absolute
IL, but relatively at restroom all the WEAKNESS
anG exhaustion which attends labor in our pres
ent state. at rest from anxiety, apprehension and
fear, at rest in the bosom of Him who gave 10 all
His followers the promise Of peace.
The good works of the faithful follow them 10
the eternal world. and they are there treated &C
cordinr to the character they have here sustained.
This is in execution of that universal law, by
which God will render 10 every man according TO
his deeds. No service rendered 20 Christ, no act
done in his name, no course of conduct pursued
by the principles and in the spirit of his life and
example, Shall in any wise fail of lis reward
Death merely drops Il curtain impcnetrabic to
human eyes Bat the departed live on. They
possess the same faculties, the same principles,
the same characteristics and The same affections
They parsue substantially the same line of con-
duet in eternity, upon which they entered in time.
They reap a. they have sown. They who have
sown TO the Spirit, reap of the Spirit life ever
lasting Those who are faithful in the service of
Christ here. are continually putting trains of in
n