Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1855-10-25
For the Free Press.
BT PETEAsT.

bI PLTEAsT.
In looking around Us We see the emblems
Of death and decay upon every hand We
gaze upon the flower in the morning as il stands
with it's tinted leaves unfolded and decked with
dew-drOps that sparkle in the rays Of the NOR
ming sun. But We look again and we behold
IFS Withered head hanging upon the slender
stalk. Its beauty is gone and It's fragrance has
passed away. Thus the instability of life is
written upon everything in nature that we zee
around US, and We are constrained to say
Surely man is but shadow and life a dream.
at every step We meet with the foot prints of
the fell destroyer and as we wander along
through the pathway Of life we feel assured
that we are liable at any moment to be struck
down BY blow given from bis unerring hand;
that in sholt time we will close our eyes
for the last time upon all earthly scenes and be
borne to the cold, dark grave-there to return
to our mother dust. The king Of terrors
comes unbidden to the marble palace and 10
the humble cottage. With the same firm aud
heavy step, that he enters the lowly hut be al
so enteis the royal chamber and laws bis iey
hand upon him who sways the scepter of pow
er. The tolling bell-the rafting Of the hearre
as it passes by us on the street.-The mounful
prOcession-the new made grave-all remind
us that we are being hurried to one common
Gosl-that we are all travelling to the same
place. In the morning we gaze upon the infant
resting in its cradle, while its cheek is tinged
with the glow Of health but at noon the hand
of disease is laid upon it. and at eve the little
bud lies faded and blasted by the hand Of
death. We gaze upon the aged man whose
locks are whitened by the frosts of many win.
ters,-Whose cheek has lost the flush of youth
and we hear him say that his lamp of life is
nearly exlinguisbed'-that the grave will soon
open TO receive him. and that his feeble. totter
ing limbs will soon find a resting place in the
silent tomb. Thus one by one the young--the
middle aged, and the aged enter the dark cur
rent of death; and as we stand upon the brink
of their graves we are admOnished that We too
must bow to the sceptre Of the king of ter
rors.'
But after all, to those who have lived in o.
bedience to the laws of God. death is only a
short aud tranquil sleep; and the grave quiet
and peaceful abode. where its inmates may
rest secure from the darts Of the evil one, and
be free from the tolls and cares of life. And
although the in6del may write upon the tomb
stone. Death is an eternal Sleep yet we are
assured the time is coming when those that
sleep in the tomb shall wake from their slum.
bers and forsake their silent sbodes. Thy
brother shall rise again." said the son Of Cod
to the weeping sister-snd with tears Of SYM
pathy upon his cheek he called the spirit of
that brother back to earth and restored him to
his friends and to his home. Sister, thy bro
ther shall rise agan"-brother, thy sister
thu mother-AL thy loved friends shall wake
from the sleep Of death. The morn will come
The triumph of God will sound-wide open
will be flung the golden gates of heaven, and
while the Son of God appears in the clouds,
surrounded by the angelic hosts; then the
sainted dead shall rise-shake off the dust of
the tomb, and ascend to meet their God and
be escorted into the city of the New Jerusa-
lem, where they shall dwell forever upon the
banks of the "R.ver Nile.
The vas. throng has entered in--the golden
gates are forever closed and naught is heard
save the angelic harps mingled with the songs
ofthe redeemed as they walk the golden
stree.s of the celestial city, We now look
back to earth and we behold others yet re.
naming who have also heard the summons
and arose from their graves Bat how chang.
ed the scene They come not clothed in the
weddi ng garment. They come not arrayed in
the robes of righteousness They, came not
to meet the smiles of an approving God. They
come not to breath eternal life. But, only
to die an eternal death. An ETERNAL death !
what words can convey to our minds the hog;
rors of that second death
"Who sees il once shall wish to sect no more
Forever undscribsd let It remain
Only this much may or can unfold. -s.'-s+ss.s1
For ont |, thrus. dart that might have made
The knees Of terror quake, and on hung,
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