Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1857-08-15
SABBATH READING.
Preparation for Death.


Preparation for Death.
= The aspect of our subject suggests to us
the importance of preparation. While it
proclaims the melancholy truth, that death
passed upon all men, it reveals to us the
pleasing intelligence, that if any man be-
lieve in Christ though he were dead, yet
shall he live. 70 submit to an inevitable
evil, will find anapology in its necessity; but
perish, when by a single exertion, or sim
pie application of a remedy, we may live,
bctrays an objectionable insensbilty.-
The principle of death, with all it's attcn-
dant evils, and the principle of eternal life,
through Christ with its elevated enioy-
ments the fear of death, on one hand to
alarm, and the love of eternal life on the
other, to persuade, are but different modes
employed to accomplish the same object.
There is spirit of love in both, and to re-
sist their merciful intentions, is to incur
the highest ccnsure The loss of an object
is not to be estimated by itself, but by the
adverse evils which that loss inhicts. The
loss of eternal life excludes the soul, not
only from its pleasures, but consgns it to
the most excruciating remorsc.
Preparation for death is one of the
plainost lessons taught by revelation, and
one which the providence of God has en-
forced more impressively than any other.
For nothing else has there ever been such
an august and imposing array of motives to
bear upon the consideration of man. 1t
seems as if the wisdom of God had ex-
hausted itsclfin striving to accomplish this
end. And when we look for correspond
o4T,N 1, - or. l. IL
marked, a painful negligence, aggravat-
ed by preparation for everything else--
The death of friend may excite momen-
tary fear, lest we may fall the next; but we
soon recover our confidence, and float as
carclessly 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
for preparation. That which you seek with
so much fondness 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 highest distinction is no security against
the evils of life, and nothing will be of any
permanent advantage to you, that is discon-
duty to God. The secret Of human happi-
ness consists not in wealth; not in human
honor; not in sensual pleasures but in a
sanctifed 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 oflife God intended us to move
In, but our capacities for enjoyment, VIC
would select heaven as the proper element
of our being.
1t is an objectionable disregard of our
interest to prosecute these objects that de-
grade such capacities. The costly cxpeu-
ditures of divine grace never would have
been made, were our Importance like that
of the brute that persheth, Rise, then, to
the station which God designs you to fiil.
There is real and n solid dignity in such
a station. 1t liberateo you from the servi-
tude Of sin. 1t elevates you above the ig-
noble fear of death. Il uuites you to God,
by a relation tho most pleasing. Itclothes
you with honor, glory, and Immortality
Rise my perishing fellow creatures, rise |!
The hour of death is at hand The day of
grace is ebbing to its finish The grave
is almost open to receive you Your
friends are almost gathering around your
remains to pay you the last testimony of
respect! Your funeral requiem is almost
ready to be sung! The,bell is almost toll
ing yourfuneral knell! Anothermontl,, an.
other day, another hour, and all may be a
reality! "rirne is short ask deathbeds,
and theywilltell you. ."--,Sua,v's Sermons.
THE TRsT OF LovE.-The test of love
to Christ is, that we keep his command
ments;" and the remembrance Of how
much he has done and suffered for us,
should quicken our feet in the way of ol .,
dience. We should dread above all other
curses, the doom of the "wickcd and sloth.