Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1861-07-03
Criminal 4apus.
FOR THE SPIRIT OF THE AGE.
A few Thoughts on Death and the Grave.

ny T.. G. wEsrALL.
After thcspirit has taken It's flight for eter-
nifty, it is oflittlc consequence where the body
is laid-vhetherin the cold earth, or inthe
raging sea. At this point Christians and
lufdels meet: but they agree in nothing
else as touching mans exit from life-they
90 no further together than the grave
As the Christians stands over the silent
friend that has just been deposited there,
comfort--a sweet thrill Of joy--comes to
his soul; for bis hope rests on the power
and promise of Cod will raise him up
at the last day" Even while standing
there, his mind takes a few steps in adj
vance Of time, and searches the grave for
his friend, only to fud the worm a resident
there. But a type of the absent one is
deeply impressed on his mind, that the
lapse Of many years cannot deface--that
will not be defaccd--when lie who form
cd the BODY at first shall call its scattered
particles together again to rcanimate it for
eternity.
But the IuiGel looks not beyond the
grave. lie has closed his window to the
sun Of life, so that no ray divine can enter
TO illume the dark chambers of his soul,
aud to give him q glimpse Of his departed
friend in the eternal world. How sad to
think that death will hold the spirit also in
his cold grasp to chain it forever with the
body to the clay How sad to think that
eternity is II world Of silence and forgetful-
f%ulnessl aud that no power exists that is
able to burst the tomb and wake the dead
The Christian, at natures demand, drops
q tear at the grave, and blesses the hand
that unstrung the chord Of life and bid the
spirit ilce--but the lufdel walls without
hope, and shrinks from humiliation, his
only deity, ~ the condemned from the ire
of God.
The soul thirsts for immortality AM
gladly would it carry the body, lift could
beyond the reach OF death. 1t has a strug
Gle on giving up its tenement here, at,
Graves to leave its earthly house in tn
hands Of friends to be sprinkled with thei
tears. Who is he that comes to the quito
verge Of life in a strange land, that doc
not glance far back to the bone of b
youth, and sigh fol Il resting place in tn
old church yard with his friends Yes, I
he stands on the dividing line betwee
time and eternity, ready to enter the dan
threshold Of another world, his last bacI
ward glance must be at the green sp
where the remains Of his friends rcpos
Though a mountains weight Of sin an
hang on his soul. and he desire a grave I
deep for the thuudets Of the Judgment
reach him, yet his last look is turned
ward the home Of his youth, and this hi
last vision fades away ON the family bu
ing grouRd. .
But there is something more rcpell
10 the sensibilities Of man than a or
among strangers--than even TO have
bones left unburicd to bleach on the sa,
desert: it is a grave in the world of
tiers. The soldier with three-6iths c
chance for his life, in comparative ca
ness marches 10 the cannon's mouth
the p~rofane sailor, bred to all dangers
the sea, trembles wEenthc hurricane is
chained to sweep the face of the dc
and when his ship creels to the way
strikes on some hidden reef, he falls tc
knees, and calls on Him to calm the Ii
led waters that holds the ocean in the
low Of his hand. lie has a horror
burial by the tempest, in such a limi
grave. With what emotions does
mother look on the boisterous ocean
her son OF husband lies buried nits dc
when be lies miles deep under its to
pillows
Though one may die among strar
or on the battle field, and be buried
a promiscuous heap Of slain, yet even
a friend may wander and drop a tear
in the stormy ocean How long
broad, how deep his grave! WI
mark the spotl Perhaps yon MOI
billow now sweeps the place he 4
carries in It's hollow bosom some
his remains!