Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1862-02-20
Uarittp.
Rcautiftui Extract.

would not live always" we thlnk wof-
tby of a general circulation; it is an cX-
tract from discourse by Rev. MI. Liv-
ermore, editor of the Ncw COrenonE
Neither do we give uttcrance to this
language because of the severity OF our
earthly trials and Affections. These in
deed, at times, seem insuppotable. We
pass through many trials and sorrows /
that bow us to the dust. The hanl Of
anlction is laid upon us and our strength .
becomes weakness. Affections are me-
ted out to all; but when viewed in the
light which streams from the gospel, AMI
we remember that they come by the or
der of providence, and are designed for
our moral and spiritual good, we f,el
that they will work out for us q far more
exceeding and eternal weight Of glory.
These cbastisements are designed to
discipline us, to turn our thoughts to.
wards God and bring us into communion
with him, SO that we feel that these
"Scvcre Affections
Not from the ground arise -
but that often
"Celestial bcncdicons
Assume this dark die uisc"
God permits these trials for some wise
and benevolent purpose, and we bow i'll
resignation to the divine arrangement
and say "1'ho Lords will be DONE
We would not live always on earth,
because we would rcioin ,ur kindred in
the immortal world Here families are
separated and homes are made desolate
by death
The destroying angel enters every
dwelling, and in every house there is, at
least, one "vacaut chair" Many of our
kindred have passed on to chat bourne
from whence no traveller rcturns"-the
idols of our hearts are scattered at our
feet and the dear Oh Gets Of our affections
are taken from our embrace to live with
the angels of light in heaven. Some
Father, mother, sister, brother compan.
ion or child has passed on to the spirit
land.
We all have dear, dear treasures in
heaven Inviting thithcr, drawing us
through our affection to the throne of
God. SO strong now is the attractions
Of heaven that we do not desire to live
on earth forever. 50 strong now is the
desire to upilt the veil that shrouls the
future that we sometimes become impa
ticnt of earth and long to depart and b,
with Christ, to look into heaven to be
hold our loved ones there and participate
in che joys of the immortal world. .-
Who then would live forever away from
the city of our God, where our treasure
dwell, away from that state Of purity an,
and joy and progress at the Father,
right hand
"WLo, who would live always away from hi Goo
Away from yon heaven that bl'sful abode
Where the rivers Of pleasure flow, or the bright
plains,
And the noondc Of glory eternally rcigus
Where the saints Of all ages in harmony meet
Their Savior aud brethren transported to greet;
Where the anthems Of rapture increasingly roll
And the smile Of the Lord is the life of the soul.
The aspirations Of the soul for immor
tality lift us upward, and in the secre
chambers of the heart we feel that W
would not live always on earth. but woul,
pass on ourselves and rejoin our kin
dred in heaven.
We would not live always here, wher,
we can understood SO little of tho ways
of Providence We now SEQ through q
glass darkly. Our vision in this lilc
describes but small circle of the divine
plan. Tho ways of God seem dark and
mysterious ofthe problems of life
are now ineXplicablc. In our short sight
edncss, we see things obscurely-we do
not grasp all the divine plan, nor fully
appreciate the wisdom and bencvolcnc,
of the divine economy, for we now wall
by faith, not by sight. But when ",
shall have "shullled of this mortal coil
and faith is lost in sight and hope in lrui
tion and we shall stand "iace to face
with God and Christ, and know even a
we arc known we trust that we shall bet
ter understand what now appears so darl
and mysterious, and shall know on earth
but when our spiritual perceptions ar
quiclkened, tbs powers OF tho soul eNpan
dcd, these mysteries will bc unfoldcd
and the dark problems of life solved; anj
vale of tears; we ask not to stay in thiI
world Of ignorance and temptation an,
sin forever.
We would not live here always fol
earth connot satisfy the longings Of the
soul. Heaven only can mcc. all its
Joy. Our spiritual natures demand n
state of holiness and peace where we shall
be brought into moro intimate relations
with our heavenly Father, and into more
immediate communion with God, where
can bask in the sunlight of his love. and
DO refreshed by the spiritual iniluen-
COS of heaven. We long for heavenly So
cicty, for communion with the gloriic
on high, aud for that state OF happiness
and progrcs where We shall be filled with
the fullncs of God hrist will sup with
us and we with him. Who then would
live always away from the purity OF
Heaven, and the bliss of the redeemed?