The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1862-04-29

All scripture Is given Dy INSPIRATION o
God, and is profitable for doctrine, fol
reproof, for correction, for instruction in
righteousness, that the man of God may
be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all
good works.
Yet there are some portions Of far more
interest TO US than others, from the fac
they are more directly connected with
our present, future, and eternal welfare
And what sentence could develop sen.
iiment of deeper and more thrilling in
terest to man than the one we have Sc
lected as the basis OF our remarks on this
occasion =?
Prepare to meet thy God" 1t full.
ly implies that there is possibility o.
not being prepared for such an interview
and that some preparation is necessary
1t is PLAN, direct and pointed; none need
mistake its import. Each should ponder
the question in his own mind, cam pre-
pared 10 meet my God ?" 1t is appropri-
ate TO every age and condition in life,
and how appropriate TO US o-day as we
are called TO follow one of our worthy
friends and citizens to the mansions oil
the dead.
But the question may arise, when we
should be prepared to meet Him. We
would say
l. In a special manner IN tile Aour OF
death, for many reasons which m'gM BE
&rged.
lst. 1t will be our first personal inter
view with Him, in which we shall be-
hold Him as He is face TO face, without
a veil between. 1t is true we may read
the footprints of the Almighty in all the
works OF nature +; in every spire of grass
which decorales the fields in every
flower that blooms in the sunbeams in
every tree of the forest; in every layer
OF rocks as they rise one after another to
the highe summit; in every drop of
water which composes the oceans wide
domain in every beast Of the field in
every fowl of the air in every fish ofthe
sea in every planet that moves in the
heavens in every thunder tone and in
every lightning flash. How fully this is
expressed by the Psalmist. "The heav-
ems declare the glory of God and the firm
ament showeth His handywork. Day
unto day uttereth speech and night unto
night showeth knowledge. There is no
speech no: language where His voice is
not heard"
But when ushered into His presence
by death we shall no longer behold Him
through glass darkly, or through his
works, but as He is in all the glory of
His personality.
o how important that we should be
prepared for such an interview.
Cd. We are to meet Him under pecul-
lar circumstances, which will try the
preparation of the heart. 1t will not be
in the hustle of life, the marts of trade,
the circles of pleasure. or in the
halls of science. Not in the society
of our friends around which may entwne
all the affections of our souls. Not in
the society Of those upon whose lips we
have hung with so much pleasure, and
regarded their words almost divine. In
death We shall meet God alone away
from our friends away from all our form
er associations and away from all the
scenes of time. Isolated and alone we
must stand in his presence, with all our
theories 10 be tested, our false refugees 10
be demolished and our unlawful weap
ons TO be wrested from our puny grasp.
Did Moses require a special preparation
to meet the Lord upon the mount. at the
time he received the law upon the tables
Of stone, and shall we not need special
preparation to meet him as We are ush-
cred into another world
As our eyes close TO the scenes around
us, and our pulse ceases 10 beat. and we
leave our friends weeping around our
lifeless body, while we 80 alone through
the valley of the shadow of death up TO
God and the judgment seat, will il net
be an hour which will test the prepara-
ton ofour hearts
Sd Death will introduce US into The
presence of our God on very solemn
errand. 1t will not be to visit the throne
of the king of kings, to witness the splen-
dor Of the crown which he wears. the
sceptre which he wields, to CRAFTY feel
ing Of curiosity or for any speculative
purpose. Curiosity and speeulations
have ceased, and living realities are now
TO burst upon our vision, the final decs-
ion is TO be given which will determine
our destiny throughout eternity. Wheth-
er We are prepared to hear the happy
plaudits from the lips of him who read
eth the secret Of our hearts: Z" Come We
blessed Of my Father inherit the king.
dom prepared for you from the founda.
lon Of the world"
4th. Another reason why we should
be prepared to meet God at death is
death will terminate our day Of proba-
tion--the form of the privileges and
blessings which we enjoy here. This
life is appointed for us to prepare for an
other-earth to prepare for heaven, time
for eternity. This life is oyershadowed
by the mercy seat strewn with blessings
immortal blessings far moro preciou,
than Jewels and valuable than gold. AT
ter they are once passed they cannot b.
recalled. TO enable us TO gather up th'
sparkling gems we have left behind-t