American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1864-06-22

ed to the silent tomb, and all could not
help but say; that a brave hero had been
lost to the country in wLose defense he
had given his life willing sacrifice,
FUNERAL SERMON.
Psalm So teach us to number our days, that
we may apply our hearts unto wisdom"
1t is appointed unto man once to die,
and after Death the Judgment" The
life of man in this world is presented to
our view, as mortal and feeting. a few
days, or at best, few short years, COM
prehends the history of the longest life.
Every day of our lives, we see Death lay
ing his icy finger on multitudcs, of all
ages, classes, and conditions-here-there
everywhere, changing their countenan-
ccs and sending them away
In view Of this fact, so well established
by the worlds observation and experience,
We have the sweet Psalmist of Israel, in
one Of the most beautiful of his Poems,
putting up this prayer to his God, express
sive not only of his own desire, but like
wise beautifully expressive ofwhat should
be the prayer and earnest desire Of every
true christian, especially who realizes prop
crly his duty respecting time and eternity,
% So teach us to number our days that
we may apply our hearts unto wisdom"
And the language here, my friends, |
would have you observe, would seem to
indicate, that the duty of individuals thus
to make a wise use and improvement of
their time, as expressed in the prayer Of
the Psalmist, although one, which every
consideration of wisdom and prudence, and
safety, would dictate, should be attended
to without delay, is a duty nevertheless,
which is widely and almost universally
neglected; and at this solemn hour and
place-when we are assembled to perform
the sad Offices and pay our last tribute of
respect to the memory Of our departed
friend and brother, and tosome Of us here,
our fellow soldier, itmay be well and fit
ting for us each one, to have our thoughts
turned for few moments at least, to this
subject, so that we may be led to adopt us
the language of our hearts, the prayer of
the Psalmist, Lord teach us to number
our days that our hearts may be applied
unto wisdom"
The fact will doubtless not be contro-
vertcd by any one, that this world in
which We live, is state of trial or proba-
ton. And the destiny of every indiyid-
ual Of he human race, whether for veal
or for woe, is to be decided, the scrip
lures teach us, by the character Of the
life and the actions Of the individual in
this world. If the life that he spends here
has been one Of usefulness, activity and
devoteduess in the cause of his Lord and
Master If he has lived to some good
purpose in the world--in promoting and
showing forth the glory Of his God-in
relieving the temporal and spiritual wants
of his fellow men-in obeying the COM
mandmcnts and initiating the conduct of
the Blessed Master in doing good,-liv-
ing thus life of devotcdness to the SER
vice of his God, and trust in his Saviour
that Saviour who, he is assured, loved
him with an everlasting loye-who has
purchased for hima complete Redemption,
and that too at no less cost and price
than his own precious blood as lamb
without blomish and without spot; that
Saviour who has promised and who he is
assured is able to keep that which he has
committed unto him against that day, is
not this, | ask you my friends, the truly
happy individual Is it not the part OF
such an one, whether it regards the pres
ent or the future, to be glad and rejoice
in the Lord, yea, to be joyful in the
God of his salvation? And may not we
my brethren, in such case as this, il
such be our experience, well obey the in
junction of the Apostle, To rejoice and
be- exceeding glad, knowing that great is
our reward laid up in Heaven" Chris.
tian faith, and triumph, and joy, arc init.
mately blended and associated. For I" all
things are yours" says the Apostle, ad.
dressing the christian brethren, "wheth-
er Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, Or the
world, or life, or death, or things present
or things to come, all are yours and ye are
Christ's, and Christ is Gods, and when
Christ, who is our life shall appear, then
shall we also appear with him in glory"
But, although such course as that tC
which have referred would seem to be
one proper and reasonable to be observed
aud followed by every individual, taking
into view the fact, that not only is thi:
the true course to be pursued, but like
wise that every other course besides, is
delusive and false, and in the end must
prove disastrous. How strange is it my
friends, yes how passing strange it is
how men live as they do live in thi:
world men too, professedly christian
forgetting for the time being, their high
vocation to which they are called in the
Lord, leave the paramount professions and
duties of the present, to be enamored o.
pmsuits-pursuing for example, the
unhallowed rounds of pleasure-frequent
ing the haunts ofvice-treading the halls
of giddy fashion-or wasting life and en-
ergy in greedy hunt for gold-allowins
the soul and its interests, and eternity
with its high destiny, to be buried 'neatl
the rubbish of worldly cares and business
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