The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1865-05-26

endures to the end that Ia proved perfect, in
toe sense Of tho text. There are many who
seem to begin we'll, and to run well for
time. yet, though they may endure the tri.
ais of childhood, aud Of youth, and of ma.
ture manhood, and all the distractions OF
active business, the remaining trials Of old
age may develop the defects which no pre-
vious period Of life had discovered. Every
period of life has its temptations and trials
If the protesting Christian endures the first
1t is to bo hoped he may the second and
third; but the whole of lifo is the probation.
Tho soul is on trial even to tho ond Of lifo
1t requires the whole lifetime TO solve the
problem of salvation. But our departed
friond persevered even unto tho end This
confirmed our confidence IN the previous
evidences of his life,a and in the soundness of
bis Christian character.
2. All true Christians have Sctiptural
assurance of the presence and grace Of God
Aud this will mako their end peaceful oven
though it may be most painful and distress
ing.
When fcrco disease. in its frightful pro-
gress reaches the vitals, aud the icy hand
OF Death begins to unoose the silvor cord
and Cash the golden bowl, and break the
pitcher at tho fountain, and the wheel at
the cistern, the noise of all this breaking up
NAV alarm, or distract, or paralyze, and
thus entirely disqualify The mind for any
deliberate judgment of it's own state. The
final process of dissolving nature is always
q new experience. We never hear but
once the rushing of Deaths mighty waters.
But, If Christians, God will not leave US 10
tho hour of dissolution. Tho promise 10
sure to all them that arc His. He will
never leave nor forsake. He can sustain
and bless us, when death Is taking down.
one after another. every pillar in this earth
ly framework. Hence tho Psalmist could
say. Though walk through the valley
and shadow of death, l will fear no evil
for thy rod and thy staff. they comfort me-"
Tho feeblest lamb Of all the fold of Christ
He will defend and preserve; the weakest
and most unworthy of all true Christians, If
only true Christian, need not fear to step
down into the dark waters, whenever God
calls him to it, either Ia a calm sun, or in
the midst of tempest or surgiDg billows.-
Such have assurance before band of the
presence and all.suflicient grace of God.-
Death can be to such only mere shadow.
which, though it may appear terrific iB the
distance, will eventually turn out to be
shadow without the substance of evil. II
will be only the valley Of the shadow OF
Death.
3. The end of all true Christians will bo
peaceful. because attended by hope which
is full of immortality. ..-., .
The Christian's hope is essential ut the
outset. Without this. any character, how
ever otherwise finished aud adorned. would
be altogether incomplete. The Christian
neeGs his hope to fix bis aims, to stimu late
bis desires, to develop bis energies, and to
direct his efforts. Without Christian hope,
there could be no Christian effort. Men
never seek and pursue what they cannot
hope to obtain. We abandon any enter
prise whatever, the very. moment wo give
up all hope of success. The Christians hope
is that which keeps his purpose steady
The Apostle says, 1T is an anchor to the
soul, sure and stcadfast. aud cntcIeth in!o
that within the veil" Christian hope is to
the soul what the sheet anchor 10 TO the
ship at sea: it holds it from drifting with
the currents, and from being driven before
the tempest upon fatal rocks. Many ship
has beon saved from straEding and wreck
by its anchorage. So the Apostle says, I'VE
are saved by hope" The common shee t
anchor does not indeed, always afford per-
feet security. 1t may break loose from the
capstap in a heavy sea, and il may rake
gravel, as the sailors say, aud Let the ves-
sci drive with the wind. But the genuine
Christian hope ais sure and steadfnst." II
is not, IKE the sheet anchor at sea, cast at
random, tc find an accidental fastening
among the pebbles and tho corals OF the
ocean. Tho Christian anchor is cast by
rule, and fastened with care to the rock
Christ Jesus. 1t is, therefore. a hope In
Christ, dependence upon Christ, and an
expectation from Christ. Aud, because
Christ is rock, an eternal and immovabe
rock, the Christians anchor is "sure and
steadfast." The soul that has it never can
swing loose from its moorings. 1t cannot
be blown about by every wind, nor be driv
en- before the angry tempest, nor be reefed
upon the shoals.
Our departed friend cast bis anchor on
tho rock many years ago, and it held his
soul through all his subsequent voyage
1t held him in every exigency and condition
of life, whether 10 the smooth sea of pros
perity, or in the troubled waters of adversi-
ty, under clouds, and in tho sunshine, in
sickness as well as in health, at the Boon-
tide of life, and down to its latest evening,
yea, oven TO the very banks of tho River OF
Death, so long as we could sec him at all
even till he was fairly out of sight, he was
holding on and being held "sure and stead,
fast" One of the last utterances that fell
from bis lips was repetition OF that signal
expression of Believers hope, which is re-
corded in Job, "Though, after my skin,
worms destroy my body, yet in my flesh
shall see God"
The genuine Christians hope, that "enter-
eth into that within the veil" This insures
its operation until the Christian gets entire
iy homo. 1t reaches not merely to things
beyond the battlements, but in through the
gates into the cjty, and into tho outer and