The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1865-05-26
Sermon Preached in Parkmar, Ohio,
at the Funeral of Hon. John P. Con-
verse, Feb 23d, 1865, by Rev, Mr.
McGinIis.
|PUBLIsHED pY REQUEST.

[PUBLIsHED ny REQUEST.
Ps., 81. 81: "Mark the perfect man..
and behold the upright: for the end Of
that man is peace.
God. in His holy providence. has once
more called US to contemplate the end Of
all flesh. So far as coucerns this world,
we have bid a final adieu to another OF
our fellow mortals, brother beloved in
the Lord, a husband, father, a friend
and neighbor. Hon. John p. Converse,
whose funeral services we are now called
to observe. has resided in this village
(Parkman upwards Of forty years-more
than one half Of his entire pilgrimage Of
OF nearly three. fourhs Of a century. But
the places that once knew him, are hence
remains now only for US to pay our last
tribute Of respect and affection in the con-
signment OF his lifeless form TO the house
appointed for all living. But 1--WE mourn
not as those without hope" for we have
reason 10 believe that our departed friend
had a peaceful though an exceedingly ly
painful exit from this world. We hope,
in his case, not SO much on account OF
any special development at The close Of
life, but more especially because tba,
during his life he gave evidence that he
belonged 10 the family Of God. And, il
he was indeed true child Of God, the
text is explicit in teaching the comforting
sentiment that his END is peace.
This important truth is taught in the
text, as general principle; the fact that
the end OF such is peace is cne Of the
things we are required to mark and OBJ
serve. 1t may, perhaps, appear TO a cur
sorry reader Of this passage, that Chris
tlans only Of high attaiumenss. and large
experience, and ripe maturity, are here
intended. On second thought, however,
we take it in different sense. The Two
phrases containing the, words perfect and
aprigM are to be Understood as the two
members of poetic paralleIism, the one
OF which is always intended to explain
the other. II the first phrase, "Mark the
perfect man." had been alone used, with.
out any explanation, we should have
been liable to mistake the meaning, aud
to suppose that a state OF sinless perfec
ton was intended. This would bring us
at once into conflict with other Scriptures,
which teach that There is not just man
on earth, that liveth and sinneth not"
and also with the general tenor of in.
spired teaching, which everywhere as.
sumes the siniulness OF human character,
even in its best estate. Our hopes of a
peaceful end for ourselves and others
would then be entirely excluded, for all
are sinful, and the best, even in theil
best estate, are imperfect and but par
tally sanctifed. But. with the other ex'
planatory member Of the couplet, "Be.
hold the upright" the sense became
clear. and is in harmony with other por'
tions Of the Word OF God, It also ex.
plains the sense in which the Scriptures
generally use the term perfect in applica'
ton to the religious character OF men,.
God has formed a suitable basis for di
vision of human character into two grea,
classes, which denominates "the righteous
and the wicked" To the former of these
He sometimes applies the term perfect, be-
cause this class are to be considered az rad
tically defective In nothing which 10 essen
sial to moral integrity, while the other class
are pronounced defective in everything es
sential TO rightness of moral character. T5ii
latter 10 represented as the natural estate 0
oil the human family; the former, the gracious
estate of sll the truly reeenerate, who arc
alone the real people OF God. Thus Noat
and Jnh we're 0aiied perfeet and Dnrjpht