The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1867-12-12
why Should We Dread Death.
Br S. EDWARDS Topp.
Death Is the snbterranean road to bliss. y

death Is the subterranean road to bliss."
..... -Yoaag'' Night 7houghh.
Why should we dread death? Why
should we look into the grave with such
feelings of deep dismay and sorrow ?
When we lay the mortal remains of dear
friends in the silent mansions of the
dead, why should our hearts be filled
with sadness and glooml
We teach our children that sit is a
dread and awful thing to die" o, the
thought that our bodies must be laid in
the cold grave, and be food for loath-
some worms! that we must be snatched
away, perhaps in an unexpected mo-
ment, from the society of numerous
friends, who are as near and dear to us
as our own precious lives! that.we must
never more be the recipients of the
beauties, pleasures, and sources of hap
piness which we all so richly enjoy!
These thoughts, indeed, often embitter
our whole existence.
But this is fault of our education
If we cherished proper views of the
future state, and were accustomed to
make ourselves more familiar with the
intimate relation existing between our
present state of probation and the future
of retribution, we should not be filled
with sorrow and mourning when our
friends are separated from US Our
parents taught us to contemplate death
with dread and we in turn instruct our
children that no disaster or calamity,
however melancholy, bears an equal
comparison to the change that occurs
when our bodies die
We do not die. You and l, deSr
reader, will not be dead when our friends
lay our bodies in the last resting place
Aud when they come 10 drop tear
over our peaceful ashes, or to plant
flowers on the grassy hillock where we
were laid, we shall not be there. When
we die we only exchange places of res
idence. We still survive; and our
transit from probation to retribution
does not annihiate any of our faculties
or capacities for activity and enjoyment.
We trim off portions Of our hair, and
throw it aside as valueleSs; and sons
times we lose limb, which soon re-
turns to dust, and is forgotten. But sur
identity is not affected by these changes
Thusit is when we leave the entire body,
instead of limb We are done living
in such a frail tabernacle. We are not
dead. We are living on. II we are
what we ought to be, when the soul
leaves the body, we enter at once
higher and infinitely more desirable
sphere of enjoyment, which far exceeds
anything that we have seen or expert
enced in the present state of being,
while our friends are lamenting and
sOrrowing, because they shall see us no
more. ...s.-
We cherish wrong views of our con-
dition after death Though there is
much for me to admire and love-much
to make us happy here-if we take
such views of the future, as the Bible
portrays, we never shall look forward
to the hour of our dissolution with
feelings Of sadness and horror.
l fancy that good old Paul possessed
just such a spirit as we should all enjoy,
when he upbraided his dear friends for
their tender anxiety and intense solici-
tuds for his life. when he exclaimed:
"What mean We to weep and break my
heart! For | am ready not only to suffer
but die, etc. Death was not to him the
king of terrors. The long night of the
grave never caused him to shrink back
to mortal life, when he contemplated
the hour of his departure at hand.
Then when his thoughts-as ours often
do--soared bey end this world to enquire
into his future condition, he dips his
immortal pen, and contemplating the
vast and inexhaustable sources of pleas
ure, happiness, and comfort which our
wsrld affords, breaks out, as if his whole
soul had kindled up into holy rapture,
| in such a strain as this: "Eye hath not
seen, nor ear heard, neither have en-
tered into the heart OF man, the things
which God hath prepared for them that
love him. atsa3 4rh H
Our world is full of beauty, pleasure,
and happiness Every one can have as
much Of either, or all, as he desires.
He has but to reach forth to it and take
the profered blessings. If he feels
right he will find pleasure even amid
pain and sorrow. When those we love
ase taken from us, if we have the salts
faction which an approving conscience
gives, that we are trying to live right
that we do love the Lord and aim to
keep bis commandments-the hour of
death will give us little anxiety.
Our heavenly Father has implanted
within his creatures dread of death
and love of life. Yet, with the Bible
in our hands, wherein is portrayed, in
such rapturOus language, thetransoend-
ent blessedness, Joy, and comfort after