Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1867-08-16

of the Congregation.
7sd Psalm, 2sth versc.-"fy flesh and my
heart and pS1 strength On my
This text was the selection of our de-
parted friend. we.sfrould have, per-
haps, selected different one, but we
discover In this one an appropriateness
and found our remarks upon 1t accord
ingly. vna as.g
The text Is very beautifully intro
duced by the preceding verse. FQy
1t Is Interesting to notice the conf
ding character Of oil minds resting up.
on God.
o how happy the mind with such a
rest. t..sG.,. ~
From this text we bring forward the
following propositions
LIST. The flesh and heart must fail us.
I'd. The divine system of eompensa-
tons by which God becomes the
strength Of our heart and our portion
forever. II s,
Sd. How these truths are illustrated
In the life and death of our departed
friend. .t..- -...s5t,...
In establishing the first proposition,
II may. be observed that the truth
which II Contains Is calculated to bring
over the mind a shade of sadness.
1t is evident to us that as we contem-
plate our physical condition, that our
flesh and heart must fail us. So curl
ously are we wrought, SO fearfully and
wonderfully made, such delicacy Of or
ganization, that our oncoming dissolu-
ton must be apparent TO us all.
Look on the heart, with its wonder
full system Of valves, governing the dis
ket ~ tr
arterial avenues, through which, all
portions of the system are supplied
with the, vital fluid. Look on the lungs
with their delicate air cells, and on the
nerves so delicately distributed 10 all
parts of the system. . 80,
When we Contemplate how Intricate
all these organs are, how defichtely
constructed, how subject to the vfefssf-
tides of weather, and how liable to
injury from too heavy exactions In the
pursuit of our daily duties, We are led
to wonder, not that we die, but rather
that we live. We are led to wonder
that this delicate and intricate organ
ism is able to bear up against the forces
brought to bear upon all sides, seeing
that we do not heed the admonitions
given us by our maker.
I'd. The scriptures abound with ex-
pressions showing that God has a sys-
tenn of cOmpensations by which decay
ing strength may be restored. In this
system he himself graciously becomes
our strength and support, seven the
youths shall become faint. and weary,
and the young men shall utterly fall,
but they that wait upon the Lord shall
renew their strength; they shall mount
upon wings rs eagles, they shall walk
and not be weary, shall.run and not be
FAINT aaitnas .as, tfgi. avasf s.Fa.f,r.s
i On this side of the dark river, when
sickness and disease invade, God be.
comes the strength and portion of the
soul that rests in him. How trustfully
we may place our hand in the hand oi
our Heavenly Father,--how confiding.
ly We may rest our heads upon the
bosom Of Infinite Love,--amid the
dwellings of Jordan; but more especial
ly beyond that dark river, i'm the imme
date presence of Emanuel, shall we
find the strength of our heart and Dor
ton forever. All we hope for i'm tn,
future is linked with the idea of a Di
vine Savior. Do we hope for immortal
ity that doctrine that is only embry
onic and shadowing i'm the philosophy O
the world, has been fully brought to ligh
by the Divine Man. Do we not hop,
for the resurrection of the body! That or
the other side of the river we shall hav.
bodies not subject to decay and death
unmarried by the deep lines of care anC
sorrow, but blooming in the grace anG
beauty of immortal life. IT'S becaus,
the precious truth of our resurrection
Is assured to us by the resurrection o
the Savior. DO we confidently expec
something solid and real i'm futur,
state? "A city whose maker ant
builder is God.T To walk through tn,
mansions Of our Fathers house above
Ii Is because Christ has gone to prepar,
those mansions for our reception, ant
left for, our support q sweet promis,
that he will come again and receive u
to himself. Thus In the hopes inspired
in the Love. In the splendid prospect
opened before us, God becomes tn
strength of our heart, and our portion
forever. t'..- ... 4+5a
Here our feet are weary with life'
Journey, there without WEAKNESS w,
shall walk along the slopes of Noun
Zion here the hand droops languidl,
by the side amidst life's labors, there i
will handle the harp,-here the eye
are dim with weeping, there they viii
be bright In the radience of an eterna
4
this precious hope that God will be til,
strength OF his heart, and his hope for
ever.
There is peculiar sinking of the vi
tai forces as we approach death. Goo
comes in his own mysterious manner
when these vital forces fail us, ant
brings us to see our utter weak ness ant
dependence upon him. His suppor
comes to the dying one, and if tn,
faith IL unwavering and the soul look.
UP with q perfect hope, and relianc,
upon his promises, then will he assur,
us, and make the passage across th,
dark river an easy one. s.. -.
No where do we come SO near God \,
in death. In him we have all that w,
can hope for. To be without Christ i.
to be without hope II we ATTEMPT e
lean, our support Is frail, it is like lean
ing upon q broken reed. From what
other source should we ex pect an exist
ence beyond the grave? Where els.
should We have any hope of immortal
ity? We are assured that Gods people
shall live to see that brighter day be-
yond the grave. This truth is full o.
comfort. Iwould not lose my identity
for the universe. This hope of immor.
tality is SO sublime, 20 full of promise
that the Christian clings to 1t as his
anchor In the dark hour. In this hone
all is bright, glorious, no cloud, no OBJ.
security. Without this hope, all would
be dark beyond the grave; with it we
have assurance Of being with God and
the angels. God thus becomes our hope.
3D.. We come not here this afternoon
TO eulogize the virtues of the decesased
yet there was something 90 beautiful
In the last days of the life of the de-
parted one, that useful lessons may be
learned in contemplating her domestic
and christian virtues. My acquaint-
ance with her was brief, as It 10, in fact,
with you ALL. Calling upon her as her
pastor, astranger, all her qualities of
mind were not at first opened up
How common to observe peculiar traits
Of character In those around US; all