The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1869-04-14
Fos TIE CENTRAL PsEssYrERIAN.
JOSEPH OF ARIMATHEA.

The example of the good man, whose char
acter has been briefly sketched, teaches us
that due respect should be paid to the earthly
remains of our friends. We should remem-
Der that the body now cold and mOtiOnless in
death, was the only medium of communica-
ton with the dearest of friends in life. The
spirit which made them so lovely to us, once
had its abode in that body now so silent and
cold. Through the members of that body 1t
once saw and heard and felt Through that
body it once communed with nature-with
friends and with God. Then, to mark the
place where that body now sleeps-to tend
and even beautify it-often to visit spot so
precious, and by the help of association and
memory, to commune again with the loved
and the lost, is the dictate alike of reason
and religion. The neglect of the cemetery
is cruel, its desecration is diabOlical,
Joseph, NicOdemus, and their friends,
thought it right to neglect the services of the
temple, in order that they might duly attend
to the burial of our Saviour's body. They
honestly and truthfully believed that they
were now called to labor of love of more
Importance in the sight of God, than all the
splendid ceremonies of the Mosaic ritual
God will have mercy and not sacrifice. Ev-
erything is beautiful in its season. Every
duty should have its appropriate place, and
claim its full proportion of our time and at
tention. Public worship is not to be ne
elected without the best of reasons. Yetthe
claims of friendship and of charity, the ne
cessities of sick, tempted or afflicted
neighbor-even the exigencies and demands
of funeral, may, for the time, Supercede
the claims of the sanctuary and of public
worship.
Again, in the light of this good man s
history, it is obvious that natural sense of
iustice-the sternest regard to truth and
honor among men, are neither sufficient to
make one a Christian, nor are they super
seded by becoming Christian. Inspiration
describes Joseph as ga good man and a
Just, and therefore possessed of all the NOR
al virtues. Yet these qualifications neither
fit one for, nor entitle him to the inheritance
of the saints in light The virtues of the
moral, must be combined with the graces Of
the religious man. When the former are emo
bled by the latter, and when we are just and
generous from the fear and love of God,
then our morality illustrates our religion,
and our religion sancti6es our morality
The social virtues without the fear and the
love of God, are but whited sepulchre, while
the highest pretensions to the fear and love
Of God, without due regard to the claims Of
our rfellOw-men, are only despicable hypocrisy
Joseph was not only just and good as q
member of society, and as san honorable
counsellor" but he was also faithful anC
generous disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ
We should also learn that he who will no
expose himself to any earthly loss or danger
far the sake of Christ, can hardly be hi
disciple. We have seen that although 10
seph, in the earlier part of his life was cen
surably restrained from duty by the fear o
the Jews; yet, as time rolled on, and as tn
necessities of the SaviOur's cause increased
he became more fearless and faithful, so tina
even he could go boldly to Plate and be-
the dear body of Jesus. This must hav
called for the greatest self.denial. Now
have we his spirit? Can wehold pride, SCI
fshness, the fear of man in abeyance? Ca
we renounee our dearest bosom sins? Ca
we thus brave the storm, resisting with IN
yielding fidelity the turbid stream of thi