Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1870-09-20
Preparing TO Die.


Preparing TO Die.
Writing upon this topic, in the Journal
and Messenger, Rev. DIR. Lincoln of New
ton, says:
A wealthy merchant said to me few
days ago. 81 am now sixty years of age. 1
sometimes feel as if l ought to retire from
business and worldly cares, and prepare to
die" I sympsthized with the feeling, but
not with the plan suggested; and simply
asked, How would you prepare to dieY
"Why," said he, ''of course by prayer, and
study of the bible, and close examination
Of the ground of my christian hopes"
"But," said |, "is not a life governed by
christian principle, and consecrated daily
to Christ, better preparation for death
than any morbid anatomy of ones feelings
and hopes2 Is not the Protestant idea of
doing service for God and man a higher
type Of piety than the Catholic idea of sol
itude and ascetic notifications ?" 81
agree with you" he replied "my judgment
leans that way. can honestly say strug-
gle to make my life holier and more useful.
wish TO have my last years my best years
in purity and fruitfulness, but sometimes
long to get away from toll and responsible
ty, and live in quiet retirement" "God
has given you wealth." l answered, "and
influence, and your duty is plain, to make
the most of them for his service to the end |
Of life. No one can put off the harness
till it is laid in the grave. Effective SER
vice for Christ is the best preparation for
death"
He agreed with me in the general view,
and we parted. | have since thought of
the matter, with a deeper conviction that
the principle stated is the only one recog-
nzed by the New Testament. A holy life
prepares for death but holy life is not
one given to prayer, and bible reading,
and self scrutiny; but one in which self
will is subordinate to Gods will, and self
ish aims are supplanted by thought and
labor for others. "He went about doing
good" is the pithy biography of Jesus
This is the ideal life to which every chris
tian should aspire. Piety is strengthened
not by morbid analysis of motives, but
by cheerful toll and sacrifice for some no.
bic object nor by HASTINGS and stripes ina
convent cell, but by sympathy with suffer
ing and efforts to save from temptation
and ruin.
A distinguished lawyer and jurist died
not many years ago. Hehad stood among
the leaders of the bar in an eastern city,
had won honor upon the bench, and taken
high position in the lower house Of Con-
gress. He was, above all, a sincere chris
tian, with an intelligent faith in the doc
trines Of revelation, and lofty character
nodded by his faith Some years before
his death, he gave himself deliberately to
the work of preparing to die. He relin-
pushed all duties to his clients, declining
even to give advice in important cases
where his aid was sought; withdrew from
the common associations of friendship, and
the simple duties of society, and gave him
self to reading, and meditation, and prayer.
He read the bible with devout enthusiasm,
having for an intimate friend an eminent
biblical scholar andinterpreter. with whom
he discussed its teachings. He made him
self familiar with the great works on the
evidences of christianity, with the masters
of christian thought in all ages, and with
writers on devotion and practical piety-
History, science, law, practical economy
and elegant literature were all laid aside
but those of a strictly religious character
With the earnestness of strong mind and
will, he gave himself singly to the work Of
preparing to die.
What was the result of this brooding anC
self introspection? Precisely what nigh
be expected from an inversion of Gods law
"No man liveth to himself" In some re
spects his aim was successful. His faitl
in the bible, as an inspired revelation from
God was strengthened. He felt that al
the objections of our skeptical age wer
puerile, that none of them were novel 0
original, but only the reproduction of OLE
ity as divine religion, adequate for tn
race in all ages, and certain to prevail
His intellect found perfect rest in Chris
as theworld's Redeemer. He was Statistic
also with the reality of his own hopes. H
saw clearly that he had been born again
and that character and life had been chang
ed by the indwelling of the Spirit. Wit
apeaceful trust in Jesus as a personal Sa
viOr, he waited the summons to bette
life in heaven.
But the religious tone and feeling wer
not healthy. They were morbid and selfish
not cheerful or thoughtful for others. II
grew captious and responding, distrustfl
of the piety of associates lost interest an
confidence in great christian enterprise
and thought that christianity was losir
power in the church and in the world H
criticised sharply the failings of old friend
had no charity to forgive the mistakes
weaker natures, and gave little from h
large wealth either to the poor or to chri
tan objects. Tried in the balances of ii
New Testament it must be said that Il
piety of his latter days was narrow and u
lovely absorbed in self, and forgetful
others. When he died the bulk of b
property was not left to relatives, to Il
needy, or to the religious institutions
the church with which he had long been
communicate. The will, like his closi,
years, gave proof of an unhealthy min
whose piety was warped with strong pr,
udices.
The illustration confirms the princir
with which we started. A holy life
found in action, not in brooding. Servi
to Christ and to man is better than retir
ment and ascetic self culture. Activity
the last in generous sympathy and coopt
alton with all good objects, is a better W
ofpreparing to Gie than self seclusion a
morbid questionings of ones fitness
heaven.
Numbered with the EIeYen."
Ii must have been a sad Thought to [