Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1870-03-22
- ------------ -
Beecher on Death.

A large congregation. listened to
Mr.. Beecher's sermon on Death yes
terday morning. The text was,
''Take ye heed, watch and pray for
ye know not when the time is." If
any man will take q leaf-bnd and ex-
anime it, no viii find that it is . unit,
yet within itself there is another bud,
and within that another gone, con-
tanning al the summer,a growth. so
1t is with prophecy. In one we find
many others grouped toeeter,, which
apply to all persons and all times
InMatthew there are sayings which
are like so many pictures of the fu
ture. All Of them bear on this one
point--preparation for the hour OF
death. Usually men do not love to
think of death, preferring rather to
wait till the solemn day arrives.
Death is not of O gloomy character,
in physical sense. The greatest
suffering does not come with death,
out precedes it. Ordinarily, an at
tack of neuralgia is more painful
than the pangs Of death 1t is not
the fear of physical torture that
makes men afraid to die. Ii Is some
thing else We are not 80 sensitive
To death AS We think. Ii we die to
morrow the stars will shine on jas
the same. The tr0o theory REGARD
ing death is that it brings men into
Judgment for all deeds done in the
cody. 1t is good reason why they
should not cherish it; but on the
other hand il is reason why they
should Danish this dread which hannts
their minds.
Death is a solemn undercurrent,
and they who live near the shore,
even in calm days, hear the great,
solemn moaning undertones th2t
come up from the deep. 1t is bene-
fetal, it keeps men in tone, and gives
unity and earnestness to their pur-
poses. Men usually fret over little
things, leaving undiscovered those
truths Of greatest Importance. He
who thinks that life is only span
has Just begun living the real life
What would you think Of the son
who reforms and returns home Just
in time to get his name in the will
OF his dying father. And is not this
the way you do by your Father who
Is in Heaven? Was there ever any
thing more detestable than this p
More than one-half of all who die,
die unconcious, and of these there
are many who have said they are
not prepared to die. One Of the
most piteous things o minister secs
is the death calm of dying young
man who has lived life of dissipa-
ton. At such times the unhappy
man seems to be in o dream, and the
nervous system is so low that even
when conscious they are incapable
Of exercising their will. No man
can Justify himself in postponing the
day of preparation for death.
would say to every child clear away
that dark cloud. | call you now to
Ito of gloomy meditation. Go to
Christ as o child goes to its father
II is rs blessed to die as it is to hear
the birds sing or to see the flowers
in spring. Mother my heart breaks
with your heart when your little
cradle is empty, but shall call back
the child to the wintry blastsP There
is nothing SO beautiful as to SEQ g
soul prepared to fly through tho
pearly gates--the flowery gates--of
death. The young should prepare
for death, that thep may enjoy the
most happiness possible. There are
those who want to change their
course. They are sitting within the
sound Of my voice at this moment.
Helpless rs child, have driited
through my subject, ana | have done
nothing, so great is the subject, II
you young men think that you are
are safe, | beseech you u 20 70
Greenwood aud read the ages on the
tombstones there. / stand between
the fame, the harp ard tho crown.
and cry TO you, rcpeut and preper
10 meet your God.