Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1871-08-12

But what a throat-what a cough
and what prostration am suffering
no matter.
Beloved, I have been trying to lool
things square in the face, and to pre-
pare for them. God is and has beer
mysteriously merciful to me. Thinl
of it ! He knoweth our frame and re
membereth that we are dust. So Goo
is handing me down as softly as yol
laid back upon the pillow your httl'
wasting cherub.
1T ha:rpy aae' Him to allow th'
sapping and mining to 60 on silent.
and gently--only as one after anothe
of the air cells close up, sharp, har,
cough announces that disease has mad'
advance, and that my reserved yitalit!
must fall back.
Then again how good he is not t.
let the dark terror of the end fal
across my path. am no philosopher
no hero, no such christian as dare tt
hope from exemption from what ha
made the best and bravest grown fail
and yet God has hidden this from me
and | am allowed unperturbed to say
God be mercJpl to me a SINNER; and
do say it, and know he hears me.
'Ah, Brother! the old gospel:
square repentance--a square faith
square atonement-a high priesthood
Christ first, last and always
'Ihe new lights are putfed out b!
the mild winds that sweep over thu
valley that is before me, (mcaning ;
hope Of getting well)
at last | reckon that most cf th'
literature Of Heaven will be the storiet
illustrations of divine wisdom ant
goodness in the experience of poo1
saved sinners. Oh my God, in thos,
bright shelves of marvcls, far dow
and obscure, yet there may little
tract be found entitled, "llow it pleas
ed God to save, through Jesus Christ
the soul Of Thomas Scwell.
70 another friend he wrote
Disease has taken me far back from
the entertainments | held when yor
were here, and did think two week,
ago that the final thanking and snrrcn
der were very ncnr, but sihcc then ;
marked Improvement has taken place
and | can only interpret it as a gra
cious display IN protracting my proba
ton. Dear Brother it is an unsprak
able blessing, under circumstances lik,
these, to know where to go for help
and | DO rejoice and bless God, that
never was permitted to 10 here ?, anc
10 there? after Saviors. No. M'nc
has sometimes had his head upon tn,
pillow in seeming forgettulness of hi
charge; but gloomy as the hours NIGH
have heen the thought that Omnipo
tcnce slept in that quiet arm, oinnls
cicnce behind that closed eye, divine
love filled that heart-how could
want another redeemer? | never die
j do not now TO whom hcreaftc.
shall | @ but to him? May it please
him to accept ME.
He gave his long-.ovcd friend, DR.
Littleton +. Morgan, charge of his
funeral, for which he left in his owr
handwriting the minutest direction
He forbid all dispIay-all ostentation
"The hour came on, he said. "Tht
goodness Of Gods beating my pathway
1t is narrow, but it is smooth. Agar
what | have done seems rothing,-
Christ is everything He had ct al
times trust that never wavered.
In the sharpest sutlering-and il
was sharp and sore-he was perfectly
patient, and even delighted to speak
of the goodness which was gently lead
ing him home. Said he, 81 am helc
in silence that I may have time to gel
ready intellectually and spiritually
for my change. God is letting me-
down easy" The last words that fel
upon the ears Of fond ones who gathered
around his couch to see him die, were
words full of faith in God.
Those who had the exalted privi
lege of being with him as he crossec
the river, will never forget this ex.
preston, then and there made: "1t''
an easy thing for the good man to die
Farewell, Servant of Christ; we will
never forget thee, and as often rs wt
think of how bright Christ appeared
as q Rcdeemer while hearing the,
preach, we will then pause and think
of thee as ore who conquered death
and who is now singing the victor''
sonq-crowned, robed and at home
We will take thee green myrtle, anc
as we lay it upon thy earth -boun(
home, we will weep, but not through
grief; but because hope looks through
our tears and enables us to tune oul
harps and sing:
ASLEEP in Jesus,
Blessed sleep
From which none
Ever wakes to weep