The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1871-10-31
D'ScourSe Delivered by Rev. Id.
Oimstad at the Funeral Of Judge
David KirkDriHe.


Church in this place, on Sunday, the %, i
inst.
Rev. B. T. BEAzELLE, of the NJ E.
Church, offered very beautifl and i'm
pressiye prayer; after which Rev. OkN-
sTED, of Beallsville. delivered the ser
mon to he found below We requested
the same for publication which he kindly
furnished rs:
REALLsvlLLE, Quo, October %.
MEssRs. EDITORS SPIRIT: In compli.
ance with your request, l herewith place
in your hands, for your disposal, copy
of my manuscript of the discourse de
liyered on the occasion Of the funeral of
father David kirkbritle, at half past 10
O'Clock Sunday morning, Octooer %,
1871, at Woodsfield, which was based
on the following scripture
There remaineth therefore rest for the peo-
pie of God."-Ic5uess 70 g.
Who are they who cannot appreciate
the meaning of that very expressive
term, rest? When, in our earthly pill,
grimage, we grow tired and weary, how
pleasa mt it is 20 find rest. The idea oi
rest always forces itself in upon US when
weary, as does the idea of food when
we grow hungry,or as that of drink when
thirsty, and has always associated with ii
pleasure and happiness So it is with us
in our earthly tolls and labors, and so it
is with us in our tolls Of Labor anc
love" in our Masters cause. We are
continually sighing for rest, for "the
land of rest," when we can lay our car
NOR by
But why is it that the Christian sol.
dier, while in health and vigor, sighs for
rest? Are you tired Of the Christian war,
fare? Are you tired Of fighting the
good fight of faith p Are you tired
of the suffering-of the Christian life
Have you cast off your confidence in the
'Son of Cod as being able to redeem
yoa? Are you tired Of your "labors of
love?" Do you say you can no longer
be patient in tribulation? Can you
boast that you have done all your part
in the great struggle between life and
death ? Can you say your work is done
Do you say you can not suffer with him
a little longer? These are grave ques-
tions, and much ito ourselves) depends
upon the answer we can give in regard
to them. Jesus says, stake my yoke
upon you.' We must bear that yoke
until He says We may lay it down. Je-
sus has imposed upon us burden; it
must be borne until He relieves us from
the weight thereof. These questions
then must be answered with an emphatic
no; for true it is that none are fit to en-
ter into that rest, only those who are
willing to, aud do, fight on until their
Redeemer shall call them TO repose in
the deep tranquility of DEATH" The
mind indeed may, by incessant toll and
labor, grow tired WITH (not of its bur
dening thought; likewise also may the
tongue grow weary WITH its constant
and earnest pleadings of mercy; and the
body, too, grow faint and suffering while
engaged in its pursuits after those, who
are through the delusions of sin ac-
knowledging the power Of Satan's king
dom over them, and suffering themselves
to be led on to ruin and this. indeed, is
all essentially necessary that we may be
prepared for that remaining rest.
1t is true that God designed the prom.
Use of rest as an incentive to work with
zeal end energy, and even to enliven oul
labors with more fervcnt activity. Lei
us, therefore. ever continue to look to.
ward that Heavenly land of rest with
sill the joyous anticipations that hope
can give, with all its living attractions o
Heaven of joys in bright etfusion flow
ing, where happiness will be complete
where the great "river,n from its crystal
fountain. shall ever continue to flow, oi
whose waters we shall be permitted tc
drink and never thirst; where the stree
of life'' will ever continue to grow, bear
ing it's delicious fruit of which we vii
be permitted to eat and hunger not
again where never fading flowers shall
shed their 'ssweet fragrance round -
where there shall be no partiues, no bit
ter tears, or heartaches, or sighings
where Glove, in one delightful stream,
shall ever continue to aow, and where
age will not be felt, but where ''immor
tai youth" makes the never sigliing, Oh
suffering, companionship Of that eternal
celestial city Of rest.
But we stop to notice, right here, tht
different senses in which the term rest i:
used in the Scriptures. and we see that i
is used (in the common version) to de
scribe the last day of the creative week
the Jewish Sabbath, the Sabbath of the
'land of Canaan" the "year of jubilee,
the rest of the promised land, and tht
rest the Christian enjoys in the church
But the rest spoken Of in the text is thu
great antitype of all these. These vii
all have filled their mission, and passed
away, before we shall be permitted to
enjoy that rest that ..'rcmaineth" These
are but the material vainly seeking tc
shadow forth the spiritual. The Jewisl
"Sabbath" for rest) and the rest of th'
''promised land," with their typica
meaning, have passed away and ceased
to be binding upon men, as institution:
from God.
But these Investigations suggest th'
inquiry, For whom does this rest "re
main p The answer is most definite an(
positive: "FOr The people Of God" l
is not for all the world,a las some do vain
ly talk, unless we say that all are th'
'speople Of God" But that would b.
simple nonsense, when we remember tina
God has always had "a people" describ
ed in contradistinction with all Other
classes, in his word, whom he ever &C
knowledged as being ga peculiar .peo
pie" jealous of good works. Neithe
are the ancient people Of God, the Jews
now (as people) entitled to this "res
that remaineth." The presumptive Phar
isee, while holding on to his oral 'tradi
tions,' which he deemed essential to ex
plain and complete the written law, cal
not claim that he is entitled to that rest
The Saducee, with bis denial Of the res
,,rro.,i,,, n tt,n loo1 aud Of fhn owls