The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1872-12-24

TNH Su18 instance.
r. rh knt'Ad himself with the
Iehng enf Christian Association
THE city, and laborsd with
\ eoem - anul be swas called
from his labors to his reward. He seemed
TO abound in every good word and
work.
Asa citizen, no was honest, upright and
Industrious, and greatly esteemed.
Last Tuesday morning he arose as US
ual. and prepared for his daily task. Prep
III 4Ati1ht completed, ho fingered for u few
fomcfIts by tho frcside. and engaged in
conversation; then passed out of the door
for tho last time. As he disappeared from
sight, on that eventful morn
of tho saddost day of the year,
how betting tho words of tho poet
What shall he be ere nightg Perchance u
thing q
Der which the raven flaps hts funeral wing
And so it was. Night brought painful
ru'nors, too soon confirmed, that he was
dead.
Verify "the righteous peri.hoth, mer-
ciful men are taken away; the righteous
are taken away from tho evil TO come
he shall enter into peace"
On this most affecting and heart-rendiny
|
with pen of iron, and with the point
Of u diamond" 1t is the lesson of the
text:
BE We, therefore, ready also; for tho
Son of Man cometh at an hour when We
think not"
The death Of our fellow Oh ristian and
brother beloved, so sudden, quick even ms
flash of lightning, has given to the text
the voice of an angel, and the certain
sound OF trumpet AT his post in the
church, Sabbath-school and prayer meet
ing, a praying Christian is
stricken down ia an Instant and
from his ifeless form voice comes. ms
ii from the world of spirits, saying:
"BE YE THEREFoRE READY ALSO
We cannot mistake IN solemn import
God grant that We may not neglect it
What more startling or impressive admo-
milton can we have to set our houses in
order, and have our lamps trimmed and
burning II we will not hear and heed
this, we would not be moved "though one
rose from the dead" When
death-ladened bolt flies past US, with
the swiftness of the wind, and strikes
down brother ut our eide, does it not say,
as is hurtles by, abe ye therefore, ready
also; and shall we not regard it2 OF
doubt If words can add anything to the
impressiveness and solemn meaning of this
lesson. All how weak and impotent o
thing is human eloquence, in its best es-
tate, when such a theme rs this claims
audience. That lesson, "be We therefore,
ready also,' is written for US in glowing
lines of living light that cannot DO cfiaced.
The death Of Mr.. Davis, so dreadful in
itself and in all the attendant circum-
stances, comes clearly aid fully within the
scope Of Gods overriding providence.
Gods hand was in that event. He cook
his faithful servant home in the way he
did, and 1t becomes W. to say "Even SO,
Father, for SO it seemeth good in Thy
sight The fact that an event is sud-
den, unexpected and appalling in its
nature does not remove 1t beyond the
limit Of Gods jurisdiction, nor take it out
of the Almighly's hand.
Ere this hour God has called his much
loved children to their heavenly
home some by food, some by
pestilence, and some from out tho
midst of faggots, smoking around mar
tyr stake. And he "doeth all things we'll"
The unseen, whistling bullet has cut down
many sheep of the Savior's fold, and sent
II on TO pastures green and fair. And it is
well.
In this affecting providence there is
much that is mysterious. "God moves in
mysterious way" His ways are inscrutuble.
We do not presume to sound the great
dceps Of his providence. This passing
event, that has left widowed mother and
fatherless babes in its wake, has imposed
burdens hard to be borne. 1t has bid these
mourning ones drink the very NORWOOD
nf o., IL
is tho Fathers hand that Yields the chast-
ening rod. 1t cannot be otherwise. 1
should sbudder to think, that some
blind, irresponsible, Inflated, or ma.
licious chance had wrought this
work, and thus hurried soul into
the spirit.land, unbidden, unexpected, I'M
looked for, astonishing the inhabitants of
heaven by its coming, as well rs the dwell
ers upon earth by its departure. Such an
Interpretation is shrouded in gloom
horror of great darkness Is upon it. Out
of il there comes no ray Of light nor NOR.
-el of comfort. 1t drives afflicted ones TO
the dreary realms of cold and cherries IA
tality.
"Desolate mountain of hopeless despair
One long, loud shrek swells on its air,
And all is sad and silent there
OH how much wiser ard better il Is
how much moro consistent, comforting
and satisfactory it is, to look up through
the dark clouds of this sad and sorrowiul
bereavement, and discern Fathers haudl
How much more in keeping with the die
tates Of sound wisdom and trusting faith
How vastly superior is faith to fatality.
" Truo faith is the eye of tho soul Faith
lights us through the dark TO Deity; faith
builds bridge across the gulf of death
faith evermore looks upward"
Since we are summoned to 80 mournful
duty as this, ! am glad that i, is my
privilege to testify in the hearing of these
mourning friends, and before this assem-
bly,, that that husband, father, brother and
friend, now gone, was II child of God, n
follower OF the Lamb, and an heir of the
kingdom and crown. He lived by faith
on the Son of God. Perhaps no one
among US was so we'll prepared to go AS he.
lcounsel this stricken household there.
fore that they sorrow not even rs other,
which have no hope"
o, thou afflicted one, '"tossed with
tempest and not comforted,' take b ylit-
tie ones and go TO thy heavenly Father.
Lay thy burdens on the Lord and The
shall sustain thee "He shall deliver
thee in six troubles" 1.-THE eternal God
is thy refuge, and underneath are the ever
lasting arms for he maketh sore and
bindeth up; he woundeth and his hands
make whole" commend you therefore
to God and to the word of his grace for
behold "a Father Of the fatherless and