Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1872-01-04
Time and Eternity.
For the Fayetteville Observer.

For the Fayetteville Observer.
The streamoi time is i'll mo-
tion, in swift incessant motion !
we are sailing on its surface, and
shall soon be launched into the
shoreless ocean of eternity; and
if in the leaky vessel of self-right-
eousneSs. must be absorbed and
lost forever. Very striking is the
thought, "that when few fleet
ing years are come, we shall go
the way whence we shall not re.
turn.
Then as time is thus rapidly
performing It's mornentous revo-
luton, it should be the prayer of
every heart to the God of our life,
ITO teach US to number our days,
that we may apply our hearts un-
to wisdom" lie that numbere,h
bis days, or taketh a right account
;of the shortness of the present
life, compared with the unnum-
bered ages Of eternity, will soon
become a proficient in the semina-
Try of true wisdom. As time is
with iap.d velocity, rushing as on
to its final terminus, let me seri-
ously call the attention of the
readers of the OBSERVER to this
solemn truth. death as the destiny
ioJ man. "Man that is born of a
woman, is but Of few days; he
come'h up as flower and is cut
down"
The illustrious prophet declares
in language at once elegant and
emphatic, "We all do fade as a
leaf"
"How rapid pass the Aeeting hours!
And SO decline our various powers
AS yerdure drops from rural bowers,
And falls the leaf"
The decree is gone forth, "dust
thou art, and unto dust shalt thou
return" This decree, is like un.
to that of the Modes and Persians,
it allereth not. Neither rank,
uor age can claim exemption from
the shafts of the destroyer. The
residence OF man is not in a cas-
tie, but rather in an inn. eve
have here no continuing city"
We are pilgrims, strangers and So
jOurners, as all our fathers were,
and are rapidly moving towards
''the house appointed for all liv.
ing" Death IS the destiny of man ;
whether he resides in splendid
palace, or dusky cottage. There
is no discharge in this war" >
Where is Goliath with his i'm
mense armour and brazen boots?
Where is the Macedonian monarch
Alexander, who thirsted for uni
versal empire! Where are the
Caesars, Pompey, Hannibal, Titus,
FespaSian, Sc? Are they not
goIfS the way of ali the earth ?
and their weapons of war ale
persisted" they are fallen from
their hands. Deah Is the destiny
Iof man. Hath wisdom delivered,
strength rescued, beauty charmed,
or wealth ransomed, any from the
power Of the grave? The greatest
heroes, with all their boosted con-
fdence, have been compelled to
yield to the king of fear. Absa-
lom could not outride him E; Pha-
raoh' chariot-wheels fell off when
in the chase Jonathan and Saul,
swift as eagles, strong as the lion,
yet how were they slain with the
mighty! The time Of human er-
iste,,ce IS comparatively short
How short is human life, when
compared with the duration of
the world ? 1t is near six thou
sand years since the terrestrial
ball, the visible creation of the
mighty God, arose to view. What
al immense number of genera
tons have passed away. But, O
how short is the span of mortal
existence, when compared with
the boundless ages of eternity.
What can we say of endless du-
ration? 1t confuunds our
thoughts, and petrifies our pow
ers. We may keep footing in the
shadows of time, but how soon
are we swallowed up in the stu
pendous ocean OF eternity. How
necessarily then should this sol
emn petition go up to the father
OF our Eirits ito te' ch US ito num-
ber"-"Teach US 10 number. =
What 2 the sum of our earthly
reaSures-the number and mag
ntude of our estates-the lands we
call our own--O! no.theSe are not
admitted into the C ilculation. Few
require any stimulus in matters of
this kind. Then what is it that
we are here called upon to num-
Der? Not the radiant stars in the
splendid vaulted arch of heaven,
nor the drops of water in the briny
ocean, nor the multitudes of sands
upon the sea shore. But the grand