Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1875-05-06
DEATH AND LIFE.

earth and all was chaos, and darkness was
upon the face of the deep. But by the
word OF His power, all the various parts
Of the Universe were appropriately ad.
justed. and al His command, LET there
be Light" midnight darkness was turned
into noouday s~plendor. As the browning
act OF Omnipotence, man was the gram
dest object of creative power was made,
whom He placed in the beautiful garden,
which He planted eastward in Eden, sur.
rounded by everything luxurious and fas-
cinating, in senseless purity. remuneratiug
e glorious sunshine of Gods counte,
nance. This first happy pair might have
lived in intimate communion with God
their maker, for we presume that man
could not die had he not violated the
Law. ,t.a a,s aG
The Angels fell only in dlsobedience.
and when mau ~diSobeyed, he too fell from
his holy estate of innocence and purity,
and brought upon himself all the evils
that follow in the train of sin.
Yes, when man sinned death spread
his dark mantle, and extended bis empire
over the earth, and In obedience to the
sentence "dust thou art, and unto dust
thou shalt return have the races of men
like "the waves Of the sea-followed each
other in their journey to the grave. I The
united testimonies Of observation, ex-
perience, and revelation, prove there is no
exemption from death. He invaGcs all
communities and every family circle, and
it'll his ruthless hand takes from our
embrace the fODdest ties of affection, from
society its best citizens and from the
church Of God on earth its most brilliant
lights. Death like an impartial conquer
or is never sati SIZED till all are brought to
one cOmman level, the yOuug-the old
the rich-and the poor. In the grave all
distinctions are removed, the King and
his subject, the Prince and peasant, the
master and servant, all lay side by side,
and slumber in the same dust,
princess this clay must be your bel,
In spite of all your tower,
The tall the wise, the (revcrened head)
Must lie as low as ours.n
As death, therefore is inevitable, and
no one ever returns who dies to tell us
anything about the future destiny of man
and as reason cannot penetrate the gloom
of the grave, it is a matter of rejoicing
that God in His infinite love has revealed
to us all that is necessary concerning this
matter. The Ancients did-as well as
the heatheus now consign their friends to
the tomb, without a glimmering hope of
ever seeing them again, and even those
living under former dispensations, read
the promises of God with a vail over their
eyes. But since Jesus died the vail has
been removed, the night of death illu
minated and the soul-stirrng heaven in
spring sentence announced and spread
upon the golden pages of Gods eternal
word. "Life and Immortality are brought
to light through the Gospel Observe /;
Death is abborent to the sinner. The
shattered frame the sunkeD eye, the pale
cheek, the marble brow, the slowly beat.
ing pulse, the death-struggle, weeping
friends. the last farewell, the cold grave,
the long night of death these subject the
sinner to bondage and fear all bis life,
and sink his soul in despair. But thank
God, death cannot harm the true believer
no. not even his body, since i. has been
revealed that Jesus has risen from the
tomb and become the first fruits of them
that sleep in Him. Yes, blessed be God,
the King of Kings, has plucked out the
sting of death and trod the, monster
under his feet. Barst the bonds of death
asunder, and rose in triumph from the
tomb. Hence, the Apostle VIZ ties to the
Corinthians in regard to our earthly and
heavenly house-the glorifed body and
says. at is 10 in corruption, it is
raised in interruption. 1t is sown in dlshon
or it is raised 10 glory. 1t is sown in
weakness it is raised in power &C., then
this corruption will put on interruption
and this mortal shall put on immortality.
and the victorious soul can sing that
heavenly inspired song, 20 death where
is thy sting. Q grave where is thy vic
tory
The resurrection is a doctrine Of mex.
preside joy to the Christian, 1t Is a
great spiritual lighthouse casting a
cheering ray to every point on .be ocean
of tine. 1t writes the visible with the
invisible, and time with eternity. 1t dis
sinates tha niyhk nf death Swalls tha