The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1876-05-10
AT THE Door.

1t is not far OFT, as you think it is near, at
the door. In such an hour as ye think not,
Death will enter and the curtain will fall upon
your life. If it were many years off it would
still be near, for years are only larger mo-
ments, and they fly SO fast that seventy years
are gone ere we are aware. It is nearer to
most of us than old age. Many of us willneyer
be grandsires or lean on the staff of age. It
is nearer than our victories our most cherish
ed aspirations will be in the beyond when the
Angel Of Death stops our heart-beats. It is
nearer than most Of the things we fear !;
nearer than insolvency, heart break, or berea-
vement. We shall not bury the puny child.
the loved mother, the reverend father. It
has been from the beginning-the strong run
swiftly the weak survive the brawny- limbed.
1t is nearer than fame, wealth, ease or happi-
in breathless haste. The feetest of runners
viii reach you ere you reach them. Nothing,
considering its place in your life, is quite SO
near as Death is while you read these words.
When death is at the Door aud you know
that he is there you are wont to be sober
beloved received the unbidden guest. Shall
you not make ready fof him when he Is COM
ing for you9 Be sober. Grid UP your luins
Make ready your affairs. Live by the day.
Death is at the door. You need not wait for
him he never kept any one waiting. He has
surprised all that are with him, and he will
surprise you. There is no wait, or learning,
or skill that guess his hour Nothing is safe
but being ready, always ready. You are soon
to take long journey. Pack your trunk, ar
range your business, commend yourself to
God. How strangely you are behaving.
Were it any other journey you would have
been ready yesterday for this one you will
be making no preparation tomorrow. Shake
off the delusion that this tenting- ground of
earth Is your abiding home. You are going
away on long journey and you will never re-
turn. You will enter naked and stranger
upon the life that awaits you. Is anything
else of SO much Importance as being ready for
this returnless voyage? You will go soon
how can you postpone your preparations Get
ready to die for Death is at the door.
"You are living well.' Are you quite
sure that it Is as weu as If you realized the
nearness of the end of all earthly things
Some things there are to amend some sins
to part with ; some low loves to resign. Some
things there are to make better acquaintance
with some feeble lights to be trimmed until
they flame brightly, some infant graces to be
grown into maturity, some far off relatives to
be brought near and made familiar. Living
well is the best preparation /; only be sure it is
the real living well, not some fiction for
health, but dear truth for death and judg-
ment. Is your conversation (your citizen
ship in heaven? Do you love the far-ofr
music and the sweet-voiced language Of the
land you covet for your home? Or is that
land but a preferred of two unwelcome but
necessary alternatives? Living well is living
for heaven living in heaven, being ready for
heaven. You have no time for debate and re-
Election about going away. You are to CO.
that is settled past controversy-and Death is
at the door.--Methodist