The Rutland weekly globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1876-07-28

him in healthful or enervating influence.
Loose the bonds of personal honor and
manly living and the spirit of the nation is
easily forecast, and it's destiny written.
II comes to pass therefore that nations
lie depends upon the character OF tine men
he raises. Her natural resources, her in
dustries, her broad, fertile DOMAIN, her Ii
beral constitution, the strength and valor OF |
her armies. All these contribute to her |
support and perpetuty, but they cannot |
save her, unsupported by the sterling worth |
of her citizens. The hope Of this nation |
and every nation is in the "good name" of |
her sons and daughters.
4. But, finally, "a good name" is pre-
cious, because in it is the sure promise of
eternal life. 1t is enough for our purpose
to day to state this proposition. This book |
once and again sends its greeting to be
"pure in heart and pronounces its woes
upon the transgressOr. Surely the rest of
God is for His people. But Solomon adds
a new thought which is this-"The day of
death rs better than the day of ones birth"
What says the skeptic, death better than
lifel Is not death the end of joys, the sew
ering Of earthly ties, the uprooiing of human
hopes and ambitions, the dread and hor-
ror of all men; Yet, these are the words
of the "wise man" as he calmly surveys the
tuJO1 VI lllt dJu lnt ElDTltS VI uChtu
"The day of death is better than the day
of ones birth" The truth of this state
ment will appear.
1. Because death makes an end of the
effects of toll and harassing care.
This life is little less than bondage to
most men. Supply humane master and
the changed conditions would hardly be
noted. The sun rises in its course no more
surely and takes IFS steady way with no
greater regularity than the faithful laborer,
the world over, assumes HE task. Men
look forward to this kind of life as the
necessary consequence of sin, take up the
self-imposed burden and march on in its
way. Borne down by toll and worn out
by drudging care, men end their days. But
what shall be revealed beyond No more
shall the weary laborer long for the night
"There Shall be no night there" For the
last time his worn limbs have sought their
rest only to renew their strength for the
struggle of life The we'll stored mind,
too, has plumed its wings for loftler
flight In holy communion with its maker,
now, it needs not again visit the haunts of
men. Blessed are the dead which die in
the Lord from henceforth; yea saith the
spirit that they may rest from their labors
| and their works do follow them. Who can
foretel the glories of that other world ?
| What realms of untasted bliss await the
faithful What revelations of himself
"The universal Father" will make; what
| fields of thought and research will be laid
| open to view, what unwonted vigor this
hating limping mind this poor lisping, stam-
mering tongue will take to themselves
what powers of enjoyment, what aids to de-
| light, what consuming love will possess the
released soul, who can tell. This rest from
the care and toll of life,. however, does
not | apprehend necessarily imply cessa-
ton of employment. | would rather con-
| ceive of my powers of endurance and my
hours of employment as increased. Il am
| persuaded, wrote Cicero" that shall only
| begin truly to live, where | cease to live in
this world. Amid the Possibilities Of this
life. who would be idle Z Who would not
welcome toll, pain and care here, rather
than lead life of weartless idleness. But
| in the presence of the incompatible glories
and unsolved mysteries, of the future who
would wish to enter upon life of unending
rest. These marvellous powers shall as
sumo new proportions, l fancy, and find
TT employment for their untried capacities,
| but, WEAKNESS, care, and pain in conse-
| quence of amending toll shall cease at the
| grave.
2. But death is better than life, because
| it makes an end of sin aud sorrow.
| To sensitive mind the possibility Of
SHINING is a perpetual source of unrest.
The possibilities OF lite are hampCred by
this ceaseless conflict between the forces of
| life, giz the flesh and the spirit Half
this life is made up of contests between
them. The powers of darkness set over
against the sources of light. Good resolves
and bad life in constant conflict. Virtue
| and its rewards opposed to vice and its pen
altes Depraved nature in hot contest with
| godiness, these are the scenes which greet
| us on either side. Sorrow, too, like a cloud
| envelops the earth, Death confronts you.
at every turn, with his fearful rayages, fill
ing the lands with mourning and want,
| The heart sinks within us as the light of
one loved friend after another Pickering
for time goes out. But in the future, in
that land where sin cannot enter, sorrow
the child of sin will not be known. Then
robes of mourning will be exchanged for
the wedding garment. The voice of weep
ing will give place to anthems of joy. "God
shall wipe away all tears from their eyes,
| and there shall be no more death, neither
sorrow nor crying, neither shall there be
any more pain, for the former things are
passed away.
3. But, death is better than life because
the mysteries of life are solved by it.
We live acre in a maze of wonder. The
| mysteries of life confront us on every side.
Whichever way we turn the wondrous hand
| of the unseen is manifest. Our whole life
is a persistent struggle with the mysteries
involved in it.. Look into the world around
you. Is it all plain there? Does not the
first step in the way of research involve
you in inextricable difficulties?
How persistentlY jealous the scientist
has been in his inquiries if perchance ma
ture may drop secret by which he can I'M
lock the mystery which envelops the pro-
cesses of life and growth. But his desire is
vain and fruitless. He observes carefully,
Classics closely and generalizes with the
utmost precision. Still the simplest step
in the process of life and growth eludes his
most watchful efforts. Again, in your
philosophy of living and your experience in
the world, what but wonders meet you
Explain to yourself the doings of one day.
Clear up to your mind those singular turns
and sudden events which startle by their
unforeseen occurrence leaving mystery
behind. How many days have you not been
enveloped in mysteries which bailled your
Sharpest skill to solve! So too, in the &C
ceptance of religious beliefs and doctrine,
mystery mingles with revelation. Who
has yet offered an adequate solution, on
purely rational grounds, of the incarnation
for instance or regeneration, by the spirit
of Gni, the power of prayer, or the resur-
rection Of the dead9 Yet these mysteries
and othelsllike them stand here our guides
and companions living vital realities to us.
Wretched, indeed would be our state in
this mace of unsolved marvels did we not
recognize behind this veil of mystery the
loving hand of the living God by whose
mighty power mysteries exist and shall be.
at last solved. Now death solves the mys.
teries of life, No longer shall we wonder
at the events of life and phenomena of ma
ture. Mysteries will become realities.
For now now we see through glass dark
lyi but then face to face. Now know in
part but then shall / know even as also |