The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-01-23

was practiscd by their most illusiri
GUS heroes and statesmen. Thos'
whom they called barbarians were quit,
as ready to lay down life when IL became ,
burden Many instances are recorded il
| which they sought and welcomed death M
n dclivercr. The defenders OF Jerusalem
slew their wives and children and thcr
themselves, rather than that they should
become Roman captivcs. The unwilling
| gladiator would often turn his weapons
upon himself TO balk the pleasures Of hi,
tyrants. Not that death was not cnlam-
ity to these people. II was the extinction
of all the possibilities of earthly enjoy.
ment, and was feared accordingly. II
meant the giving up of the pleasant light
OF the sum- the delights of wife and home
and society, and the annihilation OF the
satisfactions of the senses. But il was not
an object OF supcrsttious dread. II was
talked about and discussed and looked
squarcly in the face, and not pushed away
out OF sight, as it is among us.
Even the heather of our day are Drawer
than Christians in their manner OF regard
ing death. A poor Chinaman readily sells
himself to another Chiuaman condemned
TO be behcadcd, and for few dollars suf-
fcrs in his place. He gives the money to
his family, On spends il in fcastlng, aud
then goes TRANQUILITY TO execution. The
coolies in the West Indies kill themselves
by hundreds when they get too respondent
10 live, and IL they can find no other in
strument, strungle themselves with their
own tongues The North American Indian
has long been noted for the fortitudc with
which he dies, while Mohammcdans of
every race bow their heads to their fate,
whether 1t comes in the shape of n bow
string or bullet, with equal composure.
Even the goddess Partisan, when his money
is all spent, will light his charcoal fire and
lie down to die rs If he were going to sleep.
The explanation Of the phenomenon Is
found in the decay among us of Christian
spirit and the corruption of Christian doc
trine. The Jealous enthusiasm of the early
church has disappeared, and a lukewarm
indifference has succeeded il. So far from
being willing to give their lives for their
religion, few Christians of our day arc
willing to give up even portion of their
worldly goods. They esteem 1t more
profitable TO lose their souls than TO lose
their money. and very naturally. death,
which strips them OF this, is their most
dreaded enemy. But, besides, there has
prevailed among Christians for the last
eight or ten centuries quite erroneous
conception of the fate that awaits men
after the termination of their earthly
career. Under the influence of herotical
philosophy ana morbid superstition, the
future life became ut an early period in
vested with doubts ana terrors unknown
toprimtive times, and thus there have been
added TO the natural evils of death with
which the pagan is familiar, artificial ones
which he never dreamed or The sym
bolic imagery of the Bible has been per-
vcrtcd alto literal fact, and the sinner has
been threatened with corporal torture,
which even the saint is represented to be
not altogether sure OF escaping.
True Christianity gives no couutenance
TO these idle inaginations and fears. Ii
insists upon repentance ard faith, but
offers with no uncertain voice forgiveness
and salvation 10 the repontant believer.
The promise is clear and unequivocal, and
II the preliminary conditions are complied
with, its fulnlment may be relied on. On
the other hand. If these conditions are dis
regarded, II makes no threats of any such
punishment; rs preachers are in the habit
of portnying. The impenitent sinner
simply misses the happiness which he
might otherwise secure, and this is his con-
domination. To ondeavor TO terrify him
by picturing an eternity of roasting or
Trolling and similar torturcs, is an IRA
tional delusion. A man who has go little
love for heaven a TO require TO be driven
to ii by fear of JoIN MILToN's he'll may be
frightened but not reformed, ana the
measures taken to affect him become
worse than useless when they result, rs
they often do, in distressing sincere but
simple souls, who need to be encouraged
rather than chastsed.