Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1877-09-29

IL Is 10 DeCODe wei Will ''"'
vocal with grOans, so that II we nave put
the hearts of men which can be brought
into sympathy with our own prospective
sorrows and the sorrows OF society
which are to find expression here, TINS
place might be rendered to-day like the
threshing floor of Atad.
But our theme is the vantage ground
which Christianity gives US under cir
! cumstances like these.
Contrast it with heathenism-with
Judaism-with unbelief. None know
better than unbelief what that fear of
death is which holds the world in bond
age. What are its supports in prospect
OF that which it knows must certainly
come, we are not informed; except an
occasional argument that death is not
an evil, or if one then as being unaVold-
able it is to be resolutely endured. But
as to hoping one thing from it, or even
consenting to it, nothing approaching
this is pretended.
For the sentiments of a learned and
dcvout hentheniSm We have more re-
spect, as for lis suferings in view OF
death we must have a deeper sympathy.
The master spirits Of the ancient world
struggled hard with the problem of tu-
turity. Its wise men and philosophers,
such as had they lived in our day
would have been the St. Pauls, or the
Lord Bacons and Bishop Buffers of
christianity, felt as keeuly as we the
pangs of separation from those whom
they loved, and toilcd through all the
depths Of intellect and of learning to
find a remedy and found none. The
deeper they searched the mole distress
inc their doubts, and all which was be
yond death grew more dim as they re-
ceded further ard further from that
light which had been received by traGi-
ton till all was night Socrates held
the Immortality of the soul and taught
it as doctrine. Plato, his disciple-a
man Of greater genius-upon sPecuIa-
ting more deeply, alternately doubted
and believed, while Aristotle, who was
his disciple and greater genius than
either, seems not to have believed 1t at
all. So that as to any comfort or hope
when this earthly scene dissolved, they
had none, and said they had none.
l have myself seen and read the rec
ordS Of their despair engraved upon the
tombs in Greece which have been there
from before the Christian Eva. There
was sculptured upon the marble The
mourning famly,-the mother holding
the children by the hand in pOstures Of
grief, with words engraved beneath, the
import Of which was that the separation
was final. Hope or comfort there was
none. When they parted from their
dead upon the shore of time they sent
their piercing cries after them into the
darkness, but there was no voice III re
ply, or any that regarded.
The Roman Intellect more robust
than the Greek, as it was also more de
termined, re-undertook this problem OF
il future life, and if you would know
with what success read the consolatory
letter which theRoman philosopher wrote
to Cicero upon the death Of his daugh
ter, or Ciceros own eloquent work, DE
Natura Deorum, in which after arguing
conclusively as the reader would sup
pose the immortality of the soul, gath
ers from his own argument this meIan-
choly concluSion-''it may possibly be
50" But suppose it to be so-aud that
the spirits of friends survived under
those numerous Deities of the invisible
world, which are also supposed to bear
rule over MiS-what could be hoped tor
from their protection or from their So
ciety, when under the received mythol-
ogy, it must have been perceived that
the best of the Gods were surpassed III
virtue by virtuous men. Judging 10y
human events under their providence
there was no profit in serving them.
The good of this world hestated not
to charge them with injustice and ca
price. The admirers of Cato deemed
it the sublimity of virtue i'll him that he
adhered to the true and the good,
though abandoned by unlighteous hea-
ven
'Victrix causa placuit Dis sed Nicta
Catoni."
What then had the good to hope for
under their authority in another world,
but a renewal of the conflict with the
superior powers Of injustice which had
oppressed them in this? and hence 1t
was that the noblcst Of them passed out
OF life either perpleXed and moumlng,or
with the demeanor of men resolved upon
summoning the Gods to judgement for
the misfortunes which had beiallen them
in this world.
O death how dreadful must thy sum
mons be TO the most virtuOuS heroes OF
a false religion, though they escape the
sentence of its Internal judges, Minos,
Radamanthus and HIou',to whose ven
geance heatheuism itself con signed the
wicked.
How different the faith Of One infn-
itely righteous Ruler, reigning supreme
over both worlds, and who has pledg
himself that all the wrongs OF earth
shall hereafter be adjudicated according
to the principles OF etcrnal justice.
But our theme is also the vantage
ground which Christianity gives us IN
contrast with Judaism, which though
an infinite advance upon idolatry, CT
even the patriarchal religion did not
bring life and Immortality to light. |
know that learned critics and comnen-
taturs have labored hard to show that
the doctrine of future lite is revealed
In d. OlA Tnsrnmrnt | lnuht not haf