The New York herald., 1877-03-05
Why Death Should Have No Ter
rors for the Christian.
FORM AND SUBSTANCE IN RELIGION.
Love the Spirit Of all Life and Reflex
Of Gods Goodness
DUTY AND DIR E. A M s.
CHURCH OF THE DISCIPLES.
ruR LAST DAY THE BEST DAY-wHY WI
SHOULD NOT FEAR DEATH.

rHR LAST DAY THE BEST DAY-wHY WE
SHOULD NOT FEAR DEATH.
The attendance at the Church OF the Disciples yes
terday morning was not quito so large usual After
the sermon tho ordinance OF the Lords Supper nd
ministered.
Mr. Hcpworth selected his text from Ecclesastes,
vii, IA good name is better than precious ont-
ment and the day OF death than tho day OF ones
birth" have read this verse; SAID tho speaker,
without o certain amount OF surprise. Recognizing
the wisdom Of solomon, caanot fall in the belief
that his assertion true, and yet we do not DIS
cover tho truth OF this verse at once, but
only after heightened meditation upon
Tho words have sometimes wondered whether, In tho
mind OF the writer, there not certain logical con-
uecton between the clause and the last Perhaps
I may paraphrase the sentence by rendering it,
..whcn man has a good name which is better than
pecious ointment then the day Of his death Is bet
ter tnan the day OF his BIRTH" In my general
reading have, more than once, como across
. sentence somewhat similar 20 tnis ana
yet have found after little that although
thc the the spirit IN which they are Ut
tered and their profoundes signifcation are very d
ferent Among the Greeks there was familiar
saying that at IS Ill fortune 10 be born and good
fortune TO die" Lille seemed to be regarded as Gu
amlty and the sooner life ended tho better II Tor
him who lost his possession. II you put the
tcnces side by sIdc they are apparently aike but u
you examine them with unusual care you VIII md
them exceedingly dissm.lar The Epicureans regarded
hie as an enormous sarcasm, and they busted them.
selves with multiplying pleasures excitemen's and
was, ..Lel hio end when and how II plcases,
SO long We have it We Will laugh the
hours away" Tho stocs were class OF rival think.
ers Life was 10 them enormous blunder They
regarded themselves misused and tnsuled IN their
brth and at the same time they did net proclaim that
justice done them in their death. Their motto
was ave will bear these inevitable Ills rs best wc
can and tic sooner the necessity OF endurance is
passed @ ,ne Gees sa Sr an chS misfortune y but
grave is a 10y" "ro become IS . calamity, TO lapse
Into nothingness Is a boom"
sCRIPrURAL MEANING.
When turn, however, TO the words OF Solomon
nnd a new sgniication that exalts and elevntes
the soul Why was the hour OF u mans death better
than the hour OF hls birth in the mind oi Of the
greatest philosophers that ever lived Simply because
after tho physical pane Is past the reward begins;
simply because life Is primary school, and that we
graduate the higher college OF God, where nop!er
lessons arc taught by passing through the shadow
that hangs over tho valley OF DEATH Death was well
come guest to Solomon, because ne was Gods mes
senger bring His servant into His presence that no
might be crowned with the crown OF everlasting glory
and when ST. Paul said he longed tor the hour
o his dcath he explained his meaning by
adding after death he should be present with tho
Lord, he would sit at the feet Of ibe Master and look
mp His divine and glorious face. You sec, there
fore, brethren, said the reverend preacher, tho d
ference the language OF the highest boos OF
philosophy in Grccce and the logic Of Christianity
The one Is on the low plano OF materiasm tho other
with eagles pnions and touches the stars The
ono stirs gratitude, the other dcpresses US to
despair scriptures are to the philosophies Of man.
kind as q to stoc We all have fear OF death,
and at nrst sight unnatural but closer view
We discover IL Is Of Gods bencdctiona Tho soul
naturally shriDks, with certain kind Of terror. from
the cruel hour when the strings have bound the
spirit body together Tor many years are sud
uenly snapped. IL is quito natural 10 look forward
with something Ike dread TO death we cling with an
instructive tenacity to life. That is God given In
stnct, to my mind; we ought not 10 do
sire TO have it otherwise. II Is tho means
in tho economy OF tho Almighty by which the race
is perpetuated Our horror entirely physical but God
has dulled the mi nd also to certain degree, lest the
m,nu rise trium phant the body and spurn and
thu3lift itself TO heaven the clock OF heaven had
struck the hour. II the curtain between you and the
future we're once lifted up that We might catch q
glimpse of the glories OF other life, the present
time would seem unsatisfactory and wretchcd that
we should become untitled for our duties and RESPONSE
bilIties 1t Is by faith that discover the futurc.
Let US fear but accept the promises Of God.