The star of Pascagoula. [volume] (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1873-1878, 1877-09-21
For the Pascagoula STAR.l
DEATH.
,Y fasocEsr," TO PROTESTANT ralEsD.

Men have surmounted numerous OF.
stac!os, apparently impossible, au
mounted the pinnacle of fame; they
have crushed nations; they have as
founded the world; but, alas, none have
succeeded in avoiding death. This is
mans tyrant; the sworn enemy of hu.
manity, all powerful and unmerciiuIi
he spares none; the king and the peas
ant, the rich and the poor, the young
and the old, the angelic sister of mercy
and the stony-hearted ruflian, have 10
drain his proffered cbalice OF bitterness;
quality and conditions never appear to
his memory. What is life?
"Oh, mortal, tell,
80 that we may bear it well
Is 1t in the works we do
Numbered many, or but few 7"
Man, stop but moment aud answer
that question; com pare life to eternity I;
bear this IN mind: that on your prepar.
alton for death depends your eternity
= Aat are Tho pleasures or sorrows u.
this life to tho bliss or gloom of eter-
nity2 Simply nothing, not even room
for comparison. At death your ac-
count on the Great Book is closed, the
balance sheet rendered; that balance,
that everlasting and unchanging bal
ance, depends on your death. Yes,
| christian, across that sheet may b3
found the sentence; Depart. ye cursed,
unto everlasting damna ion." Think
well on death; for, says an apostle:
"ThiDk We often on death, Judgment
and helI;" prepare that the balance may
be in your favor and across the sheet
you may fad the promised benediction;
"Well done, good and faithful child.
enter unto my kingdom and take the
place prepared for you" Death, like
thief 1T night, creeps upon us when
least we expect, and finds us unpre-
pared; so lei US grid on our armor and
meet him at any moment, and when our
angel guardian takes his flight to the
realms above we may be able to follow
him, and take the place that is ours
through the precious blood shed on the
tree which decided the fate of human
ity, the tree upon which grew the apple
that cast man into bondage.
History furnishes us numerous in
stances of death claiming a nations
hero lust at the moment he is indulg-
:up in some of the lowest and vilest acts.
How many that are unknown to the
historian? Too numerous for human
confidence. What were the prepara-
tions of Julius, the apostate? A. life OF
-but history dwells too long upon this
mans apostacy for any one 10 be unac-
quainted with. When death claimed
him as his soldier in the strife against
life he was found in the foremost ranks
OF barbarism and degradation against
christianity and civilization. At the
touch of the christian soldiers lance
despair claimed him and hopes never
knew him and stunned him now. Like
a demon he grabbles the blood of his
heart, and casting it heavenward ex-
claims; Jesus of Nazareth, thou hast
CONQUERED" The Infant in the cradle
of bethlehem had conquered the head
Of nation. prnly may the world add:
Death, into eternity thou hast hurled
the soul of an unprepared mortal, soul
once ten thousand times brighter than
the sun, but with thy hand thou moved
him down when that soul was ten
thousand times darker than the darkest
regions of chaos" What are we, sin
ners, but julius under the disguise OF
We are trying to gain the
reward by working contrary
70 the teachings of the church; we ara
.rying to rebuild the temple; you act
contrary to the dictates of nature; but
here is death that will make you regret
t. Mea culpa will be your only con-
ISOLATION when death stares you III the
lace and before you comes that SEN
ience. "What does it profit man If he
GAINS the whole world and loses his own
soul? Absolutely nothing-it is too late
10 aay that, for
"The bastis in the eternal past'
lothing can recall it; you are doomed,
inner; despair viii come, and the hopes
given you by a christian mothers advice
viii beat hasty retreat and leave You
here the slave of remorse. 1t is now
,ou should begin your preparation, for
o morrow may be too late.
Leaves their time to fall,
md flowers to wither at the north winds
breath,
'hou hast all seasons for thy own,
0 Death
A holy Father says of all feelings pro-
uced by sights it is TO witness a soul
epart while despair claims the heart.
hey have witnessed il, then have tried
0 save the soul, but despair had como
rst.
Where are the souls of those poor
varieious ones whose bones were
!eached on the sandy deserts of the
Cast. whose graves were the stomach OF
Imean those black-hearted
hnractt rs that desecrated the ranks OF
he noble crusaders. Those who used
he sign of our redemption to satisfy
heir desire to bay the riches under the
,rientl heavens, forced on by artfnl
ancy.
The gorgeous East, with richest hand,
showers ON her kings barbarie pear and gold.
But too much time will be required
% give our subject deeper consldera-
ion. Never despair, my friend; live
ong and do good.
Judge not the Lord BY feeble sense,
But trust him for his grace