Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1879-02-15
From the Lutheran Visitor.
DEATH.
BY REV. J. z. SHELTER, D. D.

The last enemy that shall be destroyed
is death.-l Cor. XIV. 26.
Death, the unsympathizing enemy of
the human race, shall ultimately meet
his death. sin the day thou Gates:
thereof thou shalt surely die" is the
threatened penalty fo- the violation OF
Gods solemn command That this pen
atty has been rigidly imposed and faith
fully paid, the history of the human
race, in every age and cline, bears teS-
timony. All, who have lived, have ex-
perienced his 'terrors." All, who are
now living, will feel his power. This
solemn truth is well understood, for
man is disobedient. The origin of
death was not from nature, but from
sin. Sin brought into the world
"Death, and all our woe."
What is death? The mind of man
has contemplated this question, from the
death of Abel to the present time. Men
have examined the mental and physical
structure of the human race have gone
down with man 10 the verge OF the
grave; have watched their fellow men
crossing the river; science, philosophy,
aud theology have lent their aid for an
answer; death, nevertheless, remains the
same unsympathizing monster, the "kiog
of terrors, he was in the beginning.
Death has been termed q departure
from this world" for men by death are
removed from the busy scenes of earth
"A gathering unto the fathers, for
the fathers, where are they?'-a "ga,c,
through which the human race passes
from this world to another-a '':iver,
in allusion 10 the last impediment to the
Inheritance of Canaan-a ''veil, that
hides the spirit world from these low
grounds. All these terms, and others
might be named, are included in that
comprehensive term, The separation cf
Tie soul from the body. God breathed
into man the breath of life, and lie be-
came living soul. Wien that soul is
Withdrawn Lis body returns TO dust; for
"dust thou art, and to dust thou shalt
return" Do these terms answer the
question, what is death?
Death is, indeed, the last dreaded en-.
emy of the human race. The possibil-
ity of going down into the dark and
silent tomb before lite has fled renders
death fearful No one can describe the
desperate feelings of him, who wakes
from an insensible condition, and finds
bed Of clay instead of downy feathers.
Apart from this solemn thought, death
is fearful. If the Saviour earnestly
prayed: o my Father, if it be possible
let this cup pass from me! who does
not dread this monsters cold touch.
Whether pain or pleasure is experienced,
! when soul is separated from the body,
can never be known TO mortals. Neither
sinking TO earth, like the setting sun OF
a summers eve, nor the triumphant
shout of the martyr, is an argument for
the one or the other. Sometimes the
death struggle is fearful, indicating pain;
and then again, so calm and peaceful,
as if he had given his victim to the en-
brace of sweet sleep. No one, however,
has returned 10 report in what manner
this monster leads his victim to the
shores of Jordan, or conveys the soul
across its cold tide. Neither can phi
losophy, science, nor the constitution OF
mans mental being, determine whether
the separation of the soul from the body
is painful or otherwise.
What is it to die? This question has
called forth earnest thoughts from the
rejecting. 1t has produced fear in
some, it has brought joy TO others.
Surely, it terminates oil the busy con-
Germs of life snaps asunder every tie
that binds man to earth or earthly
things; compels him to resign his treas
urcs to the care Of others. To die is 10
bid farewell to possessions, friends, loved
ones, and fond desires; to lay the body,
SO fearfully and wonderfully made, in
the bosom of mother earth; TO resign it
to the loathsome work of the crawling
worm. 1t is the last step on the shores
of time, and the first into new and
untried world. 1t is where the river of
life flows into the ocean Of eternity.
What is it TO be dead This is 4
more thrilling question, for death can
not be repeated. Is it to bask in the
sunshine OF Gods glory foreyer9 Is it
to rest under the righteous indignation
of an insulted Maker? Is it 10 rise high
er and higher in the scale ofintelleclual
and moral endowments Is it to sink
lower and lower in depravity, and far.h-
er and farther from God? How impor-
tan. the question! what thrilling rcfec-
tionsit demands What is it to be dead!
1t is obedience TO the mandates of the
stern messenger sent 10 call man from
earth. 1t is living, active, thinking
soul in a spirit world. To he dead, is
10 exist OH the other side of the "river,
10 pass through the gate, TO raise the
"veil, and having shaken off this cum
brons investiture, the instrument of an
earthly existence, contemplate in one
burning point Of time, the thoughts and
feelings obtained on earth.
Is death cruel and unsympathizing
Yes. He tears the tender babe from
the bosom Of its mother. He calls the
dutiful child from the support OF an
aged parent. He breaks the sacred tic
that binds the fond parent TO his help
less family. He removes The diligent
worker before his work is half accom-
plished. He is impartial, as well as the
leveler of all human beings. Emperors,
bins IorJs o,J ,ha ,,r.,,, oo,a - M ., 4,