Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1879-03-08
From the Lutheran visitor.l
IMMORTALITY.
BIT REV. J. p. SHELTER, D. D.


II a man die shall he live again.-Job
xiv. II.
eff a man die shall he liver Is q
question that has had its thrilling utter
est long before the beams OF the Sun OF
Righteousness shed forth, more clearly,
life aud Immortality through the Cos
pei. Man, unai6ed by Divine Revela-
lion, perceiying that all things are sub
ject to decay, beholding his fellow-man
going down to the tomb, feeling the
burden Of age and iu6rmi,y pressing
him to earth, must have concluded that
he, too, would sink into the chambers
of eternal night. How dismal and dread
ful must death have appeared to him
His existence beyond the close OF life
never drew forth single emotion in his
OWE bosom, and not solitary ray OF
Immortality ever illumined bis dark
ened mird.
Reason has exhausted her powers and
failed 10 answer the question. She has
examined the philosophy OF death, but
the prerogative Of death ceases when
vitality has fed. Death opens the gate.
but cannot tell whether eternal night or
eternal life lies beyond. Death hurries
mortals from earth, but brings no ono
back TO report the condition OF the dead.
Reason has entered the mental cham
bers Of man, examined their properties,
made known their wonderful powers,
but whether that mind possesses ono
spark Of Immortality, she is unable TO
discover. Every avenue Of tie mind
that could be opened, she has entered F;
every possible property she has diligent-
iy examined every tendency oi the
mind she has followed; she has gone
down with man 10 the very gates OF
death, but has never, and never can,
raise tho veil that hides immortality
from man.
Revelation, alone, has satisfactorily
answered the question. Revelation at-
firms that man shall live, that there is
another world TO which we are fast has.
teuing; that bey ond the narrow strcam
which divides that land from this, he
has an eternal existence; that death 10
nothing more than a separation OF soul
and body. Revelation hes raised the
veil of futurity and opened 10 mans
mental vision a world OF iucxpressible
happiness, q world Of light and love. IL
is voice from eternity, answering tho
dark and perplexing question, revealing
future existence, holding forth exclt.
lug hopes, and assuring man that II ho
die he shall live again.
Here, on the shores Of time, we find
man. We knew him as q compound
being. He is soul incarcerated. He
is mortal, yet he possesses the principle
of immortality lie 10 corruption, yet
dissolution and worms can never de-
stroy his soul; he exists in time, YET
etc rnal duration cannot surpass him. To
affirm that this existence is nothing
more than vague idea, delusivo fan
c,, q mere phantom, Is 10 deny every
sense our Creator has given us, and tho
express declaration OF His revealed will.
Ten thousand objects teach the exist
ence of man. II is whispered 10 him In
almost every breeze, he feels II 10 his
daily intercourse with man, aud he 10 %
certain of il, as IL it were written IN in
delible characters on the tablets OF his
soul. Man exists net only 10 time, but
has commenced his eternal existence.
Existence is q solemn trust Every
man is invested with this trust. Om-
impotence alone can destroy II. Exis-
teDce, therefore, must 60 on. Every
moment it is ripeping for its eternal
state; every step it ID gathering fearful
responsibilities; every affection and emo
ton OF the soul 10 storing up treasures
for its veal or woe; every sct has writ
ten in burning charscters It's bsppiness
or misery. II man commits suicide be
only bastens the dreadful copsummatiop.
Death ends not existence, but confirms
il, makes IL doubly sure, continues it
without tho possibility Of perishing,
sets the seal aud settles the destiny for.
ever.
There is spark Of divinity 10 man,
that exists not in any other being on
earth. 1t is naugbt else than the breath
Of the Almighty. Age and experiences
only expand il, knowledge snd truth
beautify and adorn it,time cannot yesk.
en- it, aud eternity can not exceed IL In
duration. Man feels Il in his dread Of
annihilation, aud bis longing after i'm.
mortality; and he sees one promineut
feature Of il 10 bis pursuit sfter knowl.
edge and bis desire for wisdom sDd
truth. When the System 10 excited by
fever, attennated by disease, the physi-
cal relations are In o measure broken
up: and the mind has been known to
possess powers never conceived sof In
| its habiiual conditions Now wbeu
death removes tho mortal, al bindersnces
taken away, this ponderous envelope
will be shaken Of, thst which was IN
sensible or dormant will quicken with
intense aud terrific life, every faculty Of
the mind bindered, clou1ed, or scared,
will contribute of its treasures and
strength to consummste the stupepdous
purpose Of God. Forgc.fulse<s wiII be
removed. Oblivion sink 10 rise no more,
careless omission driven away, and inas.
tention lost forever. Memory will rs!i
forth hidden treasures, recollection vii;
bring to long catalogue Of dseds done.
words spoken, thoughts co0eisved, #.
fections experienced, viii be presented
in one burning point Of time.
Conscience never fails in making mani
fest the righteousness OF an- sccusstioD.
She has fhe wbole hisforv AZ man q, h.