Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1880-12-23
&taaiug tur the Sabbath.
CONDUCTED By
REV. ROBERT LATHAM.
IOrigInal ]
THE LAST.


ter of the book of Genesis. The life of one
of the greatest sad best men the world ever
produced was drawing to close. Jacob was
no ordinary man, and his life was full of some
thing which bears a close resemblance to
thrilling adventure. By strange providence,
much of the evils of humanity fell to his lot.
His home was full of jealous chickering's, and
the rash, ungrateful, imprudent and reckless
conduct of his own children, often filled his
bosom With sorrow which no words can des-
cribe. When the pious patriarch felt that
life's labors we're done, he called around him
his sons that he might tell them what would
befall them in the last days.
At that particular moment, Jacob was both
father of one of che most important patriarch
al clans in the world, and prophet of the Most
High God. He felt as tender-hearted faith.
er giving his dying advice to his children, and
as an inspired prophet Of God unfolding the
future history Of his own descendants. A
minute and detailed history of the future of
each of his twelve sons is given. Then the
venerable patriarch gave them instructions
concerning his burial. This done, we are
told, "he gathered up his feet into the bed and
yielded up the ghost, and was gathered unto
his fathers"
This was the last scene in the life of a man
whose .gentlemanly manners and devout piety
are worthy of imitation by all men in every
country and of all ages. 1t is not vague
conjecture to say that the sons, grand.sons,
and great graudsons of Jacob, said to them
selves as shev beheld the cold and lifeless
corpse of their progenitor: This is the last
time we shall ever see our father or hear his
voice. No more will he counsel US. He is gone.
Death has changed his countenance and sent
him away" There is something that may be
denominated sublime in the consummating Of
anything. Hero employed goldsmith to
make for him crown ofgold. When it was
finished, the king suspected that the workman
had dealt fraudulently, and that some baser
metal had been mixed with gold, and the
crown made Of this mixture. Archimedes
was employed to test the crown. For some
time it baffied his ingenuity. At last while
bathing, he observed that his body displaced
volume of water equal to its bulk. This
suggested the doctrine of specific gravities.
By an application Of this principle, he discov-
cred process by which he could test Hiero's
crown. Naked and frantic with joy, he ran
through the streets shouting Il have found
it. l have found it." The last effort had
been successful, and great discovery made.
When Edward Gibbon finished the "De.
cline and Fall of the Roman Empire" con-
ficting emotions sprang up in his bosom.
He thus graphically describes his feelings
after laying down my pen, took several
turns in berceau, or covered walk of acacias,
which commands a prospect of the country,
the lake. and the mountains. The air was
temperate, the sky was serene, the silver orb OF
the moon was reflected from the waters, and
all nature was silent. / will not dissemble
the first emotion of joy on the recovery of
my freedom, and, perhaps, the establishment
of my fame But my pride was soon hum
bled, and a sober melancholy was spread over
my mind, by the idea that l had :aken an
everlasting leave of an old and agreeable
companion. and that whatever might be the
future date of my history, the life of the his
toriau might be short. and precarious."
Alexander Pope, when rejecting on the
termination of his earthly career, thus ex.
presses himself: "The morning after my exit
the sun will rise as bright as ever the flowers
smell as sweet the plants spring as green !;
the world will proceed in its old course, and
the people laugh and marry as they were used
10 do"
What conflicting thoughts are suggested by
the words the last. As the affectonate father
dictates his "last will and testament" the un.
hidden tear trickles down his cheek, and his
lips tremble. AS we watch over the couch of
a dying friend, what intense silence reigns
during that moment when he struggles for
the last breath! Strong men and delicate
women cease TO breathe, and strain to discov-
er the last gasp.
What train of ideas rush through the
mind Of the sober and rejecting, as they enter
upon the last month, or last week, or last day
of the year! To what countless throng
has the past yesr been literally the last year
Death, that Unsuitable monster which sin
brought into .ur world, has been no idler.
His visits have been numerous and as wide
spread rs the k1man race. and his demands
inexorable. 7 many millions Of the human
family the Iast year has been the last.
No more will they be seen or heard on earth.
They are gone. The grave conceals from
mortal vision their mortal remains. Their
dust mingles, in some instances, with that of
friends and kindred. In other instances, the
bodies of life. long enemies crumble into dust
in the same little enclosure. Death has put
an end to their petty strifes and silenced their
senseless disputes. To some, with the past
year the last ray of hope has been turned
into utter darkness; the offers of peace and
pardon through Saviour's blood have been
made for the last time, and God has at last
and forever ceased to be gracious. For the
last time many have spurned the gospel offer.
They have sinned away their day of grace,