Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1881-11-03
a Meditation on Death

The following "Meditation on my De-
parture out of this World was found
among the unpublished manuscripts of the
late Rev. DR.. Plumer, and is printed in
the Christian at Work. It is of unusual
character and deserves thoughtful read
ing. The good old mans desire that his
death might not be attended with jntoerablo
suffering was grentcd, as he passed painless.
]y and peacefully to his rest:
It is certain l must die. Sin has made
death inevitable. Tho decree has gone
forth. "By one man sin entered into the
world, and death by SIM" Rom. s: 12.
'It is appointed unto men once to dis."
Heb. 8: 81.
Tho time of my departure is irreversibly
tixed and is perfectly known to God. It
cannot be fastened It cannot be de-.
ferred. SIS there not an appointed time
to man upon eorth?" 7: l. ellis
days are determined, tho number of his
months are with thee; thou hast ap-
pointed his bounds that lie cannot pass"
JOB IA: S.
The precise time of my death is not and
cannot be known by mo or by any mortal
'Thou knowest not what day may bring
forth PROV. 81: l. aye know not what
shall be on the morrow" flames 5: ii.
am glad it is 80. A knowledge of the
time of my leaving this world might unfit
mo for some of my duties. Such knowl
edge did not promote piety in good IIeze--
kiah. If l had 30 great secret l should
be apt to tell my loved ones, and that
would mako them unhappy before the tune.
Yet know | must die soon. l have
already lived several years on borrowed
time "Tho days of our years arc three
score years and ten" ."-Ps. 80: 10. I am
away beyond that. Many things 10 my
bodily health and vigor warn me that
have but a short time to live. may die
any moment. My strength and agility are
both impaired.
Death under circumstances tho least ap-
palling may we'll strike one with awe. Un.
dor some circumstances it is dreadful. One
OF the anoients called it tho king Of ter.
rors; another, the terrible of terribIes.
Death puts q full end to our connection
with the scenes Of earth. It closes the doy
OF grace. With it probation forever ends.
Its Immediately followed by that solemn
and solitary interview with God, when tho
soul undergoes the examination of omnis-
olent purity. After death all is unchang.
ing and eternal. VIXEN my eyes shall
close in death, can preach no more.
Thenceforth my evoice will bo silent as
the grave, and my lips bo scaled till time
shall DO no longer.
But | will conjuro up no frightful
thoughts of my dying hours. Many die
apparently without much suffering. Sharp
pains arc seldom long, and long pains arc
seldom sharp. Many as nervous as often
give no sigual Of great distress in their
last hour. This is my hope, that
Jesus can make dying bed
Feel soft as dowuy pillows arc.
Yes, Jesus can, and IL 1t is best, he will
treat me so; and if it is not the best, I
ought not to ask him to do go.
y Respecting the whole matter Of tho time
ID manner Of ny departure. desire to
ne no will. refer all to God, who nc YER
eiSpd is never unkipd. Only l ask him
0tember that am dust, and that my
sP'1I'o soon fail before his torrors.
rea e toc cherish no inordinato love Of
os ,nssa,hSe hSe indulge impatient longings to
aracs ,uas abSrld ] beg of God to give me
e b. os wat Smay not grow tired OF labor
~. 'l;faD :. and say, IL om weary of
~ ~ x:l. On tho other han d