Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1881-12-08
&eadiug fur the Sabbath.
CONDUCTED BY
REV. ROBERT LATHAM.
THE TEACHINGS OF DEATH.

Death ls at all times, and under all clrcuC.-
stances, solemn thing for a man to contem-
plate. The death of neig ghbor, even though
we may not have had much personal inter-
course in his life with the deceased, casts
shade of gloom over our minds Mirth is
hushed at the simple announcement that fel.
low.mortal has run his or her course on earth
that the once animated body, with all its WON
derful organism, has become cold, unmoving
corpse and the spirit which filled it with life
and beauty has gone to him who gave it.
But when de.th passes on some honored or
loved one-when its icy breath strikes and
withers some cherished object of our hearts
strongest affections it is that we feel, in
its full and awful import, the universal SEN
tence on our race, dust thou art and unto
dust shalt thou return"
This is sentence from which, as material
and mortal beings, none of US can escape.
To-day it is executed on the tender household
plant tomorrow on the strong and vigorous,
who reioiced, but moment before, in the
prospect of many bright and happy days.
The young, the beautiful, and the good
those who have had many joys, as we'll as
those who have spent many years of care and
sorrow-are alike subject to the inevitable
decree. Friends are gone since yesterdays
sun declined; we may have followed before
to.morrow's sun has risen. Oh how void
are the things of this life when viewed from
the chamber of death. How base and utter
y contemplate do all its strifes, its ambitions,
its jealousies, and its hatreds appear. If men
would reflect on the shortness and uncertain
ty of life, the nearness and certainty Of death,
surely they would avoid many of those bick
erings and contentions-those backbitings
and slanderings-which constitute so large
portion of life's annoyances and miseries.
AS the certainty of death teaches US humil-
ity, it should also teach US the duty of chari-
ty. As We expect to be forgiven the many
ill deeds done in the body so we should strive
to be forgiving to those%ho injure or offend
US. If we expect an Immortality Of the
Spirit through the love of Him who is immor-
tai and eternal, should we not try to live by
the laws of love here? If the hope of a
never ending life, that is pure and blessed,
can alone remove the citing of death and
brighten the path to the tomb, ought we not
to cultivate the virtues and be guided by the
precepts which are consistent with that hope? !?
What are feeting earthly honors if gained at
the sacrifice of glory that is imperishable {?
What is the wealth of this world, if it be at
tanned by the remuneration of an inheritance
that cannot be destroyed? What is earthly
rank or station compared with the exaltation
which awaits the pure in heart beyond the
tombf
Death is solemn monitor to whose warn.
ings we should give heed. We need not mar
our enjoyment in this world by keeping con-
sta-tly in view that this is not our abiding
place. The good are the happiest in life, and
happy in the contemplation of death. The
motive to all true virtue is, that its best re.
ward comes after this life is ended. The no.
bleness of man does not consist in his being
lord of the lower creation, but in the immor-
tai essence which links his existence to that Of
the Creator of the Universe He should care,
therefore, more for the immortal spirit than
for the mortal body, and live here as the heir
of kingdom which has no end.-NeaU York
Sun.
WHAT IS SUCCESS ?-Let US beware how we
use the word success" in connection with
spiritual things. 1t is not an arithmetical
term. A man is not failing because his pews
are empty a minister is not necessarily fail.
ure because there may not be numerical addi-
tions to the visible church. A man is not
necessarily succeeding because his pews are
crowded and because thousands enroll them
selves on the register of the visible fellowship.
We have nothing to do with either failure or
do the work, to suffer and endure and wait
and hope, and God giveth the increase. Poor
father and mother, you think you have no re-
ward in your family. Cheer up, you will
have good harvest yet. You have planted
and sown and watered. Yes. God giveth
the increase thou canst not tell how or when,
or which way =; leave it, dear honored parent
and it will be we'll with the child.
Ministers of Christ, you say that you have
cried your very eyes out, and worked until
your heart has been sore, and ached with
great agonies, and no good seems to have come
of your labor. Wait. In the morning SOW
thy seed, in the evening withhold not thine
hand, for thou knowest not which will pros.
per, or whether both shall be alike good.
Cast thy bread upon the waters, and after
many days thou shalt find it. God is not
Knocked Whatsoever man soweth that shall
he also reap. Labor more abundantly and
more hopefully, and leave the harvest to God,
as he has left the seed time to you.
THE SABBATH.-In Ilackstone's Commen-
taries on the Law of England, B. w., Ch.
w. Sec 8, the doctrine Of the common law
in relation to the Sabbath is thus set forth
Proclamation of the Lords day, vulgarly
(but improperly called Sabbath, breaking, is
an offsnse against God and against religion,
punished by the municipal law of England.
For, besides the notorious indecency and
scandal Of permitting any secular business to
be publicly transacted on that day, in coun-
try protesting Christianity, and the corrup-
ton of morals which usually follows its pro-
fanation, the keeping one day in the seven
holy, as a time of relaxation and refreshment
as well as for public worship, is of admirable
service to State, considered merel ly as civil
institution. 1t humanizes, by the help of
conversation and society, the manners of the
lower classes, which would otherwise degen-
crate into sordid ferocity and sel6shness Of
spirit. 1t enables the industrious workman
to pursue his occupations in the ensuing week
with health and cheerfulness it imprints on
the minds of the people that sense of their du.
ty to God, so necessary to make them good
citizens, but which yet would be worn out
and defaced by an unremitted continuance OF
labor without any stated times of recalling
them to the worship of their Maker.
RELIGION AND BUSINESS. man who
noolooto bio Iouf,,l nd nonaasarv husiness On