Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1883-04-26
FUNERAL SERVICES OF REV. ]. 8,
GRAsTY, D. D.

FUNERAL SERVICES OF REV. ]. s.
GRASTY, D. D.
The funeral of the Rev. j. S.
Grasty, d. D., took place from the
Presbyterian church in this city on
last Friday afternoon. DIR. Grasty
was formerly pastor of this church
and had many warm friends in it. A
large congregation assembled togeth-
er with the Masonic order, OF which
deceased was a member. The SER
mon for the occasion was from Rev.
R. G. Brank, d. D., Of st. Louis,
and was preceded by music and sing
ing by Prof. Treloar and the choir,
and reading of scripture and prayer
by Rev. w. Stoddert, d. D., pres
ent pastor of the church. This dis
course was admirable and appropriate,
showing from the 18th chapter Of lst
Corinthians that death was trium-
pant victory over the fear Of and the
power of itself. This deliverance,
continued the Rev. speaker, was not
due to philosophic conclusion; it was
the result of faith based upon the
atonement and sacrifice OF Christ by
which even they are delivered who
through their whole lives are subject
to bondage, and that, therefore, from
the standpoint of the text, death was
to be likened to door that admits to
the realization of hope; to a crown
placed upon them who have van
quished the world. All this is often
SO realized by the dying that no con-
cern is manifested about themselves.
Their Who'll. thought is for those they
are leaving. To them to depart is to
be with Christ and feel the power of his
resurrection. True such triumphant
departure comes not to all believers
1t has often been experienced at the
stake, however, and Elijah's exit was
notable example Of it. The resur-
rection of Christ is declared the
first fruits of them that slept and,
therefore, it is the pledge and pattern
of the resurrection of his followers.
In Adam all died; but in Christ all
who are in him shall be made alive.
The chief attraction of the future
world, continued the speaker, is its
superiority to this. Paul said sit is
better to depart and be with Christ
and the Savior prayed "Father 1
will that they whom Thou hast given
me be with me where am that they
may behold my glory" Human I'M
agination can picture nothing of the
joy of beholding Christ. That of it.
self will be heaven-the heaven all
want. But there is another element
in this victory. If heaven be joy,
it is a rest also-a rest of restless
activity-of such God-like energy as
is altogether unknown here, for OF
heaven John asserts ''there shall be
lno more curse, but the throne of God
and of the Lamb shall be init and
His servants shall serve Him." Or
these accounts, therefore, the chris
tan word sorrows not for those that
die as without hope. The broker
harp, the fallen column and the
crushed flower were fit emblems oi
Pagan despair, but in Christ the flow
) er is not crushed. 1t is transplanted
to a more fitting soil and to mor'
congenial cline; neither is the barl
broken. 1t is handed up to a grant
musician possessed of ability to strike
| its strings and bring out allits power
Oh! the sense of repose and securit.
that comes to the ransomed. Oh
. the blessed reunion with those tina
{ have gone before. The preparation o
mansions! What is that, but the fl
! ling them up with friends, that a
> may feel at home with Jesus-wit
Il Jesus, who still wears human forr
!, and shows his wounds, and with th
blessed ones He loved and died for
u Does not this companionship and thi
service mean something more than
a heaven of praise. Oh! does nc
u the inspired seer also suggest realizs
> ton of thousand fond ambitions
IL either abandoned or seemingly altt
l. gether quenched? Does He not seel
7. to say, 'iBe patient, soul, till deatl
u that you may be set free and fitte
y for the offices and trusts of heaven.
IL The citizens of heaven are follower
e of Jesus. whose example points
y devotion and self-sacrifice, and wi
doubtless in imitation of Him be Sci
&c to other worlds to make known
~ what now alone the church know
the manifold grace and wisdom
SC God. The future service of the mi
's istry will, therefore, be kingly al
priestly, and as fruitful as 1t will ]
everlasting. The usefulness of Il
man of God will not end with b
a. death; it will spread itself over etc
;e mty. The grace acquired he
N through submission to the will of g.
n will not be lost in the grave, it will
thereby sanctified and matured t