The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1884-10-30
A SHORT ADDRESS
To tho Young Persons In the Roberts Con-
grcEatlon ON the Occasion OF the DsntI
of Miss .. N. Glimcr and OF MIR. George
Skelton,

of Miss 8. N. Gllmcr and OF MIR. George
| Shelton.
We have been requested to publisl,
the following address, written by the late
Rev. John McLces, of Greenwood, in
1850. It's publication will likely dc
much good to the youth Of the present
generation, as we'll as prove gratifying to
the many friends of tho beloved author
Ed. INTEhLIGENCER.
My DEAR YOUNG FRIENDS: With
deep feelings OF interest | now speak To
you by letter. am denied the privilege
| of speaking 10 you in person, and yet
feel so anxious for your welfare that |
have resolved to address you by my pen.
Death has entered your ranks and cut
down too Of your number We were all
familiar with them; they badc rs fair for
long life as you, but now they sleep in
| death, their eyes ure, closed, their lips are
sealed, aud their spirits fled. Their seats
in .his house are vacant; you will see
them here no more. Had known when
| saw them last that would sec them no
more in this world, would have encour.
aged them to seek the Lord. But let me
now urge this duty upon you who are
yet spared. Prepare to meet your Gud.
Consider, first, the worth of your souls.
Tho soul is the immortal spirit that will
not die, but will be happy in heaven, or
miserable in hell for ever. The soul is
worth more than ell the gold and silver
in the world; it is worth more than all
"What shall it profit man if he gain
fha wbf,lo would oni 1,co III, .,,,,l
what shall man give in exchange for
his soul" The redemption of the soul
is precious it cannot be redeemed with
corruptible things rs silver and gold.
The world would not redeem one soul.
Now you MI have souls, and their saliva
ton is the most important subject that
can engage your attention. You may
think it important for you to have food,
aud raiment, and riches. aud friends.
Religion is worth more than all those.
If you are true Christians, your souls
will be saved in heaven and be happy for
ever.
Consider, secondly, your lost and ruin
your parents and friends, and perhaps
you are very orderly in your lives, but
you are sinners by nature and by prac.
tice, you have decetful hearts, dnrkcned
understandings, and pcrverse wills. o,
you are dead in trespasses and in sins,
unless you have been guickencd by the
Spirit Of God and if you remain in
this nnconverted state, your souls will
perish for ever. All impenitcnt persons
are under sentence of death-eternal
death. The mere mercy of God keeps
them out Of hell. They arc hanging
over tho hottomless pit, suspended by
the brittle thread Of life, and if that was
cut they would inevitably fall into the
burning lake.
Consider, thirdly, the glorious prom
lses i'll tho gospel for the salvation of
sinners. Jesus Christ has died on the
cross, and his blood can cleanse from all
sin; he is able to save to the uttermost
all that come to God by him. He invites
poor s:liners to come TO him and receive
freely the pardon Of sin and title to
eternal life. His invitations are gracious
and abundant. "C0me unto mo all va
that labor and nre heavy ladeued and |
will give you rest" "Ho, every one that
thirsteth, come ye TO tho waters, and he
that hath no money, come ye, buy and
eat. Yea, come buy wine and milk
without money, and without price the
Spirit and the bride say come, and let
him. that hearcth say come, and let him
that is athirst come, and whosoever will
let him come"
Consider, fourthIy. that your season of
mercy will terminate with this heetinr
lite. The Spirit may leave some before
they have completed their Journey here.
but we are sure he will not strive any
more when death comes. There is no
repentance in the grave, no pnrdons
offered to the dead. When the night of
death comes, man can no longer work.
The gate of mercy will then be closed
and the offers OF pardon no longer made.
Then she that il filthy shall be fiItbv
still (; and he that is holy shall be holy
still" The cternel state will be fixed.
and the condition unalterabc forever.
Consider, filthy, the shortnees of time.
Look upon the new.made graves Of your
youthful companions and be convinced
that the time is short: your race vii! bo
run and your journey eHdei; your ewes
will soon cease to look on the sun and on
the fields; your limbs will soon stiffen
in death and your bodies crumble to dust.
What is your life2 1t is even a yapor
that appeareth for little time and then
vanlsheth away. How short your time
is; your life is wind, moments breath.
ing. While You bewail one departed
friend another sickens and dies. "All
flesh is grass, and the goodliness thereof
is ns the flower Of grass the grass with
creth and the flower fadeth. "Man dieth
and wasteth away (; yea, man giveth up
the ghost, and where is he7" Your lie
is q day, a short day, and your sun may
set even while you think the morn Of
life continues. All do not live the
allotted term OF three acore years and
ten. Many die in the morning, while
thcir cheeks are blooming and their eyes
are sparkling. "The flower, is often
plucked ere fully blown" Death appears
to love the young, and especially in your
vicinity he seema to lurk by the path OF
those who are expecting many days lie
rushes forth unexpectedly upon his prey
and bears them to the dark grave, How
many months will roll round before
another one from your ranks shall follow
those who have! gone before2 Your
shroud may be woven and the timber
ready :or your coffin the mattock and
the spade that shall be ueel to dig your
grave may now be purchased and ready
for use. Your life is a apan, and your
age as nothing before God. Your bodiea
arc brittle clay-they are fading flesh
that may be crushed before the moth
A few more suns may rise and set q few
more flowers may bloom and fade, and
then the night of death may come over
yon, and your blooming cheeks grow pale
and g.iastly. y ~
"The time Is short, the season near.