The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1884-03-20

g ~ hiAh Bttk HlUl III the RTaVe, |
There, cold and ~lifeless, will lay the heart
that q few days ago was the seat of friend
ship. There, dim and sightless, will lay the
eye thata few days ago beamed with intel. |
ligence; and there, closed forever, are those
lips whose accents we have 30 lately heard.
Only a few days ago and he who was the Gel
casion OF our sorrow. was one Of the most
useful men in our community. But now his
work Is finished, and death has removed him |
beyond my praise, and l would fondly hope.
through grace, above my praise. A friend,
indeed, who knew no guile, whose bosom was
transparent, and deep in the bottom of whose
heart was rooted tender and sympathetic
love, whose various worth was acknowledg
ed while alive, and on whose tomb they
unite with equal sympathy and grief to shed
Stear. i know he had bis weaknesses and
his failings. 1 see on the picture OF his life
some dark shades. On these let the tear
that pities human weakness fall. On these
let h veil which covers human frailty rest.
Pnyi o, pity, for it is an attribute Of God
Himself. If you can gather up the bound
less, endless, Infinite treasures Of God, and
measure them, then you might tell the height
and depth and uncDding glory Of tho pity Of
God. 1t is not like the musical water.drops
of some slender rill, murmuring down the
dark side Of Mount sinai. No. 1t is as
wide IS the whole scope of heaven. 1t is as
abundant as all the air. We pity him, and
We hbh Dhb u ~
we can hardly forgive; those who robbed him
OF his reason and turned him out in the cold
to die. Would to God my talents were ad.
equate to the occasion, 1 would then furnish
you with an argument the most practical,
the most plain, and the most convincing
that was ever presented against that horrid
practice and damning mia>ma which has, in
an awful moment, roUbed the community of
such a useful man. Would to God 1 were
able TO counteract that terrible curse which,
like q reckless torrent, is undermining the
Foundations OF the church and sweeping away
virtue, talent and domestic happiness in its
| desolating course. We have said, and we re-
peat it, there are those whom we can hardly
forgive, who have in a measure brought this
troubIe upon US. Would to God / could here
assemble, on one side the d~isconsolate moth.
err with her five fatherless children, and on
the other side those who helped to bring
this trouble upon her. Could / do this I
would point them TO these sad objects; ]
would entreat them by the agonies of be-
reaved fondn3ss to listen to the widows
heartfelt grOans, TO mark the orphans signs
and tears; and having done this I would un.
cover the breathless corpse-I would hold
it up TO heaven before them, and I would
ask whether at the sight Of this they feel NO
conjunction. All! ye cruel murderers,
erimsoned with the richest blood, 1 weep
and tremble at the cfimes you record against
us; the annual register OF deaths which you
make and send mp before the throne Of God.
Approach and behold him now ye workers
Of iniquity, while I lift from the sepulcher
its covering-amazing change! How silent!
a shroud, a coffin, a su~bteraneous cabin!
This is all that now remains of him we Low.
ed so much. Oh, my God, is this ull? Oh,
NO, our love for him remains! It can never
die It 10 stronger than death and more in
vincible than the grave. Ye, who have
hearts OF pity; ye, who have experienced the
anguish of dissolving love and friendship;
ye, who have wept and still weep over the
mouldering ruiz of departed friends and
loved ones; ye can sympathize with US, and
ye can enter into these reflections.
o, thou disconsolate widow! robbed, so
cruelty robbed, in so short a time, Of q loving
husband, what must be the plenitude of thy
suffering! Who can fathom the depths Of
thy sorrowl Gould we only soothe thy sad.
ness we would gladly drop the tear of sym
pathy and pour into thy bleeding bosom the
balm of consolation. Our earnest prayer tn
God is that every trial may serve to unfold
to US more Of the preciousness of Jesus, as
prop by prop which was wont to support III
on earth may be giving away. may we know
what 1t is to lean our whole weight upor
Him, and leave our whole case with Him, re
pairing to Him ss q "Friend tn t stick eth
closer than a BROTHER" unto His sympathiz
ing bosom to conide our every want, from
HIS iuexhaustible treasury to draw ever
consolation, and on His upholding arm con
idingly and habitually TO rest. o, to Hi
throne let US lift up our voice and pray: y
Godl II Thou art still the widows husband
and the father to the fatherless, if in the full!
ness Of Thy goodness III re be yet mere e
IN store for us, PITY, o pity, this afflicted
mother, and grant that her hapless Orphan
may find q benefactor, a Father and
Friend in Thee. D, God of the bersaved
comfort and sustain them by the power o
Thy holy spirit. o, blessed Savior, Thor
seest how their hearts are stricae with SOL
row and wrung with agony y, help them tt
lean upon Thy rod and Thy staff for comfor
den upon the Great Burden Bearer aud fnt
relief. Help them to look beyond human
agencies and human means, and recognize
Thy hand, o, God, in this Providence, and
say, at is the Lord, let Him do what seem.
eth good in His sight.