The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1884-10-30

Shelton.
We have been requested to publish
the following address, written by the late
Rev. John McLces, of Greenwood, in
1850. It's publication will likely do
much good to the youth Of the present
generation, as well as prove gratifying to
the many friends of the beloved author.
ED. INTELL1GENcER.
Ny DEAR YOUNG FRIENDS: With
deep feelings of interest I now speak to
you by letter. I am denied the privilege
of speaking 10 you in person, and yet |
feel so anxious for your welfare that l
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 as fair for
long life as you, but now they sleep in
death, their eyes are closed, their lips are
sealed, and their spirits fed. Their seats
in this house are vacant; you will see
them here no more. Had I known when
I saw them last that l would see 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 God.
Consider, first, the worth of your souls.
The 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 all the gold and silver
ia the world it is worth more than all
the houors and pleasures of the world.
"What shall it profit man if he gain
the whole world and lose his soul, or
what shall a man give in exchange for
his SOUL" The redemption of the soul
is precious it cannot be redeemed with
corruptible things as silver and gold.
The world would not redeem one soul.
Now you all have souls, and 1her saliva.
ton is the most important subject that
can engage your attention. You may
think it important for you to have food,
and raiment, and riches, and 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
ed state by nature. You are beloved by
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 deceitful hearts, darkened
understandings, and perverse wills. 0,
you are dead in trespasses and in sins,
unless you have been quickencd by the
Spirit of God and if you remain in
this unconverted state, your sonls will
perish for ever. All impeuitent persons
are under sentence of death-eternal
death. The mere mercy of God keeps
them out of hell. They are hanging
over the bottomless 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
ises in the 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 ultermost
all that come 10 God by him. Heinvites
poor sinners to come to him and receive
freely the pardon of sin and title to
eternal life. His invitations are gracious
and abundant. 'Come unto me all ye
that labor and are heavy ladeued and l
will give you rest "Ho, every one that
thirsteth, come ye to the 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 heareth say come, and let him
that is athirst come, and whosoever will,
let him come"
Consider, fourthly. that your season OF
mercy will terminate with this heeting
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 pardons
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 che that is filthy shall be filthy
still; and he that is holy shall be holy
still" The cternel state will be fixed,
and the condition unalterable forever.
Consider, filthy, the shortness of time.
Look upon the new made graves of your
youthful companions and be convinced
that the time is short; your race will be
run and your journey ended; your eyes
will soon cease to look on the sun and on
the fields; your limbs will soon stiffen
in death and your bodies crumble 10 dust
What is your life? 1t is even yapor
that appeareth for little time and then
vanisheth 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 MS the flower of grass; the grass with
crcth and the flower fadeth. Man deth
and wasteth away yea, man giveth W
the ghost, and where is be? ?" Your life
is 4 day, short day, and your sun may
set even while you think the morn OF
life continues. All do not live tho
allotted term of three score years ant
ten. Many die in the morning, while
their cheeks are blooming and their eye:
are sparkling. "The flower is oftel
plucked ere fully blown" Death appear:
to love the young, and especially in your
vicinity he seems to lurk by the path O
those who are expecting many days; ht
rushcs 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 before? You
shroud may be woven and the timber
ready for your coffin; the mattock ane
the spade that shall be used to dig YOU
grave may now be purchased and ready
for use. Your life is span, and YOU
age as nothing before God. Your bodies
are brittle clay-they are fading ilesl
that may be crushed before the moth
4 few more suns may rise and set, a few
more flowers may bloom and fade, ant
then the light of death may come Owe
you and your blooming cheeks grow pale
and ghastly.
'"rhc time is short, the season near,
When death will us remove,
TO leave our friends, however dear,