The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1886-07-02
WHOLE NO. 800

but he lives in the work of the Reforma-
tion. Calvin and Knox and Melanchon
are dead, but they live in the moral revo-
luton they sought to bring about. John
Bunyan kves in his "Pilgrims Progress.
Baxter lives in his Saints Rest" Cow
per in his inspiring hymns. John Howard
lives in his prison reform. John Milton
in his Paradise Lost. Robert Raikes in
the Sunday School, VIM. Carey and DIR.
Judson and DR.. Duff and Livingstone IN
the hearts of millions of saved heather.
The worker dies, but the work goes on.
The thinker dies, but his thoughts stir
other minds and burn in other hearts.
The sculptor dies, but his work of art
lives. The artist dies, but his painted form
lives. The author dies, but his book is
read. The preacher dies, but his sermons
are still heard. The teacher dies, but he
| lives in the lessons he has taught The
pioneer dies, but he lives in the farm he
has cleared up and cultivated. the home
he has built the schools he established and
the churches he helped to build. His i'm
press is seen in a hundred different forms.
THIRD-THE GOOD MAN LIVES IN THE
LIVES OF THOSE lie HAS BLESSED.
His character is reproduced in other
! characters. The Psalmist says "The right
eous shall grow like the palm tree One
popularity of the palm tree is that it re-
| Will 4 kae
purpose for years and ultimately decays.
young shoots will spring up from the roots
and they will bear similar fruit This tree
illustrates the nature of the good mans in.
fluence after his death; his life is repro
duced in other lives.
In Green Wood cemetery stands mon
ument bearing very touching inscription.
The, monument is the statue of woman,
who some years before adopted homeless
boy, educated him and nurtured him into
manhood. When she died, this boy who
had now become man erected this statue
to her memory. That good woman not
only lives in that statue, but in that young
mans heart and character Really her life
is reproduced in his life
And what is true in her case is true of
very many. Hundreds OF years ago a
a Puritan minister while in great affiction
wrote a book called "The Bruised Reed >"
which led to the conversion of Richard
Baxter. Richard Baxter wrote work
entitled "Call to the Unconverted, I"
which led to the conversion of Phillip
Doddridge. Phillip Doddridge wrote a
book called "The Rise and Progress of
Religion in the SOUL" which led to the
conversion of William Wilberforce, the
British statesman. The latter wrote a
work called the Practical View of Chris
tianity," which was much blessed to the
good of Rev. DR.. Chalmers Dr. Chal-
mers became an eminent minister and
christian scientist. DR.. Wayland wrote
life Of Chalmers, the influence Of which is
felt on every reader who ponders its pages.
Now please see how that Puritan minis
ter's influence was extended and enlarged.
| What chain of events? What lines were
bound up in it and how character was
linked to character and life to life? have
seen it stated that President Dwight, of
Yale College, took deep interest in
skeptical student under him, that he was
finally converted to God and through him
another and another, SO that some 80, 600
persons were converted TO God. What a
result?
And so l might go on and enumerate
illustrations of POsthumous Influence, but
let these suffice.
have been led to this line of thought
this morning in view of the recent death
of our highly esteemed friend and brother
JAMES A. THOMPSON,
who departed this life last Monday evening
Two weeks ago to-day he was present in
this his accustomed place of worship and
apparently as vigorous in body as ever.
He participated in the service and subsc-
quently engaged in the discussions of the
Bible class with his usual interest and ami
nation. The subsequent Wednesday he
was taken i'll and the following Monday
evening at o'clock his spirit took its de-
parture ftom earth. Last Wednesday we
laid away his mortal remains to await the
resurrection morn.
need not say his sudden death was a
surprise to US all, and is bereavement
not only to his devoted family. but his
church, his Bible class and his community.
/ feel that his death is personal bereavc-
ment to myself respected him for his
manliess of character and goodness of
heart and his intelligent judgment. In
some respects our Brother was more than
an ordinary man. If should analyze his
character l should say he was very manly
man. There was nothing artificial in his
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