Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1886-03-25
CONDUCTED BY
REV. ROBERT LATHAM.
[Origlnnl.1
OUR SAYIOUR,S WILL.

tended with strange and indescribable feel
ings. When Gibbon had finished the De-
cline and Fail of the Roman Empire. COM
mingled feelings of joy and sadness took
hold of him. r." says he, "will not dis
semble the first emotions of JOY on the re-
covery of my freedom, and, perhaps the es-
tablishment of my fame. But my pride
was soon humbled, and sober melancholy
was spread over my nd, by the idea that
| had taken an everlasting leave of an old
and agreeable companion, and that Whatev-
er might be the future fate Of my history,
the life of the historian might be short and
precarious."
Men usually become sober as they reach
the border line between the two worlds.
Pope, on rejecting upon the termination Of
his mortal career, gave utterance to the fol-
lowing words: "The morning after my exit
the sun will rise as bright as ever, the flow
ers smell as sweet, the plantsspring as green,
the world proceed in its old course, and peo-
pie laugh and marry as they used to do."
The most touching chapter in the whole
Bible is the forty-ninth chapter of the book
of Genesis. The venerable patriarch, Jacob,
at the close of an eventful life, called to his
bedside his twelve sons and told them what
would befall them in the last days. He had
blessed the two sons of Joseph-Ephraim
When the old man finished commanding
his sons, he gathered up his feet into the
bed, and yielded up the ghost and was gath
cred unto his people," 1t has been custom
ary, in all ages of the world, among civil
lied people, for parents, previous to their
exit to another world, to desire, if possible,
their offspring to be present to witness the
sad sight. Such is the custom to-day in ev-
cry civilized land, and such will, no doubt,
continue to be the custom so long as the
world lasts.
If death does not overtake parents una.
wares they usually make disposition of
their worldly goods. In other words they
make will. This is wise and proper for
however unwisely parents may sometimes
dispose of whatthey may have accumulated,
it is generally more satisfactory than when
disposed of by law, and is attended with far
less expense.
For a period of about thirty. three years
our Saviour lived in this world, "God man
ifest in the flesh" The last three years OF
his life were spent in going about doing
good During that period he, as q great
teacher, gathered around him few follow
ers. The number ofhis followers were new
er great; for although he lived for sinners
as we'll as died for them, he appeared to the
mass of those with whom he came in con-
tact as having no beauty that should be
admired. When he approached the end OF
his work on earth, our Saviour, like the pa
triarch Jacob, gathered his followers about
him, and, in language eXquisitely tender,
began to comfort and encourage them in
view of what, he knew, was soon to befall
them. "Let not your heart" said he, "be
troubled. I will not leave you orphans.
My father will send the Holy Spirit in my
name, and shall teach you all things, and
bring all to your remembrance whatsoever
l have said unto YOU"
In one sense, our Saviour had no worldly
possessions to leave his followers. He had
say, among the worldly, no worldly fame.
The foxes had their holes, the birds had
their nests, but the Son of Man had no place
to lay his weary head. In another sense,
our Saviour was rich. He was the maker
and possessor of all things. All the gold
that lies buried in the bosom of the earth
was at his command, and the cattle on a
thousand hills were his. All things were at
his command, but when he made his will he
said not one word about any of those things
which mere mortals bequeath to their heirs.
"Peace leave with you, my peace give
unto YOU" This is the last will and testa-
ment of our Saviour.
It is evident he regarded peace as far
more valuable than gold and silver, or
houses and lands. Compared with peace
our Saviour, regarded those things whIch @
men generally estimate so highly, as of lit
tie value.
The language of this will of our Saviour
is brief but very comprehensive. The will
purpose specifies two things; not different
but the same thing for the sake of empha-
sis is mentioned twice.
The peace which he left with his people
and the peace which he gives his people is
the same peace. The mode Of expression is
very beautiful. II leave" says he, "my
peace with you" This means that he
leaves as a blood bought inheritance to his
people that peace which he himself enjoyed.
When our Saviour left the world he was at
peace with his Father, at peace with him.
self and at peace with all men. Beeause ca IS
he became the surety for sinners His Faith
er poured out upon him his wrath, but in
Gethsemane where he sweat great drops of
blood and on the cross when he died as
sin offering, he was then and always the
Fathers we'll beloved son.
Our Saviour might have Willed his fol-
lowers the heathens for an inheritance and
the uttermost parts of the earth for a pos
session. These his Father had given him,
to do with as he saw fit, and he could have
given them to his followers. Really he
did give these to his people, but they were
not regarded of sufficient Importance to be
mentioned in his last will and testament.
Besides, what would the possessing of the ut
termost parts of the earth have amounted to
without peace with God the Father? Moth
ing. TO those who seek the kingdom Of
God Our Saviour left US as an inheritance
that peace which he himself had with his
Father. He was well aware that his Faith
er knew perfectly well what his people
needed and he was fully convinced his
Father would bestow upon them all things
which would be for their good and his glory.
The second clause of our Savi0ur's last will
and testament renders the first clause clear
as to it's import, and leaves no place for am
biguity. Jesus not only leaves his peace
with his followers, but he actually gives
them that peace. He does not simply leave
an inheritance to be divided and distributed
by some one else, but he himself probates
and executes in the fullest sense, his own
will. Each member of his family begins to
inherit so soon as he is born. There are no
minors in his Kingdom. All begin to enjoy
the inheritance so soon as they are quicken
ed into life. Heaven begins to be enjoyed
so soon as the soul, once dead in treSpasses
and sins, is made alive in Christ Jesus.
The enjoyment is not perfect in degree, but
it is in kind. The peace which the follow
ers of Jesus enjoy in this world is the same
that they will enjoy in Heaven. 1t is not a
perfect peace in this world. The remnants
ofsin produce discord, but still great peace
have they which love Gods law; and moth
ing shall offend them," even in this world.
Our Saviour adds to his last will as kind
of codcl that he did not give his peace to
his followers, as men of the world give their
possessions to their heirs. The difference
between the wills of men of the world and
the will of our Saviour are so many that it