The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-12-19

Long Cane cemetery.
As a mark of respect to the deceased, all the
other churches in the village were closed IN
order to give every one an opportunity OF at-
tending the funeral. ., .
it's capacity, and an exceedingly large num-
Der of persons attended the burial.
The full text of the funeral sermon by DR.. j..
Lowrie Wilson, Is as follows:
IThess. iv: 13, IA: "But would not have Won to
be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are
oscen that We sorrow not even others which have
no hope. For II we believe that Jesus died and rose
again, even them also which sleep in Jesus will God
bring with Him."
The state OF our dear departed friends,
whom death sewers from us, is one that occa-
sions us much thought and anxiety. We be-.
lieve them to exist: we cannot do otherwise.
For every instinct OF our nature repels tne
thought of nnnihiation. The soul clings
with intense feeling to the hope Of Its immor-
tality, which Is inseperable from its conscious
ness of being It feels ITSELF kno,Os ITSELF to be
a S9 Voee whn Wheh
not silence and which 1t desires not to con-
tradict, whispers ever in its ear. "Soul, soul,
thou art deathless in thy, being, and inde-
very image of the invisible God. and destined
to live on forever. Thou art to survive
the passing away OF the material creation,
pes Of Of ope and fear Which sprng eter
nal in the human breast" and upon which as
foundation stones God builds the doctrines of
rewards and 'punishments" IN fnture
state; and to which He appeals In all the
promises and threatenings OF His Word, are
living and unimpeachable witnesses to this
truth.
immortality be somewhat obscured, just as
manya lovely landscape Is by reason OF
oyer.hanging mists and fogs. the Word Of God
again discloses it. Breaking through the
pei brings into light the great fact of !mmor-
fality. Not that conception OF 1t which OBJ
talned among the ancients, but Gods own
Se 1T o tRe yoS Sat Phs Gospel
the Immortality OF the man, including both
soul and body, and involving therefore the
resurrection of the latter The Cross OF dy-
ing Saviour has given to this truth an en-
phasis which may not be mistaken. It leaves
no room to question the existence OF our
loved ones whom death has torn from our en-
brace. They are living still, and must ever
live though now beyond our range of vison,
and no wever remote from the stage Of visible
action.
bliss and ecstacy which no tongue can de-
scribe or in misery nsupportable-happy, or
unhappy Are they saved or are they lost?
These are the questions which steal over the
thoughtful mind, and occasion lts prolound-
ial casket or the graves, OF our dear departed.
The Cross of Christ is conclusive on this point
at least, that all are not In the same condi-
tion in the spirit world that some, by reason
OF their peculiar relation to that Cross are In
supreme felicity; and that others, because OF
q contrary relation to It, are in the opposite
state.
such an Xiety, that the text addresses itself.
1t means TO show that where ever the Cross
has exerted its proper and blessed influence,
the chief cause of sorrow Is removed; that
even through our tears we may rejoice with
uuspeakab Joy in view of the glory realized
by departed saint. God would not 'have US
to be ignorant concerning them which are
ND fborpforn Ha pIva9 rp1jpElfiOn
ments and complete felicity.
/. Please notice, In the first place the pc
culia Vord He uses when speaking of the de-
parture OF His people.
It Is one of the most gentle, soothing and
and solaclng that is known to us-"sLeep." "
is not "death," but sleep" the word death
and terrible. So God dissociates 1t from the
translation Of His people, and substitutes for
it word peculiarly gratifying to the wearied
to the tired man. that rest is obtained at last
when the tolls of the day are ended to the
sufferer, on his bed of pain, that the long and
Tss repose e sse cooled and %
tortured brain relaxed In refreshing slumber.
"He giveth His beloved Sleep"
o how that word dispels the dreariness OF a
dying hour, and lights up the christians part
Ing scene with q subdued and mellowed ra.
diance! II is not "death'-no, no, not death"
but "sleep." The wearied pilgrim Is but frll-
ing into slumber In the arms OF Jesus. The
features may be pallid enough, and the face
distorted by the Intensity OF the struggle, but
light is bealning in upon the soul; light
never to be extinguished, but to shine on
body may give expression to the last throes
and agonies Of expiring nature; but the spir-
it is entering into rest, that rest which re-
maineth to the people Of God" AS when the
ceaseless activities, casts himself into his
mothers lap, and there. lulled by her gentle
embrace, drops into sleep-so with the depart.
Ing christian; Worn out w WIN tne , lois a ana no
back into Jesus's arms, and there JaHs asleep!
at is not death to die
To leave this weary road,
And with the brotherhood on high,
TO be at home with God.
It is not death to close
The eve long dimmed with tears,
And wake In glorious repose
To spend eternal years.
tits not death to fling
Aside this sinful dust,
And rise on strong, exulting wing,
To live among the just.
applies, Qualifying clause is added, ITO them
also which sleep il, Jesus" Death Is called
q "sleep" only when the departing are Christs
own people. Never is 1t used OF 0thers.
that ali which the word death" implies is
but emblematic OF their future condition.
Theirs Is not rest, not sleep, not q peace
full and refreshing repose, but the conIrary.
Theirs is the unrestfil weariness, the struggle
which never ends, the agony eternal so
much for the sweet word used OF the transla-
ton OF Gods people. 1890, .horoh+ +bo
II. Pass now to sec9na 'nousng, nntaG, r,,ate
feelings with which we snoulo con1enop pi''o
The text states it negatively, "that ye sor,
row not. even as others which have no nope.
God does not forbid az lndulgence W ehn,i
tion. This is implied in the EXPRESSION as
Others" r,r,d not
/. To sorrow is natural; and He Woulo 1oI
have us do violence to nature. ConstltuCeo as
we are our hearts are susceptible, nay more,
they are conscious of acute pain when Palt,
ing from those we love. AS soon nope W 80 &c
the trailing vine exude no clammy Iaot
when Its tendrils are clipped from tne opyeiT Iein
to which they cling, as for us TO feel no pam M
when the tenderest Of human bonds are set
cred. The second; birth does not ellH.i.iha1ee !. 1a
from the soul the sensibilities when ~ ue ea
rves through the first These oeiGne s,neI 10 Il by
God Himself It only tones down ana resu;,
lates its immoderate indulgence, eXalllng ano
purifying the soul through subm issiveness 10
o Nor is it wrong to sorrow: for "Jesus
ventn He was pre- -eminently the "Man OF
SORROWS" He died Of broken heart, you
cannot traverse the path He. trod WITHOUT
the Sp 81 Of Jesus
but sanctifies this emotion.
3. To sorrow Is to bear testimony TO our
high esteem Of the departsdhiatt the ony W
are not required to withhold. "Devout men
carried stephen to his burial. and made great
lamen tation over him." 1t was the ashes OF
;.cGml tomb sand and hence their "great lamentation."
They were right In testifying thus to the eX-