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

the word to suggest such thought. The
shouts Of triumph, the kindling and blazing
to exhiiarate and never to depress. Especial.
ly in such victory as this, where the last
battle has been fought, and the last enemy
Death is dead to him. the same as II 1t had
never been. His victorious heel is upon 1t.
1t came forth to devour, but Is itself devour.
ed. "Swallowed up:" what an expression!
It means that there Is nothing more Of 1t left.
All that it is, and that is terrible enough, has
been completely disposed OF. No ground Of
sorrow surely in such q consciousness, or such
retrospect.
No more Is there in the prospect before him.
His present and eternal condition is that of
unailoyed satisfaction. "As for me shall be-
hold Thy face In righteousness: viii be sat;
These anticlpations are realized In the expe-
rience OF the departed saint Just behold
him through the eye;glass Of faith; and
/: Where he Is. "The Souls OF pelievers are
Immediately pass into glory and their bodies
being still united to Christ do rest In their
graves till the resurrection" within the
The ancient Jew gazed with awe upon that
typical veil Of the temple. Within IT was the
Ark of the Testimony, the Mercy-Seat the
cherubim Of glory. and the mysterious shekl-
once every year with sacrifcial blood and
Reavsniy Reaf temple. within iss xeil ls the
great Company Of angels and the spirits Of
lust men made perfect" These eyes have
never yet peered In upon its glories: but to
the dying saint the veil Is lifted, and the
bsasG bsrsts upon Vs0h his as sase Wthn The " ve
our Fathers house. with Its many mansions.
Into one OF these, standing perhaps on some
lovely knoll, on the banks Of the River OF
the Heavenly breezes, and in full view OF the
Throne OF God and or the Lamb. enters the
glad saint, into 1.-THE place prepared for him."
There, lie feels himself at home. refreshed;
him-"with Christ in Paradise" No room
for sorrow there.
g. Behold him. what he is "a glorified
spirit, sinless, perfect, blessed, made like unto
Christ. Joy beams in his eye, happiness
| lights up his face, love heaves his bosom.
and glory. like an "exceeding weight, "
crowns his head; a,s
Where no grief can entrance find;
Lulled to rest the aching head,
Soothed the anguish of the mind"
Just think, my hearers, what awe would
fill this congregation were the spirit OF our
departed brother to appear before you now.
Though gone from US only two days he Is al
ready so changed. 80 like his glorifed Sa-
and and overwheim us. No wrinkle upon his
face no tired look about his eye, no great big
tear rolling down furrowed cheek: but
with eye, face, features all lighted up with the
AZ to inspire with awe. The humblest,. the
lowliest, OF the redeemed above is exalted be.
yond conception, the peer Of cherubim. Aad
we'll he may be- for he is "a brother psos Of the
heir with Christ Of all things and Is himself
king and a priest unto God Beloved. nov
are we the sons OF God, snd 1t doth not yet
appear what we shall be but we e know nov ,na that
for we ghaIl see Him az He u.s." No cause Of
sorrow at such exaltation as that.
8. Behold him, in his emPloyments.
He goeth." It is still. following the Lamb.
That was his life-work here. that is his life
work yonder. Time, however, does not ad-
NIT OF expanding this thought, further than
to say that the service Of Heaven is joyful
and exhilerating, tinctured with no ingre.
dent OF sorrow.
a. Descend now to the body Of the saint,
and we behold like glorious provision for It;
That body Is temple of the Holy Ghost, and
is therefore, still an object OF his care. 1t is
not thrown away in death, but Is simply laid
aside for season. By-and- by Its lamps are
to be re-lighted. its doors and windows thrown
open again, and Its absent priest return to
minister at It's altar. "Sleep" involves the idea
OF awakening; and as 1t is the body, not the soul
that sleeps, the awakening pertains to the for
sciousness: a joyful, gladsome resurrection
awaits 1t. Christ's resurrection is the pledge
OF the resurrection Of all His people. but
now is Christ risen from the dead, and become
we believe that Jesus died, and rose again.
even so them also which sleep in Jesus will
God bring with Him." :Chrlst the first-fruits:
afterward they that are Christ's at His com;
in interruption sown in dishonor, 1t is raised
in glory sown In weakness, 1t Is raised In
power" PLANTED Ia the likeness Of His
death. It shall be also in the likeness Of HE HIS
dust be scattered but 1t matters not. 1t is to
be raised again, for God has said 1t. Skeptics
may cavil II they will science and human
matters not; that body shall rise again, as the
dead body OF Jesus did, for the mouth OF the
Lord has spoke It,
In view OF these precious truths, which shed
light on the future and eternal destiny OF the
believer, both as to his soul and body, one
thing is clear: his translation affords no cause
Of abiding sorrow. We may rejoice, even
amid our tears. Our sorrow. therefore, should
Sanctifying, as Gods method of purging the
soul of its dross. Unsel1sh. as rejoicing over
the happiness Of the departed, even Whlle
our nre Gs hope
the separation is only for Il season:
In the light OF these reflections let US con.
template that solemn dispensation Whlcn
now spreads like q cloud over our stricken
community. Sorrow, deep sorrow, but mot
without hope" reigns here to-day. One fam,
lily sits in the ashes Its harp Is unstr1ng, ana
hangs on the willow. The husband, the iath-
His place is vacant. His wife becomes wld-
ow his children, fatheress. A home ls deep
ly shaded The sorrow does not terminate
there: its influence over,eaps the nome llmlts
and congregation feels itself stricken A be.
loved. trusted, devoted Ruler has fallen. and
the church he served SO we'll mourns It's loss.
One Of Its staunchest supports, one OF It's state
Hest sud most important pillars has sunk un.
der the weight upon It, and now lies in ruins.
The sorrow ends not even there: Its horizon
broadens, and takes in the.whole community.
Every one feels that he has lost friend;
1t is deep, pungent, universal, almost para.
Lying. AS yet we are not able to take IN me
magnitude of our loss time alone can 1ully
Ss wheimed, ed we sorrow not even as others which
have no hope" We haze hope, ana gio-
rious, sustaining one 1t IL, which, Ike an IN
spiringi rainbow. spans the dark cloud aoove
mony OF a godiy life. assures US that all is
we'll with our departed brother. TO the
record Of that life we now fondly turn.
In the home-circle-but how snail we PIC
lies" with Its tender relations and lntlma-
cies. we may: not presume to invade. But,
vas husband ever more faithful; or, father
more loving Or, brother more devoted; or
In the community he was respected, hon
ored. trusted man of perspicuous integrity.
His word was absolutely Trustworthy.
In the Church-and here again my Tongue Ias1
humble, unobtrusive, singularly gifted with
the grace of the spirlt-;a typocal Christian
ed to thern, but felt their deep impress
iveness. He prayed as If with the con-
sciousness that God sheard him; Not
| Hthe PRAYERS of David the son Of Jesse are
ended" In the councils of the church he was
noted for fidelity and wisdom. Possessing q
rare com bination OF faculties his counsel on
ali matters was invaluable. Who shall be
"baptized for the dead?