The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-03-05

and vine covered, puts out the thirst of his
soul. -.-
Again, remark, that Christ is above all
in dying alleviations.
ity abroad about our demise. The Emperor
of Constantinople arranged that on the day
of his coronation the stone mason should
come and consult him about the tombstone
that after while he would need. And there
are men who are monomaniacal on the sub
iect of departure from this life oy death, and
the more they think of it the less they are
prepared to 60. This is an unmanliness not
worthy of you, not worthy OF me.
Saadin, the greatest conqueror OF his day:
while dying, ordered that the tunic he had
on him be carried after his death on his spear
at the head Of his army, and that then the
soldier, ever and anon, should stop and say:
Behold, all that is left Of Saladin, the En-
peror and conquerorl Of all the States he
conquered, of oil the wealth he accumulated.
nothing did he retain but this shroud."
have no sympathy with such behavior, or
such absurd demonstration, or with much
that we hear uttered in regard to departure
from this life to the next. There is COM
monsensical idea on this subject that you and
I need to consider-that there are only two
styles of departure
A thousand feet underground, by light Of
torch toiling in miners shaft, ledge OF
rock may fall upon us, and we may die
miners death. Far out at sea, falling from
the slippery rathnes and broken on the nal
yards, we may die a sailors death. On
mission of mercy in hospital, amid broken
bones and reeking leprosies and raging
fevers, we may die philanthropist's death.
On the field Of battle, serving God and our
country, slugs through the heart, the gun
carriage may roll oyer us.and We may die
patriots death. But, after all, there are
only two styles Of departure-the death Of
the righteous and the death Of the wicked
and we all want to die the former
God grant that when that hour comes you
your kindred in your hand. You want your
light on your pillow from eyes that have
long reflected your love. You want the
room still. You do not want any curious
strangers standing around watching you.
You want your kindred from afar to hear
your last prayer. I think that is the wish Of
all of u.s. But is that ali? Can earthly
friends hold us up when tho pillows
of death como up to the girdle? Can
human voice. charm open heavens
s4eah ssa caa Il. humap naows hand Of depPS pilot no S
heavens harbor? Can any earthly friend
ship shield us from the arrows Of death, and
in the hour when Satan shall practice upon
US his Internal archery No, no, no, mol
Alas! Poor soul, if that is all. Better die in
the wilderness, far from tree shadow and
from fountain, alone vultures circling
through the air waiting for our body, un-
known to men, and to have no burial, If only
will never leave thee, will never forsake
thee.n From that pillow Of stone a ladder
would soar heavenward, angels coming and
going; and across the solitude and the bar
renness would come the sweet notes of heaY-
emily minstrelsy.
Gordon Hall, far from home dying In the
door Of heather temple, said: "Glory to
thee, o Godr' What did dying Wilberforce
say to his wife? "Come and sit beside me,
what happiness was until I found Christ"
What did dying Hannah More say! ''To 60
to heaven, think what that is! To go to
Christ, who died that I might live Oh,
glorious gravel Oh, what glorious thingit
is to die? Oh the love Of Christ, the love of
Christi What did Mr.. Toplady. the great
hymnmaker, say in his last hour? "Who can
measure the depths Of the third heaven? Oh,
the sunshine that fills my soull shall soon
be gone, for surely no one can live in this
world after such glories as God has mani
tested to my soul"
What did the dying Janeway say9 II can
as easily die as close my eyes or turn my
head in sleep. Before few hours have passed
shall stand on Mount Zion with the one
hundred and forty and four thousand and
with the Just men made perfect and we
shall ascribe riches, and honor, aud glory,
and majesty, and dominion unto God and
the Lamb" DR.. Taylor, condemned to burn
at the stake, on his way thither broke away
from the guardsmen and went bounding and
leaping and jumping toward the fire, glad to
M 10 Ioc,,e md to 5in for Hin, Sir Charles
Hare, in last moment, had such rapturous
vision that he cried: Up
ward, upward, upward" And 50
great was the peace Of one OF
Christ's disciples that he put his
fingers upon the pulse in his wrist and
counted it and observed it; and so great was
his placidity that after q while he said:
''Stoppedp and his life had ended here to
begin in heaven. But grander than that was
the testimony Of the worn out first mis-
sionary, when, in the Mamartine dungeon,
he cried: II am now ready to be offered, and
the time of my departure is at hand, have
fought the good fight, have finished my
course. I have kept the faith; henceforth
there is laid up for me crown Of righteous
ness, which the Lord. the righteous Judge
will give ME in that day, and not to mo
only, but to all them that love His appear
ingp Do you not see that Christ Is above
all in dying alleviations?
Toward the last hour Of our earthly resi-
dence we are speeding. When see the sun:
set, say: ''One day less to live" When
sec the spring blossoms scattered, say: "An-
other season gone forever" When I close
this Bible on Sabbath night, say: AN
other Sabbath departed" When bury a
friend T say: "Another earthly attraction
gone forever" What nimble feet the years
havel The roebucks and the ligh Things run
not so fast. From decade to decade, from
sky to sky, they 60 at bound. There Is
place for us whether marked or not,
where you and 1 will sleep the last
sleep, and the men ire now living
who will, with solemn trade, carry US to our
resting place. Ay, 1t is known in heaven
whether our departure viii be coronation
or Punishment.
Brighter than q banqueting hall through
which the light feet of the dancers go up and
down to the sound of trunlpeters will be the
sepulcher through whose riffs the holy light
of heaven streameth. God will watch you.
He will send His angels to guard your slllm.
bering ground, until, at Christ's behest they
shall roll away the stone. ~,
So, also, Christ is above all in heaven. The
Bible distinctly says that Christ is the chief
theme of the celestial ascription, all the
thrones facing His throne all the palms
waved before His face, all the crowns down
at His feet. Cherubim to cherubim, sera.
phim to seraphim, redeemed spirit to re-
deemed spirit, shall recite the SaYiour's Garth
" sacrifice.
Stand on some high hill or heaven ana In
all the radiant sweep the most glorious OBJ
iect shall be Jesus. Myriads gazing on the
scars of His suffering, in silence first, after
ward breaking forth into acclamation. The
martyrs, all the purer for the fame through