The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1891-02-25

and the years Of thy life, shall be increas-
ed" 8
It Is still true within certain limits
limits existing In the nature Of the laws Of
heredlty, liability TO disease and accident
and the various conditions Of our mortal
existence virtue conduces TO longev-
| ity, and that the wicked do not live ou,
half their days. II is not true that the effect
appears in every instance, Not every man
who fears God and loves his brethren
lives as did our deceased father, whose
days were as the days Of tree, and who
long enjoyed the works OF his hands. And
It is worthy of notice that 10 the Bible,
these promises Of long life 10 the righteous
fade out as the certain knowledge OF i'm
mortality comes In. In early days, when
this life was much to men, and the hope
of a joyous immortality was dim, the list
Of blessings promised to the faithful might
appropriately end with the promise, "And
thou shalt come to thy grave In full age,
like as u shock of corn cometh In his sea-
son." Job 526). But when the knowl-
edge of another life became more certain,
and the assurance of It's rewards became
more firmly fixed in the hearts and hopes
of men, the promises of long life be-
came promises Of immortal life.
Indeed, there had been much of this
implied in The former promises; their
meaning was not exhausted by the inter.
probation OF the people to whom originally
they we're spoken. When, therefore, the
promise was given to the righteous
remnant who were TO return from captiv-
iiy, and to the church to be- established by
their Anointed King, that there should no
| longer be borne out dead an infant, for
there should be life compared with which
hundred years should be as infancy,
there was more than long life promised /;
there was the we'll developed bud Of the
promise THAT every one that seeth the
Son and believeth on him, may have
everlasting life, and will raise him up at
the last day." John $40.
Old age is desirable, but disappointing.
II Is the continuation Of life after much
OF the Joy Of life, the power Of being a
living part Of life TO others, has departed.
1t is the preservation oil the husk, after
much OF the kernel has gone TO waste.
II by reason Of strength ones years be
four score, yet is their strength labor and
sorrow, and he is soon cut of. For the
first score and the last score OF his years
he has been largely dependent upon
others. But half his life has been vigor-
Gus and potent. Even this has been full
OF cares and soriows. He has lived, but
TO see others die. He has eluded the
grave that he might dig the graves Of his
friends. Old age, the Oldest age, the most
hpnored old age, is not enough for right
eous man. The same reasons that make it
seem appropriate that he should live as
long, yea, and the very reasons that make
1t seem appropriate that at length should
die, are all reasons why be should live
again, and live forever. Because Of this
appropriateness, because Of the expen-
siveness Of character and the fitness Of
virtue TO SURVIVE, God has held out 20 the
faithful, first the hope Of long life, and
later as they were able 10 bear IL, the
hope Of Immortality, made certain by the
words of Him who brought life and I'm
mortality to light, and whose resurrection
from the dead becomes our perfect as
surance that because he lives, We shall
live also.
Death is q very common thing. Our
whole land is constantly in mourning, but
II seems at present more than usually
familiar TO us. Rarely have half SO many
Of our prominent men laid down their
lives as during the present and the past
year. A seat draped in mourning has
became very common sight in our legis-
lative halls in Washington. A Senator
and eleven Representatives In the present
Congress have died. One after another
our public buildings have assumed the
sable garb. Bancroft, who wrote our his
tory, and the men who make II alike have
fallen. Window, in whose ability and
integrity the nation trusted in our recent
time of financial peril, falls from his seat
with the applause OF his countrymen
ringing in his ears, and his honest
plea for honest money hardly fal-
len from his lips. Porter, who with Far
ragut sailed our seas, and on Gulf and
Ocean coast hammered at the gates! Of
Secession TO open door for Freedom,
and with his gun.boaps PROV cut the re-
belllon In twain along the Mississippi's
length, now sails his silent feet on the
dark waters of the river Of Death, with the
white flag hanging from the mast.
The last OF our great generals OF the
Rebellion has gone. Mead has fought q
silent Gettysburg, and bonded his sword
10 the grim enemy. Thomas, who held
Chattanooga against desperate odds, could
no, hold out against the King Of Terors.
Clusters waving curls no longer show
where the battle Is thicfest Loean's
crest, black as the ravens wing, no longer
rides like the fight Of the falcon Of war
amid the smoke Of the battle. Hancock
has laid down his arms. Sheridan has
taken his last ride. Grant fought II out
- A. . H.. ~ III. ,ir.,, ,,t.4o.i.,,. ha,,Io