The record-union., 1891-11-09
LESSONS FROM DEATH.
Comfort Fer Those Who Have Laid
Away Beloved Ones.
The Consultations OF the BibIe-"Is it
Well With the Child .''-The
Story of the Shunemite.

morning IN the First Congregational
Church. There have been so many
bereavenlents recently in the community
that the clergyman "felt moved to speak
words that may carry comfort and
strength to many sorrowing hearts in
many grief-clouded homes"
is it well with thee? Is it well with thy
husband? Is ii well with the child? And
he answered, Tits well."-2 Kings iv., 26.
Few scenes in Bible story are fuller of
patnos and tenderness than the one pre-
sented in this chapter. 1t is a home
scene. 1t is the story of the sudden
death of dear child. It took place CEN
CurIes ago in land far away across the
sea. Why is this scene recorded in Gods
holy word?
OF what interest or profit is it to us :?
Why should we give our time or thought
to the reading OF the sickness and death
OF child ages and ages ago? | will. tell
you why. Such experiences enter into
our own life. Death comes to our own
homes. Sometimes he sends heralds be-
fore TO announce his coming and give us
time for preparation. But often he comes
suddenly. The shadow of death falls on
our home as on this home at Shunem.
Ihe sad and sudden bereavement of this
family comes very near to every one of
US. 1t is because this scene is taking
place all around as that it has a perennial
lessons for all. The Bible is helpful to us
because it is so human. The lives and
experiences recorded in it are very much
like our own. We are tempted as they
were tempted. The sorrows that brought
binding tears to their eyes come into
our own hearts with equal pain. Their
God is our God. All that God was to
them in sympathy and helpfulness He
will be to US
This incident reminds us Of the sudden
oereavements that come into our life.
Never morning wore to evening but
some heart did break" The angel of
death entered that happy family at
Shunem and took the dear boy away. In
The morning he was full OF lusty life, but
ere the sun went down his eyes were
closed in death. He followed his father
20 the harvest field and amused himself
as boys Will. But the hot eastern sun
5mote him and he cried, "Oh, my head,
my head" a lad carried him to his
mother. de sat on her knees till noon, and
ghen died. While the reapers were gath
erlng the rlpened grain from the field, the
other reaper, called death, plucked this
Iair blossom of hope for the garden of
God above. The sudden bereavement
well nigh broke the mothers heart She
laid her boy on the bed of the prophet
ana hastened to receive from him the
nelp and comfort that only God can give.
How many here to-day are able to re-
call a similar experience in their own
life. Memory carries you back to the
day when cloud of sorrow fell darkliug
over the sky Of your life. A great grief
came into your heart and home. In the
morning all was well, but before the day
was gone the messenger came to you as
they came TO Job, and said "Your
brother, your child, your loved one is no
more" Those who have passed through
such an Xperience-and who Of us have
nOt-are able TO understand the grief of
this home at Shunem.
Dear friends, these sudden deaths teach
an old, old lesson, lesson oft repeated,
out oft forgotten. ''Be ye also ready, for
IN such an hour as We think not the Son
Of Man cometh." These are Christ's own
words. They are not idle words. They
are full of solemn meaning. They have
4 meaning and an application to us. We
are all prone to put the day of death far
rom us. ''All men think all men NOR
tai but themselves 1t is wise for us to
recognize the facts of our being. One Of
Jhese facts is as David expressed it:
There is but a step between me and
DEATH" How slender is the hold that the
strongest Of us have on life. How short
ls our lease. 1t is shorter than some of
us dare or care to think. Our lease Of life
may expire tomorrow. 1t may close
with the close of this day. In the midst
of life we are in death. Leaves have their
hiiilt " ldll, DuG luOU, ~ OCdlI, mast ali
Times. These deaths are voices from the
eternal world. They say TO US in earnest,
solemn tones, Prepare to meet thy
cod"
Days and moments quickly flying
Blend the living with the dead,
Soon viii you and be lying
Each within his narrow bed.
Soon our souls TO God who gave them
VIII have sped their rapid flight,
Able now by grace to save them.
on, that Whie we can we might
Take the question of the text home to
your own heart and conscience to-day
it well with thee? Is it all right be-
tween you and your God q? Between you
and your neighbor? If the message
should come tonight and say, This
night thy soul shall be required of thee"
could you answer, l am ready? 1t is
well with my soul. Would sudden death
be TO you sudden glory? Have you the
assurance that if your earthly house of
this tabernacle were dissolved you have q
building Of God, a house not made with
hands, eternal in the heavens.
1t is appointed unto all men once to die,
and after death the judgment. Thoughts Of
death and judgment and eternity ought
10 occupy our serious consideration
Daniel Webster said that the most i'm
portant thought that had ever occupied
his attention was the thought of his per-
sonal responsibility to God. If we are
death and eternity. 1t is not wisdom to
permit the present to monopolize our
attention at the expense of the future
We plan for time In the summer we
prepare for winter. The same wisdom
bids US plan, in time, for eternity.
The wise man spoke wisely when he
said, 1T is better to go to the house of
mourning than to go to the house of feast
ing. for that is the end Of all men, and the
living will lay it to heart" Friend,
neighbor, citizen, stranger, is il we'll with
thee? Is it well with thy soul Are
you at peace.with God? Have you re-
ceiyed the grace of Christine life-giyinp
power of the Holy Spirit L asked a
dying man the question, is it well with
thee, is it well with thy soul?" and he
gave me look of regret that saddeued
my heart.
press this question on you to-day, for
to-day you are in health and strength.
Your brain is clear. ou are able to act
deliberately. If you neglect the saliva
tion of your soul when you are in health,
when every faculty is free and active, is
1t probable that you will have time or
opportunity on your dying bed? 1t is
folly and madness to crowd preparation
Tor eternity into the last tevered hour of
death. If the salvation of your soul is
worth attending to at all it is worth at
tending to now. Therefore, to-day and
now ''Set thine house II. order, for thou
shalt die and not live"
One case is recorded in the Bible of a
man making his peace with God in his
dying hour-the thief on the cross. One
case is given that men might not despair,
and only one, that men might not presume.
If you knew how near you are to the
eternal world, if you knew the worth of
your own immortal soul, you would at
once kneel before your Maker and pray
Jor mercy.
There is another lesson taught us by