The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1891-11-19
REV r. + WILLS
SOME REFLECTIONS AFTER HEARING
or TIT DEATH or TIE LATE REV
Z. II. WILLS o. THE y. G..
VI. 7. CoNFEEENCE.
VI. T. CoNFEHE &.

In the 18th chapter and 1tsh
verse OF the Book of Job this qu.s
rIou Is asked, ~ a man lie shall he
live agaiu?' / he answer Is Lot
gwen after tie question, but % tie
Srb chapter and 5Ist verse of the
Gospel according to. - John we
sud THIS wonderful. statement. made
by our Lord Himself: "NerlIy.
verify | say unto yeu, If a man keer
my sayings he shall never see
DEATH
Here there is rot only complete,
fol-. and satisfactory answer TO the
question asked by JOB, bat one OF
the most precious promises 10 a
Christian. 1t is indeed the rod and
staff that IS to support the Christian
AS be passes through The valley OF
the shadow Of death
We moItals are apt to look at
death as terrible ordeal. i be
agony, the glazed eye, the shroud,
the coffin and TIE open grave
MAKE rs shudder and fear. Bat
though, even TO the Christian as lie
fellows the footsteps OF bis blessed
Master through this troublesome
world, death may not be a pleasant
thought, yet when he comes to give
up this earthly tabernac' and TO
be clothed with 1.-THE house not
made with hands" he shall not see
death Death viii be swallowed
up in victory, and "thanks be 10
God that gIveth us the victory
through our Lord Jesus Christ"
How beautifully does the gentle
and kind hearted GongielIow oX-
press this thought III the following
lines:
There is no deeth, What seems so Is
transitions;
This life OF mortal death
Is but a suburb of the life Elyson,
Whose portals we call DEATH
What a glorious privilege then it
is to be a Christian, V hat a bic, s
ed promise he has when he comes
10 lay aside this earthly tenement -
''Nelily, verify saV unto YOU If a
man keep my saying be shall never
see DEATH and these are not the
words OF man bat the words OF Him
in whose hands are the issues of
life aud death. Heaven and earth
may pass away but these words
will and shall abide.
Thoughts like the above present
ed themselves to our mind when a
few days ago it was told u, Mr.
Richard " ills is dead We knew
him well, often had we sat under
the sound OF his preaching and
heard hlm tell in turning words
be story OF the Cross-lhe love CT
Goa for sinners and the glorious
immortality that awaited the faith
tul Always cheetful, always d
bounding ID the works OF the Lord
he was our ideal OF a Christian
lIuly he Was Waterman upon tie
W aliS OF ZION that neither SiumUl r
ed nor slept.
A dutfal SOD, loving husband
ana father, n kind brother, aud an
exemplary Christian. lie has gone to
his reward. Like St. Pau! SAID Of
hmseli We may say Of hin', ne has
thought q good fight, he has flushed
his course ne has kept the faith.
henceior II there IS land up for him
a crown Of righteousness" Have
lOg bncklea on the arm0r of God in
early youth, he never took il off or
lad 1t al le but woe 1t always close
ab0ut bun, and when the summons
care, so come W higher" 1t found
bln III tulI harness battling for the
cause 81 tue Master he had loved
and FerEed Tor 50 many years.
Line upon line might be written
in praise .! this humble. devoted
follower @! the Lord, out It Is not
necessary. lie was d living epis;!e
known and read Of all men aud
now he Cloth rest ON bis lab0iA
and his works Go follow HIM
For to hlm who bravely conquers as he
conquered in the strife,
L'ie is bat the way Of dying, Death is
tut the gate Of he"
RiDgwood, \. {. ! Y.
Nov, l1;h. 1891