Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1892-01-07
A MODEL SERMON.
Delivered by RaV. B. D. Dan
ieE Over the Remains Of
DR.. Shoemaker.

NhaN hhoCiO
to gain entrance to listen to the GER
emonies, they being held at the res
idence, and, that the sermon was a
very meritorious one, it is with pleas
ure that we reproduce it. The Rev.
erend lives in Indianapolis and has
visited in Napoleon, where he has
many friends, among the warmest of
whom was Doctor Shoemaker.
Rev. Daniels said:
Last Sunday 1 received a telegram
asking me if could come to Napole-
on and attend a funeral to-day.
knew not who had passed away. Had
it been any one of Others who / knew
had been in poor health, l had not
been surprised; but when, alighting
from the cars last night, learned who
it was, the news came like a blow
He was the last of all. had looked
forward to enjoying visit with him
according to the understanding wher
last we met, that if ever came to Ma
poleon again, be entertained in thii
home.
To the whole community, to tht
surrounding country, and especially
to this family this bereavement comes
like a shock. Truly, as has often beer
said, "death loves shining mark
But after all, these thoughts are Oi
the natural man. To the spiritua
man there is no death. On such oc
casions as this, we are apt to ask the
question, "After death-what ?" We
ask, "Where ?-Whither ?'
But such questions only reveal the
fact that We are just so far in a nat
ural and external state of soul.
There is state of soul, which is pos
sible for all, in which we need not ask
such questions. There is a state ol
such blessed and intimate nearness tc
the Lord, that the soul knows in it.
self whether there is a life after death
and knows something of that life
and its nature. They who are truly
wise do not fear to die, for they have
in their own experience an earnest
and foretaste of what is coming
They see the thread on which the
beads are strung. The Infinite One
pours into them the river of eternity
and they drink its waters. Like Mo
ses, they stand on Pisgah's height and
view the landscape DER. This STATE
of soul places the question of immor
tality beyond all argument, anC
makes it, just so far, matter of posi-
tive knowledge. And in this state o
soul alone can comfort be found in tn,
hour of bereavement. This state o
soul is found simply and only by com
plete resignation to the Divine Will
moment by moment, each momen
for itself, or on its own account-ac
lively and from sincere heart-doins
the Lords Will, ana passively suffer
ing it in all those events which are be
yond our control.
This is the essence Of all true re,ig
ion. 1t is that which remains afte
all doctrinal. forces have been elimi
mated. 1t is experienced by some il
all churches, and in degree, by som,
in all religions. 1t is the orthodox,
of the heart. 1t is the religious life it
self. On the ground of this positiv,
inner experience all can unite-nay
all who have it are united. On thi
ground it has been thought eminentl,
proper and right that our brothers, tn,
Reverends Mr.. Donahey and Ballmer
take part in the services of SO public
a man; for, although this bereavec
family are not of their doctrinal faith
yet they have stood in the light O
pastor to them, especially the former
as they have attended and been read,
to assist in his services, and am yer,
glad that they have.
But not every cne is in that state o
soul wherein he can see for himsel
that there is an immortal life. Evel
here on earth the soul may be so wei
that it believes it always will be. Blu
not every one is so well. The mos
must come into elief concerning i'm
mortality, on the authority of Others
or they must reason it out. 1t mus
be matter of logic rather than per
ception; of inference and deduction
rather than positive krowledge; of tn
intellect rather than of the heart.
Let me then just indicate, withou
dwelling upon, few points whicl
may perhaps enlighten and comfort
But if these points do not commen
themselves to your judgment, the
they are not yours. To me they seer
perfectly logical and true. But ever
one must judge for himself.
| The Diciples once came to the Lor
and said, "Lord, to whom shall W
go? Thou hast the words of eterna
life." If / were to preach sermon
now, those words would be my text.
Let us remember that eternal life
not merely life that is never endin
as to time, but another kind of life
If our mortal life could be piece
out or extended so as to endure forey
er, it would not be eternal life. Eter
nal life is a life which is on highe
plane than this earthly life. Tt is
state of the soul. 1t is a partaking q
the Divine Nature. 1t is life so dill
ferent from our natural life, that t
come into eternal life, we must
soundlv regenerated or changed, 8
that we act from a different motiv
center. "Thou, Lord, hast the word
Of eternal life." These words or teach
ings are many!
l. One of them is that those Dh
haze passed array are not removed
some distant place.
They cannot consciously communi
cate with us; at least it is exceedingl
disorderly for us to seek or indulg
any such thing, as 1t intereferes wit
| human freedom. And vet. they ar
near us and all around us. Thought
and feelings no doubt come into ou
minds through their influence, thoug
these thoughts and feelings seem TO b
from ourselves. Says Paul, quotin
from the Psalms, "Are they not a
ministering spirits, etc. ~ Our de-
parted friends are near US, they hove
J around us, they love US now NOR