The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1892-04-20
THE DEMOCRATIC PRESS.
EASTER SERMON,
Delivered by Rev. DR.. HOllings'
head, sunday. April II.
ssman am Immortal, hail!,,

1t is well and wise for man to think of death. 6
is an event that is possible probable. yes, pos
lively certain. The words that begin this
chapter place it among the certalnties " Man
is born of woman is of few days and full
Of trouble, he cometh forth as flower and is
cut down, he 1eeteth as a shadow. and contln-
ueth not" Man dieth and wasteth away, he
giveth up the Ghost. and where is hep' When
the strength is broken, when the body is smlt
ten with decay, when the mind loses its fire ard
the heart is cold and dead, when man is turned
to dust and covered with darkness. will life
ever stir the ashesp will light ever scatter the
gloomp Will doubt aud dark despair bar and
bolt the doors of the tomb, and gloomy death |
end allp These questions are burning questions |
and have been kept alive through the ages gone
Do we ask like men who speak in Mammoth |
Cave. and hear only hollow echo in the dark
nessP Has the Eternal One spoke en- and poured
brightness from eternity on this theme9 We
have pulses that throb as we think,
Round us, o'er us. is there ought.
Well deserves our highest thought.
Ought that well deserves TO be
With our holiest thought inwroughtf
Yes tits Immortality
PHILOSOPHY POINTS TO IMMORTALITY.
Weknow the positive elements of matter. one
of which is indestIuctibility. 1t exists In many
forms aud these may go through marvellous
changes: but not an atom has ever been e&ter.
minated The hard, marble like hallstone'H II
warmed turns to water. the water to mist OF
steam, or may be exploded and become VleWless
gas. The oaken log may be turned to smoke IN
the air. and cold white ashes on the hearth, Dus
it does not perish. If the dust. If the dew crop
is imperishable, what can break up our De1ng.
Philosophy gives slender ray, gllmmer OF
light that tails on the shadows OF the grave II
a grain of sand cannot fall to pieces, pistols.
points OF steel, poison. pellets of lead cannot
annihilate man.
sCold in the dust the persisted heart may lie,
Butthat which warmed it once can never ole
IMMoRr Atty A UNIVERSAL AND EVERLASTING
INSTINCT.
We start back at the thought OF extinction.
IT. warns the cold heart to rise above the creed
of despair and revel in the glories OF inextin-
ouishable life, 1t seems this hope is lngralneo
In our nature, imprinted on the very soul by the
seal of God Instinct, is divine impulse to
act prompting to do without ms ructlon'
knowledge or experience. that hich is for well
being and security Insects. fishes, blrds,peasts
are controlled by instinct. The bee leaves 'ne
hive and goes buzzing busily among the no"eIs
for wax and honey, and scientifically seals anu
stores them till SHOWS and storms come round
The squirrel garners nuts, the beaver pullos l's
DAM and birds go to softer chimes ana mliuer
skies guided by this Involuntary impulse. Man
has appetites and instincts, to supply food, pro-
vide shelter The boarding, social. sexual anu
religious instincts are inwoven in the very more
of his being. Man has reason to guide him,
The horse by instinct goes to the stable ZOE iooo
and rest let fire break out and he cannot rea-
son. but stubbornly perishes in the flames. Man
will rush from the burning house. The animal
has wonderfully advanced. The Spirit OF the
beast goeth downward, the Spirit Of man goeth
inward, Man is an animal. but Is clearly
above the brotherhood of brutes, in reason. ana
instincts that call for the infinite life OF the
eternal God. Instinct in bird, beast or man are
nrophetic of truth, truth always, not fable OF
falsehood in all the realms OF life 4ncupaIe
swans egg and in the process you nno oo"nS
thing with legs. eyes, wings, Inc sheiA IL l's
world but eyes and wings are prophecy VI
wider world. Instinct moves 1t to peck through
its walls and it walks into world OF sunshine
Tt is moved to swim and wanders till waters
are shining before it. and then floats with ease
and grace. Another impulse calls it to the air
and it flies to the poiut of the compass Where
winter will not bind the streams and the waters
are warm and fash with life. Man mas such
impulsiye cravings for eternallife. Paine wrote
for his tombstone Lldt IL ANNA
life.n The great Agnostic, at his brothers
bier, showed his inner self and said: - Let us
hope, in spite of doubts and dogmas, that it is
better for all the dead' The Indian dreams ol
his happy hunting grounds In the eariles
days men sarg of thh Isles of the blest." ely
sian Fields, I" and +" Resperidean Gardens" Tt
men of every race, nation and age this hope has
,Iimly or brightly burned. We find that in
stinct does not lie to the squirrel OR beaver
The winter howls and streams swell, according
to the prophecy. The honey is life for the be-
when the flowers are dead. The air matche
The wings of the bird there is a sunny South TO
the swan. Man has eyes and there is Hgnt
ears and for him are the tender melodies OF love
heart, and there are pleasant and profitable
associations. He has heart to hold immorta
love. and is there no Heavenly Father? He ha
glad hope, and is there no realizatlonE
thirst, and are there no sweet Watersf hunger
and no fruit to satisfy? do his inner eyes wal
for visions they will never greet2 Is he drawn
to home in The skies ar no opening heavens
ever round him sinner Shall he stretcf
forth his arms for life and embrace only DEATH
Thesekwishes are true. and tell us man shall not
wholly die, no grave is deep enough to cover
the soul of man.
s.Itmust be; Plato, thou reasonest we'll,
Yhis longing for Immortality?'
'Tis the divinity that stirs within
IT'S heaven points out an hereafter,
And intimates an eternity to man."
NATURE SUGGESTS IMMORTAL LIFE.
1t supplies us with striking illustrations ano
pleasant analogies. and to the deVout, appears
like sparkling bible to light up the mysteries
of the grave WheIe now is Orion and the
other constellations2 They are hidden in the
light of day. They will all reappear, and the
least star and greatest light their lamps in the
sky. The comet burning brightly as it sweeps
round the sun. slackens its speed grows aim
and is lost. yet after thousand years returns
with It's old time splendor. The heavy sur
sinks into its western grave. but rises 10 k1nule
the morning. The crawling worm weaves and
winds its own shroud. then breaks from the
grave and waves its wings in the golden air
The trees are stripped, and spring clothes them
afresb. The dead, dry bulbs planted in the sol
shake ont blossoms and ill the air with fra
= GRANGE. Dark night is changed to welcome day
and surly winter to balmy spring. In all crea
tion we have embems of hope for the night O.
weeping and sunshine to fall OF the dark colo
grave. Shall comets fade and brightens Shal
stars dim and sparkle anew? Shall the sur
sink and rise2 Shall worms die and then move
with FURNISHED wings? Shall trees be crowned
with yerdure and swing out follagef Snail Gay
destroy the dominion of night. and spring re
new its youth like the eagles, and man, the lorC
of the lower world. plunge into the gloom of al
everlasting nightP The voices of nature are
not wailing cries of despair; the lessons we re-
hearse shake the doctrine to rims; they
drive away the doubts that darken the spirlt
and lift the head with hope of death swallo wed
up of life.
"Let each sweet flower an:emblem be.
OF life and Immortality"
IMMORTALITY BROUGHT TO LIGHT IN THE
GOSPELS.
We could find proof in the amazing capacities
of man. and his capability of Improvement
We have heard the voices of earth. let US heark'
en- to the voice from heaven. The more sure
word of scripture. the light from beyond has
shined in glery on the open grave. The Eternal
Father has really spoken, and his words are
clear and strong. In the first page of the book
we read that God breathed quenchless fire in
man and he became a living soul. ALI through
the Holy Book Immortality shines. Christ was
born to die He died to live and rise again, Life
fol TtNT. npn m q