The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1892-06-21
ms they often builded splendidlope

~ there Is one mistake wh1cl was
NJ, . by some men then, and mich
VIZ 10 live now are in danger re-
neA :, We may not include {6ath
III q 'ans. The possibility of ding
may r.be taken into our calculatins.
We m& assume that our lives vii be
spared and prolonged to execute {ur
purposes and accomplish what wehke
planned. Speaking to the men ofttis
class the Apostle said: Whereas fe
know not what shall be on the md
row. For what is your life? L is eva
vapor, that appeareth for a litte
tune, and then vanisheth away" wfil
the ancient King said: Boast not thy
self OF tomorrOw; for thou knOwess
not what day may bring forth" Ill
There are two thoughts suggested To
my mind. One IS oar ignorance of the
future. Our knowledge of the past is
very imperfect; our knowledge of the
present is exceedingly limited; and our
knowledge of the future is simply
nothing. The years to come with the
mOmentOus events with which they
are freighted, are concealed from our
view; but with a longing desire we
often look forward to the future. There
are times in our lives when we would
give much if we could only foretell
with unerring certainty the events of
few months or few years; but these
desires are always Knocked at. Deeply
do we feel our weakness and our insig-
nlicance, and sadly do we fl ell our
limitations when we stand in front of
such problems as we often have to
face, Have we not by personal eXpe-
rlence learned that in myriads of in
stances the things which we confidently
expect do not Occur2 We anticipate
them, and perhaps are almost certain
that we will not be mistaken, vet we
are disappointed; while other events of
which we have never dreamed do come
to pass. They often rush upon us with
kind of terrible swiftness and over
whelm us with the suddenness of the
awful shock. Our ignorance Of the
future is a fact so we'll known and pro
verbal, that one of the arguments for
the inspiration of the Scriptures is
based upon it, In ancient times the
prophets lived. They looked forward
into the dim future and foretold com
ing events; they foretold the overthrow
Of cities and the downfall of nations.
which at that time were great and
powerful. They foretold the coming
Of Christ, his sufferings and death, and
ascension to the Fathers right har d,
and the glory Of His kingdom. And
now when we see that their prophecy
is transmitted into history when we
notice that the events they fOretQld
have come to pass, we feel that they
were inspired from high Heaven to
speak as they did We feel that God
must have revealed Himself and much
of the future to them, because we know
how ignorant man is of things to come
Are we not reminded this afternoon
of our dense ignorance of the future?
A week ago not one of us anticipated
the speedy death of our deceased friend
and brother We not only hoped that
his life would be continued through
two or three decades to come, but many
of us expected confidently that he
would be spared at least for years, and
be permitted to do much more work
and exercise much more influence be
fore he was taken away. A week ago
we had no thought of the painful event
days ago the lightning flashed to u
the intelligence that he was danger
ously i'll, The next day we were told
that his condition was very critical
perhaps almost hopeless When the
next day came we inquired and were
told that he was better; and then we
hoped that he was going to be spared.
Then with & suddennegs so appalling
came the final message announcing his
departure. Oh, how ignorant Of the
future we are!
But another thought suggested here
IS the uncertainty Of human life. For
what is your life? cit is even a vapor
that appeareth for little time, and
then vanisheth away" Did you ever
on dark night look out on a pestilen-
tial marsh and see the little lights
dancing about? The nOxious vapors
and poisonous exhalations arising from
the conditions which exist, seem to
burn and flicker for a few moments
and then pass away. What is your
Lfe? 1T is even a vapOr that ap-
peareth for a little time, and then
passeth away"
In the word of God many figures are
used to impress US with a conception
of the fearful uncertainty of human
life It is compared to a blooming
field. You remember in that beautiful
1O3d Psalm the expression on this sub
ject" AS for man his days are as grass
as a flower of the field, so he fiourisheth.
For the wind passeth over it, and it is
gone, and the place thereof shall know
it no more"
In oriental countries the year con-
sists of two seasons. The dry season
comes, vegetation is parched and the
fields are barren. The wet season
comes, and soon the earth is carpeted
with the rich, luxuriant grass and
all spangled with gay flowers. 1t
is a scene of surprising beauty and
wondrous loveliness. But in those
countries the siroccos, simoons and
other hot winds often arise and sweep
over the earth, and then in few hours
the flowers bow their heads and wither,
the grass perishes and the place is a
broad scene Of death. So is human