The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1893-01-18
Anderson gnte1ligemtsr.
An Important Question.

The Rev. D. Nj. Ramsay preached
time sermon at the Citadel Square Bap-
tist Church yesterday from the text:
"How long have / to live'" End Samuel,
10, "a.
Sometime ago, said the pastor, while
David's troops were in great need,
kind hearted old man by name of Bar
zillai brought the necessaries of life to
the soldier kings hungry camp. Now
that the war is over David wishes to
show gratitude to his benefactor and
hence extends an invitation to his aged
friend to come to Jerusalem and spend
the remainder of his days in ease and
distinction at his court. The reply is
touching: "How long have to live that
I should 60 up with the king to Jerusa-
lem? Let thy eervant turn back that l
may die in mine own city and be buried
by the grave of my father and mother"
Whether you are old or young attention
is directed TO this great question. l can
think of no question that sould be asked
with more appropriateness at the begin
ming of the new year. Let Us profit by
our experience and ask the old year
what message she has for the new year.
l remark in the frat place that: asking
this question, "How long have to
live? ?" will enable us to place 3 proper
estimate on the part. The past fs un-
changeable. The voice beneath the
skies is loud enough to call back parted
hour. There is no subtle power Of earth's
chemistry to erase its record, nor aan
you make up for lost time as: we are ac-
customed to think. However we'll we
may spend to morow it's deeds must
stand on to.morrow's ample page. Yes
terday was just such a day as earth never
saw before and never ...shall see again.
Emerging out of darkness and eternity
she sparkled few fleeing hours aud sank
back whence she came bearing the REQ
ord of ear,h's fair and foul deeds in;hsr
clinched hand. On that memorable day
for which all others we're created, this
departed yesterday shall shoot forth from
behind the throne of God to face us at
Gods bar whether or not We want her
testimony.
But let me beg you not to bemsan the
irrevocable past. Life is too short for
idle tears. Thou ahsltIaot stand Naobe
like with face bathed in perpetual tears.
Our loving God does not say to the
broken hearted, "sit here aud muse upon
your ill-spent life md let thes:yultnre Of
-remorse eat our your ever-growing
heart" In noble passage in Adam
Bede George Elliot has one of her char.
acters to say in tersest wisdom: "It's
little good you'll do a-watering last
years crop" Yet we may learn some
thing from the past that will be helpful.
If you stood by the deathbed of the de-
parting '92 and asked earnestly what
message she had for the young '93, yon
may thereby be made better man.
There is something better than new year
resolutions. They are often made in our
own atrength to be broken in our own
weakness. But earnestly eloseted with
your own soul gather from the past les
sons from your strength and weakness,
yoar trials and triumphs, and pairing
tears with prayers and matching your
Joyous smiles with humble Thanksgiving,
gain wisdom for whatever the future may
have in store.
Again, proper consideration Of the
old mans question will enable US to ap
preciate the present. The Importance of
the present time is fell when We think of
its briefness. The present is all the time
We have. The past is gone and the fu.
ture is not ours. How long is the pres.
ent? 1t is gene before you can name it.
But these aeeting PARTICLES of time make
up our life. How important Is the word
now? How large shall I write it2 I
cannot write it so large as the heaven or
hell will be, which it shall bring you to ?
How often shall I repeat the Word l
cannot repeat it as long as tho wonderful
eternity that hinges on your use of the
now. How loud shall proclaim it I?
Not so loud as the shrieks of the lost
who have abused il. Your future con-
duct will be influenced by the manner in
which the present time is spent.
In very important sense no action In
our lives ia. an accident. A man is not
capable of performing an action at vsri'
ance with himself. Everyone carries in
his bosom the germs of his most excep.
tional conduct. Every deed has it own
mysterious history, but is governed by
laws in harmony with the character of its
author. For some this year will have its
full weight of misery, while others will
find it full of bliss. If you say 30 it will
be q beuediction. Garry with you the
siuuer's friend and there will be peace.
Colridge sxclaims: "Great God, how
glorious it is to livep while Renal, the
in6del, sigbs: 20 God, when will 1t be
worth while to live ?"-News and Courier,
January 9th.
kl-V