The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-03-15
DEATH OF THE YOUNG.
An Impressive Lesson for Men In all
the Walks OF Life.

Death comes to US In all the stations. No
footstep In the pathway Of life Is exempt from
Its dangers. Whenever 1t comes to neigh
does, and strikes down one who is
young in years-buoyant with hope and full
OF promise-there Is for those OF US who still
linger on the shores of Time, a solemn and
impressive lesson.
Such events not only teach the frailty and
uncertainty Of life, but they admonish as TO
place our whole confidence and trust In the
all.healing power or the Great Physician.
While devout and sincere Christians cah-
not be otherwise than deeply affected by such
dispensations OF divine Providence, IL is no
less true that men OF the world-rnen who
look at lie and health Rg actual realities
which are governed By natural laws and
physical conditions-JAust also find impress
sive lessons-lessons which-laying aside all
spirituality-snay be valuable TO mankind
and promctfve OF good to the human family
These sad and mournful events not only
turn our attention to that preparation OF
mind and heart which Ia necessary for our
happiness In the eternal life, but they impress
physical health, by the due observance Of
which the temporal lie may be preserved for
the discharge OF the full measure Of It's duty
and usefulness.
The Almighty does not willingly affiIct the
sons OF men, and he would not OF his own
good pleasure cut down those of his children
whose allotted time IL three score years and
When therefore the young die none may
doubt that the fatal result IL brought about by
the law Of cause and effect
We may read In plain and unmistak able
language the moral law as laid down In the
Holy Scriptures, but the laws of health have
not been fully revealed to US. For this reason
We daily innocently endanger our very exist
ence by the violation OF those unknown laws
which affect our health and bring on disease
and death. While the doctors have little
trouble In naming and classifying the dis
eases from which we suffer, yet the mort
skillful OF them have much themselves 10
learn In reference to the origin or cause Of
disease.
Our health being our richest estate, we
should seek TO guard IL with jealous care
and never knowingly or wilfully put our con.
situations TO severe or unnecessary tests or ex-
posures.
The idea that death goes abroad In the land
striking down whomsoever he will, without
regard to natural causes Is deusion and con-
trary TO the fact as 1t really exists The phys.
ical laws are inexorable, and whosoever vio-
lates them must suffer, sooner or later.
IL may be very comforting to the Christian
to say that the Lord has taken life, or that
Death has claimed victim, but 10 thus
thinking and speaking we shirk duty and
deny our own responsibility. The day has
passed when men believe that there is not a
cause for death. 1t may be improper CLOTH
ing; 1t may be errors Of diet; 1t may be mis-.
takes In taking or In not taking medicine; ; II
may be exposure to the cold of Winter or the
heat OF Summer; 1t may be lack OF sleep; II
may be excessive brain work, or It may be
any one OF the thousand dangers that lie hid
den In our pathway, but death never comes to
the young without cause.
IL Is Tor these reasons our imperative duty
to learn TO know and observe the laws OF
health.