The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-08-20
a.. .ELoOUENCE OF DEEDS.
Results of Mans Life Inv ested With
Immortality.

Rev. George Edward Walk preached at
: Trinity Church yesterday from Hebrews
xi:4: He being dead. yet speakth." He
said:
ITO my mind there is an unity of in.
terest in these words. They are uttered
with reference to The first human being, ac-
cording to the Oldest history of the Jews,
who ever passed into the solemn and mys-
FERROUS realm of the dead. To apply Cole
ridges fine cOuplet:
He was the first that ever burst
Into that silent sea
"These words carry us back TO the morn
ing of time-to the cradle of the race, and
they teach US that the results of a mans
life are invested with the attribute Of im-
mortality.
They are pronounced concerning one
who lived and died before the founding of
any dynasty--befOre the rise Of any en-
plre, and before any race or tribal dstinc-
tons were known among men. They are
spoken Of one who lived and acted his part
before there was opportunity Tor what the
world calls great aud heroic deeds.
Whence this Immortality Of fame?
Who was he? WHAT had he done? It is
worth our while to inquire into these mat
teTs de was Abel-Whlch means vanity,
breath, vapoT.
There is not a line or scrap of history
which lusthes any other conclusion than
than that he was a simple-miDded and
ordinary sort OF man: and this fact is all
the more encouraging for us. He never
fought battle-he never did great act
but stu he speaks to the world and still
the world Is bound 10 hear what be has to
say.
His was not the eIoquence of the orator,
but his Immortality of fame is born of the
Inightier and more enduring eloquence of
deeds. He looked not beyond his relations
nd n finSf IN md m find fHa .
duty, and when be had learned what duty
meant and was be lad but one impulse.
and that was to do IL He believed in God
and. be obeyed him. This was his plan of
life. Fidelity to the God Of his being was
= the single law by which his whole life was
governed. By faith he offered to God the
best sacrifice which it was in his power TO
make. 1t is a deeply solemn reflection
hat we must speak after death. We can
say nothing that has not been better said
many times. But there is an eloquence IN
deeds far surprising the most finished and
fOrceful oratiOns which ever fell from the
lips. o. orator or swayed the listening null
titude. And the peculiar glory OF deeds is
that one has no advantage over another.
1t is curious TO reflect how much more ana
how much better we know men by their
deeds rather than by their words.
I'VE often stroll IN cemeteries and rea
the stilted, false and pOmpous in scTiptioDs
which the hand of pride or affection has
Written upon the tomb OF the dead. But,
let me tell you, the real inscription which
we shall meet in the last day is the in
: scrlptlon which we are making for our
: serves ana which we are making now! In
ouF: Iasnl0n we are all sculptors and en-
rgrayeTs and painters, and we are each
: mo dlng from painting pictures which
Will survive the wreck Of worlds. Let i
be particularly observed that it was by
faFth That ABEL made to God the best sac
would not have been sufficient. 1t is
by MS deeds that he speaks to US. HIS
faith Powered, into work, the ripe fruit of
which is an Immortality Of fame.
''The next thing ! want to notice is that
little deeds are those upon which God has
set the seal Of his aDprob ation. Men NAV
not see your deeds. but they have not es
ca ped the notice of God"