The Van Buren press., 1894-12-01
LAID AT REST.

The funeral services of Judge Jesse Turner
took place at the family residence on Sunday
afternoon at O'clock. 1t was the largest con-
course ever witnessed at funeral in Van
Buren,. which had gathered to pay the last sad
tribute to the honored dead Sunday was a
beautiful day, and our citizens were there en-
masse, together with large delegation of Fort
Smith friends, who came over on special train.
The services were conducted by Rev. T. j.
Reynolds, Pastor of the NJ E. Church South.
assisted by Rev. s. S. Key of the same church.
The tribute of the Reverend gentlemen to the
distinguished dead was beautiful, impressive
and full of consolation to the bereaved ones.
The following sermon delivered at the funeral
Of the late Hon. Jesse Turner sunday Nov. "a.
1894 Is published at the request of friends. both
bis and mine 1t goes before the public as II was
spoken, as 1t seems to have been satisfactory In
that form. REV. T. ]. REYNOLDS.
TExT.-Job IA: H. "Tf man die shall he live
again"
The book of Job antedates all other records
1t is, as it were, voice speaking in assuring
tones out of the night the long, dark night OF
of illustrating in hieroglyphic characters or
tracing On vellum, or carving in marble
national history or noble deeds. the book of Job
was written, the writer guided IN thought and
outlive the traditions Of animated bust or
storied urn" As long as human hearts break
with sorrow or appalling calamity, like a whirl.
wind OF fire. sweeps over homes consuming all
that is dear to fond and loving hearts, that long
will the stricken soul be attracted by the glow of
its inspiration and quatf its healing waters. I'm.
like the creations of Overheated minds fired
with the base enthusiasm of false gods, the
legitimate products of a union between the sons
of God and the daughters OF men-Truth and
Error conjoincd-whose issue were giants of
hideous mien monsters of herculean frame and
cruel in action. Unlike these creations the Boo
of Job is a faithful and artless story Of God
prOyidential dealing with his creature-Man: as
also the keen unintermitting interest which al
all-wisc Creator has in his creation
This wonderful book makes the following dis.
closures in its first chapter.
The possible perfection of human nature
under given conditions, that is to say.
/, Fear God.
2 Eschew evil
The first is positive duty and is in accord
with the Scriptures. In another place we are
commanded to"cleaye to that which is good and
to do good and to communicate" This renders
the good active. All of which has for its basis
The fear of God;" this fear" is also wisdom OF
the highest type: "The fear of the Lord is the
ginning, - as well as the .perpetuity "of wis
dom" Whatever besides this man may have
If he be lacking in wisdom which grows out OF
the fear of the Lord,'' he is unwise.
The second is negative duty that Is
the duty of ceasing to do, to avoid, "a
shun. Hence the Scriptures strongly emphasize
this duty, requiring us Ito cease to do evil, =
and TO avoid the very appearance of evil
These, In the very nature Of things, make uI
the sum total of human perfection.
This unique character, Job, surrounded as II
Is by every form Of skepticism and environed by
every phase of error, standing in the midst OF
the shadow of death shines forth In splendor
as shines the sun in his strength, and as some
mountain peak rises in sublimity above the
murky gloom that hovers over vale and hill and
forest or stands as beacon light sending afal
mariner battling with waves to peaceful shore
In this wonderful book Is found
THE ORIGIN OF LIFE AND SOURCE OF KNowL.
EDGE
There is a spirit in man-an immortal breath
and the inspiration Of the Almighty giyetf
them understanding" said Job, the philosopher
In this declaration Is found the doctrine of the
souls Immortality and its habitat The source
of its understanding is the Almighty, the In
finite and Eternal mind. There are two pass
ages in the New Testament parallel to this; ,s y
that lighteth every man that cometh into the
world,7 and, Sin Him was life, and the life was
the light of men," Here, then, couched In these
simple sentences is that secret for which the
earth has been searched and the seas dredged
Chemistry and the microscope have been called
into requisition; the former to separate com
binations of simple elements and the latter tG
examine them. But the secrets OF life ano
Knowledge remain hidden. Beyond the borders
Of Revelation the explorer searches in vain
often wandering so far into the mysteries O.
science, so-called. and forgetting to marx his
path BY stationing the tapers of Revelation a.
each turn in the dim vaults that his return u
the light of day becomes hopeless task; IKE
"wanderng star for which is reserved the black
ness forever: he wanders on in pursuit Of hi
| TOnus Fatuus