The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1894-09-08
REV. DR.. TAIN AGE.
CuE BROOKLYN DIVINE'S SUN
DAY SERMON.
Subject: s'Suicide."

Subject: s.Suicide.''
EY1r: "Ee drew out his sword ani woul4
have killed himself, supposing that the DrtS-
oners had been fad. But Paul erie with 4
loud voice. saying, Do thyself no harm.
Acts XVI, 81, %.
Here Is would he suicide arrested in his
deadly attempt. He was sheriff. and a"-
- coriiag 10 the Roman law a bailiG himself
must suffer the punishment dua an escaned
prisoner. and if the prisoner breaking Jail
was sentenced to be enduncsonad FOR three
or four years then the sheriff must be en-
dungeoned for three or four years. and il
the prisoner breaking Jail was to have su'-
fixed esoital punishment then the sheriff
must suffer capital punishment.
The sheriff had received especial charge
20 keep sharp lookout for Paul and Sjlas.
The government had not had confidence IN
bolts and bars to keep safe these two clergy
men, about whom there seemed TO be some
thing strange and supernatural.
Sure enough. by miraculous power they
are free, and the sheriff, waxing out Of 2
sound sleep and supposinc these ministers
have run away, and knowing they were 10
die for preaching Christ, and realizing that
he must therefore die, rather than 60 under
the eKecutioner's AK on the morrow and
suffer public disgrace resolves to precipitate
his own decease. But before the sharp.
keen, glitterine dagger Of the sheriff could
strike his heart one OF the unioosnnAd
prisoners arrests the blade by the command,
"Do thyselt no harm"
In olden time, apd where Christianity
had not interfered with it. suicide was con-
sidered honorable and a s:Sn OF courage.
I. &N11
that Alexander's en- ;nissador had demanded
the surrender of the Athenian orators.
fsocr les killed himself rather than sur
render to Philip ofMacedon. Cato. rather
than submit 10 Julius Cesar, took his OWL
life, and after three times mis- wounds mad
been dressed tore them open and perished.
Mithridates kiled himself rather than SUD-
nit &c Pompey. the conqueror. Hannibal
destroyed his life by poison IRON his ring,
considering life Hnhearabe. Lyturgus Il
suicide. Brutus suicide. After tue disaster
OF Moscow Napoleon always carried with
him preparation OF opium, and one risnt
his servant heard the ex-emperor arise, put
something in glass and drink it. and soon
after the groans arouse all the attendants,
and it Was oniN through utmost medical
skill he was resplscitated from the stupor OF
Ashe opiate.
S Times have changed. and yet the Anori-
conscience, needs to be toned upon the
S82s 3s&s suicide. Have you seen paper
nth that did not announce the
1 of lie by ones own behest?
armed at the idea of exposure,
3 Ssss ipitately. Men losing large
out OF the world because they
De earthly existence. Frustrat-
q domestic infelcty, dyspectic
anger, remorse, envy, lea!ousy,
A. A. & mlsanthropy, are considered
# buses for apsconding from this
is green, by iaudanum, by bella
Othello's dagger, by halter. By
Il ehe abutment of a bridge, by fire.
. .saSs lore cases OF ''felo &c se' in the last
S of the worlds existence. The evil
pd more spreading.
not long ago expressed some
III o whether there was really any
png about quitting this life when it
greeable, and there are found in
M e circles people apologetic for the
y ch Paul in the text arrested. I
Is you before I get through that
sS IS the worst OF all crimes, and shall
warning unEistakaale. But in the
part OF this sermon I wish to admit
s% some OF the best Christians that have
lived have committed self destruction,
:$ht always in denentia and not responsible.
& have no more doubt about their eternal
=
y dies in his bed in the delir;uu OF typhoid
fever. While the shock OF the catastrophe is
very great, I charge all those who have had
Christian friends under cerebral alteration
step off the boundaries OF this life to have
40 doubt their happiness. The dear Lord
took them right out OF their dazed and tren-
zied state into perfect safety. How Christ
teels toward the insane you may know from
the kind way he treated the demoniac Of
Gardsra and the child lunatic, and the po-
sency with which he hustled the tempests
sither OF sea or brain.
Scotland, the land prolific OF intellectual
giants, had none grander than Hugh Miller,
great for science and great for God. He
came Of the best Highland blood. and he WAS
descendant OF Donald Roy. G. man eminent
for his pfety and the rare gilt Of second
sight. His attainments, climbing up rs ne
did from the quarry and the wall OF the
stonenason, drew forth the aSronished ad-
niration OF Buckland and Murchlson, the
scientists, and DR.. Chalmers, the theologian,
snd held universities spellbound while NJ,
told them the story OF wnat he had seen OF
God in the Old red sandstone.
That man did more than any being that,
ever lived 70 show that the God of tho hiI!sI
Is the God Of the Bible, and he struck his
tuning fork on the rocks OF Cromarty unti4
In divine worship. His two books, entitled
"Footprints OF the Creator" and the 'Testi-
nony OF the Rocks" proclaimed the banns
OF an everlasting marriage between Cenutu3
science and revelation. On this latter boot
he toiled day and night. :hrouga love ol
: nature and love OF GOD, until he could not
sleep, ant his brain gave way, AMI ne was
found dead with revolver by his side, tho
cruel instrument having had two bullets
{o-
VINO, at the coroners inquest, was examln-
ing It and fell dead. Have you any doubt Oh
the beatifcation OF Hugh Miller alter MS not
brain had ceased throobinS that winter niGnu
In his study at Poriobello? Among thu
nightiest Of earth, among the mlghtiest o.
heaven.
No one ever doubted the piety of William
Cowper, the aulnor o: those three great
hvnlns, "Oh, For Closer Walk With Go! Il
s'What-Farious Hinnrances We Meet ~.
'sTkere Is Fountain Filled With Boo!'-
William Cowpcr, VINO shares with Isaac
Watts and Charles Wesley the chief honors
OF Christian hymuo ogy. In hypochoniria
he resolved to take his own life and 70 e 10
the river Thames, but found man seated on
some goods at the very point from wNIcn he
expected TO spring AMI rode back 10 MS
home and thar night tnrew himself upon MS
own knife, but tee ba!e broke, anI then ae
hanged himself to the ceiling, oui tee rope
pared. No wonder that wneu Col rner:i-
fully delivered him from tnar VII Gem"n-
Tia he 81, down and wtole that o,Ner L. LA
lust rs TremoraOie'
Col moves a mysterious way
His wonders TO rvtorn.
&c plants HIS footst., - IL rhe seq
Anu rides upou tGe storm.
pl UubelIef i sue 20 err
Au, scan His work IN vain.
Gud His own interpreter,
And He will maze { plain.
While we makethis merciiul an righteous
Allowance il regard 10 tnoso wlo wcro
u IntO u Hn', ',',. = -
THAT the man who in tha uSa OF ms r''aSoT
by his OWE act, snaps the bond betwoen M:
body and his son goas strai~ht Inro perii
ton. Snail provo ii? Eevrlatiou xxi. 8