The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1895-05-23
A SHORT LAY SERMON.
DEATH COMPARED TO A THIEF
THAT COMES IN THE NIGHT.
The Dread Messenger Treads Softly
Until He is Close at Haud-We are
Admonished to be Ready When the
Summons Comes. in Whatever
Form it May Appear.
| New York Herald

Illustration of the way in which the
inevitable sometimes steals upon US.
Alter what manner does the thief come
at night! Is it not with exceeding
stealth that he may cause no alarm,
and with slippered feet and bated
breath and cunning silence?
In like manner death trcads softly
until ne is close at hand. In many
cases 1t is not known that he is in
the immediate vicinity until he lays
MS hand on some ones shoulder and
whispers "Come!" Sometimes he
clasps the heart with his icy fingers
ana 1t at once ceases to beat, just as
the old clock ceases to tick when YOU
lay hold Of the pendulum. At other
times loved one lies on his couch
tor few days, never dreaming that
his work Is done, but rather hoping
that the morning will find him ready
TO take up his task. Then all a, once
there are anxious faces and fearful
eyes, and before he can realize his sit
uatlon his soul has broken away from
the bonds of mortality and he begins
his flight into the air.
How would you wish to die, if the
matter were left to your personal de-
cISlonf 1t is subject on which every
one has bestowed more or less thought
though few OF us, perhaps, have reached
definite conclusion. With another
and better world in constant view;
with the full consciousness that on the
further shore you will have an environ
ment tar superior to that afforded by
the present lite; with profound faith
that dear ones over there are waiting
Tor you, what seems the most desra-
Die means of exit from the present and
entrance into the future?
Inc ideal death is undoubtedly tn at
OF old. If we had perfect bodies,
unhampered by inherited weaknesses,
we should not die in youth or in mid
die lite, but should retain our facul-
ties to the last and take our leave as
the sun does when he sinks behind the
hills. If the laws of nature were tri-
umphant, if our ancestors had not left
their diseases as we'll as property to US
as heirs, we might be hale and strong
until the machinery gave way This
Is the kind Of life and death indicated
by the plan of God, but that plan has
been sadly interfered with Such
lite, rich and healthy to the last, and
such death, simply falling asleep
through WEAKNESS and waking up in
Heaven, are rarely seen.
Many people bewail the sudden de-
parture of loved ones and regard it as
an addition 10 the bereavement but
this is mistake We must think of
ourselves less and of them more. III
one IS to take journey and the prep
aration for it is painful, then the
quicker the preparation is made the
better for Us all. When we must say
goodbye handshake is better than a
prolonged farewell. If one is called |
away by voice which cannot be dis
obeyed, why should we selhshly hold
him in lingering embrace when
lingering means suffering for him?
To enable us to endure the death of
some member of our household we
need stronger faith in two facts. At
ter that death is mere incident in
the career Of a soul, and, though we
may weep, we shall also rejoice at the
good fortune which has come to the |
dear one.
First, we must be sure that the end |
has not come and never will come;
that all that has occurred is a change |
of residence, nothing more. The loss
is ours, the gain is theirs. They are
being congratulated on their arrival at
the moment when we are in tears over |
their departure. They have more
friends on the other side than they |
can have on this, for this life is made
up of many streams, but the other life |
is the ocean in into which all streams |
flow. If, therefore, Heaven and earth
are equal realities to US, we may sigh |
and weep, but beneath our signs and
tears We shall feel sense Of relief that !
though physical suffering may come
to us, none can reach them forever
more.
Second, such faith must rest on
the solid conviction that death makes !
no change in affection or character |
Tomorrow We shall be ourselves, Just
as we are to-day, and there can never
come morrow in which we shall suffer
loss of personal identity.
Let us take strong illustration:
We have here bottle Of perfume with |.
perfume occupies definite space and |.
has definite characteristics. 1t has, SO
to speak, an individuality.
In like manner a man has definite /
peculiarlties and occupies a definite
space. He is himself alone and can
not share his identity with any other
human being. II by miracle he were /
compelled to do this he would be that
much less than himself and that much |.
nearer TO nonenty.
Now squeeze the bulb and continue |.
to do SO until the bottle is empty. |
What has happened? The entire bot
tie Of perfume is dissipated. Not an
atom has been destroyed, because all
atoms are indestruct;ble, but you have
SO scattered the perfume that no power !
can gather those particles together .
,r,;,, The ;pI;v,1,,li,y 70 oop, Co.