Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1895-07-04
Saint Maru's Beacon
7. z. EEaALD's prTHY SERMON.
SUDDEN DEATH.


illustration Of the way in which the
inevitable some times steals upon
us.
After what manner does the thief
come at night: Is it not with ex-
ceeding stealth, that he may cause
no alarm, and with slippered feet
and bated breath and cunning
silence:
In Ike manner death treads soft
ly until he is close at had. In
many cases it is not known that he
is in the vicinity until he lays his
hand on some ones shoulder and
whispers "Come" Sometimes he
clasps the heart with his icy fingers
and it 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 for few days, never dream
ing that his work 10 done, but rather
hoping that the morning will find
him ready to take mp his task.
Then all at once there are anxious
faces and fearful eyes, and before
he can realize the situation his soul
has broken away from the bonds of
mortality and he begins his fight
into the upper air.
How would you wish to die, if
the matter was left to your personal
decision? 1t is subject on which
every ore has bestowed more or less
thoughts, though few Of us, per-
haps, have reached a definite con-
clusion. With another and a bet
ter world in constant view; with the
full consciousness that on the fur
Their shore you will have an environ
ment far superior to that afforded
by the present life; with a profound
faith that dear ones over there are
waiting for you, what seems the
most desirable means of exit from
the present and entrance into the
future?
The ideal death is undoubtedly
that of old age. IL we had perfect
bodies, unhampered by inherited
weaknesses, we should not die in
youth or middle life, but should
retain our faculties to the last and
take our leave as the sun does when
he sinks behind the hills. II the
laws of nature were triumphant, il
our ancestors had not left their dis
eases as we'll as their property to rs
as heirs, we might be hale and
strong until the machinery gave
way. That is the kind of life and
death indicated by the plan Of God,
but that plan has been sadly inter-
fered with. Such life, rich and
healthy to the last. and such a
death, simply falling asleep through
WEAKNESS and waking up in heaven,
are rarely seen.
Many people bewail the sudden
departure of loved ones and regard
it as an addition to the bereavement
but this is q mistake. We must
think of ourselves less and of them
more. IL one is to take journey
and the preparation for it is pain
full. then the quicker the prepara-
ton is made the better for us all.
When we must say goodby q hand
shake is better than prolonged
farewell. IL one is called away by
q voice which cannot be disobeyed,
why should we seltishly hold him in
lingering embrace when lingering
means suffering for him:
To enable US to endure the death
of some member of our household
with sorrowful serenity we need a
stronger faith in two facts. After
that death is a mere incident in the
career of 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; and all that has occurred is
a change of residence, nothing
more. The loss is ours, the gain is
theirs. They are being congratu-
lated on their arrival at the moment
when We are in tears over their de-
parture. They have mora friends
on the other side than they could
have here, for this life is made mp
of many streams, but the other life
is the ocean into which all streams
flow. IL, therefore, heaven and
earth are equal realities to us, we
may sigh and weep, but beneath
our sights and tears we shall feel