The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1896-08-07

stopped one night at Emmaus-
The words of the text are pertinent
to us all, from the fact that we are
nearing the evening of death. have
heard it said that we ought to live as
though each moment were to be our
last. do not believe that theory. As
far as preparation is concerned, we
ought always to e ready; but we can
not a ways be thinking of death, for
we have duties in life that demand our
attention. When a man Is selling
goods it is his business to think OF the
bargain he is making When a man is
pleading in the courts it Is his duty TO
think Of the interests of his clients
When a clerk is adding up his accounts
it is his duty to keep his mind upon
the column of figures He who fills up
his life with thoughts of death is far
from being the highest style Of Chris
tian.
But there are times when we can and
ought 10 give ourselves to the contem-
plation of that solemn moment when
to the soul time ends and eternity be-
gins We must go through that one
pass. There is no roundabout way, no
Ly-path, no cireuitous route. Die we
must; and it will be TO US a shameful
occurrence or a time of admirable be-
havior. Our friends may stretch out
the hands to keep US back, but no
imploration on their part can hinder
us They might offer large retainers,
but death would not take the fee. The
breath will fail, AMI the eyes will close,
and the heart will stop You may
hang the couch with gorgeous tapestry,
but what does death care for beautiful
curtains? You may hang the room
with the finest works of art, but what
does death care for pictures? You
may fill the house with the wailings OF
widowhood and orphanage; does death
mind weepingP
This ought not to be depressing
theme. Who wants to live here for
ever? The world has always treated
me well, and every day l feel less and
less like scolding and complaining. But
vet / would not want 10 make this
nv eternal residence. l love to
watch the clouds, and battle my soul
in the blue sea of Heaven; but l ex-
pect when the armament Is rolled
away as a scroll to see a new Heaven,
grander. higher and more glorious
You ought to be willing to exchange
your body that h As headaches and
sideaehes and weaknesses innu-
merable, that l.mpS with the stone
bruise, or testers with the thorn, or
flames on the funeral pyre of fevers,
for an incorruptible body and an eye
| that blinks not before the jasper gates,
and the great white throne. But be-
tween that and this there is an hour
about which no man should be reek-
less or fOolhardy. 1 doubt not your
courage. but l tell you that you will
want something better than a strong
arm. a good aim and a trusty sword
when you come to your last battle.
You will need better robe than any
you have in your wardrobe TO keep
you warm in that place.
Circumstances do not make so much
difference. 1t may tie a bright day
when you push off from the planet, or
it may be dark night and while the
owl is hooting from the forest. 1t may
be spring, and your soul may go out
among the blossoms, apple orchards
swinging their censers in the way It
may be winter and the earth in snow
shroud. 1t may be autumn, and the
forests set on fire by the retreating
year; dead nature laid out in state. 1t
may be with your wife's hand in your
hand, or you may be in a strange hotel
with a servant faithful to the last. 1
know not the time; l know not the
mode: but the days of our life are be-
ing subtracted away AMI we shall come
down to the time when we have but
ten days left, then nine days, then
eight days, then seven days, six days,
FIVE days, four days, three days, two
DAYS, one day. Then hours; three
hours, two hours, one hour. Then
only minutes left; five min
utes, four minutes, three min
utes, two minutes, one minute.
Then only seconds left; four Sec
onds, three seconds, two seconds, one
second. Gone! The chapter of life endedl
The book closed! the pulses at restl
The feet through with the journeyl
The hands closed from all work. No
word on the lips. No breath in the
nostrils. Hair combed back to lie un-
disheveled by any human hands. The
muscles still. The nerves still. The
lungs still. The tongue still. All still.
You might put the stethoscope to the
breast and hear no sound. You might
put a speaking trumpet to the ear, but
you could not wake The deafness. No
motion; no throb; no life. Still. still!
So death comes to the disciple! What
if the sun of life is about 10 set? Jesus
is the day-spring from on high; the
perpetual morning of every ran~Ome1
spirit. What if the darkness comesa
Jesus is the light of the world and of
Heaven What though this earthly
house does crumble, Jesus has pre-
pared house of many mansions Jesus
is the anchor that always holds. Jesus
is the light that is never eclipsed.
Jesus is the fountain that is never ex-
hausted. Jesus is the even ny star,
hung up amid the gloon of the gath
ering night! -
You are almost through w tn the