The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1897-01-08
4 ThrGbbing Question,

After the journey, either short or
long, over lfe's stage, the grave is ready
for its occupant We come uDOn this
stage full of expectation, thinking, as
soon as we are capable of thought, how
much enjoyment will be ours. a few
years pass and change comes over us.
Clouds by degrees appear in the horizon
and man feels that uncertainty marks
all the earth. \ young person once
said: 81 am satisfied with this divine
ordering, this absolute result of sin, but
why must ] DIE now? | am only be-
ginning to live; but few years have
passed since | walked into consciousness
of the purpose and work of life-its pos
sible blissful consummatiOns. ] enjoy
the beauties Of this world. Its enter
prises and achievements are not with.
out great charms and fascination to
me. | have entered upon the race of a
certain calling with something of the
zeal, | imagine, of an ancient athlete.
| am happier situated as respects fam
lily. | love my home, my parents, and
those to whom LIES most intimate rela-
tions are sustained. | have treasured
friends, in whose society | have found
rare pleasure. There are projects of
various kinds in which with them, |
would like to engage. Why must |
ROW die? Why this early, wasting, fade
ing, Staying illness? 1t is right, doubt
less, but | cannot discern it,"
Omnipotence has made plain, in Jesus
resurrection, the mystery of the grave,
so that the Christian sorrows not as
those without hope.
We never mourn over the death of an
old man or little child, like we do the
man or woman cut down in the prime
of life, in their sins. We feel like say
ing to the old soldier, "Sleep on, and
sweet be thy slumber, for thy work has
been well done !" to the little children,
"of such is the Kingdom of Heaven"
! Though some hold to the strange and
inconsistent view that the child is
totally depraved and held responsible
for Adams guilt. "Sin is the trans
gression of the law" Such characters
instead of transgressing the law, know
nothing of the law. But as they grow
older and associate with those who care
only for self and their own selfish in
terest, then they become contaminated.
And now let us combat the idea, com
mon to many, that the life Of a young
man, thoroughly prepared for the min
istry, is blasted because he dies young.
No, all those powers, virtues, graces,
that he has gathered are but the pre-
paratory conditions to a higher training
and a more exalted life. Those cray
ings of an extraordinary and far-reach-
ing intellect, those worthy aspirations
of a pure and manly soul, those death
| less longings Of a lofty, chastened and
sanctitied spirit, will yet be enjoyed by
| him.
The progress of time is ever onward.
] Seize the golden opportunity as they
! fleet by, and so improve them as TO
merit the reward of those who faith
| fully perform the trust committed to
| their charge. These opportunities are
| not the occasion of doing something
| great or brilliant to move the world, to
enroll our names among the illustrious
of earth, but the duties that each hour,
each day brings to us. They are some
! times irksome, apparently insignificant,
and we are often disposed TO turn aside,
| To seek more cOngenial employment.
| BY strict adherence TO duty, however,
we become both useful and happy, so
that as the years fall out of our lives,
/ our causes for joy and gratitude will
! greatly increase, while those of regret
Will growl less. OMNIA NERIrAS.