The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-12-04
PREACHED ON DEATH.
Rev. A. J. Smith Tells What a Man
Should Do Before He Dies.


Rev. Arthur J. Smith preached at the
First Presbyterian Church last night on
death. He read as his texts the fitch,
sixth and seventh verses Of the twelfth
chapter of Ecclesiastics with special en-
phasis on that part of the verse that re-
fers to the breaking of the golden bowl.
There are many fanciful interpretations
Of this passage of scripture, said Mr..
Smith. though most commutators
agree that it refers to death.
The figure is lamp in an
oriental house, suspended by a silver
cord. The breaking of the cord dashes
the lamp upon the floor, and the bowl of
the lamp is broken. extinguishing the sight.
so when man dies his light is said to go
out
Death Is spoken of in the Bible as "giv-
ing up the ghost or spirit, that is breath,
a separation of soul and body, the body
returning to dust and the spirit going
back TO God; departure out of this world
being gathered to our fathers and falling
asleep.
There are three kinds Of death spoken
of In the Bible. said Mr.. Smith: Physical
or the wearing out of the body and its
decay; spiritual, the death of the Soul,
caused Dy Sln, WnlCn mas Deen overcome
for those who believe, and eternal, or the
second DEATH" as 1t is called in the book
of Revelation, exclusion from Gods pres
ence. Eternal life is knowledge of God
as revealed in Christ. Eternal death must
be the reverse.
Does death end an2 was the next ques.
ton asked. Several reasons were given
for believing that death was not the end
of the souls existence. The first one was
the analogical argument science teaches
that matter never suffers humiliation.
Bodies are organized from various ele>
ments and when they die these elements
simply return to their native state. Science
says that in one sense that the body OF
man is immortal. If the body does not
suffer humiliation, simply change.
why should we not believe that
the soul which is single and
indivisible should live on after lis separa-
ton. The next reason is the argument
front development. All nature speaks of
better things-the bulb speaks of the beau
tiful flower grain of the full shock of
wheat, the acorn, of the giant oak, the
caterpiller of the beautiful butterfly
Development said Mr. Smith is one of
natures greatest laws, Mans inner
consciousness speaks to him of faculties
undeveloped, of capacities untitled and of
ASPIRATIONS unsatisfed. Shall not these
longings. and cravings after better things
be satisfied?
Mr.. Smith spoke Of the justice of God as
a reason for believing in the life beyond
the grave. In this life we know only sor-
row, pain and parting. VIII these tears
and heart-aches be all our Lord will give
us?
The universal belief of mankind was
next presented as a reason for believing
in the future life Mr. Smith said he might
well speak of the state of the soul after
death, but that would be considered at a
future time in the sermons on Hell and
Heaven" Before closing he made a few
timely remarks about preparing for death.
He said man should have his debts all
paid or have it arranged so they could be
paid after he goes; that a man should own
a plat in a cemetery. This should be pur-
chased while he is in health. Among 9TH
err things, he said man should be right
with God. He should confess his sins and
trust Christ 10 save him from them. En-
ter into the service of God. The true
Christian has no fear of DEATH for the
grave has lost It's sting. Christ has con-
quered it for him.