Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1900-03-06

L. R. Milbournebefore the Charles Town
Baptist Church, January II, 1900;
Proverbs xxi, 80 and 81.
Early Friday morning. Dec. 90, 1899,
our sister Mrs. Mary S. Spots closed
her long and useful christian life on
earth, having almost completed the ssrd
year of her age.
For nearly two years she had been in
failing health, and two weeks before her
spirit left US her condition was such as
almost to preclude hope of her recovery.
She herself felt that she was in her last
illness, and she consciously faced death
with that cheerfulness and bravery
which only child of faith can exhibit at
such time.
She had, as she herself said, placed her
salvation entirely in the hands of Jesus,
her Savior, and implicitly did she trust
him to do for her all that he had prom
ised.
There was unmistakable evidence of
her Saviour's presence with her a few
days before she left US. She requested
the singing of the hymn 20 happy day
that fixed my choice, 4" and while she was
almost unable to utter word, she sang
the hymn in the spirit, and was heard to
utter distinctly two or three times hap
py day"
Our sister Mrs. Mary S. Spots closed
her long and active life amid comfortable
surroundings, She received every atten-
ton that true and strong love could pro-
vide. Her faithful daughter and son-in-
law willingly and most affectionately
gave themselves completely to minister
unto her necessities.
Many kind neighbors and friends
showed a most tender interest in her
welfare. A faithful physician promptly
responded to every call And when she
left US she went out of the embrace of the
warmest human affection into the sweeter
home of the saints above, where the love
of God is more dist;ctly realized and en-
joyed.
Sister Spots was member of this
church fifty-five consecutive years. She
was one of a small number who consti-
tuted zoar Baptist Church, which was
afterward removed from Zoar to Charles
Town, and its name was changed to the
Charles Town Baptist Church.
This memorial service is being held
here to-day on account of her long mem
bership and exceedingly active life as
Christian woman. Her great sacrifice
for her church and her successful en-
deavors demand that her church, which
mourns her loss. should hold in memory
of her a special service.
have selected as my text for this oc-
casion Proverbs xxi, 3o-3I, because
godly fear was so very prominent in the
life of our faithful sister.
Favour-or gracefulness-is deceit
full, and beauty is vain, but woman that
feareth the Lord, she shall be prarsed.-
Give her of the fruit of her hands, and
let her own works praise her in the
gates"
Did not sister Spots, by her manner
and look, by ner words and works, i'm
press every one who knew her as being a
woman that feareth the Lord. 1 feel
that could most appropriately set this
epitaPh before you to-day.
Mrs. Mary S. Spots departed this
life Dec. 20. 1899, aged So years, 10
months and days. A church member
S. years. "A woman that feared the
Lord"
And this was the secret of her busy
and honefuI Christian life
I. What is true Cody fear7
1t is a recognition of the majesty of
God. his greatness, his power and his
love; and the soul standing in awe be-
fore Him is moved to please and exalt
his glorious name by earnest striving to
conform itself to the divine will, lest the
terrible wrath of God should overwhelm
it in destruction.
A soul that tears God has such an ap-
probation of his goodness and love that
it earnestly seeks to avoid displeasing
Him. The fear of God, which is a vir-
tue, is not like the fear that Adam and
Eve exhibited when they hid themselves,
perceiving that God was in the garden,
but like the fear that penitent David had
in his heart when he came to God, against
whom hehad sinned. and made prayeriul
confession and cast himself hopefully in
to the arms of Gods gracious love. Au-
gustine had the right idea of Cody fear
when he said: II am afraid of God,
therefore will run into his arms" And
the true idea of Cody fear is given US in
the well-known hymn, whose closing
lines are " With filial fear now draw
nigh. and Father. Abba Father, cry =
Such was the nature of the fear of God
that appeared so prominently in the life
of sister SPOTS.
II. Cody fear is an essential element
of Chistian character. 1t is written that
the fear of the Lord is the beginning OF
wisdom Wisdom in ones life does moi
begin until the true fear of God springs
up into the soul.
When Solomon, the wisest, summoned
it all up in order to declare the whole
duty of man, he coupled the fear of God
and the keeping ofthe commandments.
Any one who does not stand in holy
awe before the Most High. does not pos
sess character that is worthy to be
called Christian.
1. Cody fear leads to a true rcyer
ence of Gods name. Holy and rev