Mesa free press., 1901-01-25

God at his word" and which the Sa.-
siou1 called the New kisth. wheshes
this crisis came into his lifssF Fam unssl
able to say. His friendgnesrsssj and
dearest to Eimsbeheve. heag gave thsm
reason soto Aape. fl this hope we sll
devoutly join. Long ago ceased to
dogmatize beside the grave. We lit.
tie know what passes between the soul
ard its God in the last solema hours
of life. Where sickness is sop,swhat
extended, where deaths approach "a
so evidently foreseen, WHARF, faculties
are retained clear and bright almos. to
the end, and where theugbtful pre-
|parstion of business is made, all Of
which was true ii Mr. Shawmans case.
4 can imagine that. i'd the stress Of
these last solemn hours, one might do
the thinking 9t q life time. Reckless
Indeed would he be whs could dog...
|matiSe beside spch q graye. But
while all this is true let me sound 1
note of warning, let no one in an over
confident expectation of a favorable
opportunity of repentance in the clos
|lng hours of life, presume upon the
mercy of God. To put off to the fu-
|ture that decision for Christ which the
Bible ever makes present duty is ~
the souls peril. ssas
In Mr.. Shewman's last hours, song
was frequently on his lips, nov
|a lodge ode, now some sweet old hymn.
A Among o,hers he sang alone Sweet
Home" which is 20 dear 10 aN our
hearts. "fhere is ne place like hope"
rs true of the earthly home Of love,
how much more true of the homo OF
tho soul. We have the authority OF
scripture to furnish our conception Of
that home with everything grand,
noble, beautiful but are reminded at the
same time that the reality is in6nAte-
ly beyond anything which we can con-
ceive or think. Such . homo awaits
the christian, and is one OF his inspira-
ticns IN life.
Mr.. ShewmaHs last hours show also
how love, ''the greatest thing in the
world" can triumph over bodily paia
and sickness He was ever a dutiful
son, and loving father and husband,
never was this more apparent than 10
the last week of his life. His thought
seemed more upon his loved ones than
upon himself. In 80 tar as he could
hs used his last hours in providing fov
the care and comfort Qf bis family
aICcF MS departure.
Mr.. Shewmans kindness OF heart
reached beyond his immediate friends.
Since his death many have born loving
testimony to kindness and encourages
ment at his hands during his life
Can we do batter in closing this
service, than to join in that earnest
prayer of Moses the man of God when
he said; $50 teach us to number our
days that We may apply our. hearts
unto wisdom" He is thinking Of the
eternity of God. Older than the ever
lasting hills is he, for be made them,
back Of oil the grn"ra.iorg Of psen is
he for he is mans creator. back Ut tho
universe is he for he spoke it into ex-
istence. In comp .rison. with the
eternity of God how brief is a human
life. Well may we pray to know It's
brevity SO as to use we'll its passing
days. Life whether long or short is 9
sacred trust from God to be used
wisely and well. for,''i isa msasured
hy deeds not years. Our lives arc
npt wisely used unless, we become
"wise unto salvation" Created, as we
ARE with the ability to know God and
render to him acceptable service. not
to do so, is to act upon the stage Of
|life, in the drama of life the part OF
the fool. To such and one God will
say as he said fone Of old T6oq
Fool.