The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1905-09-27
Homeeoinr Of q Good Man.


HomegoiDs Of =. Good Man.
And it came to pass. as they stI
went on and talked, that, behold. the
appeared chariot Of fire and hors|
Of fire, and parted them. both asund{
and Elijah went up by a whirlwii
into heaven.-II. Kings. ii, II.
There is something very suggest
about the homegoing Of this good mi
No one would suspect from his mani
that he knew the change was SO ne
He was never more natural-ney
more calm. Was this because he VI
to 60 in such an easy and safe wal
There is nothing to indicate that
knew about the way. Why, then, v
it? so
One thing that did much for him u
his record for faithfulness. The e
llest view. given of Elijah is int
presence of the hardest kind Of a tai
He is called to stand before wictS
king and deliver a. most unwelSA
message. Other tasks equally tha
and dangerous were given him, but
never said no to any. The rene
brance of this must have been q gr&
comfort when the hour Of trans
came.
Duty is an important thing. And
more faithful men are in its perfor
ance the more confidence will IL
have when the end comes. The, ,rec5
kept every day in ones own bosom
a record that always tells the trH
Doing has the largest kind OF an I'M
ence upon being. 1t is the arm y
exercised that grows large muscle.
is the life well lived that brings lal
character. The: only way to get
good that comes from doing is to
Repentance for duty sighted may ID
vent the memory Of such failure bri
ing distress, but. 1t cannot put q di1
ent memory in its place. The spo1
can erase from the blackboard the
ample that is wrong, but it cannot
the crayon's work and put there
that is right. Faithfulness is a. gTt
trouble saver. He who SO does
duty as to have no shame over wha
behind him need have no fear Of W
is before him. Right living makes e
dying. Larger views of life mi
pIeasanter views Of death.
Another thing that helped give
beautiful close to life was the g
he had prepared the way for. It
never a question with Elijah as
what his share was, put alWayt
question as to what the opportuI
was. He was very careful, theref
to do an he could for those who v
to come after him. He establis
schools, into which he gathered yot
men, whom he prepared tor sery
He called to his side one when
| made ready to take up his work w
ne laid it down. When, then, the
came he knew he had done somet3
that would last. And this kDoWle
gave q different look to his going.
who does not leave something her
wofk for good when he goes is z
ure, no matter how much attention.
may have excited or how much I'D
he may have received. The sadS
fact of life is not the fact that ma
often makes it so short in years.
that we ourselves often make
short in influence.
Good must have cone also from
experience had with divine thf
The circumstances under which
jah had lived were such as made
very dependent upon God. Tim,
again when his heart was heav
he gone to Him for guidance
strength. This gave him large
ience in realm which made
to believe in future. He kneY
was a God because with his b
had come into personal touf
Him. He knew there was az
world because he had gotte
which he was sure had come
Experience ut one point became
tG faith at another The best
remove doubts about future Ii
live them away. If we live
is worthy to endure forever y
find it easier to believe that "
endure forever. The mystery
ed with death cannot be gottel
but it can be lived into fol
that we shall not be trouble
When the time comes to 60
have to go by q different y
Elijah, but it will be just
way. There isn't anytIj
grave for a child Of g.
Pleasant Hunteg-Tastor
byterian Chuych. New ~
New York herald.