The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1907-09-13
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Subject: Death.

AoIs tOOh ds MS text tnOSe words
which are found so frequently in the
earlier part of the Old Testament
scriptures, And he died" He said:
Death is subject OF which We do
not like 10 speak. IL is a subject we
avoid. The most of us endeavor 10
forget that there is such a fact for
us. Many of us live as though We
had eliminated il from our lives.
1t is the fashion in the church
nowadays not TO preach about death
with any frequency. For the people
quite largely do not desire sermons
on that theme. Ministers forbear 10
press home its consideration. They
do not care to urge men TO come 10
Christ by playing on the element of
fear in their characters. And strange
ly enough death and fear have been
correlatiye terms for generations.
Death used to be a forceful and
popular subject for pulpit presenta-
ton. The divines of a century and
more ago made their lasting reputa-
tions because of their mastery expo
sitions of the scriptures about death.
Many a soul was swung into obedi-
ence to God by the impulse of an in
tense and vivid sermon on death.
However unwise ii may be TO lead
men to God and 10 Christ through
fear of death, II is much more un-
wise never to bring this fact TO their
attention. For the life after death
is the major part of our existence.
The days that God allots to us here
are but minute fraction Of the ages
We shall live, If we be righteous,
within Him forever. This life is not
all of life. Nor does death end ALL
However difficult and distasteful a
subject death may be to discuss, 1t
repays investigation and considera-
ton. We may not care to study it,,
TO face ii, to analyze il. But we
ought.
For death is inevitable II is GER
tain that as we have come into this
world we shall, in all human proba-
bility, go out of IL. We cannot es-
cape death. We cannot avoid it. We
ought not to hasten ii. We must
give it consideration. For it is sure
to come. We do not know the day
or the hour. We cannot forecast the
time. No man can tell the order in
which we shall go hence, you and l.
But the last day will dawn upon earth
for each of us. ME- chimes will ring
last farewell upon our ears. The
call of relentless death Will ring
through every soul. We may not be
able TO forecast deaths coming, but
he will arrive. We may not be able
to enumerate the order of our going,
but we shall go. For death is in
evitable. His coming is inescap pable
He stands waiting at the terminus OF
every life. And we should not fear
If we fear God.
For death is natural. II is as nat
ural as ii is inevitable. II is as nat
ural as birth. There is nothing un-
usual about IL however mysterious its
processes may be. II is as natural
TO die as IT is to he born. Men talk
of death as though 1t were a hiatus
Death is not break. II is method
of procession. They speak OF death
as something that ought not to be-
We shall not discuss that to-day
But we shall assert without fear OF
contradiction that in the world as II
is at present constituted death is a
valuable asset to humanity.
For death is not final but tran.
sitionai. 1t is not a goal. 1t is but
an incident in the life OF the soul
as IL flies through life into eternity
Death is not ultimate 1t is not ter
minal. Death is not an end itself
1t is not the last of life though il
comes at the end OF thib life. For II
death is final il is at least question
able whether il were any use 10 live
at all. II death is absolute and ulti-
mate, If il writes finis 20 the close OF
every mans life, then in the words
of Paul, 'of all men most miserable. -
There may be use and there may be
wisdom in living simply for the sake
of living and then dying, with nc
hope Of eternity, with no expectation
of life beyond, with no promise OF
Immortality. But such n philosophy,
however sound il may be for SOME
minds, does not appeal 10 me. For
j am persuaded that we live TO some
greater purpose than just 10 die, and
go back into the dust and be forever
orgotten-forever. | am persuaded
that we are more than The flower Of
the field or the grass thereof, which
to-day is and tomorrow is consumed
by the quencbable fire. Fcu God has
written in my heart, and ! hope He
has in yours, promise Of another
life and of a nobler and "a fairer
world. ] look for land and life
that is eternal, a heavenly country.
For. TO me, death is portal.
IL is a gate. 1t is a boon, a gift of
God, a blessing. To my mind IL
writes "to be continued" after the
last word Of the last chapter OF the
record Of every souls earthly lie has
been inscribed upon the pages of
human history. For death is more a
beginning than an ending. II is a
door through which We enter into the
undiscovered country. II affords us
a vision Of another world the view
OF which is withholden.from our NOR
tai eyes. 1t releases Yslfrom the cir
CumscTiptions of earth. IL unlOcks
the mystery OF eternity. II unfoldE
the future existence before US.
Through IT we achieve a knowledge
Of the unknown. To those Of us who
have endeavored sincerely. however
partially We have succeeded, 20 do
the will Of God and TO submit our
selves 20 His divins control. death
comes as a friend over whom we may
rejoice. Not that We should desire
20 die. For this is a good life. Not
that we should regret that We have