Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-12
Death.

l. We must recognize death as our en-
envy He gained control through sin Ro-
mans, 5:12, and he Is a dark and terri
BILE foe We do right to hate him and to
dread him. He has three weapons with
which he brings his attack. The first Is
physical fear. The thought Of the breath
leaving the body and the heart ceasing
to beat, the eyes growing dim, the ears
dull so that sights and sounds of earth
are shut away-we can hardly meet TINS
without finching How cold are thy
baths, o Apollo!' THE grand rush of
Uncomfortable darkness may seem to
great minds a magnificent thing to be
sung in heroic verse; but there is tragedy
rather than glory about it. It may be
well, on the human side, to remember
that the pains of death are not SO severe
as we might think-at least SO the best
physicians say. The senses are dulled. or
a sudden Inconsistencies comes with Its
balm. or we fall asleep, not knowing the
moment OF our change. l love that dear
little story, THE Boy That Was Scairt O.
Dyin'." He always went about crying De-
cause he was afraid of death: but once
he fell asleep, and when he awoke and be-
gan to cry again shining Vne asked him
why he wept and he answered: m
scairt O, dytn'," And then the shining
one answered: "why, you be dead! 1t
was all over and he didn't know 1t. God
will take care of us. He is near to hold
the trembling hand of the one who trusts
Him.
The second weapon of death is loneh-
ness. No one can go with US. Bunyan'
indeed, makes Hopeful the companion OF
Christian in the river. but there he Is
little away from the truth. Il must ole
alone-ie rnourrai seul," said the great
Pascal Those who have loved life ana
men and comrades long for their pres
ence to go with them through the aarh-
ness, but they cannot. Inc Dear A@tes
fade away; the hand-clasp loosens. the
voice Of love grows dim and far away
The dying man is alone. Yet. here, 100.
the gracious gospel brings its message OF
comfort for the Master Is there TO up
hold. When thou passest tnIousn tne
waters. l will be with thee; and through
the rivers. they shall not overflow tnee.
when thou walkest through the nre tnou
shalt not be burned neither shall .he
flame kindle upon thee. For ! am tne
Lord thy God. the Holy One OF lsrael,
the Saviour" dsa. 12:2) For little
while the dear faces will be hidden, put
ere long they will come again. ana IN the
new experience they will be dearer than
ever. "Alone, yet not alone
of death with which he seeks to hurt
us, namely, the leaving Of our loved ones.
oh, how desolate the thought OF IT makes
us, and them. Loved faces. cherished
hearts. dear friends who are our very ll1e
and in whose friendship we have rejoiced
for Ions-how can we leave them! 1t Is
hard enough to say farewell here on
earth for a few days or weeks. but now
the farewell is for we know not now
long. And the knowledge Of their desoia-
tton-for it is always harder for the ones
who are left at home than for the traveller
the consciousness that we can no more
cherish and comfort and help them and
hear their burdens and hold them from
sorrow and wipe their tears away-this is
a pain indeed, which even the thought oil
heaven cannot easily assuage- But the
Master knew 1t. Did He not say to His
apostles: Let not your heart be trou-
he'd We believe in God. believe also in
me. ! will come again to you, and re
ceive you unto myself" He goes with
us, and He stays with those whom our
departure renders desolate
peace, perfect peace, with loved ones far away?
In Jesus keeping we are safe, and they.
And we know that 1t will not be long
ere they will come to us, though we
cannot go 10 them. Oh Samuel. 12:23.)
"A few more years shall ROLL and then
the glad reunion. the knitting up OF
severed friendships, the escape forever
from partings 1t Is only for a little
this grief of separation.
But there is a happy way to think Of
death, which will rob 1t OF its terrors. II
is the gate to life immortal 1t Is the en-
trance into longed-for bliss have been
impressed by the hymns which are so
often sung now at funerals They are
glad Easter hymns which lift the heart
and voice to other realms and open q
vision Of the blessedness which is the
part OF those whom the Lord has called
away.
Jesus lives, Henceforth s death
But the gate OF life immortal!
And then that glorious hymn written
by Bishop How:
For al the saints. who from their labors rest.
Who Thee by faith before the world confessed,
Thy name, d Jesus. be forever blest!
AIleluia!
The golden evening heightens in the west.
eoon soon to faithful warriors cometh rest;
Sweet IL the rest Of Paradise the blest.
Alleluia"'
II we have tried to live near to God. If
we have trusted in Him, IL We have ac-
eeQted the dear Christ Is our savior. II