The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1909-01-18

The following sermon~Was preachea
by the Rev G. T. Sullivan at the
funeral OF Miss Bessie Gleaves:
1--WE enter the gates of mourning
to-day and sorrow at the departure OF
this precious child. She was just
blooming into life. and the future
was so roseate with promise for her.
Fifteen happy, bright years had well
coined her among her kindred ana
cheerful little classmates; and now
they are called TO place sweet flowers,
upon her bier and new-made grave.
Her short and faithful life was not
in vain; she wrought we'll; she was
one of Gods little lambs and He has
taken her unto Himself, where she
viii develop the spiritual life through
out the oeaseless ages. Her trans
lated spirit has already Joined the
happy company where she will sor
row no more The cottage and palace
are alike visited by affective dispen-
sations. No class in society, no posi-
tion in life is exempt; and no one IS
free from pain. Each sufferer knows
the bitterness OF heart. This life of
ours is a weird aeolian harp of many
a joyous strain, yet underneath there
runs a loud perpetual wall of souls In
pain. The true and good OF earth
accept this as experience and would
magnify the grace OF God, consciously
realizing that with the pain comes
the promise from our Heavenly
Rather, My grace is sufficient forl
thee" The Christians estimate of
affliction is unlike any other esti-l
mate. Faith in Christ and His resur-l
rection mobiles all the issues of life
and death. The Christian suffers and
mourns IKE others. ana sweet, limo
cent children die; but to weep isl
gracious, aud human mourning can
be turned into JOY. We weep not asl
those who have no hope. for In thel
valley OF sorrow there are rays OIL
divine light. Jacob mourned for his
loved ones: David wept bitterly, and
Christ with the weeping sister,
groaned I'm spirit and wept.' Joseph 81
way to greatness and power lay
through the valley of bondage and
trial; David's child had gone beyond
his vision, but IL was where he could
overtake II beyond this vale of tears.
Lazarus could attain unto a glorious
resurrection only by the sorrows of
the grave. Paul calls of this light
afliction.' III IL were not for this
Bible term our broken and lacerated
spirits would be afraid of tomorrow
and refuse TO utter a word. Viewed
from this standpoint OF earth and
personal grief we know these Attic
lions are not light. For our weary
spirits to be torn AMI bleeding; fos
our lips to press the cold and pulse
less brow and realize that the spark
ling eye is sightless. that the sweet
lips are speeches. and that the hean
is still and motionless, disorganizes
this mortal life and the fountain OF
tears and grief is broken up. But in
the light of Gods word and our inn
mortal hope we can bear our sorrows
and in contrast with what is to be
hereafter. faith can make us patient
and We hear Him speak, Il will never
leave thee nor forsake thee Then,
although our cherished hopes of life
time be blighted in a moment, when
the light of our home is taken away,
when our hearts are crushed. when
IAN the argosles of our life and hope
are stranded wrecks upon a bleak
and stormy shore, We can say. our
Hight affiiction, but for a moment,
| worEath ouf for uz a far more Qx-
lceeding and eternal weight of glory.
THE dark night must end some time.
1.-THE sunrise is just ahead. the icy
barriers that the winter of death has
! thrown about us must meet in the
warm summers sun. Adversity's cold
frost will soon be DER, and there are
heralds of better days; for the joy
Gus spring is Graded on the icy win
tiers breast-it comes flushed in
beauty. The soul that pants for God
will find itself lifted nearer to Him
| by the crosses that lie in the path
way OF life. The hottest weep. but
their tears. as rainirops in the spring
time. are shot through with sun
beams. Blessed are they that mourn.
Some sweet day the Christian will
lind all OF earth's sorrows turned into
Joys; all tears will be brushed away
and all will be Joy and song. The
broken hearts will mourn no more.
Ian broken ties will be reunited. J
loved ones separated will come face
to face again and all voices silent
nov shall be heard TO speak once