Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-01-08
The Times-Dispatch Sunday
Sermon
THE LIFE BEYOND THE GRAVE.
ny J. a. Eubank.

But now he Is dead. wherefore should fast I
Can bring him back Rgaln7 I ehail so to
him. but no shall not return to MO- Samuel
XII. %.
Who that has watched ut the bedside OF n
dying child, the fruit of his own loins, does
not, in reading the story Of Davids grief over
the death of this child, begotten In illeEiti-
mate love. share to some extent the agony
that wrung the hsart OF the sweet psalmixt
Of lsraer' upon the Ead occasion that fur
nishes the text quoted above?
David had sinned grievously In the sight
OF the Lord. and for his indebtedness u
penalty that. In some form, is Inevitable for
all wronSdons was put upon him. The child
OF his dearest affection was stricken, and
David bcsouRht the Lord for the child with
fasting and prayer; for said he. who can tell
whether God will be gracious to mo. that tho
child may livc?"
But at the end OF the seventh day the child
died: and rising up from his supplication
David gave expression to a belief In imn,or-
tality firm In it's faith that 1t has been the
mainstay OF hope to millions OF souls when
the shadows OF death were gathering around
them-"I shall go to him. but he shall not
return to me-"
Does life exist beyond tho grave?
There be those who say No. David says
Ycs.
II Is n question which has provoked con-
trovcrsy throughout all the ages OF human In
tenigcnce. and yet we nre nearer
scientific solution now than when the
thought first suggested itself. Faith accepts;
science cannot dispei the doubts. yet hopes.
The Nazarene Teacher says: "Whosocvcr
drinketh Of the water that ! shall give him
shall never thirst: but the water that shall
give him shall be In him we'll OF water
springing up into everlasting life" "Jesus
said unto her. am tho resurrection and the
life; he that bclicvcth In Me. though he were
dead, yet shall he live: and whatsoever liveth
and believcth In Me shall never die
81. Paul lays down the proposition OF i'm
mortal life boldly and challenges the faith
OF the Christian believer TO Its acceptance:
"If in this life only" he says. "we have hone
in Christ. we of all men most miserable.
But now Is Christ risen from the dead. and
become the first fruits Of them that slept.
For since by man came death, by man came
also tho resurrection OF the dead For as In
Adam all die. even in Christ shall all be
made alive"
tally" says Emerson. But. stll incrcduious.
YOU say the hope. the belief In Immortality
does not prove it--give us the facts in
turc which demonstrate It,
We only answer that nothing In tho
great world of matter is ever totally extin-
guished: there we face the great unylridng
fact that through tho transmission OF energy,
nothing In this world Of tangible things Is
ever To-.
Unsa tisfying it may he to the weary pill
grim almost overcome by the heat and bur-
den ~ the day, yet there rccurs to him the
reasoning Of Hamlet:
For who would bear the whips and scorns OF
time
The opprcssor's wrong. tho proud mans con-
tumcy
The pangs OF despis'd love. the laws delay,
The insolencc OF office, and the npurns
That patient merit OF the unworthy takes
When he himself might his uuietus make
With bare bodkin? Who would faitcls bear
To grunt and sweat under weary life.
But that III" dread OF something after dca th--
TIL" undiscovered country. from whose bourn
No traveller returns--puzzlcs the will.
And makes US rather bear these ills have.
Than fly to others that we know not OF?
Faith in taking hold % the promise OF life
eternal beyond the grave has robbed grief of
its worst panss and brought sunshine into
hearts that otherwise would have been
crushed under the burden OF their sorrow.
Ask Of n mother who has knelt by the side
there shall DO no waking here upon what she
bases her belief OF meeting her darling In
another world. and take for answer the speech
OF hor tear-laden eyes!
Ask II OF the thousands Of diving, In hut nd
mansion. who with the light Of confidence In
their eyes to the last. with their last expiring
breath whisper parting messages OF cheer to
loved ones who weep around their bedsdes!
1t may be hut a driuson; but IL is such n
sweet dcluson!