102 FEAR OF DEATH. FEAR OF DEATH. JEREMY TAYLOR. DEATH is a thing that is no great matter in itself, if we consider that we die daily, that it meets us in every accident, that every creature carries a dart along with it, and can kill us. And, therefore, when Lysimachus threatened Theodorus to kill him, he told him, that was no great matter to do, and he could do no more than the cantharides could; a little fly could do as much. Of all the evils of the world which are reproached with an evil character, death is the most innocent of its accusation. For when it is present, it hurts nobody; and when it is absent, it is indeed troublesome, but the trouble is owing to our fears,. not to the affrighting and mistaken object; and besides this, if it were an evil, it is so transient, that it passes like the instant or undiscerned portion of the present time; and either it is past, or it is not yet; for just when it is, no man hath reason to complain of so insensible, so sudden, so undiscerned a change. If we be afraid of death, it is but reasonable to use all spiritual arts to take off the apprehension of the evil: but therefore we ought to remove our fear, because fear gives to death wings, and spurs, and darts. Death hastens to a fearful man if, therefore, you would make death harmless and slow, to throw off fear is the way to do it; and prayer is the way to do that. If thou wilt be fearless of death, endeavor to be in love with the felicities of saints and angels, and be once persuaded to believe that there is a condition of living better than this; that there are creatures more noble than we; that above there is a country better than ours; that the inhabitants know more and know better, and are in places of rest and desire; and first learn to value it, and then learn to purchase it, and death cannot be a formidable thing, which lets us into so much joy and so much felicity. "The dead that die in the Lord" shall converse with St. Paul, and all the college of the apostles, and all the saints and martyrs, with all the good men whose memory we preserve in honor, with excellent kings and holy bishops, and with the great Shepherd and Bishop of our souls, Jesus Christ, and with God himself. For "Christ died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we might live together with him." Then we shall be free from lust and envy, from fear and rage, from covetousness and sorrow, from tears and cowardice; and these, indeed, properly are the only evils that are contrary to felicity and wisdom. Then we shall see strange things, and know new propositions, and all things in another manner, and to higher purposes. 66 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me." -PSALM Xxiii. 104 ON THE DEATH OF A FRIEND. ON THE DEATH OF A FRIEND. BISHOP HEBER. THOU art gone to the grave! but we will not deplore thee; Though sorrows and darkness encompass the tomb, Thy Savior has passed through its portals before thee, And the lamp of his love is thy guide through the gloom! Thou art gone to the grave! we no longer behold thee, Nor tread the rough paths of the world by thy side; But the wide arms of Mercy are spread to infold thee, And sinners may die, for the SINLESS has died! Thou art gone to the grave! and, its mansion forsaking, Perchance thy weak spirit in fear lingered long ; But the mild rays of paradise beamed on thy waking, And the sound which thou heard'st was the seraphims song! Thou art gone to the grave! but we will not deplore thee, Whose God was thy ransom, thy guardian and guide; He gave thee, he took thee, and he will restore thee, And death has no sting, for the Savior has died! IN AFFLICTION DWELL UPON THE BREVITY OF LIFE. REV. T. BROOKS. To silence and quiet your souls under the afflicting hand of God, dwell much upon the brevity or shortness of man's life. This present life is not life, but a motion, a journey towards life. Man's life, saith one, is the shadow of smoke, yea, the dream of a shadow. Saith another, Man's life is so short, that Austin doubted whether to call it a dying life or a living death. Thou hast but a day to live, and perhaps thou mayst be now in the twelfth hour of that day; therefore hold out faith and patience, thy troubles and thy life will shortly end together; therefore hold thy peace, thy grave is going to be made, thy sun is near setting, death begins to call thee off the stage of this world, death stands at thy back, thou must shortly sail forth upon the ocean of eternity; though thou hast a great deal of work to do, a God to honor, a Christ to close with, a soul to save, a race to run, a crown to win, a hell to escape, a pardon to beg, a heaven to make sure, yet thou hast but a little time to do it in ; thou hast one foot in the grave, thou art even going ashore on eternity; and wilt thou not cry out of thy afflictions? Wilt thou not mutter and murmur when thou art entering upon an unchangeable condition? 106 DIRGE IN AUTUMN. What extreme folly and madness is it for a man to mutter and murmur when he is just going out of prison, and his bolts and chains are just knocking off! Why, Christian, this is just thy case; therefore hold thy peace; thy life is but short, therefore thy troubles cannot be long; hold up, and hold out quietly and patiently a little longer, (Rom. viii. 18,) and heaven shall make amends for all. DIRGE IN AUTUMN. WILLIS GAYLORD CLARK. "Tis an autumnal eve- the low winds sighing Send back to faded hours the plaint of love. Blossoms of peace, once in my pathway springing, Where have your brightness and your splendor gone? And thou, whose voice to me came sweet as singing, What region holds thee, in the vast unknown? What star far brighter than the rest contains thee, Beloved, departed-empress of my heart? |