3 Sermon Illustrations on The Hope of Death

A child at school welcomes every messenger from home to him; but he desires most the messenger that comes for him. Joseph sends to Jacob, and for him, at once; and his father not only heard the words, but saw the wagons. "Oh! these are really to carry me to him: I shall soon see my son, and die in peace." Such a messenger, Christian, is death to you. "Come," says God: "you have toiled long enough, you have feared long enough, you have groaned long enough; your warfare is accomplished; enter the rest which the Lord your God giveth you. Come; for all things are now ready." "But the swelling river rolls between." Fear not. The ark of the covenant will go before you, and divide the waves, and you shall pass over dry-shod. And then let the streams reunite, and continue to flow on, you will not wish them to re-open for your return. What is misery to others is joy to you. "I shall go the way whence I shall not return." W. Joy.

The following lines by Maltbie D. Babcock were read by him just before sailing abroad on the voyage from which he never returned:

Why be afraid of death as tho your life were breath? Death but anoints your eyes with clay. O, glad surprize!

Why should you be forlorn? Death only husks the corn. Why should you fear to meet the Thresher of the wheat?

Is sleep a thing to dread? Yet sleeping you are dead Till you awake and rise, here, or beyond the skies.

Why should it be a wrench to leave your wooden bench? Why not with happy shout run home when school is out?

The dear ones left behind--O foolish one and blind. A day, and you will meet--a night, and you will greet.

This is the death of death, to breathe away a breath And know the end of strife, and taste the deathless life,

And joy without a fear, and smile without a tear, And work, nor care to rest, and find the last the best.