WEEP NOT FOR THE DEAD by S. A. Hastings

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 30, 1860

WEEP NOT FOR THE DEAD.

By S. A. Hastings

"Why mourn for the weary who sweetly repose, Free in the grave from life's burden of woes."

Why should we weep for those whom God has suffered to be laid away in the silent grave, to rest for a little season, until the morning of the resurrection. Their toil and care is ended. No more shall the ills and woes of life disturb their peace. They are at rest. The tempter can no more allure their steps away from God. They are safe. Oh! blessed thought! Safe from all that can have power to destroy. Thrice blessed are they who die in the Lord. Ah! could we realize as we stand by the bedside of death, and behold the breath of the dying growing fainter and fainter, that they are being taken from the evil to come, that they are escaping many sorrows which we living must endure, we should not feel such anguish to yield them up. Such bitter tears would not flow, that God had robbed us of those we so fondly loved. Far more reason have we to weep for the living, than the dead. Each succeeding year of our lives brings with it its weight of care and suffering. How often when pressed with trouble, surrounded by temptations, our weary hearts almost famishing within us, we droop beneath the burden, and as we gaze on the mound of earth beneath which rests the saint of God, we almost envy a spot by his side.

Yet though a blessing is pronounced on those who sleep in Jesus; though they escape the sorrows and perplexities to which all in life are subject, it is not right to desire that their lot might be ours unless it can glorify God. A selfish motive may often cause us to desire the grave. The influence of the world may seem so powerful, its temptations so great, that we feel we cannot resist. We may lack energy and boldness to struggle for victory, and we feel it would be sweet to lie down in death beside the dear ones who have gone before us. We may question why some who were so consecrated to God, and possessed so much talent for doing good, should fall by the destroyer, and we yet live on. But God knows why. He suffers nothing to befall the Christian that shall not work for his good. Let us not then murmur and complain, but toil on a little longer, realizing that our reward awaits us above. Let us strive to make life an object. Feel that we live for something, and God requires of us faithfulness. Satan will try hard to discourage, but God is mightier than he, and able to deliver to the uttermost all who will come to him in faith.

Though it is blessed to die, yet it is blessed to live when we live wholly for Jesus, and our lives are hid in him. How much reason we often have to mourn that the world possesses such power to fascinate the mind and lead it from God, thereby casting a vail over the beauty and glory of heaven, shutting out the light and presence of Jesus from the soul. But we can resist its power. It is possible. May God aid us by his Holy Spirit to tear away from every influence that is opposed to pure and undefiled religion, that whether we live or die, we may at last have a place in the kingdom of Jesus, where no tempting enemy will ever more be suffered to annoy us. May God enable me, dear friends, to meet you there.

S. A. HASTINGS.

Somerville, Mass.