OBITUARY | AdventAI

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 7, 1862

OBITUARY.

Bro. John W. Stewart, of Cleveland, Ohio, departed this life September 7, 1862, aged 41 years.

[We take the following from the Cleveland Daily Herald.—Ed.]

Some five years since Mr. S. was attacked with a paralytic stroke, from the effect of which his physician testifies he had never recovered, but it had ever since been operating in the system, marking him with unerring certainty as its victim—that his ardent religious views had nothing to do in producing the disease, causing an organic disease of the brain, or the late repeated attack of paralysis, which terminated his life, ending with congestion; but that want of rest and sufficient care of himself, evidently hastened its development.

“He sleeps in Jesus, blessed sleep, From which none ever wake to weep.”

Mr. Stewart had been for many years a faithful and fearless advocate of those great distinguishing doctrines pertaining to the second coming of Christ, for the salvation of his people and the destruction of his enemies, praying and entreating all to become reconciled to God by keeping his commandments, “that they may have right to the tree of life, and enter in through the gates into the city.”

He was often abrupt in his manner of presenting truth, and consequently often wounded the feelings of others. In the lucid moments of his last sickness he saw this and mourned over his error in this respect, and earnestly besought his companion to make all possible reparation, and seek the forgiveness of all whom he had thus offended. That he was annoying to the consciences of not a few who were often rebuked by his pointed application of truth, can not be denied; that the exhibition of those prophetic charts, so sneeringly referred to, wherein the God of heaven has so graphically shadowed forth the number, the character, and destiny of all earthly kingdoms, and brought us down to the time in which we live, in which time, so vividly men's hearts are literally failing them for fear and looking after those things that are coming on the earth, when “distress of nations with perplexity is upon us,” I say, with a full conviction of these truths burned into his very being, he felt constrained to speak, in season, and out of season, whether men would hear or forbear.

He unostentatiously sacrificed everything of earth, counting it all dross that he might win Christ, gladly suffering for his name, and of him as of one of old it may be said, He has fought the good fight, he has finished his course, he has kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for him a crown, which the Lord the righteous judge will give him at that day, and not to him only but to all them also who love his appearing. His testimony is sealed up for the final day, when the difference will be made manifest between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not. The following sentiment expressed by brother Fitch was adopted by him:

Earth's scoffs and scorn well pleased I'll bear, Nor mourn tho' under foot I'm trod, If day by day I may but share Thine approbation, O my God. The friends I love may turn from me, Their words unkind may pierce me through, But this my daily prayer shall be— Forgive, they know not what they do. Let me but know, where'er I roam, That I am doing Jesus' will, And though I've neither friends nor home, My heart shall glow with gladness still. Then all the scoffs and scorn I've borne For his dear sake, who died for me, To everlasting joys will turn, In glorious immortality.

“He being dead yet speaketh.”

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