Musings on Death by Mary J. Cottrell

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Dec 19, 1865

Musings on Death.

By Mary J. Cottrell

SHE is dead, yes, dead. That form which only a few days ago was radiant with active life, is now cold and stiff; folded in the icy arms of Death. Those eyes which so lately shone with joy, or sparkled with enthusiasm, are dimmed, closed to open no more on scenes of this earth. Those lips which wore the scarlet hue of health, are now pale and cold. Those hands are cold and clammy. No more will they grasp ours in joyful greeting. No more will those arms entwine around us. The brow and cheeks are pale and cold.

And is this death? It seems strange that one we have loved so fondly should so soon become insensible to our feelings. Only the passing of a breath, and she is no more the loving, impulsive, active being, we loved; but instead a cold, insensible form, like the lifeless marble.

No wonder that we dread death and tremble at his approach when he so changes our loved ones. No wonder that our hearts are terror-stricken when we see the pallor which betokens the presence of the foul destroyer.

And is this the last of our dear ones? Is that dark and narrow bed to be their eternal home? No! oh, no! Soon the Life-giver will come and then "they that are in their graves shall hear his voice and come forth." Then we can again greet that dear one over whose grave we wept in such heart-felt bereavement. Then we will clasp glad hands, and join in singing praise to Him who has broken the power of death; and by his own precious blood redeemed us from the grave. Oh! what a joyful day that will be when those forms now inanimate shall be restored to us, the same loving, sympathetic beings as before—the same, only that then they will be beyond the power of death. I can but exclaim, "Roll swift around ye wheels of time, And bring the welcome day."

But hark! What is it I hear from yon church gallery? They are singing, "Death is the gate to endless joy." Ah, is that true? Then our loved ones have entered their eternal home. "Endless joy." That surely means that they have received eternal life in Heaven. Then there is no need of a resurrection. Nay more, how can there be one, for if our friends who have died, have entered endless joy, it cannot be that they will again return to earth to resume that body the freedom from which has given them this joy. "Death! the gate to endless joy." Then they have received their crowns and palms of victory.

But hold, casting my eyes upon the page of my open Bible, I see the words, "And when the chief Shepherd shall appear ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away." This would seem to teach that crowns are not given at death. And now the words come to mind, "His breath goeth forth he returneth to his earth, in that very day his thoughts perish." And again, "But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep." Then which are asleep; then they have not entered "endless joy." This is Bible. They are asleep, waiting for the dawn of the resurrection; "Then we'll meet them, gladly meet them."

MARY J. COTTRELL. Rochester, N. Y.