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Literary
May 21, 1789
The New Hampshire Gazette And General Advertiser
Portsmouth, Rockingham County, New Hampshire
What is this article about?
A reflective prose essay on the limitations of sensory pleasures and worldly vanities, emphasizing spiritual preparation for death and eternal judgment through faith in Jesus Christ, prompted by solitary walks among tombstones.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
Solitary Walks.
The beauties of nature may please the eye and attract our daily admiration; flowers may regale our smell, fruits may court our taste, music may please our ears, and all our senses may be alive to the various scenes presented to our view: but the soul, the rational and immortal soul of man, cannot be satisfied with any thing short of spiritual enjoyments, and celestial pleasures, suitable to its nature, and eternal as its existence. What is the world with all its alluring scenes? What are riches with all their golden charms? What is grandeur with all its glittering titles, and nobility with all its pomp and ostentation to a dying man, on the borders of the eternal world, and expecting every moment to be summoned to the bar of God? Truly vanity, or as the wise man says, less than vanity and nothing. The reflection, I must shortly die, and after death appear before God, in judgment, to be rewarded or condemned according to the deeds done in the body, whether good or evil, is what I wish daily to inculcate and enforce on every son and daughter of mortality as well as on myself, as a constant incentive to diligence in making our calling and election sure, knowing the night of death cometh wherein no man can work.
Every tomb-stone round me in this place of skulls, seem to address me in the language of inspiration, be ye also ready, for ye know not the day nor the hour wherein the son of man cometh. Yes, methinks I hear it reverberated from sepulchre to sepulchre, while I read the numerous inscriptions presented to my view, and observe the dates of many who are gone before me much younger than myself; I am naturally led to the enquiry. Am I prepared for my last great change? Am I fit to die? for ere another morn I may be numbered with the mouldering dead. Time is hasting and eternity approaching: I cannot tell what a day or an hour may bring forth. Oh then let it be my solicitous concern, as well as my earnest prayer to believe on Jesus Christ, who is the resurrection and the life, in whom whosoever believeth shall live though he die, whosoever liveth and believeth in him, shall not die eternally.
The beauties of nature may please the eye and attract our daily admiration; flowers may regale our smell, fruits may court our taste, music may please our ears, and all our senses may be alive to the various scenes presented to our view: but the soul, the rational and immortal soul of man, cannot be satisfied with any thing short of spiritual enjoyments, and celestial pleasures, suitable to its nature, and eternal as its existence. What is the world with all its alluring scenes? What are riches with all their golden charms? What is grandeur with all its glittering titles, and nobility with all its pomp and ostentation to a dying man, on the borders of the eternal world, and expecting every moment to be summoned to the bar of God? Truly vanity, or as the wise man says, less than vanity and nothing. The reflection, I must shortly die, and after death appear before God, in judgment, to be rewarded or condemned according to the deeds done in the body, whether good or evil, is what I wish daily to inculcate and enforce on every son and daughter of mortality as well as on myself, as a constant incentive to diligence in making our calling and election sure, knowing the night of death cometh wherein no man can work.
Every tomb-stone round me in this place of skulls, seem to address me in the language of inspiration, be ye also ready, for ye know not the day nor the hour wherein the son of man cometh. Yes, methinks I hear it reverberated from sepulchre to sepulchre, while I read the numerous inscriptions presented to my view, and observe the dates of many who are gone before me much younger than myself; I am naturally led to the enquiry. Am I prepared for my last great change? Am I fit to die? for ere another morn I may be numbered with the mouldering dead. Time is hasting and eternity approaching: I cannot tell what a day or an hour may bring forth. Oh then let it be my solicitous concern, as well as my earnest prayer to believe on Jesus Christ, who is the resurrection and the life, in whom whosoever believeth shall live though he die, whosoever liveth and believeth in him, shall not die eternally.
What sub-type of article is it?
Essay
What themes does it cover?
Death Mortality
Religious
Moral Virtue
What keywords are associated?
Solitary Walks
Mortality
Vanity
Spiritual Enjoyment
Death Preparation
Faith In Christ
Eternal Judgment
Literary Details
Title
Solitary Walks.
Key Lines
What Is The World With All Its Alluring Scenes? What Are Riches With All Their Golden Charms? What Is Grandeur With All Its Glittering Titles, And Nobility With All Its Pomp And Ostentation To A Dying Man, On The Borders Of The Eternal World, And Expecting Every Moment To Be Summoned To The Bar Of God? Truly Vanity, Or As The Wise Man Says, Less Than Vanity And Nothing.
The Reflection, I Must Shortly Die, And After Death Appear Before God, In Judgment, To Be Rewarded Or Condemned According To The Deeds Done In The Body, Whether Good Or Evil, Is What I Wish Daily To Inculcate And Enforce On Every Son And Daughter Of Mortality As Well As On Myself.
Every Tomb Stone Round Me In This Place Of Skulls, Seem To Address Me In The Language Of Inspiration, Be Ye Also Ready, For Ye Know Not The Day Nor The Hour Wherein The Son Of Man Cometh.
Am I Prepared For My Last Great Change? Am I Fit To Die? For Ere Another Morn I May Be Numbered With The Mouldering Dead.
Oh Then Let It Be My Solicitous Concern, As Well As My Earnest Prayer To Believe On Jesus Christ, Who Is The Resurrection And The Life, In Whom Whosoever Believeth Shall Live Though He Die, Whosoever Liveth And Believeth In Him, Shall Not Die Eternally.