Translated Sermon - Bro. Gottlieb Hohulin (father) at double funeral of Bro. Haberle and friend Louis Krug, at Morton, 111. March 15, 1904.
Ecclesiastes 12.
For our beginning I wish to refer to the end words of this Chapter, the Preacher saying: Il Thi s is the end of the matter, all has been heard. Fear God and keep His Commandments; for this is the duty of men. For God vill bring every work Into judgnenti with every hidden thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
These excellent words are directed to all men, including myself, and it is needful for everyone, considering these Words and to fear God, showing a holy esteem toward His Word, as a Holy, good and saving Word. It is needful today, as it was in the days of the Preacher accepting the Word not as of men, or that we should speak to please men, but that we may speak Inspired by God! s Spirit, to our own heart's content. To do God t s Will and to fear God, keeping His Commalldments, the Preacher says: Such, is the duty of men. If we entertain a holy esteem for the good, holy and saving Word of God, then we do not consider the same as a word of men, but rather as the Word of God, which indeed it is; as it is written, that every Scripture inspired of God is profitable for teaching.
Therefore let us give these Words of the Preacher our consideration, because it is written: 'Men spoke of God, being moved by the Holy Spirit • Following an Inner motive, pious writers wrote the Gospels, especially Luke, who also wrote the Book of the Acts, directed to meophilus, a pious man. His Gospel begins, f Forasmuch as many have taken in hand, to draw up a narrative concerning those matters which have been fulfilled among us, even as they delivered them unto us, who from the beginning were eyewittnesses and ministers of the Word, it seemed good to me, also having traced the course of all things accurately from the first, to write tmto thee in order, most excellent meophilus, that thou mightest mow the certainty concernIng the things wherein thou wast instructed.
Also In writing the Acts, Luke is stating: "The fomer treatise I made, O, Theophilus, concerning all that Jesus began both to do and to preach, etc. And so by direction of God t s Spirit, the entire Bible Book has been written u--xd offered for a very reasonable price, available for everybody. Yea, all nations on earth can have the same and may read the Word of God, æ•-xd may turn to God to have Life Everlasting, as it is written: 'Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked' t said the Lord, and not rather tYBt he should return from his way and live.
We have here no abiding city, but all men sooner or later must die, including myself. O yes, also I, for it is written, "for the sake of sin, all men must die. I t
Let us come backb what we have read. God, the allwise Heavenly Father gave us a double cause, according to the custom of old to assemble with those who are -in sorrow and grieve about the departure of their father, son, and brother.
We read of Jacob, when being laid to rest, even the Egyptians were following him woebegone. We also read of a vldow, whose son being dead, was carried out of Nein, that much people of the City was with her.
It has pleased God to call out of life an aged man, who attained the age Moses was speakirxg of: i t The days of our years are threescore years and ten, or even by reason of strength, fourscore years.
But also one in the bloom of life has been called out of the same; God knows why. Although we would have wished for this youth something having attained before; perhaps it is better now, than later.
mere are many friends among us, as I presume to take part in the sorrow caused by death, and a multitude of young people assembled with us, as I believe for the sake of this departed youth. By this opportunity I wish to remind them all of the following passage:
"Remember also thy Creator in the days of thy youth, encouraging them to seek God and to prepare, while yet living on earth, U because it Is appointed unto men once to die and after this cometh judgnent.
Therefore It is needful to humble oneself and through repentance and faith to become reconciled with God before it is too late, as we have read: "Before the evil day cames and the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them. Before these days do come, we should seek God and remember our Creator, because evil days in old age do come.
Although we may consider such days evil, God! s intent with us therein is good, If we come to him, forsaking vanity and sin, as one of our poets says:
n Fade, earth and Idle pleasure, They are the soul I s distress; They glitter from a distance, yet who will them caress, Accepts but filth for jewels, And for the pearls but sand, For in their magic potion, there is but death at hand.
Another poet Is Inviting the youth:
Flourishing youth, thou our hope and our fond expectation,
Hark to the voice that is calling in kind invitation! That hand obey, which oft has pointed the way To the Dear Saviour t s Salvation.
and endixxg with:
Surely there follows a happy, contented departure,
All who the I..mnb t s reconciling and soul-healing torture, Long years have Imow. Yea In this service alone Will I Inherit my fortune.
But In this life we must prepare ourselves for such a departure.
Our Brethren at Morton do Imow of the Hymn:
"When a Christian dies, Precious is the prize,
Lasting joys for days of' sorrow,
Rest from conflict on the morrow - Follows when he dies.
Precious in the sight of God is the death of' His saints. Therefore let us all remember our Creator in the days of our youth before the light, the moon and the stars are darkened and the clouds return after the rain. This is, when in old age the eyes begin to darken and we cannot see good. Before infirmities of the age are besetting us, we should turn to God.
.Before sun, moon end stars are darkened, one should prepare for death, so that the day of death be better than the day of birth.
These are beautiful expressions, the whole Bible Book Is filled with such.
And the clouds return after the rain, which means If one t s illness Is followed by another, or one infirmity after the other Is appearing, wherefore, ve should not wait, remembering our Creator, until we are old and frail, but rather In our youth while we are well.
Therefore let us think of' our end, according to the poet t s advice: "Draw In spirit near the grave, Watch the body slowly sinking. Yes, we should try to put ourselves in the place of those being carried to their graves, asking ourselves: "How would it stand with me?"
Do not lend your ear to Satan who will tell you, it is yet time--it Is too early--who is preaching contrary to the Word of God.
In the days when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves. This Is, when trembling in old age one should keep the house and the years gone by, even the strong men bow themselves, although having been vigorous in the days of youth.
limen the sound of grinding Is low, means, if one cannot bite anymore, the teeth or millers cease grinding, because they are few.
And those that look out of the windows shall be darkened, is, when in old age the eyes dim, cannot see good anymore.
What a Elesslng when these windows, our eyes, are good and can see. O, how grateful one should be. I also can speak of it. Those who are approaching old age do experience such, they do Imov about, but the youth we wish to remind of.
Therefore one should remember the Creator in the days of youth. How nice it Is, reading the Word of God, and to heed the same. May it be that many yet would learn to fear God, searching the Holy end Precious Bible Book, especially our youth, before it is too late and the door shall be shut in the street and the sound of the grinding is low and one shall rise up at the voice of the bird, which means, when In old age the doors will not be opened, preferring to stay in the house and the voice becomes low and indistinct, because the teeth are few, and• not finding sleep, one arises early in the morning by the voice of the bird.
And all daughters of music shall be brought low, that is, when those, who had a good voice and did love to sing, such cannot do anymore, because the burdens of' age are pressing down, Yea, they shall be af'raid of' that which is high, æ-ld terrors shall be in the way, because men must return to dust and the Spirit to God, who has given the sam