Luke 7:11-17 And it came to pass the day after, that he went into a city called Nain; and many of his disciples went with him, and much people.… What are the sentiments with which we attend a funeral? I. OUR CONDUCT IN RELATION TO THE DECEASED AND HIS SURVIVING FAMILY. 1. Let us attend the funeral not merely for the sake of politeness, but out of Christian charity. (1) Such attendance is in conformity with human nature. (2) It is beneficial to ourselves, reminding us that we are brethren, children of the same heavenly Father. 2. Let us succour the deceased, by remembering him in our prayers, &c. 3. Let us console the family of the deceased. (1) Let us weep with them that weep. Compassion is like balsam. (2) Let us speak comfort to the grief-stricken family. Remind them of the dispositions of Divine Providence, of immortality, and future reunion. (3) Let us perform consoling works. II. OUR CONDUCT WITH REGARD TO OURSELVES. A funeral is a warning to us. 1. Look at the corpse. (1) What has it been? What we are: full of life and health, full of hopes, prospects, and plans for the future. Was this person young or old, rich or poor, beautiful or deformed, learned or illiterate? It does not matter. No one is secured against death. The only important question is this: Was the dead person virtuous or wicked? (2) What is it now? What we all shall be: a hideous corpse, deprived of life and "beauty, deprived of all advantages of mind, form, and earthly conditions. Only one thing has been spared by death: the good and evil deeds done in life. (3) How has it come to this state? In the same way as that by which we must pass — death. Has death come unexpected, or after an early warning? When and where? (4) What will it be? Like every one of us, a prey to vermin, an inhabitant of the grave. So passes the glory of the world. But, at the same time, it is the seed of a future body — either glorious or ignominious. 2. Let us turn our eyes to Jesus, the Life-giver. (Tschupik.) Parallel Verses KJV: And it came to pass the day after, that he went into a city called Nain; and many of his disciples went with him, and much people. |
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