perience is what has been very appropriately called
"_indwelling sin_." The serpent's head may be bruised to death, but
the tail will not die until the sun goes down. It is true, the tail is
not at the dangerous end of a snake; but while the tail rattles and
wriggles it gives evidence that there is still some life left; and
before one turns away from it in the satisfied assurance that it needs
no further attention it might be well for him to look again and make
_sure_, beyond all doubt, that the _head end_ has been crushed to
death.

_A Funeral Sermon by Elder John Kline._

_At the Burial of Mrs. Lauck,
Feb. 7._

TEXT.--Man that is born of woman, is of few days, and full of
trouble He cometh forth as a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth
also as a shadow, and continueth not.--Job 14:1, 2.

The bulk of Divine Truth is addressed to our faith. We are not
expected to receive it as we receive knowledge that is based upon our
own experience, or upon the experience of others. God expects us to
take his Word for the truth of what he says, whether we fully
understand it or not. He addresses our faith, as a father does his
child when he seeks to inculcate some truth or principle which the
child cannot fully comprehend. But the text selected for this occasion
is not of this character. It is addressed to our knowledge and every
day's observation and experience. We have only to look at ourselves
and at others to see and feel the truth that it tells. It is not,
therefore, given to teach, so much as to remind us of what, in the
busy whirl of life, we may for a time partially forget. The benefit of
being reminded of our mortality comes to us in the way of leading us
to seek for something better than this world can give.

The phraseology of the text is exquisitely beautiful. Notice the
smoothness of its rhythm, the simplicity of its style, the harmony of
its cadences: "_Man that is born of woman, is of few days, and full of
trouble._" This is the direct opposite of what all naturally desire.
All living human beings would rejoice in a life of many days, exempt
from trouble. "_He cometh forth like a flower._"

"They bloom in beauty, side by side;
They fill one home with glee."

This is pleasant to contemplate; and if the beauty could but last,
forever free from all decay, few would wish for aught of life or love
beyond the things of time and sense. But, alas! "_he is cut down_--"
and soon

"Their graves ar