L. J. Christine, Obituary/Death NoticePorter County obituaries and death notices . . . .
L. J. Christine
"For to me to Live is Christ, and to Die is Gain."
These precious words from the Epistle of Paul, the Apostle, to the Philippians, chapter one, verse twenty-one, were chosen by Rev. W. J. B. Lange for the funeral sermon which was held in the German Evangelical Lutheran Immanuel's Church of this city last Sunday afternoon.
The deceased of L. J. Christine, wife of Claus Marquardt. She died last Friday at the age of fifty-seven years. Her death was caused by cancerous ulcer. Though she had first hoped to regain her health, she more and more felt the approaching of death, and prepared for departure from this life. Last Friday night the Lord delivered her from all evil. Baaptized and confirmed in Germany in the Lutheran Church, she remained a faithful member of this Church until death. In her greatest pains the word of God gave to her the best comfort.
The sermon was delivered by Rev. Mr. Lange before a large audience and well worth to be given here literally, but as this would occupy too much of the limited space, the following outline must be sufficient:
All men must die. Death causes sadness as well by a christian as an infidel. Yet their sadness is different. The infidel has sadness and no hope at all; the christian has comfort-giving hope. This comfort is expressed in the preceding text: "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain!" In these words a christian confesses his faith, and acknowledges that there is no life without Christ. It is true, God created man immortal, but it is not less true, that by the sin of Adam this immortality was changed to mortality. "Death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned." The natural man separates himself from God daily by his sins, and thus brings him the more into spiritual death; if he dies without repentance, temporal death is to him nothing else than the terror causing entrance to eternal death and damnation. This is the standpoint of all who are without Christ. "We are by nature children of wrath, and even as the others." God in His mercy sent His Son, who redeemed all men from sin, from death and from the power of the devil. He died to bring unto us life. "Death is swallowed up in victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." "Whosoever doeth believe, shall be saved." Therefore a christian says: "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." He is not afraid of death because in Christ he lives; he has no fear of the last judgment, for he goes out of this world into eternal life, he dies, but he knows that temporal death brings him to the strait gate, which leadeth unto life. From this follows that true christians have the certain hope, death is gain. He may leave many friends behind, he knows they will follow him, if they are in Christ. A faithful christian does not regret that he has to leave his earthly wealths, for he comes to possession of heavenly wealths. Though his body is laid in the grave, he knows, this same will rise to eternal life. He therefore shouts with the Apostle: "To die is gain."
My Life is hid in Jesus,
And death is gain to me,
Then whensoe'er He pleases,
I meet it willingly.
For Christ, my lord and Brother,
I leave this world so dim,
And gladly seek the other
Where I shall be with Him.
My woes are now all over,
Though long and dark the road;
My sin His merits cover,
And I have peace with God.
Newspaper: Porter County Vidette
Date of Publication: Mary 6, 1884
Volume Number: 28
Issue Number: 10
Page: 4
Column(s): 5
Key to Newspaper Publication Locations:
Newspapers Published in Chesterton, Porter County, Indiana
Chesterton Tribune
The Tribune
Westchester Tribune
Newspapers Published in Valparaiso, Porter County, Indiana
Porter County Vidette
Practical Observer
Valparaiso Practical Observer
Vidette and Republic
Western Ranger
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Obituary/death notice transcribed by Steven R. Shook