WORD AT THE BURIAL OF MR. J. N. DARBY

J. B. Stoney

John 14: 1–3; 1 Thessalonians 4: 15–18

The precious truths contained in these and other scriptures have now become familiar to thousands and perhaps tens of thousands in the church of God. But some of us around this grave may be able to look back and remember the time when these great distinctive truths were forgotten and unknown. Yes, we can remember a time when there was not a person in the various districts from which we have gathered today that knew the blessed truth of the coming of the Lord to take His Church, or the abiding presence of the Holy Ghost on earth.

We would acknowledge in the presence of our God, in the presence of death—as we commit this precious body to the Lord’s care in this grave—the great goodness of our God and Father in using our beloved departed brother as His vessel to restore these and other blessed truths to the church; and what comfort and cause of thanksgiving that the Lord who raised him up and gave him as His gift, is still with us. The Holy Ghost abides with us. Let our prayer be that the Lord may use his death to our blessing, and his writings more largely to the rich blessing of the entire church of God.

(From ‘The Last Days of J.N.D.’)