FIRST ANNUAL FLOWER SERMON. Ill 



Consider the trees of the field ! Their patience and en- 

 durance. Storms of violence hurl themselves against 

 them. In steady firmness they withstand the onset. They 

 furnish grateful shade to man and beast. They protect 

 our springs and water-courses. They stand guard that the 

 sequestered vales may enjoy perennial peace and shelter. 

 They are sentinels of the centuries. Among living things 

 they are the oldest habitants of our planet. Oaks hun- 

 dreds of years old, and cypress and yew trees thousands of 

 years old, are breathing by their leafy lungs and rejoicing 

 in their veins of upflowing sap to-day. Patiently and en- 

 duringly they have stood in their lot to meet what God 

 appointed. Types of silence and restfulness. Workers, 

 steady and unwearied in developing cell after cell and in 

 repairing waste and depositing growth throughout the 

 countless years. Lessons of strong help to man when 

 restlessness and despair assail. 



The tree of life in the midst of the Paradise of Eden ! 

 It stood for preciousness and with promising of all that 

 the blessed word life means. Wondering thoughts go back 

 querying what it was and what it had to give. That other 

 tree of life which is in the midst of the Paradise of God ! 

 Hoping and trustful hearts out-reach for it. And it is 

 promised to him that overcometh that he shall eat thereof. 



Flowers, plants and trees ! Ye are exemplifications of 

 God's wisdom and goodness. Ye do your duty well. 

 Your peace is innocence. Your life is purity. Your death 

 is unselfishness. And ye have no stinging self-conscious- 

 ness of the ill desert of sin imbittering your sap blood as 

 we men have. It's not yours to ask for pardon nor to suf- 

 fer with remorse. Right cheerily, then, you are ready 

 always, I am sure, to meet and respond to our Benedicite 

 hailing — *' O all ye Green things upon the earth, Bless ye 

 the Lord I praise Him and magnify Him forever." 



