156 THE HOLLY-BUSH. 



the road-side, inviting us to make the prize our 

 own, to bear it away, that our hearts may be glad- 

 dened by its verdure, more rich and durable in 

 midwinter than is the foliage of summer roses. 

 Even so, salvation is found of them that seek it 

 not ; freely, abundantly offered to all whose ear 

 the glad tidings reach ; and when by the hand of 

 faith appropriated, who shall dispute the posses- 

 sion ? Which of this world's fleeting glories can 

 so gladden the heart, and beautify the home of its 

 proprietor, as does the unwithering leaf of him who 

 is rooted and grounded in the hope of the gospel ? 



We cannot, indeed, divest the holly of its nu- 

 merous thorns; neither can we separate the Chris- 

 tian from his cross, or the promised heaven from 

 the " much tribulation" through which it is ap- 

 pointed us to attain it; but a more touching char- 

 acter is imparted to those thorns, by adopting the 

 idea of the dumb boy : every blessing that we 

 reap from the grand work of redemption, is a me- 

 mento of the sufferings of Him, upon whom the 

 chastisement of our peace was laid. 



And, in those uncultivated spots where the holly 

 grows wild and free, by what a scene is it gene- 

 rally surrounded, at this season ! The oak that 

 soars above, in the pride of vegetable empire, the 

 elm, and the hazle, the hawthorn and the wiW 

 brier, look dark and chilling in their leafless guize * 

 no verdant neighbour sympathizes with the holly, 



