40 THE PALMS OF F.TjnOPE AND AFRICA. 



pared to grass, wlncli is at best but of short 

 duration, and which is easily withered ; but 

 the eml)leni of the Cliristian is the pahn tree, 

 which stands for centuries. Like the grateful 

 shade of the palm groves, the Christian extends 

 around him a genial, sanctified, and heavenly 

 iniluence ; and just as the great value of the 

 date palm lies in its abundant, wholesome, and 

 delicious fruij;, so do those who are the true 

 disciples of Christ abound in " fruits of righte- 

 ousness," for, said our Saviour, " Herein is my 

 Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit ; so 

 shall ye be my disciples." A holy life, a spirit 

 of devotion, the victory over the passions and 

 temper, the love of God in the heart, and the 

 untiring benevolence which seeks the temporal 

 and spiritual good of man — these are " fruits" 

 by which God is glorified and others edified. 

 " The fruit of tlie Spirit is love, joy, peace, 

 long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meek- 

 ness, temperance." Oh! when shall the children 

 of Adam's fallen race, tauglit by that Spiiit, 

 display these heavenly dispositions ! I low 

 glorious will such a period be ! how different 

 from what we now witness ! 



Though some of the palm family are more 

 ni;.j(^stic than the date palm, it is still a ver}-- 

 beautiful tree, Kearing its stem and expanding 



