GEASSES 



known by such expressive names as Kedtop, Blue Joint, 

 Herd-grass, Beaver Meadow Grass, Wild Oats, Wild 

 Barley, Foxtail, Squirreltail, Poverty Grass, Cock's-foot, 

 Couch or Spear Grass, Millet, with many others, named or 

 unnamed, that are peculiar to certain localities, in open 

 fields, in the shade of the forest, the thicket, the banks of 

 creeks, in water, or on dry waste lands. There is no spot 

 but has some grass, or rush, or sedge, or reed; they spring 

 up by the water-courses, on the dry parched sands of desert 

 places, and in our path by the wayside; thus we find this 

 lowly herb, under some distinguishing form, wherever we 

 go. Is it not intended as a silent monitor to remind us of 

 the frailty of our earthly being, by bringing back to us the 

 words of the Psalmist : " As for man, his days are as grass ; 

 as a flower of the field so he flourisheth : for the wind passeth 

 over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it 

 no more." Psalms ciii. 



How often in the inspired words do we find similar 

 allusions made to the grass in language alike practical and 

 touching. 



" The voice said, Cry ! And he said, What shall I cry? 



" All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the 

 flower of the field : 



" The grass withereth, the flower fadeth ; but the word of 

 our God shall stand forever." Isaiah xl. 6-8. 



Thus the grass that we tread beneath our feet, as well as 

 the fairest flower, has alike a significance and a teaching to 

 lead us up to the throne of Him who makes the grandeur of 

 the heavens above and the lowliest plant on earth to speak 

 to us of His goodness, His wisdom and His fatherly care for 

 all. Let me close with the lesson of faith that Christ the 

 Lord himself gave to His disciples : " If God so clothe the 

 grass of the field, .... shall He not much more clothe 

 you, O ye of little faith?" 



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