PREFACE. THROUGH the following narrative I have sought to trace the springing, fruit-bearing, and transplanting of one of those "good trees" so precious to the husbandman. Originally of the " ears withered, thin, and blasted," the Lord of the harvest (with that wind which "bloweth were it listeth") filled it with sap, life, and vigour; planting it "by the rivers of water," flowing through the "field of the world," nourished it with "the dews of heaven," shone upon it with "healing beams," kept it "night and day," pruned, sheltered, and ripened it, caused it to bring forth fruit in its season," suffered not its leaves to wither, 66 B and has now transplanted, and garnered it in His presence, ever to flourish in the paradise of God amid all the "trees of righteousness," "the planting of the Lord that He may be glorified." May reader and writer be found with the winnowed wheat in the garner when the chaff is burned up with unquenchable fire! |