Page images
PDF
EPUB

It is said that the smell of this tree drives

away wild beasts: so Christ, whose " gar, "ments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cas"sia," Psal, xlv. 8. driveth away the wild beasts of sin and corruption from them who fly under his shadow.

Here, in this low level part of the wood, grow a number of beeches, tall and straight, yielding a beautiful shade. It is observed in this friendly manner and situation of soil, these trees make the most proficiency in growth: So when Christians live humbly and friendly with one another, bearing one another's burdens, helping each other forward in the way to Zion, they make the most proficiency in growth in grace: where, "as he that exalteth himself shall be abased;

and woe to him that is alone, for when he "falleth he hath none to help him up," Luke xiv. 11. Eccl. iv, 10.

These trees, when young, grow exceedingly crooked, knotty, and ill-shaped, but turn more and more beautiful and straight as they grow up: In like manner, those newly converted from sin to a life of holiness are. but crooked from the divine law, knotty and

thwart to the will of God, in comparison of that beautiful conformity to the holy law, and cheerful acquiescence in the divine will, to which they arrive afterward through sanctification of the Holy Ghost.

It is likewise observed, that the leaves of these trees vary their colours toward autumn; so the Christian's robe of implanted righteousness groweth whiter and whiter towards the harvest of death.

The leaves of these trees also are reported to make fine sweet beds to lie upon; so a well spent life, and a conscience void of offences toward God and man, make a sweet death-bed.

The mast of this tree yields fit oil for lamps; so the life and conversation of a Christian ought to be all as a shining lamp, to direct others the way to Zion, past the shoals and rocks of vanity, which the god of this world hath made and reared to wreck the unwary mariner, while he steers his vessel over the sea of human life.

Here is the service tree, which, regardless of his own safety, gives us early intimations of the approaching spring, by daring to bud forth, while yet the short-lived day affords the shivering spectator but a bleak prospect, and the tops of distant hills lie buried in snow. Thus the righteous, in the midst of the severest trials, shew forth their attachment to religion, and dare confess the name of Jesus, although the times present a dangerous prospect; even threatening persecution unto death for so doing.

This tree, for its medicinal qualities, may be reckoned the citron of our island, as the fruit of a certain kind of it, along with some other things, greatly corroborate the stomach. It is also good for removing sedentary and laxative complaints, while the stalks and flowers, through a chemical preparation, recover consumptions, and tabid bodies.

[ocr errors]

This tree is also said to prove beneficial in a variety of other diseases * :---So the righteous, through the divine blessing, by their

* See Evelyn's Discourse on Forest Trees.

[ocr errors]

example and precepts, prove healing to minds which before could not relish the things of a spiritual nature, but, like a sore stomach, incapable of proper digestion, was uneasy under such: They are also often made the instruments of awakening and recovering sinners from their careless and loose lives; and through their means have not both the visible church and state been preserved from decay? They are the salt of the earth, Matt. v. 13. which preserveth the world from destruction; yet how much are they despised by the men of the world, though it is owing to them the finally impenitent are kept so long out of hell. See Gen. xviii. 23.---32.

But whatever healing qualities this tree or any other plant or mineral possesses, they are all owing to the great Physician Christ Jesus, by whom the worlds were made, Heb. i. 2., who, for the good of mankind, created them with such virtues; and however much they, as a mean, cure natural diseases, and the righteous, through their example and precepts, heal spirituals; infinitely more doth Christ Jesus, that great Physician of value, heal both kinds of diseases; nay, it is only by his divine blessing that any means of re

covery is made effectual: and blessed be his most holy and excellent name, that he still waiteth, without money and without price, to heal all diseased souls that come to him for a cure: and seeing there is yet balm in Gilead, and a physician there, Jer. viii. 22., may I and every one apply to him for the recovery of the health of our souls.

There is the sycamore, which in summer yields a pretty, delightful shade; but 1 very much dispute whether it be the tree which is called by that name in sacred scripture.

This is not very much esteemed, that appears to have been considerably valuable; this is barren, that was fruitful; as we see by the employment that the prophet Amos followed before the Lord called him to that high office. See Amos vii. 14.

Yet little esteemed as this tree is, in comparison of many others in the wood, from it, Zaccheus-like, we may see the Lord, Luke xix. 4. not in his person and human nature, but in his bountiful works of creation, who hath furnished the world with such a variety of trees, herbs, and flowers, not for the

« PreviousContinue »