Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1826-04-13
TIE MORAL rALM TREE.

"fhe righteous shalt flourish as palm tree
Psaim xci II
Many are The illusions, the illus.
trations, and the figures of speech,
used III the Bible, to convey spiritual
ideas and sacred things 10 the mind
That before Us is singular in beauty
aud well adapted to its designed pur
pose
The palm tree is Of singular ex
cellence and may be called The tree of
wonders Perhaps it is the most
useful and profitable OF all trees of the
blooming orchard, or the wide exten
dcd forest.
The palm tree takes no repose, il
bears fruit every month. Thus rigte
Gus men, through the efficacy oil divine
grace bring forth much fruit. They
devise liberal things daily
Palm trees vary in their species,
there being different sorts, eight al
least. Thus the righteous are very
useful; by their prayers, their counseIs,
and their conduct, they not unirequent
" ahatc the fever oil SIN worse fe
yer never ragged.
Ii the roots ofthe palm tree happen
10 touch the sea, or any brackish
water, the fruit which it then bears is
very much Improved Thus in re
gard to the trua believer the righteous
man, let him be planted IN the neigh
bourhood of adversely, let his roots be
stepped in the waters OF affection, il
Will he found on just comparison that
the fruit he may then bear is far su
perior in quantity, and sometimes more
abundant in quarlliy than in the days
OF his higher prosperity. The branch
OF the vine which bears some fruit,
che purgeth that he may bring forth
more iruii," so said Jesus,
OF the leaves of the palm tree, the
natives OF Iudia form umbrellas to
screen them from the scorching rays of
the son, or defend them from impend-
ing torrents of rain The righteous
under God, oft screen the wicked from
impending torrents of flaming wrath.
Perhaps righteous Lot, was for a
length of time, to Sodom and Gomor
rah; and Noah, for 100 years, a de.
fence to The world.
Palm trees flourish best on low
grounds On hills they seldom come
to maturl,y-scarce ever to perfection.
In this particular the comparison is
striking The righteous generally
thrive best in low station, in the soil
of humility. The christian who has
tlourished as palm tree in low stu
alton in the world, has been found to
lose much Of his beauty and excellence
when elevated TO rank in life and 10
high station in the world. II you rise
"bc not high minded, but fear"
Palm trees are exposed to injury by
means of cattle, which rendthe tender
bark, and 1t is found necessary to fence
them in. Now the Lord has surroun
ded the righteous with wall of sal
vation, and underneath are the ever,
lasting arms. Satan has confessed the
security OF Job, aud said to God "hast
though not made fence round about
him"
IL is credibiy reported that the palm
tree is sufficient TO build, 10 rig, and
even to freight ship with bread wine,
water, oil, vinegar, sugar, and other
commodities! Thu the righteous are
in rich divine graIes and good " orks.
They reptove rebuke, and exhort;
they help the poor and pray for the
rich. They sypathise with the Attic
ted. and comfort the mouruers. They
feed the hungry-refresh the weary ,
and help all mankind.
The palm tree is sometimes inbred
bya certain species of black worms,
which are said to eat their way into the
very heart of the tree. WIS the right
eous are frequently inju BY unhal
lowed passions, and 6lemptations
that are ever aiming at the head. Some
of the finest palms have suffered ma
terial injury by these black worms,
these strong temptations
There is in the palm. tree a part Of
distinguished excelIency, calledpalmi
tn; 1t IS the inermost eye of the tree,
far exceeding in quality the rich milk;
It is exquisitely delicious to the taste.
Thus in righteous man there is a
quality, a certain principle which gives
excellency to all he is and all he has;
that principle is sincerity, "godly sin,
cerltY. Yes his words and actions