Spirit of the times. [volume] (Ironton, Ohio) 1853-1858, 1853-08-02
Sabbath In Spring.

Life, fresh young life! Does not eve.
ry object speak Of this? Does not tbs
spring grass, that borders the wny.side,
tell ofit3 What is there, from The full
blown yellow d.aodil to the gaunt old
hpple tree, that fails TO rpcat il? Nor
even there, on that old tree, that q week
ago showed scarce more Of life than the
stone wall It ovcfhangs, ure little leaf
buds swelling and expanding into tender
shoots Of glecn.
Life from the dead! 1t is everywhere.
The great idea is written all over the
earth. Not one Easter day only will
we keep. for the great truth of the resur.
rectlon finds its Witnesses IN every green
Thing. On all days, then, through all
hours in this vcrnal season, let il receive
the hearts assent, a truth not hidden
away in (srget(ulncss, but written in let.
tiers ofbcauly, in innumcrable fofmc of
bursting life every where.
A presence is all around, 1t bcrathcs
in the soft south wind, it unlocks the
petals ol the waiting plants, brings the
mysterious birth If the flowers, wakens
the whole earth to joy. Beauty, ten.
derness and love- imagcd by the out.
ward creation, reach the deep places
of the soul, and we not only know, but
feel the presence Of the Creator.
All that the eye beholds is but the i'm.
age of'something which We see no, yet
The material but family shadows forth
the glory Of the spiritual, and at this
sweet season, when the time for he sing.
ing of birds has come, and the earth is
robed in glory, as by stepping stone,
may the beauty that is seen raise the
soul to the contemplation Of the invsi.
bic and the unlading.
On the calm blue air, laden with sun
shine how swcetly floats the sound ofthe
chutch bell. Along the village paths it
sends its gentle summons, reaching the
mos, sheltered, leafy spot, entering the
most retired dwelling, and causing many
quiet and happy groups 10 wenl their
way to the house Of GOI.
Yes; blessed 'arc they that dwell in
thine housep Yet is it not to-day man.
iIest that the universe is his temple?
Does not the whole earth render praise
IAN offering to Him from whom all life
proceeds?
Amid this resurrection of nature, how
nre we carried back to that hallowcl
hour when the angel Of the Lord rolled
Lack the imprisoning stone from the
door Of the sepulchrc, and the first born
from the dead cume forth, and walked
among the living, himself the Giver of a
new life. Nor backward alone flows
the tide Of thought, but sees in all this,
inscribed in lovely emblems, the great
truth that MAN NEVER DIES. The glo.
rous, ye, fearful, boon Of continued ex'
islence is immutably His.
As truly as this robe Of living green
is now spreading hill and dale, so
truly shal they who are in the graves
awake to life. We see the blades of
grass emerging from the death of winter
where to all appearance they had found
Il grave, and that other resurrection,
though we see not yet, we most assured
ly shall. The mastery that hangs over
the greater and nobler birth hangs over
lesser also. We can no more under.
stand or explain the one than the other.
But on the wings of this sweet NOR =
ing, us the Sabbath bells summon along
green paths to the house of prayer, may
we send up our incense ofpraise to Him,
who, amid the unfoldings Of mystery,
still 'doeh all things we'll. Boston OF.
liz Branch.