Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1857-10-15
Sunday Readings.
urhe earth is full Of thy rlches."

&c The earth is full of thy riches"
At no period do we more fully realize the
riches of the earth than in the fist glowing
DAYS of Autumn. The flowers that now
bloom wear the most gorgeous colois, the
fruits assume their ripened hues; abundant
fields await the hands of the mower the SUM-
sets deepen and fash with glory unknown
to Summers heightened twilight; and when
the breath of the frost first touches the leaves
Of the forest, it makes as it we're carnival
to celebrate the going out of the "long, warm
sunny days."
Though we love the queenly Summer and
rejoice in her fertility and beauty, though the
music of her winds has a melody unlike all
other, though but to breathe in her balmy
breath is benediction and blessing, we
will not forget in our regret that her departure
the abundant causes of gratitude see gave
unto our hearts. Her birds have left our
skies and gone elsewhere with their glancing
wings and bursts of song her early flowers
have laid their withered beauty on the turf;
her short, bright nights of warmth and moon
light glory 1--we only in our recollectlons and
we would fain turn back and tread again her
flower enamelled paths. These were earth's
riches that are not permitted TO abide. They
are renewed to tho successive generations OF
men from Gods inexhaustable resources, put
the tide Of time turns never, though We i'm
plore it with the longing of heart that knows
not how to be denied
And very beautiful is the change from
Summer to Autumn. Little by little dark
ness has encroached upon the light; the
grass once so fresh in its greenness is assum-
lug its tint of decay; stiffness reigns where
once an insects chorus filled the air; a haze
settles upon the hills and the valleys warp
themselves in it as if to hide the first indlca-
tons of their fading beauty; the herds no
longer gather in the shade to screen themselves
from the searching sun, bnt court its beams
to temper the chiIlness of the Autumn winds.
j Noiselessly do these great changes proceed
and without any sudden pauses in the process
ion of affairs in few days we shall look
in vain for the futtering leaves, the gay
flowers, the emerald turf, the butt erfy upon
his tinted wings. The full streams will sing
to us dirge over earths departed loveliness,
and the winds will carry the stream whereso-
} ever it listeth.
But earth's riches die not with Autumn S
fading leaves. She gathers them into her
: bose for season, that she may again, at
the call of Spring, scatter them with lavish
hand before the children Of men, and those
r whose thread of life will last SO long shall
see renewed all Natures loneliness in those
l succeeding days 1t is on the earth never
' ending decay and renewal.
III man die shall he live again9' sale
n one Of old, and countless lips have repeated
t the sad refrain. We know when tree anC
. grass fade that the principle of life is not de-
d stroyed but when death touches our friends
n we bang over the spirits deserted tenement
&C than that we gather from analogy. Where
IS shall We 60 but to Gods holy word, the chic
>. OF earth's riches 10 the sorrowing or tempted
heart
If To perfect mans enjoyment here he need
IN more faith. Everything around him is chang
u ing, dying, and what touches him most nearly
it the friends of his youth are passing away
j. Earths treasures are nought without tn
ID sympathy of loving hearts, and as they G
le away into the darkness, he needs faith, to be
ieve that the brightness is theirs, the dark
ID ness the lot Of those who remain, Let hin
n. then while in the possession of all outwar
De good, take to his soul the imperishablc richie
n God gives through His Son.
of If we use material goo,T Alright, it prove
n Gods smiling messenger tic His presence j
the fullncss Of time. If we pervert its ust
I'll it proves barrier between the soul aud ligh
S. and when it can influence us no longer,
m leaves US, naked, desolate, to tread alone tn
lie shadowy valley. "a
n. Through earth's riches let the heart rise I
id the Father, who inhabiteth eternity. But
d. little while and the eyes that now rejoice
lr the sunshine shall take their last look
q earth. May they all unclose in that Ian
US where decay never enters, where the Goo
ly Shepherd guardeth His flock, where II
i'd beloved await us with no dimness upon tn
,e. eyes that made earth's dearest radience, an
IS where our tempest-tossed hearts shall be
On rest forever.