The New York herald., 1874-09-14
not wnat IL is, tnougn we surmlse ana conjecture
Let us try to believe more than we do IN rest.
SIXTEENTH STREET BAPTIST CHURCH.
Truths In Trees-Nature and God
Sermon by Eminent Chicago

truths I'm Trees-Nature and God
Sermon by Eminent Chicago
Divine
Yesterday morning the Sixteenth street Baptist
church was reoDened alter the summer vacation,
ana its pulpit was filed by the Rev. f. J. Good.
speed, pastor OF the Second Baptist church of
Chicago, which Is reported TO be the largest white
Baptist congregation in the United States-Rich-
mond, Va having larger one, however, OF colored
people. Ihe text chosen by the preacher was
Hom Genesls, second chapter and ninth verse;
VIZ. A.;-"And out OF the ground made the Lord God
to grow every tree that Is pleasant to the sight
and good for food the tree of life also in the
midst OF the garden, and the tree of know-
edge OF good ana eviln at is our BELIEF
that the earth and sea and sky and
all that in them Is, began TO be by the creative
nat OF the Almighty. Matter is not eternal nature
is not seltexistent. The material universe is
revelation of God. "The Invisible things OF Him,
from the creation OF the world, are clearly seen-
even His eternal power and godhead.n The
Psalmist, IN sublime language, places, side by side
as co-testimOnies, the external created universe,
ana the law, the Scriptures the institutions of the
divine religion, written in books and in the
human soul. Selecting from among the countless
objects OF nature we take the tree and consider 1t
first as witness to God. The language OF the text
may intimate that some trees were not produced by
the Great Creator "and out OF the ground made the
Lord God to grow every tree that Is pleasant to
Inc slgnt ana good ior iood.' But the meaning Is,
rather that every tree has it's in the economy
OF nature, IS az some period pleasant to the sight
anu good Tor food, and Is Gods handiwork He
foliage, the blossoms the frult-tne endless variety
which characterizes this class OF vegetation. IS
they came from His mind and hand they were per-
1ectly adapted to their purposes, were beautfled
and serviceable.
EVERY TREE HAS A VOICE
which procaims the power and glory of God.
"The trees clap their hands' and praise their
Maker. Lett TO themselves trees often degene.
man in the garden of Eden To dress and till 1t;
to preserve the trees and develop, them to the
responsive to mans care than the tree 1t can be
shaped, transplanted, improved and made to SUBJ
serve amost any object Of human desire. Even
tree OF che forest muitiplies grows expands and
becomes source Of wealth and comfort beyond
ness everywhere to the Creators goodness by its
beauty its iruitiuiness, its utility, its comfort.
The earth would be monOtOnOus desert but for
the forests and orchards and groves that adOrn
and fruct1fy its surface. II any association can
call forth solemn awe and the sense oi Gods pres.
ence 1t Is the deep solitude OF the lonely WOODS,
where
THE WINDS MOAN AMONG THE BRANCHES
Ii thele Is anything that can excite admiration
OF the Creators skill 1t Is a stately oak or grace
iul elm in the lively hues Of spring, or the deep
coOrs OF summer. In their lowered strength or
lines OF beauty they reveal Gods great and won
der!ul thoughts. They outlive man. They pro.
awake al midnight in the summer winds to sing
their solemn song OF praise. ii the neart Is ca
pable OF being touched with gratitude il cannot
tail to be moved when the iruit trees yield their
luscious burden, each In season, supplying some
new sensation OF pleasure or element ol food.
Inc little birds nesting in their celts
OR swAY1NG QN THEIR BoUGHS
sing and carol In strains that melt the heart. and
why shall not man, on their bounty feasted by
their various loneliness charmed aud helped in
Thousand WayS-a1SO sing and rejoice over the
Lord God who made to grow out OF the ground
.Every tree that Is pleasant to the sight and good
for lOOd."
TREES HAVE THEIR HISTORIC ASSOCIATIONS,
for the first and most solemn OF these memories is
that OF the tree OF knowledge, the plucklng OF
whose fruit by our first mother signaized the re-
volt OF our nature against God and the introduce
ton Of all the sorrows and misertes that follow
the use of which preserved human life, gave nOur.
isnment and strength to the bodily powers. The
other tree was to furnish the test OF Obedl-
ence, by means Of Its irut, and finally
through dlsobedIence in eating from It's forbidden
treasures, man was to discover the curse OF evil
wen be reminded OF our Makers wisdom and
human Iolly We read again that the Son OF Man
was hanged on tree, that he iOrgave our sins in
his own body. and then provided fruit or WATCH II
man eat ne shall live forever.
THE NEW TREE OF LIFE GREW ON CALVARY,
and the blood OF Jesus stained the burden with
richer crimson than that which mantled the cheek
OF the apple that won Ewes DESIRE In conclusion,
my hearers, DO not forget to ask yourselves ''What
sha be your doom in the day when the great
Husbandman comes to gather the crops OF lie's
opportunities" VIII you be like the barren fig tree
cursed and withered or a palm in His garden,
wild olive tree or cedar OF lebanon Remember
the promise "they that are planted in the house
OF the Lord shall flourish the courts OF our LOrdn