New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-01-14
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
MacMuLAs,s SABBATH OF THE FIELDS.

3jS Macmillan 90.
In the opinion Of the author, as expressed IN the
preface to the present work. religion and science IN
these days are kept too widely apart from eacn
other The theoogian looks upon the eu'uN8'oi
~ science with certain degree of Suspicion, as
aiming 10 substitute the forces OF Nature Tor the
divine agency in the phenomena of the materiai
world But each now fact, each new discovery, is
In reality a new illustration Of the works OK 0od'
md cannot contradict the truths Of revelation. On
This ground Dr. Macmillan, who cyincos OH equal
familiarity with the teachings of scripture ana tne
conclusions of science, makes nee use OF inc ltui
world to surround the doctrines of faith WIN 1rsh
beautv and power. Thus in the chapter emitted
"Feedine among the LilieSD he derives lesson
from certain features in the physical geography III
Palestine. In no other country Is 9 richer profnsion
of this class of plants to be found. Upon the return
of Spring lilies are the rst flowers to appear and
enliyen the dssolate ground. In the month Of Jan
nary the fields woods, and hills everywhere burst
out into blaze of crocuses, hyacnths, tulips ana
daffcdils whose brilliant hues light up the wlnuy
gloom of the earth aud load the Dir with fragrance
n, sweet as that Of English greenhouse. Inc
plains OF Sharon and the shores Of Galilee are en-
ivencd with gorgeous CLEANS of white and scarlet
and golden lilies, whose g"sv - the most peeuhar
of all the aspects Of the country
Tho Jews old led among The lilies for Their lana wac
ure;ninehtlv tn Flowery Land 1t moiied thai name
lar more than China which haS usuipcd nc ll.e Si
not 1rser ,san the S 200 nS .pees o. aWrSe plants or
nearly twice many as Occur NJ ne i,il,irn &c.,
traveller struck with the mmcn-e prouson variety,
and briiancy of the flowers In the early months OF tne
year the ground - not Sen Tor ne lhi,i''u " MN. h
The loweng seao iasts only VERY ,'W MI o.c Vu
flourish i'm luxuriant succession day atr dy, IKE me
wonderful mountain fora which Tushos up rs II ~ Inlgc
on the pastures Of the ALPS IN Nay or Jiue' ana lnG's
TIRE limits of eternal snow with rainbow loneliness ~
tie flowers OF Palestine have very mueh lne sSiic ,OG
liant app arare 10 the same cause ING lA.n % ,
Use called 80 land flowing with mig ana hon;g.
It's abundance milk depgndeG upcn the Ich NefuuIt
81 lis fields III Spring; While pfolusloaof money vas
% Ana as il Is ven fnowr that bees and other insects
aliued in their search Tor TIE e|eo luces VI On "et
they ferd 10y coorsand fragrant odoIsilose very
qualities wuic render 0oNcs SO attretEo 10 our sense
to certain Ilans in order 20 ad IN i.itl ti,i a ~
Ire connection between ne spitntu IVt'.
Paestme and SIS enormous iroonc on o. oes. ~.
r 20, ao%sti "a , 1 ~ ib 6s flowers Aud in
On way the country beauuEcd and cnIch''' uht'
ca WIN 'he i.u ~ i, 49, d. and i,stiilte Of
grandeur; hut the. flowers ny their abundance auu
beauty impaired 10 It o form ana color tlt We're want
ug. God did MT NEGLECT TIE nilsi 600 hu.et, o. 10y"
FOR Ills people Taat Ee.aat iaAd witch tey maIrei
pirate adoiulierts. That second Eden had not only
every tLt coed tor food but alec every tree
desired toI ITS beauty Among these n7iuu iuSS
the id ,lic life O Tie people Wac sHl ana tS't otii
ness and fFst-rncc entered nsfnsihy iGo ihclr sous
aud formed iht'r chid1s'l'f N'.lc w! i ~
gaced tleT common toll m the feds and ne ll.a,hht
win the Book. The bible Is iHe book 81 h9Wei5; lts
language j. tc language o flowers; i fun OF tie gh-
poetry aud tuest philosophy OF these lar creations
IL considers hll"s hoW thty grow, M al their az
pects; and gather our spiritual food III the midst
set about with hles Tie sweetest aud most sstsfyuc
promises God 20 Us ~ the midst Of the most
beautiful poetry; tie plaest and simplest pIcecpts arc
set oIth n sio.nS M fc o I'M l at low Ges
our door.
In the practical application Of these suggestions
Dr. Macmillan remarks that tho whole OF human
lie is a feeding among lilies. They may be taken
Rs the representatives Of the Projections Of nature
IN the whole sphere of her living brightness. All
the food and clothing aud fuel that are used BY
man come TO ls through beautiful forms and cologs.
Ia human works beauty is often eliminated, and
only what Is nseiul preserved But in nature the
u- ful and the beautiful are always combined in n
wonderful harmony. The development Of useful
products is a perpetual oNelatiOn OF new beauty
aud grace. 1--WE see the formation Of our timber
and fnel going on in the woodlands and forests
through the img.roepiible breathing Of the tender
foliage of the trees; aad what q witchcry Of light
and shade what an infinite sugg9stNcncss Of She
romance OF the green wood, what endless charms OF
hue and form are connected with the green leaves
and fg1ee twiGs which We TuthiesslY strip of in
order to convert the bare trunks and 5odghs into
panks for furniture and billcts for our hearth
We see he hax sqoWiug in The fields with its
bright blue flowers and slender Linear leaves whose
beauty and grace might have won Cor the plant
welcome place in the garden border; but it is useful
10 man only when il has faded INTO a dry, brown,
lea9ess stem, and rOtted sufficiently to allow the
separation Of its hbeIs. All that man cares for ia
the corn is the wihercd straw that feeds Iris cattle
and the hard seeds that form his own bread, into
which its whole lilc-hisiOry has withdrawn at the
harvest time And yet what beautiful spectacle
is the growing 10 affords q feast for the eye
well as for the palate; ii produces beatty to satisfy
the mind as well rs food To nOurish tho body. From
the tender blade 10 the full and perfect il is
disclosure Of new loneliness and grace, and the
lation Of a fresh parable Of wonder. The sight is
indeed feeding among lilies"
The creation Of beauty in the natural world s set
forth by the author rs a striking proof of the
universally of the divine benefcence. If the
Creator has provided 20 many superluous things for
the benefit of man. it is pledge that hc viii provide
for him the thmssthat necessary. Above ALL the
presence of beauty in the universe is the symbol OF
immortal life. The lilies fade ard pass away, but
they are the heralds Of trath which shall endure
forever. We may welcome them rs the great
prophets Of immortality
We reason Justly, that cod would have scattered
the lilies among The corn II life were TO perish for
ever Ike theirf The lfa tia; supported by the
utterly Ike the He wOud NOT have shed much
suporuOus ID auty aons Our pIl that path were 10 lead
on!y 10 tho grave ~ lie had any mind 10 destroy us.
Ike the insects 81 day re would never have revealed
To snch glorious things lie has done in the works cf
Is hands; lie w0u.d.uOt have raised - such mounts
OF vision TO show ma an The glory Of the world only 70
dust be tr era 4i n who has been pIi legged 10
walk with GOd among the trees Of the garden and 20 bold
communion with the Eternal in The Divine thoughts that
expressed n ali the toetug pleniOr OF the world.
Our instinct docs not deceive u when IL looks Tie
beauty Of TIE lilies 1s witness 10 Tie life beyond TIE
grave and hears va their sul small voice as thcy grow
among The com the lcaon TO labor not Tor te meat Tint