The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-05-12
Religious 5flisce1Ianu.
TREES AND THEIR LESSONS.
BY REV. HARRY JONES.

FREEHOLD the ig-tree, and all the trees."-
Luke xxi. 29.l
Trees of all sorts have been highly
honored in the Bible. They are well
spoken of for the fruits which they
bear, and they are used as symbols or
illustrations of very much in the teach
ing of God. Directly man appears they
appear with him, and the Father Hus-
bandman not only plants the garden of
Eden with such as are good for food,
but employs them as the mystic vehicles
or channels of spiritual life and death.
AS we go on with the reading of the
Bible we find manifold mention of trees
their planting and their cutting
down. They are associated with wor-
ship and with home life. Abraham
planted a tree in Beersheba, and called
there on the name of the Lord, the
everlasting God. Saul abode under
tree in Ramah. Some original catholic
significance or sacredness of trees ap-
pears indeed in their religious use by
idolators. We are told that Israel made
a grove and served Baal. The false
prophets were called the prophets of
the groves.
The tree meets with special honor
in the Bible. Unless we reckon the
parabolic illustration of Nathan when
he convicted David of sin, it appears in
the only parable of the Old Testament.
1.-The trees said to the ig-tree, Reign
over us i" The tree, too, was the sub
ject of special legislation. When the
Hebrews besieged city and built bull
warks against it they had this COM
mand: "Only the trees which thou
knowest that they be not trees for meat
shalt thou cut down."
need hardly remind you how largely
the mention of trees entered into the
poetry of the Jews. The good man is
like tree planted by the waterside,
bringing forth his fruit in due season.
When gladness is abroad and sense
of congratu,ation fills the air all the
trees of the field shall clap their hands.
All the trees of the wood rejoice be-
fore the Lord. We find much made
also about the growing and provision
of trees. 1t is specially mentioned of
the wise ways of Solomon that he
planted trees of all kinds of fruit. 1
might quote with more variety and at
much greater length about trees from
the Old Testament. But perhaps the
greatest distinction of all is rewarded
to them in the New. In the dim fore
shadowing of prediction the Messiah is
a new growth which springs out of the
root of Jesse. The tree too is used in
pointing out the aspects and methods
of his ministry and teaching. The first
arrival of the Christ is compared to the
LAYING of the axe to the root of the tree.
And the barren plant upon the slopes
of Olivet is employed in setting forth
the doom of fruitles5 lives. The judg-
ment of the Lord concerning men is as
of trees which bring forth good or cor
rupt fruit. The Church of Christ is
the great tree from little seed in which
all the birds of the field find their rest.
This is the beginning of the promises
of safety; and in the latest, in the clos
ing mystic book of Revelation, we find,
as the final assurance of success to the
devout, ''To him that overcometh will
I give to eat of the tree of life" This
mysterious and prolific plant stood in
the midst of the New Jerusalem. The
picture of it closes the last recorded
vision of st. John. 1t is a tree Of
abundant and manifold produce. 1t
bears many manner of fruits; and its
leaves are for the healing of the ma
lions. We may thus perceive how trees
are distinguished throughout the whole
Scripture.
We shall find, indeed, nothing in the
world more distinguished. Their nat
ural fruit is mentioned with esteem,
and they are chosen vehicles of divine
teaching. No wonder our Lord says,
''Behold the fig-tree, and all the trees"
Let us notice and lay to heart some OF
the lessons which may be gathered from
them now. They have not ceased to
speak. They speak to us from the BIZ
BILE, as we have seen. But they also
address US from this everyday world
around. They are near US still, and we
may all learn from them as we go about
in the fields, or walk along the road.
Perhaps the first thing we might notice
is the exceeding usefulness of trees.
They not only save us from excessive
drought, and bring the needed rain, but
without trees, in this land, we should
be without furniture to our rooms and
roofs to our houses. need not remind
you how largely wood" is used in the
construction of implements of agricul-
ture, and in the building of our rail-
ways. 1t would be endless to recount
the purposes to which it is applied
And, under whatever name, the wood
must come from the tree. 1t accom-
panies us through life. 1t surrounds
us in the grave.
Tho na1t fbouoht MIGHT ba oopoaru