Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1899-04-15
FLOWERS OF EASTER.
Dr.. Talmage Draws an Inspiration
from Them
The Eioaaent Orator. Enster Dis
courSe--LesSOa~ which the tTow-
ct. Brtng 60 the DssDiritea
and the Bereav~d.

then God so Clothe the grass, which Is :
to-day IN the field. and tomorrow is
cast into the oven. how much more viii ;
lie elothc you. o ye OF little faithT'
The lily is the queen Of Bible flowers.
The rose may have disputed her throne
IN modern times and Won d.. but the
rose originally had only five petals. IL
vas under the long continued and in
tense gaze Of the world that the rose
blushed into its present beauty. In the
Rihle train. cassia and hyssop and
fr.ulinccnsc and myrrh and spikcuard
and cariphor and the rose follow the
llv. Fourteen times in the Bible Is the
lily mentioned. only twice the rose.
The rose may now have wider empire.
but the lily rcigned in the time OF
Esther. in the time Of solomon. in the
time Of Christ. Caesar had his throne
on the hills. The lily had her throne IN
the valley. In the greatest sermon that
was ever preached there was only one
flower and that a lily The bedford
dreamer. John Bunyan, entered the
house Of the interpreter and was shown
a cluster OF flowers and was told 70
consider the lilies"
We may study or reject other sciences
at our option-it Is 50 with astronomy,
itissovyith chemistry. IL is So with slris-
prudence. il il so with physiology. IL
is 80 with Ceology-but the science OF
botany Christ commands us 20 study
when lie saws. Consider the lilies
Measure them from root 70 tip OF petal.
lnhale their breath. Notice the grace
fulness OF their poise. Hear the whis-
b per of the white lips OF the eastern and
tho red hips Of the American lily.
belonging 20 this royal family OF
lilies are the lily of the Nile, the Japan
lily. the Lady Washington of the
4, / Sierras. the Golden band lily. the Giant
: lily OF Nepaul. the Turks cap lily. the
n African lily from the Cape OF Good
n Hope. All these lilies have the royal
q blood in their veins But l take the
a lilies OF my text this morning rs typ
- ical Of all flowers. and their voice OF
e floral beauty seems 70 address us. say
ing: Consider the lilies. consider the
azaleas. consider the fuchsias. consider
- the geraniums. consider the ivies. con
81 slider the hyacinths, consider the hello
m tropes. consider the oleanders." Will
D. defereHtial and grateful and intelligen
le and worshipful souls. consider them
$ Not with insipid sentimentalism o
O' with sophomore vapOring. but 70
-, grand and practical and everyday. anc
-. II need be. l. ,mely uses. consider then
= The flowers are the angels OF tn
grass. They all have voices. When IN
OF clouds speak they thunder, when th
In whirlwinds speak they scream, whe
n the cataracts speak they always viii
-e- per. stand here to intrepet their me
sf an y IN n \
M angels of the grass? This morning
- mean 10 discuss what flowers are goo
as for. That is my subject: What a
in Bowers good for?
I remark. in the first place. they a
IA good for lessons OF Gods proudenti
the care. That was Christs first though
ost All these flowers seem 20 address US
ice day, saying: God viii give you a
parel and food" We have no wheel vi
a.. which 70 spin, no loom with which
.os, weave. no sickle with which 20 harve
ose no we'll sweep with which 70 dr'
,at- water. but God feeds as with the bre
heir Of the sunshine, and God has apparel
cry us with more than Solomonlc regain
SOL We are prophetesses of adequate wa
ome robe. 'If God so clothed US, the gr'
IN Of the field. will He not much nj
az clothe you, o We of little faith 2
that ana women OF ""4' -. -.
tate this message home with youi How lc
nity has God taken care Of you? Quarter
the Journey of life? Half the jour
left Of life? Three-quarters the journey
'ries life? Can YOU not trust Him the 7
Iges. ~ the way? God does not promise
u OF ANYTHING like that which the Ror
DOC ernpcror had on his table at vast
TAts pense--5OO nightingales' tongues
-rha He has promised 20 take care OF J
,ilip- He has promised you TIE neeessi'
ched not the luxuries-bread, not cake.
and God so luxuriantiy clothes the gras
ma the field. will tie not provide for
~ 10 His living and immortal chiidren2
a,n- will.
who No wonder Martin Luther always
nter- a flower on his writing desk for
diers spirationi Through the cracks of
ilita- prison door a flower grew up 20 c
they Picciola. Mungo Park. the great
eler and explorer. had his life save
8 n flower. He sank down in the d'
lit TO die. but. seeing flower near
. ,na xurgested Gods merciful care, an
,oniss rot up with new courage and ira
{ the on to safety. / said the flowers ar
nred angels of the grass. add now the
same the evangels Of the sky.
I. 'ns II you ask me the question; :"
Sc are nowers for?" I respond, the
49,, ! 49, rood for the bridal day. The
"a. rnuxt have them on her brow, OF