Milford chronicle., 1903-10-02
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life this sermon utters a warning cry,
timely call for return to the simple
ways and upright, honorable Chris
tian lives The text is jeremiah vi,
1G, ASK for the old paths"
Most simple is the texts figure. Its
simplicity gives it a homely beauty. It
has in it the aroma of the woods. It
is one of those simple SMILES of coun-
try life that bring back to the weary
city dwcller, whose feet have been long
accustomed to the hard paving stones
of the city sidewalks, the memory Of
the footpaths over turf covered hills
and the narrow lanes between the
banks bejsweled with sweet wild flow
ers thut he used to walk in his child
hood days. The old paths-we can
never forget them. 1t will do us good
if We think of them this morning and
see if there are any moral lessons we
can learn from them. Sometimes the
cOmmonest incidents Of everyday life
have u voice for those who will hear.
Jean Francois Millet is everywhere
ranked among the most famous artists.
He taught however his greatest les
son by painting two ordinary every
day French peasants bending over
their hoes in the center of a country
field in an attitude of prayer. The
"Angelus," immortalized by Nlillet, was
rung from a village church spire. His
worshipers were those who once lived
in a humble poor mans home.
Robert Burns was the sweetest bard
old Scotland ever Graded among the
wild flowers of Ayr and lullabied to
sleep by the murmuring waters of the
"Bonnie Doom" Yet, with the hand
Of a master, he played upon the silver
chords of the grand old instrument of
human love by singing one Of his
sweetest songs about a mouse's nest !
In the death of four legged dumb
brute Burns lOOsened the silent tongues
of many Il songster and songstress who |
have blended their voices in Il chorus |
of praise at the sacred affairs of domes- /
tic happiness. jeremiah, among the /
greatest of the prophets, lamenting /
that his countrymen had deserted their |
God and disObeyed his laws. pleads |
with them to avert the impending pun |
ishment by returning TO him. and he |
employs this simple figure TO portray |
their condition. He describes them as .
travellers lost upon the mountains of .
sin, hunting for path which will lead .
them out Of their moral difficulties. He .
represents God as telling them to 'aslI
for the old paths, which is the good .
way, and walk therein. and We shall
find rest for your souls. But they said.
I'VE will not walk therein" jeremiah
points the right path leading to the
throne of God by using the hOmely
simile of the ordinary country paths
or rough roadways in common use at
the time, over which the eastern cara
vans have Travelled and the cows have
come home for the evening milking
and over which have passed tired men
and women when. with daily tasks we'll
done, they have sought the home fire
sides for hysical refreshment and for
blessed sleep.
The Pathway to the Cross.
Like Jeremiah, l would today carry
your thoughts back to the reminiscent
ces Of the country and from the sweet,
fresh flowers of the village hedgerows
pluck blossoms which will remind you
Of old time ASSOCIATIONS and resolves.
The greatest of horticulturists is not
the gardener who fashions his beds in
the many colOrs" of JOseph's coat or
grandmOther's crazy quilt. 1t is he
who makes his floral designs simple
very simple. One bed looks as though
t were a bit Of Alpine lake flung
lmong the crowded regiments of flow
IT'S. 1t is planted entirely with violets.
t looks as simple and yet as beautiful
- the June heavens colored in blue.
AEJther bed looks like a great collec-
ior OF leaplng flames. 1t is planted
'nly a roses. 1t is very simple. 1t is
IS siuI e in colOrs as q cardinals robe.
t is as simple in cOlors as the setting
un. Another bed has the jaundiced
OOk Of Malay's skin. 1t is only
'lanted in golden glOws. Another will
e an azalea bed, another a dahlia. an
ther planted In white lilies. another in
eraniums. The hOrticulturistic genius !
lrives best In the simplicity of cOlors.
rom this sermonic bed | would pluck
My the sweet forgetmenots of tender
lamOries. Like jeremiah the prophet
would try to lead you over some Of
le old paths which your feet have y
'odden in the past, and in the leading =
would lead you to the foot of the :
ross.
The old path which wound its way !
ward the old homestead is the first !
le I would bid you to seek. That !.
lth by the side Of which was once .
lilded your fathers and mothers !.
lrsery is today in all probability COW :.
ed up with underbrush. Here 1t is .
Oclled by the rOtting trunk OF tree =
hich has fallen sideways. There 1t !.
Is been scOoped out by a freshet and !,
Inder covered up with a landslide. II :
Dks a great deal like one Of those old :,
serted log roads which once wound !,
cir way through the woods toward !
@ town. After the new highway or :