The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1904-07-07
A SERMON FOR SUNDAY
AN ELOQUENT DISCOURSE BY THE
REV. w. 7. BEST.
aFaded Leaves" the Subject of a Helpful
Talk-The Endless Variety of Leaves
All Must Stand the Storms of Life
Alike and Come to the Same End.

sermon, entitled "Faded Leaves" was
preached here by the Rev. William 7.
Best. He took as his text eve all do fade
as leaf."-Isa. 64:6
Nature has once more been disrobed
Of her green foliage, "and the Storl!
in the heaven knoweth her appointed
time and the Turtle and the Crane
and the Swallow" have gone to a
warmer region. While looking from my
study window, noticed the leaves falling
and the children playing among the dead
leaves that lay upon the ground. l then
began to think of the past year. l re-
membercd distinctly its birth when we
knelt together in the Matchmaking and
reconsecrated ourselves to the Master.
The thoughts of its youth revived those
pleasant memories that can be appreciated
But, oh, how changed everything appears
to-day! The same river glides by the
! door and the same mountains are OH
either side of the house, yet cloud Of
sadRess hovers Ger me as watch the
leaves fall from the trees. "Ah. these
are harbngers Of approaching storms; the
indication that another summers warmth
and beauty is about to be succeeded by
! the chill desoation OF winter"
It is so difficult for US to understand re-
ligious truths that God was obliged to
draw them out in diagram upon the natu-
raj world Therefore a minister may go
to almost any branch of nature and find
sermon. go to the knt," says the
wise man Solomon. Consider the Lilies
of the ield," says Christ. Bush and brook,
beast and bird, day and night, the chang
ing seasons; all abound with spiritual
lessons, and the faded leaves, blown wildly
about by the wilder winds of autumn,
whirl up in our faces, and before our
doors, seeming to say, What about u.s."
sage to man, and mingling with the dirge
of autumn, comes the sadder dirge of the
Prophet Isaiah, owe all do fade as
| leaf"
l.. The Lndless Variety of Leaves.
Though there are so many different
kinds of leaves in the world it is doubtful
| if there are two leaves of any class ex-
actly alike. Then all species of leaves are
not found on one tree. The king of white
oaks may witness 600 years of Canadian
history; the Californian pine may have
existed centuries before "Leif the Lucky"
discovered Vinland; the Parliament Oak
has seen 1900 years of European progress;
the cedars of Lebanon date their birth
from the time of the food and the Boa
| bab Of Senegal claim to be over 5000 years
| old; yet the leaves they lave scattered
are but as a drop to the ocean compared
to the number that have fallen to the
earth.
God hath made of one blood all ma
! tions of men," and though there are so
many different races of mankind it is
doubtful if there could be found two men
OF any race exactly alike. They differ as
do the leaves. Especially is this true
| from religious standpoint for all men
| do not hold the same religious belief.
The main thing, however, is for all to be-
long to Christ. Let the fig leaf utter its
voice of warning, the maple suggest its
! sweetness and the olive bring its message
of peace; yet there are time in every life
when naught can be found but the weep
ing willow.
Perishing, perishing. Hark, how they call
us;
Bring us your Saviour, oh, tell us c:
Him!
We are so weary, so heavily laden,
And with long weeping our eyes have
grown dim.
"Go We into all the world. nd preach the
gospel to every creature"
H.Some Leaves Are Higher Up in This
World Than Others, But All Must
Stand the Storms of Life Alike and
Come to the Same End.
Some people are determined to 90 up in
this world, even if they go down in the
next. Men lose their health trying to get
wealth, and then lose .heir wealth trying
get health. God has place for every man
in this world, whether it be in the minis
try, at the work bench, or following the
plow. Let each man find his right place
and there be, at his best for God. It is
useless ioc leaf at the lower part of the
in each leaf in its proper place goes to
make perfect tree. For as we have
many members in one body, and all men,
bers have not the same Office; so we.
being many; are one body in Christ" Let
us learn, therefore, in whatsoever state
we are Herewith to be content" run
ming with ratience the race set before us"
and we shall as surely hear the 'well
done" as the man with the greatest num-
Der of talents.
The millionaire can wear but one suit
OF clothes, sleep in one bed and eat but
one meal at a time. In many respects
his riches only increase his troubles, and
it is mistake to suppose that he is not
subject to many OF the disappointments
common to men. On the other hand, let
us not try to throw a romance about the
poor mans lot. Poverty is hard, cruel,
unrelenting. But as surely as the different
kinds" of weather are necessity to the
leaves, so surely are the storms of life
necessary to our highest good; for
"If all were easy, if all were bright,
Where would the cross be?
Where would the night?
But in the hardness, God gives to you,
Chances OF proving that you are true"
Death places the leaves all on the same
level. Said widowed lady, whose hus-
band fills drunkard's grave, as she stood
by the grave OF the wealthy saloon keeper
who had taken his money: "Ah! you are
on level with my husband now" Yes,
death places US all on level. Where are
now the vast armies of the Assyrians,
Grecians, Persans, Romans? As with the
warrior so with the peaceful, as with the
rich so with the poor. Millions have gone,
millions more are on their journey.
"The boast of heraldry, the pomp of
power,
And all that beauty, ali that wealth ere
gave,
Await alike the inevitable hour,
The maths of GLORY lead hut to the grave" F."