The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1904-08-05
A SERMON FOR SUNDAY
AN ELOQUENT DISCOURSE BY THE
REV. W. T. BEST.
"Faded Leaves" the Subject of n 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 I'VE all do fade
as leaf. lisa. GAG.
Nature has once more been disrobed
of her green foliage, "and the Stork
in the heaven knoweth her appointed
time and the Turtle and the Crane
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. | then
began to think of the past year. re-
membered distinctly its birth when we
knelt together in the Matchmaking and
reconsecrated ourselves to the Master.
pleasant memories that can be appreciated
only by one living in the Adirondacks.
But, oh, how changed everything appears
to-day! The same river glides by the
door and the same mountains are on
either side of the house, yet a cloud of
sadness hovers DER me as l watch the
leaves fall from the trees. "Ah! these
indication that another summers warmth
and beauty is about to be succeeded by
the chill desoation of winter"
1t is so difficult for us to understand re-
lgious 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
wise man Solomon. Consider the 'Lilies
of the field" 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 he wilder winds of autumn,
whirl up in our faces, and before our
doors, seeming to say: what about us"
God has commissioned us to carry mes
sage to man, and mingling with the dirge
of autumn, comes the sadder dirge of the
Prophet Isaiah, owe all do fade as
leaf"
I. The --ndless 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-
actiy alike. Then all species of leaves are
not found on one tree. The king of white
oaks may witness 900 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.
bah OF Senegal claim to be over 5000 years
cd; yet the leaves they lave scattered
are but as drop to the ocean compared
to the number that have fallen to the
earth.
God hath made of one blood all ma
tons 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 a 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 it's message
when naught can be found but the weep
ing willow.
Perishing, perishing! Harls, how they call
Bring us your Saviour, oh, tell us c:
We are so weary, so heavily laden,
And with long weeping our eyes have
grown dim.
600 We into all the world, nd preach the
gospel to every creature"
H.Sone Leaves Are Higher Up in This
Grid Than Others, But All Must
Stand the Storms of Life Alike and
Goms t. tbs Sane Ed; ....,.,,, 40
Some people are determined to, go up in
this world, even if they go down in the
next. Men lose their health trying to get
|
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
pillow. Let each man find his right place
and there be at his best for God. 1t is
useless - leaf at the lower part of the
tree to e trying to get to the top, but
IN each leaf. in its proper place goes to
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 PATIENCE the race set before us"
and we shall as surely hear the "well
done as the man with the greatest mum.
Der of talents.
The millionaire can wear but ore suit
of clothes, sleep in one bed and eat but
one meal at time. In many respects
his rlchSs only increase his troubles, and
1t 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 romance about the
poor mans lot Poverty is hard, cruel,
| unrelenting. But as surely as the different
| kinds OF weather are a necessity to the
leaves, so surely are the storms of life
necessary to our highest good; for
eff 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 a widowed lady, whose hus-
band fills a 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 a level. Where are
now the vast armies of the Assyrians,
Grecians, Persians, Romans? AS with the
warrior so with the peaceful, as with the