The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1904-07-06
"FADED LEAVES"
A Brilliant Sunday Sermon BY Rev
". 7. Best.
All Must Share the Storms Of Life Alike anc
Come to the Same End.

btiuou, tHtItitu Tdutu Leaves, was
preached here by the Rev. William T.
Best; He took as his text 1--WE all do fade
as a leaf"--Isa. 64:6
Nature has once more been disrobed
Of her green foliage, "and the Storls
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. l re-
membered distinctly it's 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
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. "Ahl these
are harbingers of approaching storms the
indication that another summers warmth
and beauty is about to be succeeded by
the chill desolation OF winter"
1t 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 minister may go
to almost any branch of nature and find
a sermon. "Go to the ant" saws the
wise man Solomon. Consider the 'Lllies
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, eve all do fade as a
leaf"
/. The -Indless Variety of Leaves.
Though there are so many different
kinds of leaves in the world it is doubtful
II 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
old; yet the leaves they ave 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.
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 o:
We are SO weary, so heavily laden,
And with long weeping our eyes have
grown dim.
"Go ye. into all the world, nd preach the
gospel to every creature"
II.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 their wealth trying
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. 1t il
useless Ia leaf at the lower part OF the
tree to ,e trying to get to the top, but
.,es IN each Leaf so, in its proper place goes tt
many members in one body, and all mem
bers have not the same Office; SO we
being many; are one body in Christ" Lei
us learn, therefore, in whatsoever state
we are Herewith to be content" run
ming with latience the race set before us,
and we shall as surely hear the "wel
done as the man with the greatest mum
Der of talents.
The millionaire can wear but one sui,
of clothes, sleep in one bed and eat but
one meal at a time. In many respect:
his riches only increase his troubles, and
1t is mistake to suppose that he is moi
subject to many of the Disappointment
common to men. On the other hand, lei
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 a 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 nighty
But in the hardness, God gives to YOU,
Chances of proving that you are true"
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 ar,
on a level with my husband now" Yes
death places US all on level. Where ar,
now the vast armies of the Assyrians
Grecians, Persians, Romans? As with tn,
warrior so with the peaceful, as with tn,
rich so with the poor. Millions have gone
millions more are on their journey.
The boast of heraldry, the pomp o
power,
And all that beauty, all that wealth er,
gave,
Await alike the inevitable hour,
The paths of glory lead but to the grave.
Ill. The Decay OF the Leaf is Sometime
fastened by External Circum
stances.
It may be affected by insects, excessiv,
moisture, excessive cold, etc, etc. Thel
often the leaf is plucked from the tire,
while in full bloom.
'The wicked shall not live out half the
days" God gives every man 80 long I,
live, II he takes care OF his body (whicl
ia the temple Of the Holy Ghost) he will
probably live out his appointed days. Ye
how often we see people called from tim,
into eternity just at the moment wher
their brightest hopes are about TO b,
realized. Moses has led Israel through
the wilderness. He has borne up unde
their murmurings and backsldings, ane
at times he has had to stand alone wher
It seemed as though his shoulders coult
not carry the care and responsibility
placed upon them. Yet he has looked for
ward to this glad moment as the tim,
when his character shall be vindicatec
hall la.A -. k..... L.. A.