The Penn's Grove record., 1904-07-08
A SERMON FOR SUNDAY
AN ELOQUENT DISCOURSE BY THE
REV. w. T. BEST.
"Fade 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.

All Must Stand the Storms of Life
Alike and Come to the Same End.
CHAsM FALLS, N. Y.-The following
sermon, entitled 'Faded Leaves" was
preached here by the Rev. William T.
Best. He took as his text 1--WE all do fade
as a leaf."-Isa. 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
and the Swallow" have gone to a
warmer region. While looking from my
study window, 1 noticed the leaves falling
and the children playing among the lead
leaves that lay upon the ground. I then
began to think of the past year. l re-
membered 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
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 or
either side of the house, yet a cloud of
sadness hovers DER me as l watch the
leaves fall from the trees. "Ah! these
are harbingers of approaching storms; the
indication that another summers warmth
and beauty is about to be succeeded by
VIC tHli ueSOidJtOn 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 a minister may go
to almost any branch of nature and find
a sermon. GO to the Ant" saws the
wise man Solomon. Consider the 'Lillies
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 a 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"
l. The -ndless 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-
actly 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 flood and the Boa
bah OF Senegal claim to be over 5000 years
DID,; 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
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. Especial; 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 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, md preach the
gospel to every creature"
1.Some Leaves Are Higher I'm 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 go up in
this world, even if they 90 down in the
next. Men lose their health trying to get
wealth, and then lose their wealth trying
get health. God has a 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 le trying to get to the top, but
IN each leaf in its proper place goes to
make a perfect tree. "For as we have
many members in one body, and ali mem
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 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
1t IS a 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 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 a 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
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, all that wealth ere
gave,
Await alike the inevitable hour,
The paths of glory lead but to the grave"
III. The Decay of the Leaf is Sometimes
fastened by External Circum-
1t may be affected by insects, excessive
ANNS1APS Nv wv y <
often the leaf is plueked from the tree
while in full bloom.
"The wicked shall not live out half their
days" God gives every man so long to
live, If he takes care of his body (which
is the temple of the Holy Ghost) he will
probably live out his appointed days. Yet
how often we see people called from time
into eternity just at the moment when
their brightest hopes are about to be
realized. Moses has led Israel through
the wilderness. He has borne up under
their murmurings and backslidings, and
at times he has had to stand alone when
it seemed as though his shoulders could
not carry the care and responsibility
placed upon them. Yet he has looked for
ward to this glad moment as the time
when his character shall be indicated
and he shall lead the people, t~riumphantly
lead the people into the Promised Land.
But now the command comes from heaven,
Moses, ascend Nebo to diet" All this
is tragedy surprising anything Shake
spearean, yet it occurs almost every day.
A vessel j: wrecked at sea, a train has
jumped the track, a hotel has taken fire
and men and women just on the eve of
their highest ambitions are
snatched from this into another world.