The White Pine news. [volume] (Ely, Nev.) 1906-1910, 1907-09-23
life COMPARED WITH
FIG TREE IN SERMON
WHEN LIFE DOES NOT MASTER
OUTER FORCES IT Is
USELESS.

The Rev. G. C. Hunting preached
last night in Good Time hall on the
subject of the parable of the bar
rem fig tree. He took for his text
the words "Cut it down, why cum
bereth it the ground?" Luke 1871.
Parallels were given by Jesus
Christ in his preaching" he said. lin
order that those that listened might
the more readily understand his mes
sage and also that they might the
better remember for we are so con-
stituted that we remember by asso-
citation. BY linking his teaching. for
instance, with fig tree would cause
all his hearers when they thereaftetl
saw fig tree to remember what had
been taught them to that accompani-
ment.
A fig tree was grown solely that
it might bear fruit. 1t was of no
use for the wood in it or for shade
or beauty. So when the owner of
the vineyard came three years in
succession and found no fruit on the
tree he certainly was justified in tell
ing the dresser of the vineyard to cut
it down and cast it out for it cum
bered the ground.
Three times God came to the
children of Israel First by Moses
when He sent him into Egypt to lead
the chosen people out of bondage into
the freedom of the promised land.
Again he sent through hundreds of
wears prophets almost without num-
Der to lead the people from their sin
into the life of righteousness. And
a,,f oil l,r hi
thinking that surely if they did not
heed the servants they would at
least hear the Son.
'.Rut in this also was a disap-
pointment for they remained the
same stiff -necked people they had al
ways been, and God was surely justi-
fled in cutting down their national
life and scattering them over the face
of the earth.
Preachers too often tell their
docks of the dangers of the hereafter.
We are ever hearing of the future
md the fire and birthstone that
waits the unrepentant. Men dwell
IN death and the judgment that shall
re- This idea of death and judgment
re facts that must some day be dealt
rith but today, in the life we arc
living God comes to men not with
he question Are you fit 40 die?' but
'ather with the query Are you fit to
ive?' w by should you not be cut
lown and cast away?'
Christ takes fruit tree in IA gar
len as the best example of the ma
ure of life. Life is an internal
growth. The outer world comes to
he tree in forces of every kind. The
rec using the powers within itself
iraws these forces into its being
md by a subtle alchemy subdues
hem and lives through and by them
But the tree in this act of trans
mutation males no stir. 1t remains
in its place and works out its life
py unseen powers. Planted in the
garden by master hand, it draws
md transforms from earth and air
l beauty and growth unknown to
them.
1T never loses moment, all
things serve it in turn, rain. frost,
sun and wind work their magic. 1t
seizes each and masters each in turn.
And the moment that the life within
does not master the forces without
that moment the tree begins to die.
Therefore silent mastery of the out
ward world is life. In this light are
our lives fit to go on living. Has all
the digging. the culture, money, love
and care been honestly used. Have
they brought forth results? Have
they ornamented our lives, and bud
ded into leaves and fruits fair to see?
Have we within ourselves the cease
less power that transmutes all that
reaches us into good deeds, and kind
ly words? Have we the sustained
mastery that come good, come evil,
takes all and changes it into crop
after crop in due season to help
others, making a life by which 9th
ers may live? Tried by this test
are we men and women of today fit
tO liye2"