The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-07-26
aThe Treen of fsod..

"Iie shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not witler; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. "-Psalms. L.. 3.
 A mans life should be rooted in God-in Gods law, fin Gods service. It should not De like q flower plueked'
 A life severed from Gods law cam not grow nor be at rest. It will be the victim of circumstances. frightened by surprises. disqnieted by fears The but like a tree planted by rivers of roots are nourished, and he is part of great plant, No yagrant is he.
 A tree planted by the rivers of water" Is an image full of sugges- tions. A tree Is permanent. fruitful, beautiful; its branches are for refresh. answers for the sun or the rain; 1t waits for God and puts Worth it's life at His bidding. Many lives have we seen who in part, at least fulfil this
 Notice that word .prosper." The word is used in no common or narrow sense, but it refers to a prosperity that is real. ultimate and unchangeable, always prosper. 1s may say say the same thing in effect about God, Himself. God complains that His law Is slighted and His word dlsobeyed. Yet He pro. Ills law shah be set up in the earth. and His word sal not reurn to Him void.
 Some adversities are but temporary; they may, indeed, be part of a pro the good @ ma man prosper. Their purpose is Identical. If a good mans prosper ity appear uncertain. it may be like the hills and valleys, which suggest to our limited vision that the earth cannot be a globe. But we know that the earth is round, and that all the hills and valleys fall under higher law. an in- finite astronomy.
 Where God is. there can be no fam inc. You may take these words in their widest, fullest sense, as relating to the intellect, the imagination and every other faculty which belongs to manhood. When there is no food in feast in the heart. When the fig tree ceases to bear. the hunger of the soul Is satisfied with the fruit from the
 Our Lord laid down one of His most far-reaching maxims when He said: Man shall not live by bread alone. God has thousand ways of sustaining life. Every word of His life is 2 ilv- who receive It. For we live and move and have our being in God. Not a limited or stHnted being, but a being as enduring as God. Himself, and made
  throne and Godhead.
 A very practical lesson arises from the words; "Brlngeth forth his fruit in his season" We must not look for point many Christians disquiet them selves unnecessarily. There is a time for rest and for recruiting; thus, time spent in legitimate sleep is time made for larger and harder work
 Let the tree be the symbol and image of our life. It has its seasons of fruItlessness, but not from any wrongdoing. So 1t Is with the Chris tian heart. There are times of abun- dant labor. of almost excessive joy of hope above the brightness of the sun. which transform our earth into heaven. We work without weariness We sui fer without complaint. confident of victory. At other times there are seasons of depression: intclerable we cry out against ourselves with
 A tree may be by the rivers of waters, and may be planted by the hand of God, and yet there will, be can be seen. and when no fruit is found, Do not judge by this or that day, but by the whole scope and circumstances i As to the promise, ''whatsoever he doeth shall prosper" we come upon an upwritten but inevitable. condition. The character Is the guarantee of the action. He whose delight is the law of the Lord" eaEnot do anything will providences of God nor slight His word.
 Being thus, we shall of necessity be blessed. To walk with God is to move constantly in an upward and heavenly direetion We may 6e a blessed ,n aI in many ny, follow the way pointed out and trod- den by the Master.