The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-01-04
The Tree of Life

There Ia an old legend, which. in
days long agone, formed the subject
of many a mosaic In cathedral nave.
OF many stained-elass window In
ancient fame. 1t tells of how the
twisted. rugged tree on which Christ
Jesus died came out of the Garden Of
Eden. The story goes that after
Adam had been driven from Paradise
he fell grieyously sick. and dispatched
his son Seth to the Angel with the
Flaming Sword, who kept the Gate.
craving readmittance to the. Garden
in order to obtain a medicinal herb
which Adam knew grew in one corner
Of Eden. The request was refused.
but the Angel OF the Sword said to
Seth: Thy father shall surely re-
cover. This time he shall live and
not die. But when his full table of
years shall have been lived out and
he goes the way that all flesh must
follow, plant these two seeds which
give you--they are from the Tree of
Life in the center Of the Garden-on
thy fathers grave. What shall spring
therefrom shall be for the saving of
the world"
In due time, the father OF all living
died: and Seth did as the Angel Of the
Flaming Sword had commanded. He
planted the seeds. and upon the grave
OF Adam sprang up a spreading tree.
Out OF its branches Moses cut the rod
of Aaron-~the rod that budded. I'm
der 1t David sat and mourned for his
sins. King Solomon. regarding 1t as
q sacred and precious tree, had II
hewn down. In order to have 1t used
In building the House OF the Lord.
Its timber proved SO hard. however.
as to be practically unavoidable. and
tho trunk Of tho tree was fung by the
RrSY Ia o. fyn
something Of beauty out OF It. into
the bottom OF a stagnant pool. The
waters of this foul pond not only
cleared. but became known through
out the land as the Pool OF Healing.
the virtue Of the waters springing
from the log Of Adams tree, lying
hidden away in the bottom OF the
pool. In the days OF Jesus OF Naza-
reth the waters dried UP. and for
years the tree lay in the hollow where
the Pool of Healing once had been.
And when in the fulness of time
Christ Jesus must needs suffer for the
redemption of the race, the tree that
once had grown on Adams grave. the
seeds OF which came out OF the Tree
Of Life In the center OF Eden. was
taken from the hollow of the dried
up pool, and out of 1t was fashioned
the cross on which the Saviour died.
Only an old legend, say your AS
suredly%-but one pregnant with the
highest. the most glorious truth. The
Tree OF Death-of Calvary-is the
Tree of Life, and the fruit OF its
branches Is for the healing OF ma
lions. for the salvation of the race.
1t filings its shadows across life's dusty;
highways. and weary. footsore tray
elers drag themselves within the rest
fitness OF its sheltering shadows.
Some. like Bunyans Pilgrim, are sore
ly burdened. most are sorrow-stricken.
many pierced with poignant pain.
Yet mono who, in their hour OF dire
need, turn to the solace OF the Spread
ing Tree Of Calvary ever fail to be
gladdened. rested. refreshed. made
glad.
I am told that the eucalyptus tree
Ia. when growing. such a powerful
microbicide that no sort OF bacteria
can possibly exist within the radius
of Its germ destroying properties. 1t
is, even so with the Tree OF Calvary
the Cross OF Jesus. It exerts an
exudes q sin-destroying< virtue. Be
meath its crimson shadows the sons of
Adam rest secure They sit down
under its shadow with great delight
and its fruit is sweet unto their
taste.-Presbyterian Banner.