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Here is the service tree, which, regardless of his own safety, gives us early intimations of the approaching spring, by daring to bud forth, while yet the short-lived day affords the shivering spectator but a bleak prospect, and the tops of distant hills lie buried in snow. Thus the righteous, in the midst of the severest trials, shew forth their attachment to religion, and dare confess the name of Jesus, although the times present a dangerous prospect; even threatening persecution unto death for so doing.

This tree, for its medicinal qualities, may be reckoned the citron of our island, as the fruit of a certain kind of it, along with some other things, greatly corroborate the stomach. It is also good for removing sedentary and laxative complaints, while the stalks and flowers, through a chemical preparation, recover consumptions, and tabid bodies.

This tree is also said to prove beneficial in a variety of other diseases * :---So the righteous, through the divine blessing, by their

* See Evelyn's Discourse on Forest Trees,

example and precepts, prove healing to minds which before could not relish the things of a spiritual nature, but, like a sore stomach, incapable of proper digestion, was uneasy under such: They are also often made the instruments of awakening and recovering sinners from their careless and loose lives; and through their means have not both the visible church and state been preserved from decay? They are the salt of the earth, Matt. v. 13. which preserveth the world from destruction; yet how much are they despised by the men of the world, though it is owing to them the finally impenitent are kept so long out of hell. See Gen. xviii. 23.---32.

But whatever healing qualities this tree or any other plant or mineral possesses, they are all owing to the great Physician Christ Jesus, by whom the worlds were made, Heb. i. 2., who, for the good of mankind, created them with such virtues; and however much they, as a mean, cure natural diseases, and the righteous, through their example and precepts, heal spirituals; infinitely more doth Christ Jesus, that great Physician of value, heal both kinds of diseases; nay, it is only by his divine blessing that any means of re

covery is made effectual: and blessed be his most holy and excellent name, that he still waiteth, without money and without price, to heal all diseased souls that come to him for a cure and seeing there is yet balm in Gilead, and a physician there, Jer. viii. 22., may I and every one apply to him for the recovery of the health of our souls.

There is the sycamore, which in summer yields a pretty, delightful shade; but 1 very much dispute whether it be the tree which is called by that name in sacred scripture.

This is not very much esteemed, that appears to have been considerably valuable ; this is barren, that was fruitful; as we see by the employment that the prophet Amos followed before the Lord called him to that high office. See Amos vii. 14.

Yet little esteemed as this tree is, in comparison of many others in the wood, from it, Zaccheus-like, we may see the Lord, Luke xix. 4. not in his person and human nature, but in his bountiful works of creation, who hath furnished the world with such a variety of trees, herbs, and flowers, not for the

use only, but also for the pleasure of his reasonable creature man.

But Oh! how unthankful is man for all the bounties of creation! instead of using such for the glory of the Creator, they are too often prostituted to serve his own pride. and vanity.

Pliny and other naturalists say, that the fruit of the sycamore mentioned in scripture does not ripen till after it has been rubbed with an iron comb; and Jerom, on Amos, says, it cannot be eaten till after this be done, it is so bitter. So man will never ripen in the fruits of gratitude till once he hath been rubbed with the convincing iron comb of the law, and so made to see and feel how ill deserving of any mercy, and hell deserving he is; nor will his fruits of thankfulness be acceptable and well-pleasing to God, till he be converted from nature to grace, and even only then either, in, and through Christ Jesus.

The Lord's bounty and goodness is manifested much in the works of creation, more in the works of providence, but most of all

in the astonishing work of redemption. "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not "all his benefits," was the language of that royal contemplator of God's works, Psal. ciii. 2. and Psal. lxxvii. 12.; and shall it not be my language? Yes, O my soul, bless the Lord, and forget not all his benefits; forget not that he made thee out of nothing a reasonable creature at the first, after his own image, Gen. i. 27. and formed for thee, out of the dust of the earth, an erect and convenient body; for the handsomeness of its shape, beauty of its form, and dignity of its countenance, far surpassing the other creatures on earth, over all which thou wast made lord: and that he placed thee not in the house of the world till once he had furnished it with all things necessary, convenient, and comfortable, for thy accommodation that thou wast then made perfectly holy and happy: forget not also that he not only formed thee in the womb a complete man in miniature, but preserved thee there, and in due time opened it and brought thee out safely; nourished thee on the breast, and guarded thee from numberless accidents to which thy heedless steps in childhood exposed thee; guided thee safely up the slip

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