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We said that the time of the leaf is from Spring to Autumn. The tree loses all its leaves in Autumn; will another generation succeed?

Will not fresh leaves appear in the Spring? Will not these look beautiful for a time, then change their colour, fall, and decay?

Of what may these successive changes remind us?

Have not the generations of men a season? Do they not flourish for a time, and then decay?

And is not one generation of men succeeded by another?

Look for a moment upon the multitude of leaves on that tree-they are now in beauty-in a little time the chilling rains will fall, the sweeping blasts of Autumn will come, and not one of those which you see will remain. In the Spring, fresh leaves will shoot forth, will have their season of beauty, and in their turn decay : and this will be the case till the tree itself shall be no more.

So is it with the generations of men-look around you; you will see many gay, and healthy, and blooming-soon their autumn will come, their decay, their death: their place shall "know them no more"-others shall succeed them, shall have their season of youth and bloom, and shall be removed like the former generation. Thus shall it be till the earth itself shall pass away. (2 Pet. iii. 10; Rev. xx. 11; xxi. 1.)

Since then, we all "fade as the leaf," and ubide not here, let the best season of life be spent in preparing for a state where there is no decay. Let us turn from the view of the perishable leaf before us to the contemplation and pursuit of that "tree of life," whose healing leaves shall be ever verdant in the Paradise of God. (Rev. xxii. 2.)

LILY OF THE VALLEY.

Do you know the name of this flower? How may it be distinguished from other flowers?

Examine the blossom. What is within the blossom?

How many stamens ?

What is in the midst of the stamens?

Is the pistil longer or shorter than the stamens?

Is there more than one flower on the stalk? Is the number of stamens the same in each flower?

To what are the stamens affixed?

And to what are the petals affixed?
Has the flower a calyx?

Describe the form of the blossom. What do

you observe at the edge?

What is at the base of each of the flowerstalks?

Of what shape are the flower-scales?

What is the colour of the flowers? Are they uniformly white?

What more has the plant?-Of what colour and form are the leaves?

What direction have the flower-stalks? Are they straight?

Do they grow out of the stem on every side? On which side?

In what direction does the stem grow?
What most pleases you in the flower?
Is not its odour very fragrant?

In what situation do we usually find the lily? [This kind of lily is found chiefly in moist woods, and on heaths-in the valley, or in low places.]

What reflections may we make on the lily of the valley?

It may bring to our mind the grace of humility: it is beautiful, it yields a fragrant odour, but it grows in retired spots; it does not thrive on the mountain, it is the product of the valley: its flowers droop like the christian mourner.— We may think of the Christian in retirement: in holy seclusion, in converse with God, he inhales the divine inspiration-around him he diffuses a sacred perfume.

Look again at the Lily-you admire it :-who gave it its white tints and clothed it with beauty?

Whence does it derive its fragrance?

And if you have any advantages of body or mind, to whom do you owe them ?

Who has taught us to draw instruction from the lily?

What instruction? Read Matt vi. 28, 29.
Ought you then to desire fine clothing?

Do you suppose your clothing would ever equal the magnificence of Solomon's ?

Yet Jesus says, that "

even Solomon in all his

glory was not arrayed" like the lily.-How poor

is every thing man can form, compared with what is formed by the hand of God!

And is it not wrong to be vain of our clothing? Remember that man in his state of innocence, did not want raiment; our clothing is a consequence of sin: if then, you are vain of your clothing, of what are you vain?

And is it not wrong to be unduly concerned about clothing?

Does not God know that we need it?

What precept has He given, Matt. vi. 31-33? And what is the annexed promise?

Observe the promise is given to those who seek first the kingdom and righteousness of God.* Those who make God their portion, will find the supply of every real want.

* A farther spiritual truth may be gathered from what our Lord says about the lilies-we may think of spiritual raiment. Should we be tempted by " anxious thought" and strong desires, to clothe ourselves with virtues, let us remember that the humblest soul adorned by God, far excels the wisest and greatest person who is self-adorned.-We may draw another inference from the passage: as, while we are to use the appointed means of obtaining food and raiment, we are not to be anxious, but trust in the fatherly care of God to supply themneither are we to be anxious and perplexed about spiritual food and raiment, or think to supply ourselves by a selfrighteous activity.--While we use the appointed means of sanctification, we are to trust wholly in the ability and readiness of Christ to clothe and beautify us with righteousness.

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