THE DOUBLE FLOWERS.

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plant flowers or herbs in their place. Vain, therefore, is the attempt to make ourselves good by a forced and unsteady resolution, while we retain the love of evil in our breast; for that is only waiting a favorable season and opportunity to shoot afresh.

My God! do Thou Thyself extirpate the root of bitterness from my heart! Use any means which seems good in Thy sight for this purpose; it may wound the sinful flesh, but better temporal than eternal pain.

B

XCV.

The Double Flowers.

EING in a garden, Gotthold was shown some blue and yellow violets which were bearing double flowers, and were therefore regarded as something rare. He remarked, however,

that in proportion as they had gained in show, they had lost in fragrance, as compared with the single, and began: How comes it to pass that generally the most showy and pompous plants are surpassed in other qualities by the more humble and unpretending? The roses, which, on account of their numerous petals, are called centifoils, are no doubt beautiful to the eye, but

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THE DOUBLE FLOWERS.

are excelled in fragrance by those which have much fewer. Some prefer the water obtained from the wild rose to that which is distilled from the best of the centifoils; and every one knows that the proud imperial crown and gaudy tulip are far less fragrant than the violet, and many of its sister plants that creep upon the ground. The same rule obtains among men. Where there is much show, there is never much power; where great consequence in the world's eyes, very little in God's. Nay (and this I would not dare to affirm, were it not declared by Him whom no man may gainsay), that which is highly esteemed among men, is abomination in the sight of God. Those men who are great and eminent for their learning and wisdom, their superior talents, vast fortunes, and lofty honors, are too often, like these double flowers, destitute of the fragrance of godliness, and the strength of love. For not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble are called; but the foolish, and base, and despised things of this world, are those which God hath chosen. How comes it, then, that we are all so anxious to be great, and rich, and honorable, though God is pleased to show forth His power in the meek, and poor, and humble? Better be humble and bear much fruit, than exalted and bear none. My God, I ask not of Thee the leaves of external consequence; I will be content to con

tinue simple, lowly, and plain, if Thou wilt only give me grace to serve Thee and my neighbor. Outward pomp withers like a flower, but inward worth lasts even after death.

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XCVI.

Che Pike.

TROLLING along the banks of a pond, Gott

hold observed a pike basking in the sun, and so pleased with the sweet and soothing rays as to forget itself and the danger to which it was exposed. Thereupon a boy approached, and with a snare formed of horse hair, and fastened to the end of a rod, which he skilfully cast over its head, pulled it in an instant out of the water. Ah, me! said Gotthold, with a deep sigh, how evidently do I here behold shadowed forth the danger of my poor soul! When the beams of temporal prosperity play upon us to our heart's desire, so grateful are they to corrupt flesh and blood, that, immersed in sordid pleasure, luxury, and security, we lose all sense of spiritual danger, and all thought of eternity. In this state many are, in fact, suddenly snatched away, to the eternal ruin of their souls.

O, my God! vouchsafe to me Thy grace, that I may learn to rejoice as though I rejoiced not, and buy as though I possessed not, and use this world as not abusing it, for the fashion of this world passeth away.1 In the midst of pleasures and enjoyments, let me still feel, like the Psalmist, that the best of all is to draw near unto Thee; and may I never forget Thy fear. Break, also, the snares with which Satan endeavors to make a prey of my soul, but which, in my misery, I cannot see; and for this I shall laud and praise Thee in eternity.

XCVII.

The Vine.

ISITING a person who was in deep affliction and sorrow, Gotthold was told by the family that he was in the garden. Thither he followed, and found him employed in clearing a vine of its superfluous leaves. After a friendly salute, he inquired what he was doing. "I find," was the reply, "that, owing to the abundant rain, this vine is

overgrown with wood and leaves, which prevents the

I am

sun from reaching and ripening the grapes. therefore pruning part of them away, that it may bring its fruit to maturity." Gotthold rejoined: And do you find that in this operation the vine resists and opposes you? If not, why are you displeased that a gracious God should do to you what your vine must not be displeased that you do to it? You prune off the superfluous foliage in order that it may bear the better fruit ; and God takes away your temporal blessings and earthly comforts, in order that faith may produce its noble fruits of love, humility, patience, hope, and prayer, and these larger, and fairer, and sweeter than before. Let them talk as they please: When a man has a superfluity of all things, and is a total stranger to the cross, the Sun of Righteousness, with its gracious rays, can scarcely reach the heart; and hence his Christianity usually bears only the harsh and acrid fruits of hypocrisy, pride, unkindness, and implacability. God, therefore, do with you as He will; He will do you no harm. You are now stripping the vine of its leaves; in spring you hoed it, planted layers, pruned the suckers, and bound the branches. My friend, you are yourself a branch on the spiritual Vine, which is the Lord Jesus. God is the dresser, and He well knows that, without His grace and care, He can look for no good at your hands. This is the reason why He employs contempt to lay you in the earth, trials to prune, affliction to restrain, and poverty to strip you of your leaves.

Let