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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/36662-h.zip b/36662-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..d98be6d --- /dev/null +++ b/36662-h.zip diff --git a/36662-h/36662-h.htm b/36662-h/36662-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..3922d6d --- /dev/null +++ b/36662-h/36662-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,4608 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<!-- $Id: header.txt 236 2009-12-07 18:57:00Z vlsimpson $ --> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Palm Tree Blessing, by W. E. Shepard. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> + +body { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; +} + + +hr { + width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; +} +sh { + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; +} + +table { + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; +} + +.pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; +} /* page numbers */ + +.blockquote { + margin-left: 5%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + +.br {border-right: solid 2px;} + +.center {text-align: center;} + +.smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} +/* Poetry */ +.poem { + margin-left:10%; + margin-right:10%; + text-align: left; +} + +.poem br {display: none;} + +.poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} + +.poem span.i0 { + display: block; + margin-left: 0em; + padding-left: 3em; + text-indent: -3em; +} + +.poem span.i2 { + display: block; + margin-left: 2em; + padding-left: 3em; + text-indent: -3em; +} + +.rtnote { + margin-right: 10%; + text-align: right; + font-size: 1.0em +} + + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Palm Tree Blessing, by W. E. Shepard + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Palm Tree Blessing + +Author: W. E. Shepard + +Release Date: July 9, 2011 [EBook #36662] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PALM TREE BLESSING *** + + + + +Produced by David E. Brown, Hazel Batey, Bryan Ness and +the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + + +<p>Transcribers Note:<br /> +Page 7 cocoanut changed to cocoa nut<br /> +Page 7 overtops changed to over tops<br /> +Page 33 ensample changed to example<br /> +Page 68 reoice changed to rejoice<br /> +Page 68 Bastile changed to Bastille<br /> +Page 72 in-coming changed to incoming<br /> +Page 73 undercurrents changed to under-currents<br /> +Page 107 caldron changed to cauldron<br /> +Page 111 strengeneth changed to strengthenth<br /> +Page 112 scarifice changed to sacrifice<br /> +Page 151 inclosed changed to enclosed<br /> +Page 152 usally changed to usually<br /> +Punctuation has been moved inside enquotes where it was outside</p> + + + + +<h1> The Palm Tree Blessing</h1> + +<p class="center"> A discourse on the various characteristics of the palm tree, illustrating the many features of the sanctified, Christian life.</p> + +<p class="center"> <i>By</i> Evangelist W. E. Shepard</p> + +<p class="center"> <i>Author of</i> "Wrested Scriptures Made Plain" Etc.</p> + + + + + +<p class="center"> COPYRIGHT, 1913 NAZARENE PUBLISHING HOUSE<br /></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> + + +<p class="center"><a href="#CHAPTER_I"> CHAPTER I</a></p> + +<p class="center"> <span class="smcap">The Palm Tree Is Noted for Its Beauty</span> 7</p> + +<p class="center"><a href="#CHAPTER_II"> CHAPTER II</a></p> + +<p class="center"> <span class="smcap">The Palm Tree Is Noted For Its Straightness</span> 11</p> + +<p class="center"><a href="#CHAPTER_III"> CHAPTER III</a></p> + +<p class="center"> <span class="smcap">The Palm Tree Is Noted for Its Perennial Freshness</span> 14</p> + +<p class="center"><a href="#CHAPTER_IV"> CHAPTER IV</a></p> + +<p class="center"> <span class="smcap">The Palm Tree Is Noted for Its Fruitfulness</span> 19</p> + +<p class="center"><a href="#CHAPTER_V"> CHAPTER V</a></p> + +<p class="center"> <span class="smcap">The Palm Tree Is Noted for Sweetness of Its Fruit</span> 26</p> + +<p class="center"><a href="#CHAPTER_VI"> CHAPTER VI</a></p> + +<p class="center"> <span class="smcap">The Palm Tree Bears Fruit in Its Old Age</span> 34</p> + +<p class="center"><a href="#CHAPTER_VII"> CHAPTER VII</a></p> + +<p class="center"> <span class="smcap">The Palm Tree Is Noted for Its Utility</span> 41</p> + +<p class="center"><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII"> CHAPTER VIII</a></p> + +<p class="center"> <span class="smcap">The Palm Tree Is Appreciated</span> 56</p> + +<p class="center"><a href="#CHAPTER_IX"> CHAPTER IX</a></p> + +<p class="center"> <span class="smcap">The Palm Tree Will Grow in the Desert</span> 66</p> + +<p class="center"><a href="#CHAPTER_X"> CHAPTER X</a></p> + +<p class="center"> <span class="smcap">The Palm Tree Finds the Water</span> 71</p> + +<p class="center"><a href="#CHAPTER_XI"> CHAPTER XI</a></p> + +<p class="center"> <span class="smcap">The Palm Tree Gets Others Started</span> 76</p> + +<p class="center"><a href="#CHAPTER_XII"> CHAPTER XII</a></p> + +<p class="center"> <span class="smcap">The Palm Tree Mounts Heavenward</span> 81</p> + +<p class="center"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIII"> CHAPTER XIII</a></p> + +<p class="center"> <span class="smcap">The Palm Tree Is Peculiar in Its Growth</span> 86</p> + +<p class="center"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIV"> CHAPTER XIV</a></p> + +<p class="center"> <span class="smcap">The Palm Tree Has a Rough, Coarse Exterior, But Is Soft at the Heart</span> + 89</p> + +<p class="center"><a href="#CHAPTER_XV"> CHAPTER XV</a></p> + +<p class="center"> <span class="smcap">The Life of the Palm Tree Is at the Center</span> 96</p> + +<p class="center"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVI"> CHAPTER XVI</a></p> + +<p class="center"> <span class="smcap">The Palm Branch Is the Symbol of Victory</span> 113</p> + +<p class="center"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVII"> CHAPTER XVII</a></p> + +<p class="center"> <span class="smcap">The Palm Tree Will Not Admit of Grafting</span> 128</p> + +<p class="center"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII"> CHAPTER XVIII</a></p> + +<p class="center"> <span class="smcap">The Palm Tree Is Adapted to Warm Climates</span> 142</p> + +<p class="center"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIX"> CHAPTER XIX</a></p> + +<p class="center"> <span class="smcap">Palm Tree Peculiarities</span> 146</p> + +<p class="center"> a. <i>The Explosive Flower.</i></p> + +<p class="center"> b. <i>The Living Sacrifice.</i></p> + +<p class="center"> c. <i>The Foreign Missionary.</i></p> + +<p class="center"> d. <i>Differences in Size and Form.</i></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h2>Introduction</h2> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree."—Psalm 92:12.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Wherever the Holy Spirit in the inspired Word has made any statement +concerning anything, whether in regard to flowers, fruit, agriculture, +horticulture, stock raising, minerals, earth, sea, sky, stars, science, +religion, or what not, rest assured that statement is absolutely +correct. There may be some statements which are hard to understand at +first, but which may become perfectly clear when proper light is thrown +upon them.</p> + +<p>The Word of God abounds in comparisons. It says the wicked are "like the +troubled sea," the backslider like the dog "turned to his own vomit +again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire." In the +first Psalm it says the ungodly "are like the chaff which the wind +driveth away," but on the other hand the godly are "like a tree planted +by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his +leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper."</p> + +<p>Wherever God has compared the godly or the ungodly with anything, He +certainly understood the case and made no mistake.</p> + +<p>If one is not sure of his spiritual standing, it might be well to select +something to which God has likened him, and then note the difference.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</a></span></p> + +<p>Among the most beautiful comparisons in the Word is this: "<i>The +righteous shall flourish like the palm tree</i>."</p> + +<p>The object of this little book is to show some of the characteristics of +the palm tree blessing. Let the reader not forget to keep before his +mind the thought of measuring up, and in that way be able to determine +whether he belongs to the class mentioned. Please do not think of +neighbor So-and-so, but keep your thought on your own personal +experience.</p> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>The Palm Tree Blessing</h2><p class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></p> + + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I</h2> + +<h3>THE PALM TREE IS NOTED FOR ITS BEAUTY</h3> + + +<p>It is certainly one of the most beautiful trees in nature. That is why +so many are used in decorating the premises. People do not plant scrub +oaks in their gardens, but they plant nature's beauties.</p> + +<p>In the palm tree realm we have a large variety, of different sizes, such +as date, fan, and cocoa nut, and in them all it seems that God laid +Himself out to make something charming to behold.</p> + +<p>When He compared the saint with the palm tree, it signified that there +is something in him that is beautiful. One may be counted homely, or +disfigured by some mark of nature or accident; but in spite of all he +can have God's beauty shining out from his face and life. It matters not +how he may be marked with some naturally undesirable feature, in spite +of all, the palm tree saint has the effulgence of the upper-world glory, +which over tops it all, and there shines forth real, heavenly beauty. So +there is hope for all.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</a></span></p> + +<p>That beautiful daughter of King David, and sister to Absalom, who was +the finest looking man of his day, was called Tamar, which is the Hebrew +word for <i>palm</i>. Doubtless she was called Tamar on account of her +beauty. Absalom named his daughter Tamar for this same reason: "And unto +Absalom there was born three sons and one daughter, whose name was +Tamar: she was a woman of a fair countenance."</p> + +<p>Moses was so close to God and heaven during those days on the mount, +that his face literally shone. And just in proportion as people today +get close to the upper world, will God cover them with His celestial +cosmetics. This far surpasses the paint and powder and Circassian cream +of a frivolous and fashion-loving world. If people only knew it, the +more of these—and of dead birds, rag posies, and glittering +gewgaws—they put on, the more unbecoming they appear, and the more any +natural beauty they chance to have is covered up. Whenever a woman +besmears her face with paint and powder, hoping to cover up what she may +think to be unseemly, she might as well carry a placard bearing this +inscription:</p> + +<blockquote><p>To whom it may concern: This is to certify that I am homely, and am +trying to cover up the fact by the use of paint and powder, thus +hoping to deceive the public.</p> + + +<p class="rtnote">SIGNED—O. C. PRIDE.</p> + +</blockquote> + +<p>"The King's daughter is all glorious within." And because of this it +works out, and so, with God's glory upon one, surely there is no need of +the world's adornments to supplement God's handiwork. "The ornament<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span> of +a meek and quiet spirit" is the adorning which all should seek, and all +may obtain.</p> + +<p>The climax of trinket wearing is to be found in the heathen world. There +they deck themselves literally from head to heel. They puncture ears, +lips, and nose to find more room for their jewelry. God's arraignment of +His people in the third chapter of Isaiah for patterning after the +heathen customs is appalling, and we wonder that the translators of the +Bible had the ingenuity to ferret out all the different kinds of +trumpery in that dead language and find their proper expression in +English. When the writer was a boy going to a country school, he was +told by the teacher that barbarians wore jewelry, and in proportion as +people did the same today they were barbarian. We once stepped into a +restaurant in the city of Omaha, and noticed a woman seated at one of +the tables. The sight of her hand eclipsed anything we had ever seen. +There were rings galore. We do not remember the number on her fingers, +but she had so many, it looked as if she had not room enough on her +fingers, so she actually had one on her thumb. Doubtless she thought +this added to her beauty. We once saw a fortune teller with large rings +in her ears, three chains around her neck, seven rings on her fingers +and eight bracelets on the wrists.</p> + +<p>How different is all this from the beauty which the Holy Spirit gives! +We have seen the faces of some saints that verily shone with the +brightness of the indwelling Christ within. Sometimes in deathbed +scenes<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span> God has lifted the curtain just enough to let a little of +heaven's halo fall across the features, and how it lighted up the face +and made it radiant with a glory which at once was known to be +unearthly. God surely knows how to beautify His people.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II</h2><p class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></p> + +<h3>THE PALM TREE IS NOTED FOR ITS STRAIGHTNESS</h3> + + +<p>There is something in the very nature of this remarkable production, +that scarcely allows of any departure from the perpendicular. The palm +tree will grow straight. One seldom sees a crooked one. We remember +seeing one, but it was dead.</p> + +<p>Now, if we have the palm tree blessing, we are spiritually straight. +God's people are straight. They are straight in their homes, in the +church, in their business, with the world, with each other and with God. +In their business deals they will not stoop to any underhanded trickery +either on a big scale or little. They will even swear to their own hurt +and change not. They will put themselves out to hunt up the conductor in +order to pay their nickle fare before they leave the car. They never +leave the counter with a surplus of change if they know it. They are +careful about not using many words in buying and selling. They never +cover up the defects and make prominent the good points in their deals. +They endeavor to observe the Golden Rule, doing unto others as they +would have others do to them. They will surely overcome any stingy +element in their makeup, if previously possessed with such a factor. +They will not lavish<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span> their homes and let God's cause languish. Their +earthly store belongs to God, and they recognize His right to draw upon +them whenever He chooses.</p> + +<p>One of the greatest stumbling blocks to the world today is the +crookedness of so many so-called saints. The world knows when we walk +straight. They may call one an old fogy, brand him as a fanatic, say he +has gone crazy over religion, but at the same time they will say, "He +pays his grocery bills." And perchance a sinner is dying and wants +prayer, he will send for the very one he called fanatical and crazy. Do +you think, dear reader, that you would be the one he would call upon for +prayer?</p> + +<p>The story is told of a man who was felling a tree, and was buried +beneath the branches as it fell. On being extricated he was found to be +mortally injured. A physician was summoned, and saw at once that the +poor man must soon die. Being interested in his spiritual welfare, he +told the man plainly that he could not live, and advised him to make his +preparation to meet God, suggesting at the same time that he send for a +certain neighbor who was a deacon in the church. Upon the mention of +this deacon's name, the dying man recoiled, and said, "I hate him. He +has lived alongside of me for years and has never said a word to me +about my soul."</p> + +<p>It is said that the palm tree has such a natural tendency to grow +straight, that it will not grow crooked though heavy burdens be placed +upon it. It will push up in spite of all the load, and simply remain +straight.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span> How like God's true saint! Satan has many burdens with which +to break his back, or cause him to deviate from the straight course, but +with this blessing, he is enabled to rise in spite of all and be a +perfectly perpendicular pilgrim. Praise the Lord! Business burdens, +domestic duties, religious responsibilities would crowd in and hold us +down, or shift our course upward, but He who carries our cares, and +bears our burdens will bring us up straight if we but look constantly to +Him.<br /></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III</h2><p class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></p> + +<h3>IT IS NOTED FOR ITS PERENNIAL FRESHNESS</h3> + + +<p>The palm tree is an evergreen. It always has a fresh, green crown on +top, on the heavenly side. Some parts may wither; some leaves fade and +fall in time, but up at the top is a never-fading, fresh, beautiful +crown that basks in the open sunlight and is a beauty to behold. Now, +pilgrim, press up alongside of this characteristic and see if you have +the mark.</p> + +<p>The palm tree blessing is always a fresh blessing. Those who are so +fortunate as to have this experience have a freshness about them that +makes others desire it. There is nothing stale nor dry in their +testimonies or prayers. With this beautiful characteristic, one does not +say over the same old testimony, repeat the same stereotyped prayer at +family worship, nor ask the same blessing at the table over and over. +You might note the next time you say grace at the table, and then ask +yourself if you have the palm tree blessing.</p> + +<p>How refreshing some people's testimonies always are! We are sure to get +something new. Even if it is old, it is set forth in a new garb, and +people enjoy it and get blessed. They have a perennial freshness in +their lives, and a storehouse from which to draw, so<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span> that they are +always enabled to bless a congregation whenever they are present.</p> + +<p>There are some saints that are always in demand in meetings because they +are so juicy and blessed. There is such a crown of rejoicing toward +heaven in it all, that the meeting is sure to rise in interest and power +whenever they take part.</p> + +<p>Have you ever noticed a meeting that begins to rise with each succeeding +testimony? One speaks and the spiritual thermometer goes up a little, +then another in the Spirit talks out his heart, and up goes the +temperature another degree or so, and thus it rises till it reaches a +good, warm level, when suddenly some one arises and instantly down goes +the thermometer. The meeting has cooled off several degrees. What was +the matter? Will you kindly notice the next time you testify, and see if +the thermometer goes up or down? Then ask yourself about this blessing, +providing you cooled the meeting off.</p> + +<p>What is the reason, when some people talk or pray, the saints seem to be +so glad? They take it for granted that they are going to get something +helpful and interesting, and that the meeting will get a boost. On the +other hand, why is it when certain others take part, there is a sort of +inward sigh, "uttered or unexpressed," and a settling down to endure the +ordeal till he gets through? We will let the reader answer. Oh, to be +fresh, and free, and full of the Spirit all the time!</p> + +<p>The Word declares that "where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is +liberty." The liberty of the Spirit<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span> always makes a meeting fresh and +helpful. One of the prevailing hindrances in the Christian life is +quenching the Spirit. The command is, "Quench not the Spirit" and we +have no right to disobey that injunction any more than any other. We +have seen people pray through at the altar and get wonderfully blessed +and have much of the freedom of the Spirit, and after a few days when +the Spirit desired again to manifest Himself through them, they have +shrunk back through timidity, quenched the Spirit and leaked out in +their experience. Does God make provision for any one to have any less +liberty and freedom of Spirit later on in his Christian life? I trow +not. Look to it then that you do not frustrate the grace of God in your +hearts. If you were ever turned loose in a meeting, or, under the +blessing of God you ran off with the meeting, see to it that you lose +not your liberty, for the Lord may call upon you some other time to +swing loose and take things by storm.</p> + +<p>The story is told of Amanda Smith, the colored evangelist, who felt one +time that she should lift her hand in the service and say, "Glory to +God." At first she wondered if that was best under the circumstances, +but felt the prompting was of the Lord, so she lifted her hand and +shouted it out. Immediately the blessing of God was precipitated upon +the congregation and a wonderful time of freedom was the result. We knew +a brother who said he felt impressed once to do a similar thing, but he +allowed something to hold him back, and so grieved the Spirit, and he +declared it<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span> took him two weeks to pray back to God. It pays to obey +God. He will surely put His Spirit upon those whom He can trust. He will +give all the liberty we will use. We never need to pray for freedom in +the meetings, for all we have to do is to help ourselves. Imagine a +child coming home hungry, and asking his mother for some bread and +butter. His mother says, "There is the pantry, child, help yourself." +The child teases further for bread and butter. Once more the kind parent +informs him that the cupboard is handy, and he may help himself. But the +child continues to beg. What attitude would that parent finally take? It +would probably result in a good spanking. Imagine a child of God +continually teasing the Lord for liberty, when He is constantly saying, +"Help yourself." The freedom will surely be on hand when we step out and +do our part.</p> + +<p>The amusing story is told of Frederick Douglas who rose from slavery to +quite a place in history. When in bondage in the South, he was wont to +pray the Lord to give him his freedom. But he said the Lord did not +answer his prayer. Again and again he prayed, but the Lord did not +answer his petition. "One night," said he, "I went out and set my eyes +on the North Star, and scratched gravel behind, and then the Lord +answered my prayer." No wonder the paper he afterwards edited was called +the <i>North Star</i>. If more people who are in bondage to fear, and are +longing at the same time for deliverance, would do as this<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span> man of color +did—set their spiritual eyes on the pole star of freedom, and scratch +gravel—they would soon find their prayers for liberty answered.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV</h2><p class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></p> + +<h3>IT IS NOTED FOR ITS FRUITFULNESS</h3> + + +<p>In the orient, where the date palm thrives the best, it is astonishing +the quantity of delicious fruit it bears. It affords one of the chief +industries, and is one of the principal articles of food.</p> + +<p>Seeing the inspired Word declares that the righteous flourish like the +palm tree, it stands to reason that the righteous bear an abundance of +spiritual fruit. Fruit-bearing is the chief characteristic of the saint. +"But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have +your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life" (Rom. 6: 23). A +nonfruit-bearing holiness is a nonentity.</p> + +<p>"Every branch in me that beareth not fruit, he taketh away: and every +branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it that it may bring forth more +fruit" (John 15:2). In other words, every Christian who ceases to bear +fruit, becomes a backslider and is cut off; while every one that bears +fruit, keeps connected with the True Vine, and gets cleansed, or +sanctified. This statement simply means, then, that one must get +cleansed, or lose what grace he has. These are solemn truths, and each +one should look well to his fruit bearing, and continue in the same.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Now the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, +gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance; against such there is +no law" (Gal. 5:22, 23). All palm tree saints are in the fruit business. +There is no law, says the text, against such a business. There is no law +written in the Bible, or upon our hearts that opposes it. There is no +law of nature that runs counter to it. The law of the land does not +forbid one having love, joy, peace, or any of the other varieties. Even +formal ecclesiastical law does not oppose one having love, joy, peace, +or the others mentioned; but sometimes it raises a hue and cry, and +brings forth a storm of persecution when the outward manifestations of +this fruit intrude into their graveyard quietness, and thus disturb +their death.</p> + +<p>God gave the Israelites specific instructions what to do when they +gained the Promised Land. He told them when they entered Canaan they +were to take of the fruit of the land and put it into a basket and go to +the proper place and say to the priest, "I profess this day unto the +Lord thy God, that I am come unto the country which the Lord swore unto +our fathers for to give us" (Deut. 26:3). The spiritual application is +this: When one arrives at Canaan today, he should immediately have a +fine basket of the fruit of the land, and go to the church and tell +preacher and people, that in the providence and mercy of God he has +received a clean heart full of pure love, or in other words, he has been +sanctified wholly. But he must have his basket of fruit. Alas! too many +are testifying these<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span> days to being "saved and sanctified and sweetly +kept," and when one looks for the basket of fruit, there is "nothing but +leaves," or perchance some peelings, stems and shells.</p> + +<p>Abraham Lincoln once said, "You may fool some of the people all the +time, and all the people some of the time; but you can't fool <i>all</i> the +people <i>all</i> the time." The palm tree saint does not fool any of the +people any of the time. He simply has his basket of fruit with him, and +if one is inclined to doubt his testimony, all he has to do is to look +into his basket and behold the grapes, figs, and pomegranates of Canaan. +This is what tells so on others who have not as yet arrived at the +station. When they see such delicious displays from the land of Beulah, +their mouths begin to water, and there is an inward longing for some of +the same kind. But what a stigma upon the religion of Jesus Christ, when +one lays claim to Canaan experience, and has nothing to show for it but +an empty basket!</p> + +<p>When the spies returned from their Canaan exploration they brought of +the fruit to Moses and said, "We came unto the land whither thou sentest +us, and surely it floweth with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of +it" (Num. 13:27). They carried the unmistakable proof with them. Let us +see to it that our testimonies are accompanied with their proper proof.</p> + +<p>There is altogether too much failure in Christian service, because of +the excuse of lacking in talent. It is true that some have more talent +than others, but does that excuse those of one talent? The terrible +punishment<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span> inflicted upon the one who nicely wrapped his one talent in +the napkin and laid it away, ought to alarm any who may be tempted to do +likewise. Those who are favored with more talents are held more +responsible to God for the use of them. It seems that God is not +especially hunting for brains to use in His service, as He is looking +for clean channels. If He can get the man of ten talents all consecrated +to Him, very well and good; He will certainly use him to His own glory; +but He is also ready to work with and through the simple-minded as well. +And frequently we find Him doing more through such a channel than where +there is ten times the talent. We copy the story of what God did through +a half-idiot boy as printed in the <i>Herald of Holiness</i>:</p> + +<p>"One time," said Dr. Broughton, "I remember beginning a meeting in an +old, conservative church in one of the most conservative towns of the +South. A large crowd had gathered to hear my first sermon. It was not +much of a sermon, however, that they heard, but a good deal of +proposition making.</p> + +<p>"To begin with, I asked for all fathers who had unsaved sons to stand +up. Nobody stood, however, except a little boy about twelve years old, +who sat far back in the congregation. He arose. He was not satisfied to +stand, he got up on the seat and lifted his hands. He was determined to +be seen. Everybody laughed at the mistake, and I said, 'Young man, that +will do; sit down.' My next proposition was to mothers, but not a mother +stood. The same little boy stood up, however.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span> 'That will do,' said I; +'sit down.' Then I went for the brothers and sisters. I made five +propositions that night, and he responded to every one of them, and he +was the only one that paid any attention to them whatever. I went away +from that meeting very much humiliated. The same was true of the +services on the next night and on through the services of three days. To +every proposition I made, he responded, and he was the only one who did. +Finally, a deacon of the church came to me and said: 'That boy is a half +idiot. The fact is, he is a whole idiot, and those people are coming to +see him perform. That is what they are coming for.'</p> + +<p>"'Well,' said I, 'what do you think I ought to do about it?'</p> + +<p>"'Why,' said he, 'stop him, of course.'</p> + +<p>"I said, 'Stop him? Never! He is the only sign of life I have seen in +this town. I feel like paying him to go around with me to worry old +conservative deacons. Talk about that boy! Why, he is the only spark of +hope the church has in this town so far as I have been able to see. I +would not think of putting that light out.'</p> + +<p>"'Well,' said the deacon, 'he has thrown a damper on your meetings.'</p> + +<p>"I said, 'No, brother, you can not throw a damper on an icehouse, and +this old thing has been frozen over for twenty years.'</p> + +<p>"'All right, said he, 'let the boy go on.'</p> + +<p>"So it went on for the rest of the week. Now and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span> then some other simple +soul would stand for prayer, but very seldom.</p> + +<p>"At the close of the sermon the next Sunday morning, when I gave out the +invitation for those who wished to join the church to come forward, that +boy walked up to the front. I asked the usual questions and took the +vote and he was received.</p> + +<p>"That night as I came into the church a man arose and said: 'Brother +Broughton, I want to ask a prayer for a man who is in this house, one of +the honored citizens of our town and a man of eighty-five years of age, +who has not been in a church for twenty-five years until tonight. He has +been known as a skeptic, but I see him here tonight, and I think he will +pardon me for making this request. I feel so deeply the weight of his +soul.'</p> + +<p>"As soon he sat down the old man arose and said: 'Friends and neighbors, +I am the man you are about to pray for. I want to tell you why I am here +tonight. This little boy who sits here by my side is my grandson. You +know that he is an unfortunate lad. It is because of that we have loved +him so. This morning he came home and threw his arms around my neck and +said, "Oh, grandpa, I have got religion, and have joined the church. And +grandpa, I am so happy that I don't know what to do. I wish grandma was +here. Oh, grandpa, you know she went to heaven three months ago and I +have nobody to talk to about Jesus."' The old man said, 'Just as the +child said that, something struck my heart that had not struck it before +since I was a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span> boy and left home to go to college. You can call it what +you please, but if you can, by your prayers, bring the grace of God into +my heart, I will be thankful.' Before we left that night he was +converted.</p> + +<p>"The next morning the little fellow went out in the town and climbed +over his father's bar counter, for he was a barkeeper, and said, 'Papa, +won't you come and go with me to hear our preacher?' He promised he +would that night, which he did, and at two o'clock the father was +converted.</p> + +<p>"The next day he went out, declaring he was going to be a missionary to +his fellow saloon keepers. He got them, every one of them, to close up +their places and come to church. There were seven in number, and during +that week six out of the seven gave their hearts to God, and all of them +agreed to close up their business. A great revival broke out in that +town which extended all through the county, and several counties, and in +six months' time there was not a barroom in that county. Every barkeeper +agreed to quit the business, and so far as I know, there has never been +one in the county until this day.</p> + +<p>"Such a gracious revival of religion! How did it all come about? Not by +preaching; not by great manipulations; not by great singing, valuable as +these all may be—they did not bring it about. It came about through a +little half idiot boy, who had no better sense than to trust God the +best he knew and do his level best."</p> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V</h2><p class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></p> + +<h3>IT IS NOTED FOR THE SWEETNESS OF ITS FRUIT</h3> + + +<p>All palms are not of the same variety, but the date palm is the one +specially noted for its sweet fruit. When the orientals dry their dates +and press them and ship them into our country, we then learn how nearly +akin to sugar they are.</p> + +<p>The righteous shall flourish in sweetness. Full salvation surely +sweetens one's life and disposition. A sour holiness is a sham holiness. +Some professors of religion look and act as if they were pickled instead +of preserved.</p> + +<p>When God described the beauties and benefits of Beulah Land, He told the +people it was a land of honey. Honey was one of the leading commodities +of Canaan. One of the prime factors of the palm tree blessing is +spiritual honey. It is certainly a sweet experience, both in its inward +enjoyment and outward manifestation. In the various tests of life one +will find the inward proclivities making way to the surface, and out of +the abundance of the heart the mouth will speak. Sister, do you find +yourself saying, "Praise the Lord," when the clothes line breaks, or the +bread burns? What comes to the surface when your children tug at your +apron by the hour in their fretfulness? How is it<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span> when your neighbor's +chickens clean up your radish and turnip patch? or husband scolds, or +the older children are disobedient and saucy? It is true one may be +tried in these disappointing ordeals, and have the smile of heaven at +the same time, but is there an overcoming sweetness in it all that +convinces others that you have the palm tree blessing?</p> + +<p>Perhaps husband is smiling, as wife reads these lines; but how do you +feel when the horse balks, or the cow kicks the milk all over you? What +do you say when hammering, and you hit the wrong nail? How is your +equilibrium at the midnight hour in zero weather when wife hunches you +under the fifth rib and notifies you that baby has the colic and +requests you to get up and make a fire? Do you smile and say, +"Certainly, dear," or do you growl and let her do it? Think of the palm +tree blessing next time.</p> + +<p>A minister once asked his colored servant why he didn't get along +better, while she always seemed so happy. She replied that it was +because he read his Bible wrong. He could not understand that, for he +certainly knew how to read the Bible. She finally told him, where the +Bible said "Glory in tribulation," he read it, "Growl in tribulation."</p> + +<p>The grace of gentleness and sweetness under trying circumstances is so +scarce in this world, that it is indeed refreshing when we come in +contact with it. It is said of the mother of John and Charles Wesley, +that one of the children once asked some privilege and was denied with a +"no." The child was persistent and asked<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span> again, and the answer was +again, "no." For some reason the interrogation was requested time and +again, and the patient mother responded "no" twenty times, and the last +time in the same tone of voice as the first. We might question the +propriety of allowing a child to be so persistent, but we could not +question the propriety of suffering long, with kindness on the farther +end of it. We have been struck before now at the agitation and seeming +impatience of some leading holiness preachers when some disturbance was +made in the meeting; when a child cried, some one went out, or some +unusual noise or commotion occurred. Almost anybody can keep sweet when +everything goes their way, but the time to prove that a part of one's +stock in trade is honey, is when the trying ordeals of life press in, +and people are looking on to see if he has what he has been shouting +over in the meeting.</p> + +<p>There is a clause in the Bible that reads thus: "The God of all grace." +I do not know how much our God has, but it says in another place, "He +giveth more grace." We believe that in every exigency of life, the grace +of our God is sufficient. If a policeman on the street of some large +city met with some opposition as he was endeavoring to do his duty, he +would have the privilege, if unable to cope with the opposition alone, +to call upon another officer. If these two were unable to overcome, they +could have the whole police force of the city at their disposal. If this +power was not sufficient they could have the state militia, and +perchance this should fail, the whole government is back<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span> of him, and +would call out the regular army. That police officer has the whole +government ready to back him up in doing his duty. So it is with the +faithful child of God. When he is suffered to pass through some trying +ordeal, and the present stock of grace is not sufficient, "He giveth +more grace," and the "God of all grace" is at his disposal, and "God is +able to make all grace abound toward" him, and He would call out the +whole stock of grace of heaven before He would allow the faithful soul +to fail who relied upon Him.</p> + +<p>These testing trials are what make solid Christian character. What would +the giant oak on the mountain side amount to, if it were not for the +storms that surge against it? These storms cause the roots to take +stronger hold, and thus they grapple with earth and rock and become +practically immovable. When the storms of trial and persecution sweep up +against the pure in heart, they cause them to cleave the more to their +Protector and send the roots of faith and love deeper into the Rock +beneath.</p> + +<p>What does the Word mean when it says, "That the trial of your faith, +being much more precious than of gold that perisheth?" Does it not mean +that these testings of faith are worth much more than gold nuggets which +one might find in the street? Then why do we not act that way? Imagine +one walking along the road and stumbling against a big chunk of fine +gold, and then looking down at the mouth and complaining at his +misfortune. No, if such a one had been discouraged just before, we think +this sudden find would dispel<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span> all his sorrow. How would it do for us to +act as if we had found a nugget of gold, the next time some great trial +crosses our path? Would it be inconsistent to shout "Glory to God! I +have something that is worth more to me than gold tried in the fire?" +"Count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations," for "Blessed is +the man that endureth temptation." Suppose one should come into a +meeting and testify that he had more trials than anybody in the world. +We have heard testimonies that tend in that direction. Usually the +witness looks as if it were about true. But what does God's Word say +about it? "My grace is sufficient for thee." We believe that all true +pilgrims, as they journey through life, have at times all they can stand +of trials and testings. And yet, "there hath no temptation taken you but +such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you +to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also +make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it" (1 Cor. 10:13). +Now, in the light of these Scriptures, we see, that in proportion to +one's trials, temptations, and testings, God puts alongside the +sufficient grace to bear them. If one has more trial than another, and +holds true to God, it only shows that he has more grace than another. +Now, why doesn't the brother in the meeting who testifies that he has +more trials than anybody else, look up and shout himself hoarse at the +abundance of grace the Lord has for him? Let us<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span> not be infidels, but +actually believe the Word of God, and <i>act</i> as if we believed it. Amen!</p> + +<p>If the Devil can get us to grunt and growl when he kicks us, it +encourages him to kick the more. Notice those pestiferous boys at +school. See them poking fun at that crying lad who declares he is going +to tell his mother. The more he cries the more encouraged they feel to +impose upon him. Now watch them as they ply their game on some +independent chap. He just laughs at them and says, "I don't care." Their +fun is spoiled and one of them says, "Come on, boys, we can't have any +fun out of him." Why not try this method on the Devil? Instead of crying +and complaining, and pitying yourself, just shout, "Glory to God!" when +he kicks you. He may try it again, but shout "Hallelujah!" right in his +face. Methinks he will say, "I don't understand that Christian; the more +I kick him, the more he praises the Lord and shouts."</p> + +<p>The explanation of Psa. 40:11 by that sunny, happy-hearted Christian +known as Aunt Sophia may not be far out of the way. "Let thy loving +kindness and thy truth continually preserve me." Aunt Sophia said, "Dat +just like de deah Lawd. He puts His trusting children right in de big +saucepan of His lub, and He sweetens dem wif de sweetness of His grace, +so dey nebber get sour. And when you see one who is cross and fretful +and gloomy, bress you, honies, dey is not preserved; dey's only +pickled!"</p> + +<p>There is nothing in the Scriptures that would indicate that any part of +the Christian life was made<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span> up of sour material. "Vinegar never catches +flies," and a sour, long-faced professor of religion is certainly a poor +sample of Christ's handiwork. When the sweetness of the palm tree +blessing enters the soul, the long face in the direction of north and +south, shortens up, and lengthens out east and west. A preacher once +entered a grocery store, and casting his eyes about, he discovered some +packages on a shelf, with the following label on them: "Warranted to +keep sweet in all climates." The company sending out the goods, +evidently had much faith in their enduring qualities. They surely knew +that the contents might be subjected to heat and cold, wet and dry, high +and low altitudes, at home and abroad. Yet they were ready to put on the +goods, "Warranted to keep sweet in all climates." Surely, when our +Preserver has put the finishing touches on His goods, He has included an +element of grace which warrants them to keep sweet in all climates. It +does not seem hard for some to keep sweet when all goes their way; when +nothing crosses their path; when all is fair sailing; but let the +nagging, disappointing, galling trials incident to this life press in +upon the soul, and the look, tone and talk are changed. The preserves +have been changed to pickles. Such a one could not well influence +another by his life and example to become a follower of the meek and +lowly Jesus.</p> + +<p>We may not always be aware of it, but surely others are watching us. Can +we say with Paul, "Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them +which<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span> walk, so as ye have us for an ex sample? (Phil. 3:17). Again, +"Those things which ye have both learned, and received, and heard and +seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you" (Phil. 4:9).</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI</h2><p class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></p> + +<h3>THE PALM TREE BEARS FRUIT IN OLD AGE</h3> + + +<p>It is a very long-lived tree. At the age of about thirty it seems to +have reached its height in fruitfulness, but will continue its prolific +yield for seventy years more under proper conditions, so that at the +century mark it is still flourishing. It is said that it bears its very +sweetest fruit in its old age.</p> + +<p>In the realm of grace God has not planned for spiritual declension in +old age. The free grace of God is just as willingly bestowed then as in +decades before. The next verses which follow the statement: "The +righteous shall flourish like the palm tree," bring out this glorious +truth. "Those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in +the courts of our God. They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; +they shall be fat and flourishing" (Psa. 92:13, 14).</p> + +<p>Do we not often see old people, after they have possibly professed +holiness for many years, in their declining days, take on a fretful, +cross, murmuring spirit, and make it hard to get along with them? +Instead of the little children delighting to be around them, if they +should express themselves, they would say, "What is the matter with +grandpa; he is getting so crabbed and cross?" One of the saddest and +also one of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span> most dangerous calamities that can befall an old +Christian, is to lose the sweetness and juice and fruitfulness of early +piety.</p> + +<p>"The trees of the Lord are full of sap." This sap life is characteristic +of the palm tree, and he who lacks the sweet juice of fresh life +bubbling up in his heart should inquire into his experience.</p> + +<p>One of the most encouraging and soul-inspiring examples to young +converts is the victorious faith and activities of the aged saints. How +it blesses our souls when we stand in the presence of such an +octogenarian. The fire still burning within, he is ready to pray, shout +or testify at a moment's notice. There are many of God's old palm trees, +though they may have the word "superannuated" attached somewhere, yet +they are ever active in bringing forth fruit. Like the old horse that +was superannuated from the fire department, and was used in a delivery +wagon, when he heard the fire bell ring, he champed his bits and struck +off down the road and never stopped till he had backed up to the fire. +Live meetings and revival fires set some of these old war horses going, +and one would think they were surely renewing their youth. They love the +way and will not rust out with advancing years.</p> + +<p>Look at the unceasing and untiring activities of John Wesley, much of it +after he had crossed the line of fourscore years. The following +information concerning him is current in religious papers:<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span></p> + + +<h4>"HOW JOHN WESLEY WORKED"</h4> + +<p>"His travels were immense, amounting to about 290,000 miles, or about +twelve times the circumference of the globe, making about 5,000 miles a +year.</p> + +<p>"He preached before the days of steam or electricity, twenty sermons a +week, and often more. Most of these sermons were preached in the open +air, and often amid showers of brickbats, rotten eggs, and personal +violence calculated to test the strongest nerve. A Baptist preacher +recently celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of his pastorate. It was +announced as an unusual fact that he had preached an average of three +sermons a week during the fifty years. But John Wesley preached on an +average, for fifty-four years, three sermons a day. The Baptist +clergyman had preached during the time a little over 8,000 sermons. Mr. +Wesley preached in fifty-four years, more than 44,000 sermons. This did +not include numberless addresses and exhortations on a great variety of +occasions.</p> + +<p>"For many years he was editor of the 'Arminian Magazine,' a periodical +of fifty-six pages—the work of one man in these times.</p> + +<p>"He wrote and published a commentary on the whole Bible in four large +volumes.</p> + +<p>"He compiled and published a dictionary of the English language—no +small undertaking.</p> + +<p>"He wrote and published a work of four volumes on natural philosophy.</p> + +<p>"He wrote and published a work of four volumes on ecclesiastical +history.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span></p> + +<p>"He wrote and published comprehensive histories of England and Rome.</p> + +<p>"He wrote grammars of the Hebrew, Latin, Greek, French, and English +languages.</p> + +<p>"He wrote, abridged, revised, and published a library of fifty volumes +known as the 'Christian Library,' and some time after he re-read, +revised, corrected, and published the whole in thirty large volumes. +This library contains one of the richest collections found in the +English language.</p> + +<p>"He wrote a good-sized work on electricity.</p> + +<p>"He prepared and published for the common people three works on +medicine.</p> + +<p>"He published six volumes of church music. His poetical works, in +connection with his brother Charles, amounted to not less than forty +volumes. Charles wrote most of them, but they passed under the keen +revision of John, without which we doubt if Charles Wesley's hymns would +have been what they are—the most beautiful and soul-inspiring to be +found in the English language.</p> + +<p>"In addition to these multiplied publications, we have seven large +volumes, including sermons, journals, letters and controversial papers +known as 'Wesley's Works.' It is claimed that Mr. Wesley's works, +including abridgments and translations, amounted to at least two hundred +volumes. It is difficult to understand how a man could have found time +to accomplish so much literary labor while perpetually on the wing.</p> + +<p>"In addition to all this, Wesley was a pastor and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span> did more real +pastoral work than nine-tenths of the pastors of these times. One has +only to read his journals to be convinced of this. For a time he visited +all the class and band meetings, and had special charge of the select +societies. He appointed all the class and band leaders, stationed all +the preachers, and had a general oversight of the many thousands of his +followers.</p> + +<p>"He improved every moment of the day. Mr. Fletcher, who was for some +time his traveling companion, says of him, 'His diligence is matchless. +Though oppressed with the weight of seventy years, and the care of +30,000 souls, he shamed still, by his unabating zeal and immense labors, +all the young ministers of England, perhaps, of Christendom. He has +frequently blown the gospel trumpet and rode twenty miles before most of +the professors who despise his labors have left their downy pillows. As +he begins the day, the week, so he concludes them, still intent upon +extensive service for the glory of the Redeemer and the good of souls.</p> + +<p>"'From four o'clock in the morning until ten at night every moment was +occupied in loving efforts to save the lost; and he never lost ten +minutes from wakefulness at night, as he himself affirmed. His motto +was, "always in haste, but never in a hurry." "Leisure and I have taken +leave of each other." "Ten thousand cares are no more to me than ten +thousand hairs on my head." "I am never weary with writing, preaching or +traveling," are a few of the utterances of this<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span> remarkable man. And in +the midst of all this wonderful activity he says, "I enjoy more hours of +private retirement than any man in England."'"</p> + +<p>No wonder he could shout on his dying bed with the heavenly halo around +his head and say, "The best of all is, God is with us."</p> + +<p>Look at that apostle of faith, George Muller, after he had prayed in +millions of dollars, cared for thousands of orphans, preached in many +lands and sent missionaries throughout the world, still active for God +between eighty and ninety years of age.</p> + +<p>Thomas Mayhew was one of those early missionaries to the North American +Indians. When on his way to the old country to seek further aid for his +work, he was lost at sea. His old father, then past his seventieth year, +regarded this sad bereavement as God's call for him to fill the place +made vacant by the death of his son. He immediately began to study the +Indian language, and went forth to carry on the mission of his son, +which he did until his death at the age of ninety-three. In his travels, +the old man would often have to walk twenty miles through the woods to +preach to the Indians. Surely, this was better than idle sorrow. It was +bringing forth fruit in old age. He had the palm tree vitality and +blessing.</p> + +<p>I am thinking just now of an aged minister. For over half a century he +has served God in the regular ministry, and now although over six years +past the "allotted time" of life, he is untiring in his work and zeal +for God. He is up to date in all the departments<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span> of the work. He is +superintendent of the home department of the Sunday school, and does +work like a pastor in his regular visitations. He enters open doors and +preaches many sermons. He is a most zealous advocate of prohibition, and +stands in the forefront ranks in pushing that important work, and is +president of the prohibition work in his community. His zeal for the +foreign missionary field is most inspiring, and by faith, with all the +other blessings of giving that he takes upon himself, he has just taken +a native missionary to support from his limited means. While he is so +active on all the live issues of the church, and is at his post to push +and pull, yet he is seemingly most at home in the battle for souls. You +can count on him at the revival unless he is providentially hindered. +And when the seekers line up at the altar, he is at hand to pray and +shout the battle on. He has the word "superannuated" applied somewhere, +but we think it a misnomer and that a more appropriate word would be +"superabundant."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII</h2><p class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></p> + +<h3>THE PALM TREE IS NOTED FOR ITS UTILITY</h3> + + +<p>The uses to which the different palm tree varieties are put are +something marvelous in the extreme. There is nothing like it in all the +vegetable world. All parts are utilized, from the trunk and branches to +the sap. From the branches they make cages for poultry, and fences for +gardens. From the leaves they manufacture couches, baskets, bags, and +mats. From the fiber they make thread, ropes, and rigging. From the sap +is manufactured a drink, while seeds are ground up for provender for +camels.</p> + +<p>The following will show some of the many uses of the various kinds of +palms: Fuel, clothing, building material, tents, cages, crates, fences, +thatching, bridges, masts, boats, oars, canes, umbrellas, umbrella +sticks, couches, baskets, bags, matting, mattresses, hammocks, pillows, +cushions, carpets, sail cloth, oakum, paste-board, kites, thread, +fishlines, bowstrings, ropes, rigging, tables, stands, chairs, +bedsteads, cradles, window blinds, brooms, brushes, utensils, cooking +vessels, weapons, shields, tools, hooks, spear tips, arrow heads, +needles, fans, ornaments, hats, bonnets, musical instruments, paper, +writing paper, candles, wax, resin, tannin, dying materials, medicines, +tonics, refreshing<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span> drinks, vinegar, sugar, starch, meal, bread, sago, +syrup for cooking, substitute for salt, oil for butter, oil for light +and lubrication, and for making soap. And the carnal ingenuity of +depraved man has even discovered how he can get drunk on the fermented +juices. Besides all these a substance is used in tanning leather. The +shell of the stems is used for making gutters, timber for flooring and +wharf material, stems for blowpipes for poisonous arrows. One kind of +palm is used in the construction of rude suspension bridges. Another +affords a substitute for ivory. One part is used for fattening hogs. It +is said that the various uses are declared to be three hundred sixty. +Thus we see that it could be of some use about every day in the year. +Reader, are you flourishing like this, and good for something every day +in the year?</p> + +<p>God certainly intends us to be useful. It means something to fill one's +sphere in the world as Christ intended. There is something more to do +than to plow corn, milk cows, and feed hogs; something more than to keep +house, wash clothes and scrub floors. There is more at hand than the +mere avocations of life, necessary as some of them are. God never called +anybody to labor alone for the perishable things of this life. "A man's +life consisteth not in the abundance of things which he possesseth." The +real business of every Christian is primarily to serve God, and glorify +Him; the other services are merely incidental. The old shoemaker had it +right. When asked what his business<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span> was, he replied: "My business is to +serve the Lord; but I make boots and shoes to pay expenses."</p> + +<p>Even those who are shut indoors through feeble health may find avenues +for usefulness, and do service that will tell for eternity. In Pasadena, +Cal., is a blind girl, and almost entirely deaf, yet she applies herself +to the Lord's work, and makes articles for sale, devoting the proceeds +to the foreign missionary work.</p> + +<p>A remarkable story has been published in the <i>Ladies' Home Journal</i> of +March 1, 1911, showing what a girl can do without hands and arms. +Through the kindness of The Curtis Publishing Company, we are permitted +to insert the article in this book. It was written by the young lady +herself.</p> + +<p>"I was not born a cripple. Even as a child I did not always have to make +hands of my feet. Indeed, till I was nine years old, I not only had arms +and hands like other children, but I was also a strong, healthy, normal +child like my two brothers, who were older than I, and my sister, who +was two years younger. Our family was in poor and humble circumstances +as far back as I can remember. My parents were both English, but my +father became naturalized as a citizen of this country in 1882—the year +in which I was born.</p> + +<p>"Since I grew up I have learned that my father and mother were in good +circumstances at the time of their marriage, and for some ten or twelve +years afterward; that my father was a steady, hard-working, kindly man; +and that he and my mother were devoted to one another and were very +happy together. But after the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span> birth of my brothers my mother was taken +ill and was in poor health for a long time. Then, just as she was at the +worst of her illness, my father lost his position, and matters speedily +began to go from bad to worse. A tendency to strong drink, which he had +kept well curbed for my mother's sake, now began to get the better of +him. Her failing health made it impossible for her to look out for him +as she had hitherto done. The new work which he succeeded in obtaining +was hard and distasteful, and the family grew poorer and poorer until at +last there were times when we had not enough of food and clothing, and +the charitable societies of Chicago, where we lived, began to look after +us.</p> + +<p>"In the summer just before my ninth birthday, I was one of a number of +children who were sent into the country for a two-weeks' outing by the +managers of a fresh air fund. Those were the two pleasantest weeks of my +life. The beautiful, green country, the grass, flowers, trees, and birds +delighted me. I was well and robust, and I ran and picked flowers and +played and enjoyed myself to the utmost. A few weeks after I came home +from this wonderful outing my mother died, and I became the housekeeper +of the family. I was then just nine years old. I did the work as well as +I could, although there was not much to do nor much to do it with, in +the bare place which we called 'home,' in the basement of a small city +dwelling. Soon after I had lost my mother's companionship I lost my +sister's also, for she was adopted<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span> by well-to-do people, whose identity +I did not know and have never learned.</p> + +<p>"On the afternoon of the following Thanksgiving day, while my brothers +were playing outdoors and my father and I were alone in the house, I was +puttering about when I found a bottle filled with what I afterward knew +must have been whisky. Being only a child, and possessed of a child's +thoughtless curiosity, I took a long drink from the bottle. The effect +was almost instantaneous. I grew weak and stupefied. At that moment my +father, who was in an adjoining room, told me to go and put some wood on +the kitchen range. I said that I felt sick and could not go, but he +insisted and I obeyed. No sooner had I got the lids off the range, +however, than the combined effect of the liquor and the heat overpowered +me, and I fell forward upon the open fire, unconscious.</p> + +<p>"My younger brother, who came in from play and lifted me off, saved me +from death. But at the hospital it was found necessary to amputate both +my arms. The burns about my neck and chest were severe, but not serious, +and two months later I was discharged from the hospital. A state society +for the care of children had already arranged with my father to take +full control of me. A fund contributed to by generous people far and +near was raised for my support and education, and after spending some +months in a nursery I became an inmate of the Home for Destitute +Crippled Children in Chicago.</p> + +<p>"In this home I was given instruction in the common<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span> school studies, and +I learned to write and sew with my feet. After four years I was +transferred by the Illinois Home Society to the care of a private family +in Wisconsin, where I lived for eight years, going to the public school +and practically completing the high school course. During all this time +I continued to learn how to make hands of my feet, and I have kept on +perfecting myself in this necessary acquirement ever since. It has, of +course, taken a great deal of perseverance and determination, and has +required constant effort and practice, coupled with no little physical +skill and suppleness. But it must be borne in mind that for nearly +twenty years I have been without hands and arms, and that during most of +this time I have had to wait on myself. So my feet have been in almost +continual training. I have never found a task too hard to undertake nor +too tedious to finish, and no one appreciates the truth of the old +saying, 'Where there's a will, there's a way,' better than I do.</p> + +<p>"As a result, I have learned to dress myself, almost completely. I can +take a bath by myself, wash my face, brush my teeth, put on most of my +clothes, and comb my hair when it is not too long. I can put on and take +off my eyeglasses. I can use the scissors to cut paper, cloth, or any +other material with which I am working, and then thread the needle, knot +the thread and do the necessary sewing. I can sweep and dust, mop and +scrub, and even blacken stoves. I can sketch and draw, although I have +never had a lesson in these accomplishments and have acquired the little +knowledge<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span> and skill I possess in this art solely by practice. In the +same way I have also learned to sharpen my own pencils, opening and +closing the knife myself. I have even made articles of furniture, such +as small bookcases and writing desks, sawing all the lumber, driving the +nails, putting on the hinges, and finally varnishing the completed +article. In short, I do with my feet almost anything that others do with +their hands.</p> + +<p>"At the close of my high school course I found myself, at the age of +twenty-one, left practically on my own resources. The fund which had +been raised for me was exhausted, the obligation of the state society +which had taken charge of me had ceased, my father had passed away, my +brothers were poor and could not help me, and my sister had gone out of +my life. For a while I earned a little money by selling my drawings, +name-cards and other work. Then I gave exhibitions, in homes and +elsewhere, of my skill with my feet. Eventually I found it possible to +attend Taylor University at Upland, Indiana, and while there the hope I +had long cherished of some day being able to be of some help to poor, +deserving, crippled children took shape and my life work was made plain +to me.</p> + +<p>"A Home for Disabled Children was planned and eventually started in +Maywood, Illinois. I took special studies to qualify me to handle +properly and capably the work of financial secretary of the Home. During +the year and a half between the starting of the Home and the writing of +this article five children have been<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span> cared for and a great deal of +improvement has been observed in all of them.</p> + +<p>"It is not the intention to overcrowd the Home with children, or make it +institutional in any way, but to give them a real home with good care +and Christian training, and also an education which will enable them to +become self-supporting. In this way I hope to show that even a girl +without arms, born and raised under the most unfavorable circumstances, +can accomplish much good by lending a 'helping hand' to other cripples, +and thus make their lives better, sweeter and more useful."</p> + +<p>This lady's name is Kittie Smith, and the written article would be much +more interesting could we accompany it with the dozen or more +illustrations in the <i>Ladies' Home Journal</i>, where she is seen writing a +letter, using the telephone, making fancy-work, drinking water at +dinner, using the typewriter and cutting out material for a dress. +Pictures of her drawings, the desk, the table and quilt she made are +also given.</p> + +<p>Here is a lady, educated, trained, and equipped for a life of special +usefulness, who has had to battle through difficulties which would tend +to discourage the stoutest hearts. Yet, in spite of all, she is engaged +in Christian work and proving to the world what one is enabled to do who +will.</p> + +<p>We have lately seen the half-tone picture in <i>Popular Mechanics</i>, of a +man who had lost both legs and both arms in a railroad accident, yet he +makes his living by selling the pictures which he paints. He brings<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span> +into requisition his chin and the stump of his right arm in handling the +brush.</p> + +<p>About fifty years ago there was a member of the British Parliament by +the name of Cavanaugh. This man was born with no legs whatever and with +no arms, save stumps half way up to his elbows. His penmanship was good, +using a false hand for his writing. He was wheeled in each time by a +valet, and was the only member who was allowed to address the Parliament +without standing.</p> + +<p>There are some men who will not down, even from the standpoint of the +world. May we not take a lesson from these "unfortunates" and rise above +every impediment, and yet succeed in the kingdom of God?</p> + +<p>How many powerful revivals have occurred, when it was discovered that +they were the result of the faithful, intercessory praying of some +shut-in saint, who had on the prayer list the very ones who got saved!</p> + +<p>Let me cite a quotation from Charles G. Finney's Revival Lectures:</p> + +<p>"A pious man in the western part of this state (New York) was sick with +consumption. He was a poor man, sick for years. An unconverted merchant +in the place had a kind heart, and used to send him now and then +something for his comfort, or for his family. He felt grateful for the +kindness, but could make no return, as he wanted to do. At length he +determined that the best return he could make would be to pray for his +salvation. He began to pray and his soul kindled, and he got hold of +God. There was no revival<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span> there, but by and by, to the astonishment of +everybody, this merchant came right out on the Lord's side. The fire +kindled all over the place, and a powerful revival followed, and +multitudes were converted.</p> + +<p>"This poor man lingered in this way for several years, and died. After +his death, I visited the place, and his widow put into my hands his +diary. Among other things, he says in his diary: 'I am acquainted with +about thirty ministers and churches.' He then goes on to set apart +certain hours in the day and week to pray for each of these ministers +and churches, and also certain seasons for praying for the different +missionary stations. Then followed, under different dates, such facts as +these: 'Today,' naming the date, 'I have been enabled to offer what I +call the prayer of faith for the outpouring of the Spirit on——church +and I trust in God there will soon be a revival there.' Under another +date, 'I have today been able to offer what I call the prayer of faith +for such a church, and trust there will soon be a revival there.' Thus +he had gone over a great many churches, recording the fact that he had +prayed for them in faith that a revival might soon prevail among them. +Of the missionary stations, if I recollect right, he mentions in +particular the mission of Ceylon. I believe the last place mentioned in +his diary, for which he offered the prayer of faith, was the place in +which he lived. Not long after noting these facts in the diary, the +revival commenced, and went over the region of country, nearly I +believe, if not quite in the order in which they had been mentioned in +his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span> diary; and in due time news came from Ceylon that there was a +revival of religion there. The revival in his own town did not commence +till after his death. Its commencement was at the time when his widow +put into my hands the document to which I have referred. She told me +that he was so exercised in prayer during his sickness, that she often +feared he would pray himself to death. The revival was exceedingly great +and powerful in all the region; and the fact that it was about to +prevail had not been hidden from this servant of the Lord. According to +His Word, 'The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him.' Thus, +this man too feeble in body to go out of his house, was yet more useful +to the world and the Church of God, than all the heartless professors of +the country. Standing between God and the desolations of Zion, and +pouring out his heart in prevailing prayer, as a prince he had power +with God, and prevailed." (Finney's Lectures, pp. 112, 113).</p> + +<p>Fanny Crosby was blind, yet see how she has blessed the world with her +thousands of beautiful hymns, written even down to her old age. Let the +weak ones look up and take on fresh courage. "My grace is sufficient for +thee," and "He giveth more grace," are promises that should encourage +those who are seemingly shut off from opportunities of service. +"Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might." The avenue to +God in prayer, and the way to hearts are still open. Be of some service +still. Like the palm tree, every Christian can be of much use in the +world.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span></p> + +<p>Three young ladies had just graduated from school and were talking over +their ambitions in life. One said her great ambition was to be an author +and write some great book. Another said her ambition was to be an artist +and paint some great picture which might be hung up in some gallery for +people to see. The other young lady was silent, and hung her head. Her +teacher saw her and remarked that she had not yet expressed her +ambitions in life. Finally, she replied: "I know that I do not amount to +much, and that I have not much talent, but I was just thinking that my +greatest ambition is so to live in this world, that when Jesus finally +sees me coming, He can say, 'There comes one who has filled just the +niche in the world that I wanted her to fill.'"</p> + +<p>As all parts of the palm tree are utilized, so will all of the palm tree +saint be consecrated to God, so that God may call upon him at any time +for any service which He in His infinite wisdom may require. But it will +take a complete yielding up of all one's parts; his spirit, soul and +body; his hands to work, his feet to walk, his eyes to see, his ears to +hear, his tongue to talk, his mind to think, his heart to love, his +talents, time, and earthly store at God's disposal, his family, his +service, his all simply abandoned to the Holy Ghost.</p> + +<p>Reader, this is the way to be useful, and the way to have all there is +of you used. If you are not thus consecrated, look into your experience.</p> + +<p>Fifty years ago seven shoemakers in a shop in the city of Hamburg said, +"By the grace of God we will<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span> help to send the gospel to our destitute +fellow-men." It is said that in twenty-five years they had established +fifty self-supporting churches, had gathered ten thousand converts, had +distributed four hundred thousand Bibles and eight million tracts, and +had carried the gospel to five million of their race. How many men would +it take like that to carry the gospel to the world in twenty-five years?</p> + +<p>Mrs. Adelaide L. Beers, wife of Rev. Alexander Beers, principal of the +Free Methodist Seminary at Seattle, Wash., has furnished the following +information concerning a family who moved to Seattle a number of years +ago. It beautifully illustrates the thought before us of utility in the +Christian life. It not only illustrates utility itself, but like the +palm tree, utility of all parts.</p> + +<p>Mr. and Mrs. M——, formerly of Goldendale, Wash., had a family of six +boys and two girls. Having received the blessing of entire +sanctification, and wanting their children educated for God, they felt +they could not endanger their souls by placing them in worldly, +Christless schools.</p> + +<p>They owned a farm at Goldendale, but had little means available. They +were not daunted, however, by the difficulties in the way, but with the +heroic spirit of the "ancient worthies," they arranged to move to +Seattle. The mother took the train, while as many as could, rode in a +large wagon, and the others walked, leading several horses and cows. In +turn they rode and walked, making the wearisome journey across the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span> +mountains, filled with hope and courage for the future. Soon after the +mother's arrival in Seattle, a girl baby was born, being the ninth and +last child.</p> + +<p>The first year of their stay in their new home was one of great hardship +and self-denial. They lived on the plainest food, while every member of +the family except the baby worked very hard to obtain a livelihood. The +two older girls were already saved and sanctified and were placed at +once in the Free Methodist Seminary. The boys were soon entered as +students, and one by one converted to God. Two of the little boys, with +knee trousers were clearly saved in the children's meeting which was +regularly conducted by Mrs. Beers.</p> + +<p>A few years of consecrated service and Christian education have passed +and we sum up the results. A faithful father and mother have trained +their family for heaven, and gladly yielded their all to Christ. The +mother has left the toils and cares of earth, and has gone to be with +Jesus. One is now at the head of the Free Methodist missionary work in +China. Another has been accepted as a missionary to China by the General +Missionary Board and is to labor with his brother. One of the daughters +is a successful missionary, laboring with her husband, who is at the +head of the missionary work in Japan. She received her call while a +student in the Seattle Seminary. Another heard the Macedonian call and +gladly left all to go to China. One son is filling the principal's chair +at the Free Methodist Seminary at Spring Arbor, Mich.,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span> while another is +principal of a high school in Seattle. All the family are saved, and are +proving the Scripture true: "Train up a child in the way he should go, +and when he is old he will not depart from it." While Sister M—— has +finished her work and gone home to heaven, "her children rise up and +call her blessed."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII</h2><p class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></p> + +<h3>THE PALM TREE IS APPRECIATED</h3> + + +<p>Search the world over; call for a consensus of opinion in civilized +countries and heathen lands, and ask them what is the most appreciated +tree in the world, and see if they do not with one voice exclaim, "The +palm tree."</p> + +<p>In the civilized portions of the globe where the various kinds are not +brought into requisition for their extensive utility, yet the beauty of +the trees demands that they have a place in the front yards to decorate +their surroundings. If any tree at all is used to beautify the place, it +is quite sure to be a palm. And when the climate does not admit of +outside growth, the hothouse will have its various kinds. But where is +there a tree in the world that furnishes so much material for +practically all the necessities of life where the palm is indigenous? +When we think of the great variety of food, and furniture, building +material, and the hundreds of useful articles of every description that +are made from some part or other of this most valuable tree, it stands +to reason that it occupies the very foremost place of utility and +appreciation. There are some places in the world that the inhabitants +practically live from the products of the palm. The appreciation<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span> of it +could hardly be estimated. Take it away and the people perish.</p> + +<p>In the realm of grace, there is an experience that is most appreciated. +It is appreciated most by those who are the most familiar with it. It +appeals little to those in spiritually frigid zones, who are utterly +foreign to its utility; but by those of a warmer climate who know of its +valuable properties, it is prized above rubies and diamonds. Just as the +Icelander or Greenlander cares nothing for the palm, and perhaps knows +nothing of its merits, so the people who dwell in spiritual Arctics do +not appreciate the possibilities of this full salvation grace. Ask the +possessor of the palm tree blessing what it is worth, and language at +once fails. It becomes his very life from day to day. It furnishes his +spiritual necessities of life. Cut off its supplies and he would be +stranded as quickly as the islander in the tropics, without his real +palm.</p> + +<p>Let the definite seeker after this blessing reach the point of actual +possession, and he will have to pass the station of utmost desire and +appreciation. He will reach a want in his soul that will surpass every +other desire. He will sell all to purchase that field. It is the pearl +of great price to him.</p> + +<p>Why do not more people obtain it? Because they are not willing to part +with that which stands in the way of its possession. When God says, +"Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness; for +they shall be filled," He gave us a divine philosophy concerning the +proper seeking. He wants a seeker to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span> appreciate what he is after. That +which costs nothing is rarely properly appreciated. That which costs a +struggle and "all that he hath," will be held in high esteem. The +crucifixion route which results in the death of "the old man," and the +incoming of the fulness of God, puts one where he would rather part with +life itself than this pearl of great price.</p> + +<p>We have been amazed at seekers at the altar of prayer; at the listless, +lifeless way they have sought. Many times they fail even to make an +audible prayer. This is <i>prima facie</i> evidence of a lack of +appreciation. When the hunger reaches practical starvation, and the +desire becomes sufficient, then the seeker will lay aside all +conventionalities and press his claims regardless of people present or +opposing foes, and lay hold on the precious prize.</p> + +<p>How often have we observed the half-hearted seeker make his indifferent +prayer and wait awhile and go away without the blessing sought, when at +a later time, when intensity took the place of listlessness, and hunger +pressed the soul, the agonizing heart pressed through spiritual +chloroform, broke loose the padlock from the lips, and soon was +rejoicing in the freedom of full salvation! One time the writer was +conducting a meeting in Knoxville, Tenn., and a sister came to the altar +a number of times. She wanted the blessing, but did not seem to be +enough in earnest, although she prayed aloud each time she came. +Finally, we said to the sister, "If you will do what I ask you to do, +you will get through in five minutes." Of course she wanted<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span> to know +what that was and she certainly would like to get through. We told her +to pray like a house afire. Immediately, she took us at our word and +started in according to our suggestion. It occurred so suddenly that we +wondered if we had not made a mistake and had a fear that it would not +be as predicted. To make sure, and unbeknown to the sister, we took out +our watch, and timed the prayer. In just three and a half minutes the +fire fell and our seeker obtained her heart's desire. While pastor in +the city of Los Angeles we had a member who was seeking the blessing of +holiness periodically. She would come to the altar and weep and make a +nice little prayer, but failed to reach the line of intensity adequate +for the blessing. Obtaining nothing she would depart and not be at the +altar again for perhaps a couple of months. When a service would reach a +specially high tide of power and victory this lady would be down with +others seeking holiness. Revival meetings were in progress and she was +at the altar one evening, and, as usual, was not receiving. We tried to +show her that she should constantly seek till she found; that she should +come to the altar every time she had an opportunity till she got +through. Finally, we asked her if she would promise to come to the altar +one hundred times in succession without a letup, if she did not get the +blessing before the hundred times were expired. After awhile she +promised thus to do. Immediately we took out our pencil and right under +her face we wrote the number 100 on the altar rail, and pointing to it, +said, "You<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span> have now promised to come to this altar one hundred times in +succession providing you do not get through before." She assented. The +following night she was faithful to her promise and got through that +night. Intensity, desire, appreciation and determination are all factors +in real seeking. Why do so many fail? There is a reason. Here is a soul +that seeks one, two, three, or more nights and then ceases. On being +asked why the seeking ceased the answer is, "Well, I tried and I did not +get anything, and what is the use of trying further?" Now, the Lord took +that all in at the start. He knew that the seeking was going to let up, +and of course could not consistently bestow the gift under such +conditions. If the Lord can look down the road and see that the seeker +is going to give up at the end of a week or a month, He certainly has +not the gift for one who does not value it more than that. But if He can +look down the road and see a pile of bleached bones, or in other words, +one who will die in the attempt before he will give up, He sees a heart +that is about prepared to receive it now.</p> + +<p>We once heard the story of a man who was real hungry for holiness. He +was in attendance at some spiritual gathering where a number of people +were professing the experience. He cast about in his mind to find some +holy man whom he might get to pray with him. After selecting his man, he +asked him if he would go into the woods and pray with him that he might +obtain the experience of sanctification. The brother was only too glad +to go and was ready for the trip<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span> at once. The anxious seeker said, "I +have made up my mind that if I do not obtain the blessing at once I am +going to remain all night in prayer. Will you stay with me?" The brother +responded in the affirmative. "But wait," said the seeker. "If I do not +obtain the first night I am going to remain the second night. Will you +remain with me?" After a little thought he again answered in the +affirmative. He was ready to start, when the seeker declared he was +going to remain the third night, then the fourth, until it amounted to a +whole week. When he obtained the promise of his friend to stay by him, +they started for the woods. After looking about for a good, grassy spot, +and one that was nicely sheltered from the dew of the night he said, +"This is a good place; let us pray." His knees scarcely touched the +grass when he shouted, "Glory to God, I've got it!" Certainly! A good +week of solid prayer ought to clear the way for anybody to enter in, and +that honest, determined soul had virtually done that thing by faith, and +God saw that he was bound to pray through, and so He cut the work short +in righteousness and bestowed it upon him on the spot.</p> + +<p>There is something about an intensified determination that God honors. +The fact is, that He honors faith, and when the seeking soul gets into +the state of mind where he feels that he wants the grace more than life, +and is determined to have it at any cost, it invariably opens up the way +of faith, and the victory at once is his. We once heard of a young man +at a campmeeting who was seeking the Lord. When he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span> came to the altar he +curled up with his head in his arms and was perfectly mute. He would +neither pray nor answer a question. While others were saved around him, +he remained silent, and would leave without any help. This was repeated +time and again. He always curled up the same way, and would never say a +word to God or man. Finally, the workers, seeing they could not get +anything out of him nor help him in any way, agreed among themselves to +let him entirely alone. After this he came as usual to the altar, took +his usual position, and while others around were praying through, he +obtained nothing and went away. After a while it seemed to dawn upon his +benighted mind that everybody had forsaken him, and that he had better +pray for himself. Accordingly, he threw up his hands and screamed for +help at the top of his voice. The merciful Christ, who said, "Him that +cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out," was right present to take him +in. In an instant he had the victory and leaped to his feet and shouted, +"Glory to God! If it had not been for Jesus Christ, I never would have +been saved." Certainly not.</p> + +<p>When all earthly hopes are gone, and one is thrown out alone on the +merits of Jesus Christ, it is then that faith takes hold and the victory +comes. It is certainly a sad sight at the altar when some daughter is +crying her way to God in a penitential grief, to have her foolish mother +kneel down beside her and begin to stroke her and say, "My dear child, +you have always been a good girl." Immediately note how the girl drops +the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span> Lord and goes to leaning on her mother. The repentance stops at +once, self-pity takes its place, a soul is arrested in getting saved and +may possibly be lost forever. And yet this is being done continually.</p> + +<p>Mr. Charles G. Finney tells of a woman in one of his meetings who was +much burdened on account of her sins. Mr. Finney was stopping at her +house and daily he was called upon to come and pray for the woman. He +responded from time to time and prayed for her the best he knew how, but +found out that it was doing no good. Finally, the Lord showed him that +the woman was depending upon his prayers instead of the Lord. The next +time she asked him to come and pray for her, he said, "I will pray for +you no more." Heartbroken and alarmed she threw herself on the mercy of +the Lord and was saved at once. Christ must be depended upon alone. +Other props must go. He needs no earthly help to save a sinner or +sanctify a believer.</p> + +<p>And when the struggle is over and the pearl of full salvation is found, +it will be observed that the harder the struggle and the more it cost, +the more will it be appreciated. It is quite apparent that the cause of +the fearful decadence of religion on every hand is the failure of +obtaining the real thing on the one hand, and the failure to appreciate +on the other. How some can claim Christ today and sell Him out tomorrow, +is a marvel. The way to appreciate anything is to note what one will be +with it, and what he will be without it. What is one with this great +pearl in his possession?<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span> He is safe for both worlds. He is saved from +inward and outward sin. He has "joy unspeakable and full of glory." He +has a life of usefulness ahead and a certainty of everlasting bliss in +glory, where he will bear the palm of victory, wear the crown of glory, +walk the gold-paved streets of the New Jerusalem, enjoy the presence of +Christ and the angels and redeemed loved ones, and sing and shout and +shine and serve forevermore. This surely will pay. On the other hand, to +fail, means a life of sin and sorrow and suffering here, a loss of souls +which one might win to Christ, an awful death bed, a frightful judgment +day, and an eternity of remorse and horror and darkness and death and +damnation.</p> + +<p>Reader, how much is Christ worth? How much do you appreciate His gift? +Let us ask some who let it slip. Judas, what is it worth? What is Christ +worth to you? The answer is, "Sixteen dollars and ninety-six cents." +That was his price for the Savior; the price of a slave in the olden +times if he were killed by a beast; the lowest price placed upon a human +being. Demas, how much is it worth? The answer is, "The love of this +present world," for that is what he obtained. Saul, what is your +salvation worth? "The gratifying of a jealous disposition," for he sold +out on that line, till it turned to anger, then hatred and then murder, +till finally he was utterly forsaken by God, and he turned into a +spiritualist, consulted the witch of Endor, went into battle, committed +suicide and passed off from the stage of action here. Solomon,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span> what was +yours worth? "Outlandish women," is the answer, not from Solomon's lips, +but from the inspired pen of Nehemiah. "Nevertheless even him did +outlandish women cause to sin." Young lady, what was the price of your +soul? "Mother, hang my fine dresses upon the wall and let me see them. +There, mother, is the price of my soul," and she passed out into the +darkness of the outer world. Again, young lady, what is the price of +<i>your</i> soul? "That young man. I gave up Christ for him. I had to decide +between the two, and I took him. Christ has been a stranger to me ever +since." Shall we sell out Christ for pleasure, or people, or pursuits, +or popularity? God forbid. Let us raise the price of our soul and +appreciate the gift of God and let nothing come between.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX</h2><p class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></p> + +<h3>THE PALM TREE WILL GROW IN THE DESERT</h3> + + +<p>It is such a hardy, thrifty tree, that if it has any chance at all, it +will thrive where other trees will fail. Even in the hot sands of the +Sahara, its green foliage is seen, and it grows in spite of discouraging +environments.</p> + +<p>The Holy Spirit made no mistake when He declared that a certain class +should flourish like the palm tree. Where will it flourish? Any place in +a proper climate where it has half a chance. By the rivers of water, on +the rugged mountain side, by the rocky hedges, in the desert sands where +scorching sun and swirling simoon have beat upon it, there it grows. It +is a <i>flourishing</i> tree.</p> + +<p>In the realm of gospel grace, God has made provision for saints to +flourish under circumstances that are a wonder to the world.</p> + +<p>The outward condition of some of God's people is indeed deplorable. They +are surrounded with deepest poverty, in the poorest of health, with a +number of small children depending upon them, and in addition to all, +they are away from former home and friends. Some women are actually +undergoing all this, and to make the desert worse, they have a +profligate, abusive<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span> husband further to burden their life. And yet, "the +God of all grace" has come into these lives who have abandoned +themselves to the Holy Ghost, and proved to them that they are of God's +own hand planting, and through His sustaining grace they have flourished +in their experiences, even in such desert places. I have no doubt if the +reader will cast about in his mind he can recall those of like +experience.</p> + +<p>"The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the +desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose. It shall blossom +abundantly, and rejoice with joy and singing. * * * And the ransomed of +the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy +upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and +sighing shall flee away" (Isa. 35:1, 2, 10).</p> + +<p>There is nothing else in the world that will cause deep, settled +satisfaction in the human heart when the surroundings are of the desert +nature. The people of the world draw their pleasure and satisfaction +from the things of the world, but these are not calculated to satisfy +the longings of the heart. No matter how much one may have in the way of +worldly riches, worldly honors, worldly pleasures, there is always a +void in the soul, a something that is not satisfied. The human heart is +so big, that if the whole world were poured into it, it would not fill +one crack or crevice.</p> + +<p>When God made the animal creation, He designed that all their pleasure +should be obtained from their surroundings—from the things in this +world, whether<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span> it be the fish in the stream, the bird in the air, or +the wild animal that roams over mountain and glen. But when He made man +He put into him desires, hopes, and ambitions that reach out and above +this mundane sphere. He never intended that man should draw his +satisfaction and enjoyment just from this world. Outside of grace, no +one is satisfied, because he is out of his natural, normal, creative +element. The little bird, or fish, or other animal is satisfied because +it is in its creative sphere. Man, living in sin and away from God and +holiness, is dissatisfied, because he is out of his proper element. What +is man's creative sphere? "Created in righteousness and true holiness." +That is the way God created man, and until man gets back to God, in +communion with Him and heaven, he never will have a satisfying portion. +"For he satisfieth the longing soul and filleth the hungry soul with +goodness" (Psa. 107:9). Without any of this world's goods in the way of +riches, honors or pleasures, one abandoned to the Holy Ghost will have a +deep sense of soul-satisfaction, and will rejoice in the midst of +dismal, desert surroundings.</p> + +<p>When Madame Guyon was in the Bastille, a prisoner of the Lord, she +declared the Lord made the old stones of the murky wall to shine like +rubies.</p> + +<p>One of the happiest men it was ever my lot to meet, was one who had +nothing of this world to cause his happiness. He was an inmate of the +poorhouse at Placerville, Cal. He occupied a small, dingy bedroom all +alone, and lay on a cot, afflicted in body, and never<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span> expected to leave +it till Jesus said, "Come up higher." While engaged in evangelistic +services in that city, we visited him more than once. It was a +benediction to enter his presence and behold his smiling face and hear +his praises to God. It seemed he was living four-fifths in heaven. He +was certainly flourishing like the palm tree in that desert. We had a +feeling of sorrow for the dear brother in his affliction, and lent him a +book on divine healing, hoping that he might get the inspiration of +faith, and trust the Lord to heal him. After we thought he had time to +read the little book, we called on him again and asked him what he +thought of it, and his answer was about as follows: "I have been +thinking that it would be best to let good enough alone. I am getting +along so well here and am so blessed, I do not know how it might turn +out if I should get well."</p> + +<p>Another man, one of the most contented and happy that I ever saw, was a +born cripple. He had one arm and a part of another; was so crooked in +his lower limbs that it was with great difficulty that he could propel +himself with the use of canes. This brother from poverty's dale would +hobble out on Fourth street in San Francisco, with his little carpet-bag +stool, and basket of trinkets for sale, and sit there reading his +Testament, and shine for God. One day this brother handed a man a five +dollar gold piece, desiring him to go and get it changed. The dishonest +man never returned, but the dear brother never murmured, only said that +he could not afford to lose it. Just about<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span> that time a stranger came by +and purchased some little article and handed him a five-dollar gold +piece and would not accept any change. "In some way or other, God will +provide."</p> + +<p>Every night found this happy, sanctified cripple at the gospel mission +with shining face and victorious testimony. He usually closed his +testimony with these words: "This has been a little the best day I ever +had in all my life." Brother Cooley is now rejoicing where the streets +are made of gold.</p> + +<p>Why will souls not learn to seek their pleasure from the right source? +With the failure of multiplied millions who have gone on before and +those who are now trying to fill their cup with earth's deceiving joys, +shall I be such an egotistical fool as to think I can succeed in +something when all before me tried and failed? The way of true success +is laid down in the Word; "This book of the law shall not depart out of +thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou +mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then +thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good +success" (Josh. 1:8).</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X</h2><p class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></p> + +<h3>THE PALM TREE FINDS THE WATER</h3> + + +<p>This marvelous production of nature is not hindered by the scorching sun +of the desert, nor is it dependent upon the copious showers of rain. If +the rain comes, all well and good; but if it fails, the palm flourishes +right on anyway. But it will get to water. If it does not come down from +above, then it sends down its roots till they drink at the subterranean +stream below. Water it must have and water it will find.</p> + +<p>Now, if God has a people that flourish this way, it signifies that they +will get where there is the water of life. If the "showers of blessing" +are falling in the revival meeting, or campmeeting, or at the regular +preaching service, they are sure to be present if possible and "take of +the water of life freely." Perchance they are out on some spiritual +desert far from any means of grace where the gospel sound is never +heard; there they are not dependent upon the revival rains, but they +send down the roots of faith till they strike the under-currents, and +then with joy they "draw water out of the wells of salvation."</p> + +<p>How refreshing to meet with such independent specimens of God's +handiwork! If they get to the place of worship where God's people are +free, they are a whole campmeeting in themselves. Out of them are<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span> +flowing "rivers of living water," because of the Spirit's incoming. They +never dry up, nor freeze up, because they keep in touch with the living +stream from the heavenly fountain head, and bask in the spiritual +tropics where the Sun of righteousness has arisen upon them.</p> + +<p>Oh, for more palm tree saints! May we all be so in touch with the +reservoir of the skies, that we may say, "All my springs are in thee." +Then, no matter whether our lot is with many pilgrims or none, we may +flourish on and shine and shout, and show to the world that we are in +touch with hidden springs. Amen!</p> + +<p>It is certainly a puzzle to the world and worldly minded professors, +when one, who has no visible means of enjoyment, keeps up a happy, +cheerful experience, and though her lot or his lot is extremely dry, and +barren of what generally goes to make people happy, yet the hidden +stream is flowing, and that soul is drinking of the fountain that never +runs dry. The deep, underlying current has been found and is supplying a +peace which the world can not give, nor can it take away.</p> + +<p>When the martyrs went to the stake, they had a triumphant tread and a +victorious faith and a well-spring of joy which were indeed an enigma to +the persecutors.</p> + +<p>Who can understand Madame Guyon in her dismal prison cell singing her +sweet song, a hundred times happier than those outside, or realize the +triumphant joy of the Apostle Paul as he faces the axman's block,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span> and +expresses a gladsome victory over it all, unless he is acquainted with +the deep undercurrent of full salvation life?</p> + +<p>What would have become of the Apostle John on Patmos' lonely isle, shut +off from all associations with kindred spirits on earth, with no +prayermeeting nor fellowship such as he had been so accustomed to enjoy, +had he not known the way to the hidden springs which brought him in +contact with the Eternal? There was no place to banish this pilgrim +saint that would shut him off from the water of life. When human hands +banished him to an island in the sea, thinking they could cut off his +supply, he proved to the world that he could reach the hidden springs +and be in touch with the Infinite, in spite of his banishment. God's +holy ones are a conundrum to the world. "For we are made a spectacle +[theater in the margin] unto the world, and to angels, and to men," and +they do not understand the mystery of the hidden glory and springs of +life, the very angels desiring to look into some of these mysteries (1 +Peter 1:12).</p> + +<p>There are some people, when we have not seen them for a few months, we +hardly dare to ask them how they are prospering, for fear they will drop +their heads and say, "Well, not so well as I would like." They have not +been drinking at the fountain. They did not send down their roots and +find the under-currents of saving grace; and the result is, they have no +victorious testimony to the power of Jesus to save. On the other hand, +there are certain individuals, though we have not<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span> seen them for years, +we scarcely think of asking them how they are getting along, for we have +known of their overcoming life so long, that we naturally take it for +granted that it is still well with their souls. We do not expect +anything different from the past, except more of it. Many years ago we +received a postal card from a brother in a distant city relative to some +business. It being a business card, the most of it was printed matter, +even his name being printed. The card closed with these words: "Yours +saved, H. W. S.——." In thinking the matter over, we observed that in +all probability the brother had several hundreds of the cards printed, +and he knew very well that it would take some time, perhaps weeks or +months, before the last card would be sent out. The thought then was, +Brother S——, how did you know that when the last card would be sent +out, it would still be, "Yours, saved, H. W. S——?" How did you know +but it would be, "Yours, backslidden, H. W. S——?" The fact was, that +Brother S—— had made no calculation on backsliding, and he figured +that the last card would be just as true as the first. Eight or ten +years passed and we received a note from this same brother. Instead of +signing his name the way he did before, it was, "Yours saved to the +uttermost, hallelujah, H. W. S——." Now, after years had passed and +gone, he could still sign his name the same, only more of it.</p> + +<p>In the economy of grace, God has made no provision for one to have less +grace than in the past. The best experience of one's life should be +up-to-date. It is<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span> a sad epoch in one's life when he can take a +retrospect and look down the lane of long ago and see a better +experience than now. That person has certainly headed toward Egypt that +sees the highest plane of his Christian experience, and then gets the +consent of his mind to live on a lower plane. "Therefore, leaving the +principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection." +When the children of Israel crossed the Red Sea they sang and shouted +and had a hallelujah time; but their slogan was, "On to Canaan." When +finally, the survivors and those who were born on the way crossed the +River Jordan, they built a monument, which signified that they had come +over there to stay.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a>CHAPTER XI</h2><p class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></p> + +<h3>THE PALM TREE GETS OTHERS STARTED</h3> + + +<p>Where this remarkable tree finds root, and grows, it is almost sure, +sooner or later, to cause other palms to spring up; so that it does not +need to be alone.</p> + +<p>Take it out in the sands of the Sahara, when this product of nature gets +started, others spring up, then more, and they bring the moisture to the +surface, till the green grass begins to spread, and the springs come, +till finally the beautiful oases are found here and there, and make the +stopping places for the desert caravans, where the travelers find rest +and coolness in the shadows and water for man and beast. There are +places in the orient where the Arabs have planted these palms on purpose +to start an oasis. Refreshing spot! Prolific palm trees! Reader, are you +still measuring up? Are you growing alone? Has no other tree started +because of your life and influence? May be you are saying, "We do not +have any holiness meetings or prayermeetings where we live." But why? If +not, why not? Is there not a kitchen in your house? What hinders you +from having a good prayermeeting, or Sunday school there? Be careful, or +you will not find yourself flourishing like the palm tree. Surely, you +ought to get another tree started; then, by that one's<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span> influence, get +another, then another, till springs arise in your desert place, and the +spiritual oasis will call for the desert traveler to come and rest and +drink.</p> + +<p>Never rest contented to grow alone; it is too lonesome. It is neither +like nature nor grace. Get some one else saved, or find out the reason +why. We know a man who once held a prayermeeting in a schoolhouse six +months before anybody else attended. Finally, they began to come and it +resulted in a revival. See the persistence of some of the foreign +missionaries. Think of the hardships of those early pioneers who blazed +their way through dark continents, and with a determination to win, they +pressed their way through and with faith and prayer and continuous +efforts, they saw the fruit of their labor in others finding Christ as +their personal Savior. With David Livingstone's heart in the middle of +Africa, his sun-dried mummy in Westminster Abbey, his spirit in the +glory world, do you not think he is glad he got others started to carry +on his work in the land of darkness? If John G. Paton, taking his life +in his hands, could go into the New Hebrides, and there brave the awful +hardships and dangers of those cannibal islands, and finally win out and +see them converted to God like a nation born in a day, does it not look +as if you, my dear reader, ought to start the work somehow in your +midst, and get hold of God by fasting and prayer, and never give up till +an oasis is started in your community? "Where there is a will, there is +a way." It takes grit and grace, but God's storehouse has never yet been +exhausted, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span> there is yet the man to be born that has proved all the +possibilities of grace.</p> + +<p>Cast about in your mind and think of that person, perhaps only a lassie +or lad, that found Christ, and though persecuted at home at first, yet, +by faithful perseverance, finally won the whole family to God. Think of +that one who dropped into the revival meeting some distance from his +home and found the Lord, and then carried the fire back to his own +community and the revival broke out there. Think of those faithful +pilgrims who have moved far out into some frontier settlement and stood +firm for God and holiness, and finally got a meeting started and today +the church flourishes in their midst. They had the experience that +flourishes like the palm tree.</p> + +<p>There is something in the very nature and heart of the palm tree saint +that longs and plans for the planting of God's kingdom among men. If one +is so situated that he is isolated from sanctified people, he is not +going to sit down on the stool of do-nothing and wither up and die; but +he will begin to cast about and see what he can do to start a Sunday +school, or a prayermeeting, or send for a holiness preacher. He must get +other palms started in his community. Dr. Carradine tells the story of +the two women at the toll bridge in Kentucky who got the blessing of +sanctification and set about praying for a holiness meeting in their +community. They prayed long and faithfully and would not give up. +Somebody heard of their experience and visited them, then wrote an +article about them and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span> put it in the paper. A preacher providentially +saw the article many miles from their abode, but it so got hold of his +heart that he made up his mind to see them and get the same thing. God +honored his desire and faith and was answering their prayer at the same +time. This brother received the blessing and so preached it that others +in his church received the same. At the conference this brother was +persecuted on account of the newfound blessing of holiness, but he had +grace enough to stand and endure and not retaliate. Dr. Carradine saw +the abundant grace in this brother's heart and life, and it made him +hungry for the same thing. In due time the persecuted brother was +invited to hold a revival meeting in Dr. Carradine's church, which +resulted in the doctor's getting the experience himself. Time passed on +and finally the prayers of these two faithful women were answered, in +that Dr. Carradine held a meeting in their town and led a number of +others into the experience. These two palm tree saints felt a spiritual +loneliness in being there without others growing, and so they never +rested till they had a grove of them.</p> + +<p>A certain preacher who was also a carpenter in southern California, was +about to move to some new place. He carefully thought the matter over +and decided to move to a place where he hoped in the near future to +plant a grove of palm tree saints. He thought he and his family might +form a nucleus and thus establish the church of his choice (for it was a +holiness church) in that place. Accordingly he went, and worked at his +trade and preached what he could and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span> got as many interested as he was +able, and after a while the writer, together with a fine band of +workers, went to this town and pitched a tent and began to preach +holiness. Before we left we established a church, with this brother as +pastor, and now after a very few years, this brother is enjoying +holiness in the heavenly world, and the church planted in that town is +flourishing, having built a church and parsonage. There is something in +it that wants to get others started. That is the secret of successful +missionary work among the heathen. Carey leaves the cobbler's bench and +sails across the seas and soon has his palm grove growing in India's +soil. Paton moves to the Hebrides and jeopardizes his life among the +savages, but never lets up till he sees the groves flourishing in that +dark and dreary land. Livingstone plunges into darkest Africa alone, but +he does not remain alone; God reaches those black and benighted savages +and turns them into saints, and the oases begin on African soil. And so +on all over the world today are being planted God's palm tree saints who +are getting others started and the big world is now being dotted with +palm tree groves. Thank God forever. Reader, where are you living? Is +your abode far off from sanctified people? Do not get discouraged; God +answers prayer. Do your best, and the first thing you know you will have +some one to take his place by your side to push the work, and who knows +but that in a short time there may be a flourishing community of full +salvation saints there?</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII"></a>CHAPTER XII</h2><p class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></p> + +<h3>THE PALM TREE MOUNTS HEAVENWARD</h3> + + +<p>It would seem that the variety of palms which climbs upward into the +sky, was bent on getting as far from the earth and as near heaven as +possible. They ascend till they outstrip the other trees, and seemed +determined to get above swamp, miasma and everything else of a groveling +nature. There, in their exalted sphere, they wave their perennial +boughs, and bear their fruit, and bask in the beautiful sunshine, and +live in an element truly above the world.</p> + +<p>Are you flourishing like that? Is there something divine in your very +being that makes you ambitious to rise as far above this world of sin +and as near heaven as it is possible to get? Can you sing from +experience,</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"I rise to walk in heaven's own light,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Above the world and sin;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">With heart made pure and garments white,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And Christ enthroned within?"<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>God has chosen us to sit together in heavenly places above the mist and +fog and spiritual malaria of this sin-laden world. With the palm tree +blessing in our souls, we are not yearning for the flesh-pots of Egypt. +The leeks and garlic and onions of the past Egyptian<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span> diet have no +charms for such a one. He has risen to heavenly heights, where he +catches the smiles of his Savior and is enabled really to look down on +things terrestrial.</p> + +<p>When Pharaoh was pressed by Moses and Aaron to let the children of +Israel go, he first refused, then tried to compromise by letting them +worship the Lord "in the land." When this failed, he tried the second +compromise and said he would let them go, "only ye shall not go very far +away." Pharaoh was certainly a long-headed schemer. He knew if they did +not get very far away, he would not have very far to go after them. +Then, again, he knew if they were not very far away, and had a hard time +to get something to eat, they would not have far to get back and fill up +on garlic and onions.</p> + +<p>It is just that way with Pharaoh's antitype, the Devil. He first refuses +to let his subjects go. Then if they are bound to go and be Christians +he tries to get them to do their religion "in the land;" that is, remain +in the world and be worldly professors. How many are really deceived at +this point! When the Devil sees that this compromise will not take, he +tries the next one and says if they are bound to be Christians, all +right and good, but "ye shall not go very far away."</p> + +<p>How many poor deluded souls bite at this bait! They do not get very far +away from Egypt, and certainly the Devil has not very far to go after +them. Then, when they fail to get enough in their religion<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span> to satisfy +the longing desires of their hearts, they naturally turn toward the +flesh-pots of Egypt, and should they feel abashed because of their +church profession in going outright to the theater, dance, card parties +and other worldly amusements, they get them up in the name of the church +and religion, and have a fourth class performance in the church, or +enjoy the fun and frolic of strawberry festivals, bean suppers, oyster +stews, grab-bags, fish ponds, and so on <i>ad libitum</i>. They may try to +hide the smell of their Egyptian diet, but anybody can tell when one has +been eating onions and garlic.</p> + +<p>Thank God some folks got such a boost when they left Egypt, that they +never long for any of the former life. Like the palm tree, they are +above it all.</p> + +<p>Imagine the Apostle Paul attending the performances which some churches +have these days! There are pilgrims scattered over the world today so +lofty in their spiritual makeup, that to stoop to the level of the +pleasures of the worldly professors would be so utterly incongruous that +it would border on the ridiculous.</p> + +<p>The palm tree blessing is a high blessing. It is the "higher life" +indeed. "And a highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called +the way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it" (Isa. 35:8).</p> + +<p>"There is a path which no vulture's eye hath seen." This is the path of +the pilgrim. It is so high that the vulture in his aerial flights has +never yet been able to look down upon it. Pity such a person? Never! The +world thinks they are looking down upon us, but<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span> no worldling on this +mundane globe ever looks down on the palm tree saint as he walks the +narrow, heavenly trail, practically oblivious of conditions below. Let +not any worldling think that he is looking down on God's holy ones; they +are looking down on him and they are so far above, that he looks like a +mere dot upon the surface.</p> + +<p>The minds of many are turned toward the airships of the day. The +aviators are vying with each other in long distances, speed, altitudes, +and endurance; but the palm tree saints have solved the problems of +aviation long ago. They have an heirship, though it may not be spelled +exactly like those of the world, yet, for altitude, endurance, speed, +and long traveling, it perfectly eclipses them all. The aviator of the +world may break the world's record today, and break his neck tomorrow, +but the possibilities of the Christian aviator are exceedingly charming +and the dangers are reduced to naught. He is safer in his heirship than +on the earth. Borne upward on the wings of faith, pushed onward by the +propeller of perfect love, with a lateral stability which is a marvel to +many who gave him "just three weeks to hold out," he is still rushing on +toward the meridian sun, and has been out of sight for years. He never +expects to come down again. Some day he will fly so far away from +earth's attraction, and get so near heaven, that the gravitation, +inversely to the square of their distances, will pull so in the other +direction, that he will sail into glory and drop his pardon and purity +biplane<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span> on the gold-paved streets of the New Jerusalem, amidst the +shouts and cheers of the angelic host and the multitudes that have +sailed in before, there to enjoy an eternal "aviation meet" with prizes +and crowns of glory for all.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII"></a>CHAPTER XIII</h2><p class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></p> + +<h3>THE PALM TREE IS PECULIAR IN ITS GROWTH</h3> + + +<p>We have in the botanical world the exogenous and the endogenous tree. +The exogenous tree grows by adding to its exterior. Year after year adds +layers or rings to the outside, thus increasing its size. It is in this +way that scientists are enabled to determine the age of trees. Some of +the mammoth trees of California show an age of many hundred years. Most +of the trees with which we have to do are of the exogenous type.</p> + +<p>The endogenous tree increases by internal growth. The palm tree is +endogenous. Its growth is internal; out from the center and out at the +top.</p> + +<p>How exact to the analogy was the Holy Spirit when He inspired the +statement, that "the righteous shall flourish like the palm tree"! The +palm tree saint does not have his growth from the external, pushing out +along the lines of earth, and parallel to things of the world; but his +growth is internal, and upward toward God and heaven, and perpendicular +or diametrically opposed to the world, the flesh and the Devil.</p> + +<p>When the Holy Spirit gave us a picture of the sinner, it was "spreading +himself like a green bay tree." A glance at the margin of this text will +reveal that the green bay tree indicates one that is growing in its own<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span> +soil. It has never been transplanted. It remains in the same old +conditions and environments. It spreads out on the earth and clings to +things terrestrial. Thus, the sinner, growing in the same soil, in the +same surroundings and conditions of sin year after year, having never +been transplanted nor translated from nature's darkness to the marvelous +light of God, pushes out along worldly lines and worldly pleasures, +knowing nothing of the internal developments of grace, nor upward growth +toward God and glory.</p> + +<p>Whenever a professing Christian spreads out with worldly ambitions, is +determined to lay up his treasures upon earth, hungering more for the +adjoining quarter section of land than for the mansions beyond, +determined to have a name down here at the risk of having none in +heaven, he certainly is far from the palm tree type.</p> + +<p>With Christ crowned inside, and all the elements of Christian growth +firmly planted within the heart, no wonder there are inward developments +unseen by mortal eye, that expand the saint's soul more and more as the +years roll on, and enable him to rise more and more above terrestrial +things to heights in the heavenlies.</p> + +<p>With the secret of growth internal, it is not hindered by elements +external, for one's life "is hid with Christ in God." How comforting, +then, to the soul, to know that his secret growth is so far from +external things, that neither trials, tests, troubles, tribulations, +persecutions, disappointments, losses, crosses, circumstances,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span> men, nor +devils can necessarily hinder him from pushing out and up in the divine +life.</p> + +<p>In the earlier days of persecution of holiness professors, how often the +fighting faction has tried to snow some of God's fire-baptized saints +under, only to see them rise up through the snowdrift, with perennial +freshness and smiling face ready for the next cold blizzard of snow. Or, +perhaps it was a wet blanket suddenly thrown over them and their +testimony, but the fire within only burnt its way through and turned the +wet into steam and proved the possessor to be practically invulnerable. +It is indeed hard to cut off one's growth when it comes from within. +There may be a momentary check at times when unforeseen obstacles are +thrust in one's way, but the growth producing qualities within assert +themselves and burst out with increasing force which make the tormentors +wonder "what next?"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV"></a>CHAPTER XIV</h2><p class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></p> + +<h3>THE PALM TREE HAS A COARSE, ROUGH EXTERIOR; BUT IT IS SOFT AT HEART</h3> + + +<p>In spite of its symmetry, its wonderful beauty and its perennial +freshness, the palm tree has rather a harsh exterior. But being an +endogenous tree, its pithy interior makes it always soft at the center, +or heart.</p> + +<p>In the realm of grace, we often find some of God's best saints with a +somewhat coarse-grained exterior. They may be uncouth, unlettered, +uncultured, and reared in the backwoods, but they can look up with Job +and say, "He maketh my heart soft."</p> + +<p>While Christian education is to be prized, and culture to be much +esteemed, there are some who have not had these advantages, yet have +proved by actual experience that God's grace is free for all, and a +clean, soft heart can abide beneath a rough exterior.</p> + +<p>Methinks Elijah, with his rough garments and shaggy hair, had underneath +his crude exterior one of the softest hearts of his time. John the +Baptist, with camel's hair clothing, leathern girdle, and locust pabulum +had a kind, soft heart within.</p> + +<p>Sometimes God's people are much misunderstood because of their natural +uncouthness and blunt manners,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span> when, if their hearts could be seen, +they would appear whiter than snow and softer than silk. Thank God, He +knows.</p> + +<p>The beautiful blessing of "perfect love" has been often misunderstood. +Some seem to think it is a sort of lovey-dovey, sentimental something +that makes its possessor smile on everybody and everything no matter +what the moral quality may be. Perfect love sometimes assumes the rugged +type, and deals along drastic lines. It can weep with those who weep, +but when there is a very critical operation to perform, there may be no +place for tears just then, for tears would blind the eyes.</p> + +<p>Elijah, whose heart was full of perfect love, came to a place where the +false prophets had to be exterminated, and he had grace and grit enough +to carry out the heaven-appointed program.</p> + +<p>John the Baptist, whose experience Jesus Christ himself did not +question, could face the hypocritical church members and say, "O +generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to +come? Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance" (Matt. 3:7, 8).</p> + +<p>No, perfect love deals death blows where death blows are needed. A mad +dog is running loose in the street. Children are playing on the opposite +corner. Some one rushes out with a bludgeon in his hand, and jeopardizes +his life, but he lays out the mad dog. Some sentimental on-looker asks, +"Was that love that prompted you to treat that dog thus?" He answers,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span> +"Yes; love for those innocent children over on the corner."</p> + +<p>A man is drowning. In vain he struggles and screams. He is about to +perish, when a stalwart specimen of humanity swims out and deals the +poor man a terrible blow in the proper place to stun him. He ceases to +struggle, and the expert life-saver swims ashore and lays his man at the +feet of rejoicing friends. Some one says, "Was that love that made you +strike that poor, helpless man?" He replies, "Yes; if I hadn't stunned +him, he would have drowned himself and me too."</p> + +<p>A freight train was pulling into an Illinois town in the night. The crew +saw a building on fire and had reason to believe that a friend was +upstairs in a certain room. The train was stopped and two men rushed to +the scene of the fire. Up the stairs they mounted and never stopped to +knock at the chamber door, but rushed to the slumberer. There was no +time for ceremonies. They grabbed the man and dragged him down the +stairs most abruptly. They had scarcely reached the outside when the +stairway fell in, and had they been a minute later all would have been +lost. Imagine that rescued victim complaining of harsh treatment, +skinned shins and sprained ankles! Love made the rescuers adopt speedy +and most drastic measures and nothing else would have saved.</p> + +<p>When the writer was a small boy in Iowa, a presiding elder of the M. E. +church lived in his town. He was an exceedingly corpulent man, weighing +something<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span> over three hundred fifty pounds. One day he was taken very +sick and a physician prescribed for him, leaving the medicine in the +form of powders for him to take. The great, big preacher looked at the +small powders and then at his bigness, and said to himself: "I am so +large I think I would better take two of them." He accordingly took a +double dose and soon discovered that they were putting him to sleep. His +family and friends saw the awful mistake he had made, and determined to +use desperate measures to keep him awake, or they well knew they would +soon have a dead presiding elder on their hands. Accordingly, love went +to work. They walked him about, switched him, and punished him in any +way their quickened ingenuity could invent. In vain he begged them to +let him alone and sleep, but they threshed him and punished him till +they wore off the effect of the opiate and saved his life. Would any one +question the promptings of love that led those people to give their +presiding elder such a beating? I trow not.</p> + +<p>Did Jesus Christ love when He drove the money changers out of the temple +at the end of a whip? Did Daniel have love when he faced the wicked +Belshazzar and told him of his sins at the risk of his own life? Was +there love in Jeremiah's heart when he swore to the truth and changed +not, even if he did land in the dark, miry dungeon? Where was Joshua's +love when he put his foot on the necks of the Canaanitish kings? What +about Samuel and Agag? Look over the history of the Old and New +Testaments and note some of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span> rugged measures taken by God's prophets +and others, and see that it was not always of the easy-going, +soft-gloved, alligator-teared type.</p> + +<p>In the far North, when it was an object to get the mail over those +bleak, barren plains, with the thermometer many degrees below zero, one +frightfully frigid morning the express driver was bundled up for his +long, cold ride in his sleigh. Just as he was about to start, a rather +scantily dressed woman came up with a baby in her arms, and told the +driver that she had just received news of her husband's death, and she +must go to him. He remonstrated with her and tried to show her that she +could never stand the cold trip; that she would certainly freeze on the +way. But his words were futile, for she climbed into the sleigh and was +determined to go to her husband. Finding that he could not prevail upon +her to desist, he tucked her in the bottom of the sleigh, piled the +straw around, placed the wraps about her and her baby and started on. As +they progressed, the cold grew more and more intense. The icy flakes +began to fill the air, and the wind was cutting its way through to the +very marrow. Finally, the driver saw the poor woman nodding, and +discovered the sleepy droop of her eyelids. He thought, "Oh, the poor +woman is freezing to death and what shall I do?" He hastily tried to +think of some way of saving her life, when suddenly he stopped the +sleigh, and quietly, without saying a word, took the baby from her arms +and lifted the freezing form of the woman into the road; then he took +the babe in his own arms and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span> drove on. At first she staggered and +stumbled around and then seemed to come to herself and discovered that +the driver was actually running off with her baby. The chase then began +in good earnest. He managed to keep just far enough ahead to encourage +her in her desperate run. Finally, he saw the glow return to her cheek, +and knew that the warm blood was again coursing through her body, and +then he quietly let her in, placed the babe in her arms, snugly tucked +them in and drove on to their destination. At the journey's end she +said, "Oh, how I thank you for what you did! If you had not done that, +my baby would have been an orphan tonight." Rough treatment was that; +but it was prompted by love. Judging from the exterior appearance, it +surely looked rough and frightfully cruel; but a heart of kindness was +beneath it all.</p> + +<p>A certain phrenologist was giving a public exhibition showing the +science of phrenology. A well-known citizen was on the platform having +his cranium and physiognomy examined, the result of which was being +communicated to the audience. The man had some very prominent bumps and +features which indicated a disposition far from pleasant, and the +examiner was telling it out to the congregation as one striking, ugly +point after another was discovered. As the phrenologist proceeded from +one statement to another, delineating the man's character, the +congregation first smiled, and then burst into laughter. The professor +was actually describing the man opposite to what he really was. They +knew the man, and it excited their risibilities to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span> see the scientist so +far miss the mark. Of course it was embarrassing to him, but on +concluding his talk, the gentleman who had been examined asked if he +might say a word. He then told the people that the phrenologist had told +the truth and had given a very accurate description of his natural +disposition; that he had perfectly pictured out his former life; that +the reason why he was not that way now, was because of the grace of God +that had come into his life. Grace had made the change, but the old, +rough exterior was not worn off, and the phrenologist had judged from +the appearance.</p> + +<p>Let us not judge by the external simply. Like the palm tree, one may be +crude and rough outside, but inside he may meet the loving approbation +of God.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV"></a>CHAPTER XV</h2><p class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></p> + +<h3>THE LIFE OF THE PALM TREE IS AT THE CENTER</h3> + + +<p>This is unlike the life of all the exogenous trees, which is at the +surface, or rather just beneath the bark. When the life-giving sap +circulates along the length of these trees, it moves in its course close +to the outside surface. When the maple tree is tapped they catch this +flow of sap, because it is near to the outside. When farmers want to +destroy a tree, all they have to do is to girdle it, or, in other words, +cut the bark down to the wood all around the tree, and thus stop the +circulation of sap, and the tree soon withers and dies. Such a tree can +not stand too much abuse. If it is chopped and hacked and peeled, or +girdled, it seems to discourage it, and it gives up and dies. Not so +with the palm tree. It has its life at the center. One may rip it and +peel it and girdle it, and it grows just the same; it has a hidden life. +We have actually seen a row of palms which had been burnt, and yet they +had pushed out of their dismal darkness, and thrown out fresh foliage. +They do not get discouraged and quit when the odds are against them.</p> + +<p>Does the reader still find himself flourishing like the palm tree? The +perplexing and persecuting times<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span> will come more or less to all of us, +and then how we will need the palm tree blessing!</p> + +<p>Take the professor of religion minus the real possession, and let him be +placed under the distressing ordeal of certain lines of adversity. Let +him be cut with the cruel tongue of the talker, peeled with popular +prejudice, girdled with the scalpel of the religious dissecter, crunched +by cruel cannibals who love to devour one another, and see how quickly +the spiritual sap ceases to flow. See how soon he withers and shrinks up +and says, "What is the use of trying any more; I might as well give up +my religion." He may not come out openly and above board and declare his +intentions, but that is about the outcome. But see how it works on the +palm tree saint, whose life is "hid with Christ in God." Drag him +through the streets by the hair of his head as they did John Wesley; +incarcerate him as they did John Bunyan; incinerate him as they did the +martyrs of old; excommunicate him and revile him as they did some in our +own day; ecclesiastically decapitate him and skin him alive and girdle +him clear around, and then see him leap and dance, and sing and shout +"Hallelujah! You can't hurt me, for I have the palm tree blessing, and +my life is hidden inside." The sap flows right on, and, though the +outside may be somewhat worse for the wear, yet the Christ-life within +surmounts it all and shouts its victorious way over all obstacles.</p> + +<p>Had the early saints not known this wonderful blessing, they surely +would have failed in the struggles<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span> of life. Hear the Apostle Paul as he +faces the guillotine block: "For I am now ready to be offered, and the +time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have +finished my course, I have kept the faith; henceforth, there is laid up +for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, +shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also +that love his appearing" (2 Tim. 4:6-8).</p> + +<p>Hear the Apostle John on that dreary Isle of Patmos: "He that +overcometh, shall inherit all things." "These are they which come out of +great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in +the blood of the Lamb."</p> + +<p>See the martyrs all down the ages with an inner current of joy as they +faced fagots, and with unfaltering step gave up their lives and flew to +heaven in chariots of fire. There were no outside punishments that could +cut off their life flow. It was hidden so deep that stripes, nor stocks, +nor sword, nor stones, nor any other kind of affliction or infliction +could reach its fountain head.</p> + +<p>There are those of our present day who know by actual experience the +joys of this inner, invulnerable gift. Had it not been for this, they +would have been swept into the vortex of discouragement and despair long +ago. O, the unspeakable joy of a life that is not superficial, but +hidden so deep that the Devil's darts or any of his devices can not +reach it!</p> + +<p>How is it that sister can sing and smile when a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span> thousand trials +conspire to cut off the flow of holy joy? Because she has the palm tree +blessing, and her life of devotion and blessing is not external where +the things of earth can reach it.</p> + +<p>When one murmurs and complains, and finds fault with environments and +the things which would tend to annoy, let him know that he is living at +the external, and does not know the joys of internal rest where these +things do not intrude. Thank God for an inner current of holy life, +which flows on, supplying the life more abundant and keeping the soul in +blessed equipoise amidst the surging of life's storms.</p> + +<p>So we see that the palm tree is endowed with an abundant life. Jesus +said in John 10:10, "I am come that they might have life, and that they +might have it more abundantly." The palm tree is certainly a fine type +or illustration of life more abundant. Now, if the Christian is to +measure up alongside of this characteristic, then he must have that +which Jesus meant by the more abundant life. It is not sufficient to +have life in Christ; he must have it abundantly.</p> + +<p>What is this life more abundant? Look at the schoolboys as they file out +of school. They can scarcely contain themselves, having been pentup +through the day. Some are yelling, some are running and some are +manifesting their life in other ways. They seem to have more than they +know what to do with. Look at the stall-fed calf. See it gamboling over +the meadow. Notice the lambs frisk and frolic. Every action signifies +abundant life. This is all physical life; yet<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span> the Holy Ghost coming +into the believer's heart and life will impart the spiritual life more +abundant. Wherever there is life, we may hope to see the manifestation +of that life. If there is life more abundant, then we may hope to see +more abundant manifestations of that life. The sinner is dead in +trespasses and sins. The believer is made alive in Jesus Christ. The +difference between a Christian and a sinner is the difference between a +living body and a corpse. If a funeral was in progress and Jesus Christ +should come by as He did when the procession was on the way from Nain to +the cemetery, and speak life into the dead body, how long would it be +before the person in the coffin would find it out, and also the people +looking on? When a soul is born again, regenerated by power divine, +there are manifestations of that life, and the individual certainly +finds it out, and it is obvious to those who know him. Where there are +no manifestations of life it is certainly taxing to one's credulity to +believe there is life. The other day we read in the paper of a funeral +in progress, and in the midst of the service the child who was dead or +supposed to be, arose in the casket and looked quietly around. The +grandmother sitting near by was so shocked at the sight that she +instantly fell over dead. It would not take the observers long to +ascertain that the child on the one hand was alive and that the +grandmother on the other hand was dead. There is too much in these +latter days that passes for life when it is death. It is certainly a +marvelous experience to be made alive unto God. We pick up a paper and +read of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span> a certain revival where hundreds and perhaps thousands have +been converted. The question is: Have they really been made alive from +the dead, or have they simply made a resolution and joined the church?</p> + +<p>We have never been very visionary, nor have we been carried away in +trances; but we did have a dream once that we felt sure was from the +Lord; at least the interpretation came so clearly and quickly at the +moment of waking, that we have felt the Lord's hand was in it. The dream +ran thus: We had gone into a cemetery and followed a lady into a tomb. +At the center of this tomb was a casket. The lady walked up to the +casket and quietly lifted the lid and laid it aside. She then gently +placed her hands inside the casket and lifted out of it the form of a +young man. This young man seemed to come to life as she took him out. +She then placed him on her lap, took a clothes brush and nicely brushed +his clothes. He then stood up. We were standing near the wall, and this +young man was observed to roll a cigarette between his fingers and +looking our way, asked for a match. We had none for that purpose and +never do. Immediately we said, "Just out of the grave and yet he +continues in his sins." Then the lady gently took this young man and +laid him within the casket, and he was as dead as before. The lid was +placed in shape and immediately we awoke, whereupon a voice seemed to +say clearly, "This is a modern revival." And is it not true? Do they not +have many who stand up or sign their names and join the church? They +seem to have a little life<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span> for awhile; are brushed up and stood up, +when, lo, and behold the old sinful life clings to them, and in a few +days they are back in their old state of death just as dead as before. +Surely, this is not the kind of life Jesus came to bring.</p> + +<p>Now, if in the incipient life which Jesus brings, there are +manifestations of the same, does it not hold true that in the life more +abundant there should be expected greater manifestations of that life? +We read that the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, etc. This +obtains in the justified relation, when the power of an endless life +begins to work in the heart and life of an individual. Then when that +life becomes more abundant in the sanctified experience, the love, joy, +peace, and all the rest are more abundant. In pardon we have love; in +purity, perfect love. In pardon we have joy; in purity, fulness of joy. +In pardon we have peace; in purity perfect peace. In pardon we have +salvation; in purity, full salvation. In pardon we have life; in purity +life more abundant. Surely, the sanctified soul ought to manifest more +love, joy, peace, longsuffering, and the rest of the imparted graces +than those who do not enjoy sanctification. Alas, too many who profess +this "second blessing, properly so-called," do not manifest it in their +lives. The palm tree abundance seems to be wanting. When our dear mother +was very old, and did not always get her letters properly connected in +her letter writing, one time she wrote us a letter in which she spoke of +the blessing of sanctification. She got all the letters<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span> in, but placed +the "c" before the "a" and made it spell "scantified." We thought that +was true of far too many; their sanctification is scantification; alas, +far too scant.</p> + +<p>We had this life more abundant wonderfully illustrated on a certain +occasion while holding a meeting in the city of Indianapolis. We stepped +into a doctor's office and observed a platform about four feet square. +This platform was perfectly insulated by having glass feet beneath. The +object of the platform was to form a place for an individual to sit and +then fill him full of electricity. A chair was placed on this platform, +and we were asked to take a seat on it. At first we were somewhat +dubious. We had read of the electrocuting chair, and did not know to +just what extent the lightning might be turned on. After a little +persuasion, and looking at the matter rather philosophically, thinking +that others had been there without being killed, we ventured to take a +seat. At once the power was turned on and in a moment every hair on our +head was standing straight up, we observed in the mirror. The power went +through and through our body from head to foot. It felt glorious, and no +one needed to tell us that something was going on inside. The doctor +placed his hand near our body, and a sharp crack was heard, a spark of +lightning flew out to meet him. Every time the hand approached any part +of us, the report was heard and lightning would flash. Our friend was +sitting near and he was asked to shake hands with us, whereby he +responded, "No, you don't."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span> He felt there was too much going on for him +to trifle with lightning that way. Now, we would not want to convey the +thought, that necessarily when one obtains the blessing of holiness +there will be felt electric shocks throughout his being; but we do mean +to say that when an individual places himself and all that he has on +God's platform of consecration, and becomes perfectly insulated from +this world, that God will turn on the power of the sanctifying baptism +with the Holy Ghost, and that individual will surely know that the +mighty work has taken place. And not only the one who receives the +blessing will be cognizant of the fact, but others who come in contact +with him will ascertain the same. To say that one has the blessing of +holiness, but has no power, is to say what is not true. To say, "I am +still sanctified, but I have lost the power," is to speak contradictory +to the Word of God. There are some things which God has joined together, +and surely we have no right to put them asunder. When the individual +becomes perfectly insulated from the world and worldliness, and makes +proper connection with the dynamos of the skies, something is surely +going to happen.</p> + +<p>Once we heard a preacher tell an experience he had when a telegraph +operator. It sometimes fell to his lot to go down the line and see what +caused obstructions to the messages. One time while out on such duty he +observed the line was broken. Usually he took along with him a telegraph +instrument with which to send and receive messages. This time he had +neglected to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span> carry such an instrument. He saw the importance of sending +back a message, but having no instrument, he did not see how it could be +done. At length he thought of placing the two ends of the wire together, +and by joining them in the proper way he could use the Morse code of +dots and dashes, etc. He accordingly tried the experiment and it worked +so successfully that he managed to get a message through to the office. +The next thing was, how could he get a message from the office to +himself? He could not hear the dots and dashes as they might pass along +the wire to him. Finally, the thought struck him, that he could make his +body a means of transmission of the message. Accordingly, he took hold +of one end of the wire with one hand and the other wire with the other +hand, when here came along the message and passed right through his +body, making the dots and dashes of the system perceptibly realized by +the jerking of the hands and arms. Here he had hold of one wire +connected with the office, and with the other hand he had grasped the +wire that connected with the other side and through him came the +message. Would to God that more people had learned the secret of perfect +insulation, and could have their very being so transformed that they +would become channels through which the Holy Ghost could pour His own +messages of divine truth out on a careless and deceived world! We need +to become channels of life, abundant life to a lost and ruined world.</p> + +<p>The world is perishing for life. The old humdrum of lifeless religion is +too repulsive. When a certain<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span> noted preacher was asked why more people +did not attend church, the answer was, "Because they can not stand the +humdrum." There is something about life that is attractive. A jumping, +laughing, rollicking baby always attracts attention. The frisking lamb, +the playing pups, the rollicking children, all attract. Folks don't like +death. Funerals are sad. Graveyards are quiet places. The heart of man +cries out for life. God puts a spiritual hunger within the breast for +the life more abundant. The lifeless, emotionless, joyless prayermeeting +or preaching service never had its origin in the pentecostal upper room. +They are not the congregations of Spirit-filled, fire-baptized souls. +David said, "My cup runneth over." Isaiah said in that memorable twelfth +chapter, that people would do five things: praise, pray, testify, sing, +and shout. Then he gives as a cause for it all, that "Great is the Holy +One of Israel in the midst of thee." And it is true to the letter. When +God gets in the midst of people there are these beautiful +manifestations. The people praise the Lord, call upon His name, make +mention that His name is exalted, sing and shout. When the meeting dies, +these things are wanting. "Life, life, eternal life!" Let this be our +cry till the dead wake up, and the slumbering church arouses from its +stupor, and the pulpit pulsates with pentecostal fire.</p> + +<p>The last thing a person wants to meet is death. No wonder it is termed +an enemy. If then death is so dreaded in the material world, why should +we not abhor spiritual death? Thank God we do not need<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span> to have it +around. With Christ the very embodiment of life, who was dead, but now +is alive forevermore; with heaven's mighty reservoir of the elixir of +life at our command, there is no need of spiritual cemeteries. We do not +have to leak out our life because somebody said so; because some +persecutor said something detrimental to us, or used some weapon of war +against us. Did not martyrs of old face death at every turn? Paul said, +"I die daily." He was in constant jeopardy. He never could tell when an +angry mob would swoop down upon him, or he would be cast to the wild +beasts. Yet none of these things moved him. He had a life like the palm +tree, so hidden inside that external things did not affect. Indeed some +of the early martyrs seemed to be endowed with miraculous physical life. +It is recorded that the Apostle John was cast into a cauldron of boiling +oil, but was miraculously delivered, the oil having no effect on him.</p> + +<p>When Blandina, a Christian lady, was undergoing such tremendous tortures +by her persecutors, though weak in her constitution, yet she sustained +such aid from heaven, that her tormentors several times became weary in +their wicked work, and declared that she must have been supported by +some invisible power.</p> + +<p>Sanctus was a deacon at Vienne. He was tortured for Jesus' sake and bore +it all with marked fortitude and exclaimed, "I am a Christian." When +red-hot plates were applied repeatedly to the most sensitive parts of +his body, till the sinews were contracted, still he remained unmovable, +inflexible in his steadfastness,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span> and he was again placed in prison. In +a few days he was brought forth again, when his tormentors were +wonderfully astonished to find that his wounds were healed and his body +sound and perfect. He was again put to the torture, but being unable to +take his life, he was again remanded to prison, where soon afterward he +was beheaded.</p> + +<p>We may not be called upon to suffer physical torture at the hands of +heartless persecutors in these days, but "They that will live godly in +Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." We surely will have it in some +form if true to God. The world does not love our Christ. Jesus told His +own brothers that the world could not hate them, but it hated Him, +because He told them their deeds were evil. When our persecutors come, +what are we going to do? If we have the palm tree blessing, we have a +life hidden so deep that the world can not reach it. This life is a +heart life. It does not lie on the surface where the enemy's tortures +can reach it. Look at the sainted martyrs in the early day; how they +endured the afflictions that were heaped upon them, without a murmur, +and would not flinch, nor compromise a hair's breadth. Their tormentors +were taxed to the extreme in devising modes of suffering by which they +hoped to succeed in getting the Christians to deny Christ. In order to +show the real hidden life of the palm tree saint we will record the case +of two martyrs as told in "The Historic Martyrs of the Primitive +Church," by A. J. Mason.</p> + +<p>Probus was presented. "Put away all foolish language,"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span> said Maximus, +"and tell me what you are called."</p> + +<p>"My first and best name is Christian; my second, by which men call me, +is Probus."</p> + +<p>"Of what station in life?"</p> + +<p>"My father was a Thracian, but I was born at Sida in Pamphilia. I am a +civilian, but a Christian."</p> + +<p>"Little good you will get from that name. Follow my advice, and +sacrifice to the gods, that you may receive honor from the emperors, and +be a friend of mine."</p> + +<p>"I do not want the honor of the emperors, nor am I anxious for your good +offices. I had a considerable property, but I gave it up, to serve the +living God through Christ."</p> + +<p>"Take off his cloak. Gird him up. Put him at the stretch. Beat him with +thongs of rawhide."</p> + +<p>The compassionate centurion, Demetrius, again spoke: "Spare yourself, +man; you see your blood running to the ground."</p> + +<p>"My body is at your disposal," answered Probus. "But your punishments to +me are an anointing with sweet ointments."</p> + +<p>After a time Maximus began again his attempts at persuasion: "Will you +not have done with this madness now? Do you persist in it, unhappy man?"</p> + +<p>"I am not mad. I am wiser than you. I do not serve devils."</p> + +<p>"Turn him over and beat him on the belly."</p> + +<p>"Lord, help thy servant."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span></p> + +<p>"As you beat him, say, 'Christian man, where is your helper?"</p> + +<p>"He has helped, and He helps me still. I care so little for your +punishment, that I will not obey you."</p> + +<p>"Think of your body, unhappy wretch. All the floor is covered with the +blood from it."</p> + +<p>"Let me tell you this: the more my body suffers for Christ's sake, the +better it is for the health of my soul."</p> + +<p>"Put him in irons, and stretch him to the fourth hole. Let him have no +attention paid to him."</p> + +<p>Tarachus is then brought before Maximus.</p> + +<p>"Well, well, Tarachus," said Maximus. "I suppose that the reason why +people honor old age is because of the greater wisdom in counsel that +comes with it. Therefore, give yourself good advice, and do not today +persist in your former notions, but sacrifice to the gods, and earn the +praise of piety."</p> + +<p>"I am a Christian," answered Tarachus, "and I pray that you and your +emperors may earn the same praise, and may put away all hardness of +heart and blindness, and be quickened by the true God to a higher and +better grounded conviction."</p> + +<p>"Knock his mouth with stones, and say to him, 'Cease your folly.'"</p> + +<p>"If I were not of sound mind, I should be a fool as you are."</p> + +<p>"See, your teeth are all loosened. Have pity on yourself, unhappy man."</p> + +<p>"Nothing that you can do hurts me, not if you were<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span> to cut off all my +extremities. I stand steadfastly before you in Christ which +strengtheneth me."</p> + +<p>"Follow my advice. You had better. Come and sacrifice."</p> + +<p>"If I knew that I had better do it, I should not suffer as I do."</p> + +<p>"Strike him on the mouth and tell him to cry out."</p> + +<p>"When my teeth are dashed out, and my jaws crushed, I can not cry out."</p> + +<p>"Will you not even now comply, impious man? Come to the altars, and pour +a drink-offering to the gods."</p> + +<p>"Though you have stopped my voice so that I can not cry out, you can not +hinder the thoughts of my soul. You have made me bolder and firmer."</p> + +<p>"I will take down your firmness, ruffian."</p> + +<p>"I am at your disposal. Whatever you devise, I shall be more than a +match for you in the name of God who strengtheneth me."</p> + +<p>"Open his hands and put fire in them."</p> + +<p>"I am not afraid of your fire, which endures for a moment; but I am +afraid lest, if I were to obey you, I should become a partaker of the +eternal fire."</p> + +<p>"Look, your hands are consumed with the fire. Will you leave off your +madness, senseless man, and sacrifice?"</p> + +<p>"You talk to me as if I had begged you not to use your arts of +persuasion upon my body. I am proof against all that you are doing to +me."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Tie his feet and hang him aloft by them; then send up a thick smoke in +his face."</p> + +<p>"I thought nothing of your fire; do you suppose that I shall be afraid +of your smoke?"</p> + +<p>"Consent to sacrifice, now that you are hung up."</p> + +<p>"<i>You</i> may sacrifice, sir; you are accustomed to sacrificing—even to +sacrificing men. But God forbid that I should do so."</p> + +<p>"Put strong vinegar, mixed with salt up his nostrils."</p> + +<p>"Your vinegar is sweet and your salt has lost its saltness."</p> + +<p>"Mix mustard with the vinegar and pour it into his nostrils."</p> + +<p>"Your officers are deceiving you, Maximus; they gave me honey instead of +vinegar."</p> + +<p>"I will think of some punishment for you next court day, and I will put +an end to your folly."</p> + +<p>"And I shall be the readier for your devices."</p> + +<p>"Take him down; put him in chains and give him over to the gaoler. Call +the next."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI"></a>CHAPTER XVI</h2><p class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></p> + +<h3>THE PALM BRANCH IS THE SYMBOL OF VICTORY</h3> + + +<p>"After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could +number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood +before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and +<i>palms</i> in their hands; and cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation +to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. * * * These +are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their +robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb" (Rev. 7:9, 14).</p> + +<p>"When this cruel war is over," and the last enemy, death, has been +conquered, and every tribulation has been passed through triumphantly, +then we shall come forth on the victor's side, clothed with white robes, +and waving our palm branches gloriously, having overcome by the blood of +the Lamb and the word of our testimony.</p> + +<p>When Jesus made that triumphal entry into Jerusalem, just before His +crucifixion, the rejoicing followers acknowledged His kingly victories, +and did homage by preparing His way, and "took branches of palm trees, +and went forth to meet him, and cried,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span> Hosanna: Blessed is the King of +Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord" (John 12:13).</p> + +<p>Not only did the palm branch have the significance of victory in the +Bible, but certain countries have used it as a token of victory and +rejoicing, a symbol or evidence of superiority or success. In our +present day, "to bear the palm" means to come off victoriously. This +expression has evidently been borrowed from the ancient symbol.</p> + +<p>What other tree in all the world could so well be used to signify +victory? When we think of its beauty, its perpendicular straightness, +its perennial freshness, its sweet and abundant fruitfulness even in old +age, its almost incomprehensible utility, its successful development +where other trees fail, its natural propensity to ascend heavenward, its +marvelous hardiness with its internal and upward growth, does it not +stand to reason that the palm branch should be the most fitting type of +Christian triumph and joyous victory? No other tree could be used so +well to symbolize the victory of him who is fighting under the banner of +King Emmanuel.</p> + +<p>Now, if we are to flourish like the palm tree, then we shall flourish +with victory.</p> + +<p>We are taught in the Word that "we are more than conquerors through him +that loved us" (Rom. 8:37). This means that the palm tree saint can +fight and win and be ready to fight again.</p> + +<p>David's fight with Goliath illustrates it. He marched out against his +enemy and God's enemy with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span> five sling stones, and the first throw +something entered Goliath's head that made an impression which he never +got over. And then the stripling, shepherd lad had four more stones to +kill four more giants if necessary.</p> + +<p>In the economy of God's grace He never arranged for us to be succumbers, +but rather overcomers. Read the marvelous promises of Revelation for +those who overcome. There are seven of them, and note the ascending +scale.</p> + +<p>1. "To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life which +is in the midst of the paradise of God."</p> + +<p>2. "He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death."</p> + +<p>3. "To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and I +will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written which +no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it."</p> + +<p>4. "And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him +will I give power over the nations. * * * And I will give him the +morning star."</p> + +<p>5. "He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and +I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess +his name before my Father, and before his angels."</p> + +<p>6. "Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, +and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my +God, and the name of the city of my God, which is New Jerusalem,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span> which +cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new +name."</p> + +<p>7. "To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, +even as I also overcame and am set down with my Father in his throne."</p> + +<p>Wonderful stepping stones to the throne! Seven steps and into glory!</p> + +<p>Let us examine them in their order:</p> + +<p>1. He eats of the tree of life. Death has slipped away and eternal life +has come. He is living forever <i>now</i>. We eat of earth's food to live +here, and we eat of the tree of life to live forever.</p> + +<p>2. He has promise of a safe passage and a proper landing. He shall not +be hurt with the second death. Insurance in the King's Insurance +Company, secures a positive guaranty against the second death. Wrapped +in the asbestos robes of full salvation, makes one immune from the fires +of perdition.</p> + +<p>3. He eats again; but now it is hidden manna. Hidden manna was inside +the holy of holies. Thus, he reaches the "second blessing" properly +so-called. Now arises special persecution and calumny; but the great +Judge in casting the ballot for the condemned, puts in the white stone +for acquittal: hence, he receives the white stone at this stage. "What +shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against +us?" (Rom. 8:31).</p> + +<p>4. Power, the positive side of holiness is now particularly manifested. +Also, the night of trouble, trial, testing, temptations, and tears will +pass away. The<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span> "morning star" is seen. He is looking toward the +sun-rising, toward the morning when the Sun of righteousness shall +appear.</p> + +<p>5. Now, the "white raiment" of a holy life shines forth particularly. +His outward life and testimony give him away. His hidden life manifests +itself outwardly and differentiates itself from all other life. The +inward glory is shining out to the surface, and his life is seen and +felt. In proportion to the inward glory will the outward effulgence be +manifested. Jesus, on the mount of transfiguration, let the inward glory +out through His garments, and they became garments of light.</p> + +<p>Now comes the announcement that his name will not be blotted out of the +book of life. While it is possible to pass the point in sin, where the +soul fixes its destiny for damnation, so it seems that there is a point +in the progress of spirituality and grace and overcoming, that fixes the +soul's destiny for glory. His name is confessed before God and the +angels. The veil is getting very thin here, between the overcoming +pilgrim and paradise. In fact he is living mostly in heaven now.</p> + +<p>6. He is now counted a pillar in a peculiar sense. Like the pillars of +ancient Egypt and Babylon where great monarchs carved their names, +battles, victories, marvelous achievements, and chiseled their pedigree +and dynasty, so God takes this time-honored, battle-scarred, +self-sacrificing pilgrim at this stage and makes him an illustrious +pillar in the temple of God, and writes in his favor his victories and +exploits, his overcoming<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span> life. He is to go no more out. As some are +sealed for eternal damnation in this life, so he is sealed for eternal +glory.</p> + +<p>"I will write upon him." Yes, God will carve upon him victories and +conquests. He will write upon him the city of God—his sure destination. +Like the address on a sealed letter, with the government of the country +back of it to see that it arrives safely at its destination, so with +God's "epistles," "sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise," with the +address of his destination plainly written thereon, and with the +government of all heaven interested in seeing him through, we see the +overcoming saint nearing the Great White Throne. The end is near; he is +overcoming to the last. He has been ascending the steps, till now he +sees inside the pearly gates, and one step more will put him inside.</p> + +<p>7. Here he is in glory at last, and a place with Jesus in His throne. +Exalted place! With Christ, the great Overcomer, he sits down with Him +in His throne. It is more than finite minds can comprehend. Surely, it +will pay to be true to Jesus and be a final overcomer.</p> + +<p>When we read these wonderful promises to the overcomer, and see with +what precision and certainty he is made to ascend the spiritual scale to +glory, we scarcely wonder, that before we reach the close of Revelation +we hear the sudden announcement: "He that overcometh shall inherit all +things."</p> + +<p>"And this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith" (1 +John 5:4). The overcoming, victorious life is the only kind that +satisfies the soul and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span> qualifies for spiritual success in this world. +The outside world is looking upon us, and if they do not see something +in us beyond that which they see in themselves, there will be no +inducement from our standpoint for them to make any change.</p> + +<p>God has provided a life in which it is possible to "rejoice evermore, +pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks." The psalmist said, "I +will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my +mouth." No person can, by mere volition, bring himself into a frame of +mind to bless the Lord at all times and have His praise continually in +his mouth. The harassing trials and nagging disappointments incident to +earthly life are too many and too severe to admit of the everlasting +praise life without the grace of God within. And many with a measure of +God's grace have not become acquainted with the secret of continual +praise. Let us look at two statements, one in the Old Testament, and the +other in the New Testament.</p> + +<p>"All these things are against me" (Gen. 42:36).</p> + +<p>"All things work together for good" (Rom. 8:28).</p> + +<p>The first statement comes from Jacob; the second from the Apostle Paul. +Paul said he had learned whatsoever state he was in, therewith to be +content (Phil. 4:11). Jacob was looking at the mere external, and +judging accordingly. What were the things that were against Jacob? "Me +have ye bereaved of my children: Joseph is not, and Simeon is not, and +ye will take Benjamin away. All these things are against me." But Jacob, +you are very much mistaken. The very<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span> things you say are against you, +are all working together for your good. Joseph, right now is in Egypt, +the governor of that land, and is not dead as you suppose. Simeon is all +right under Joseph's watchful care, and Benjamin will be in the best of +hands. Joseph went before, to be a loadstone to draw Simeon there, and +Simeon is a loadstone to draw Benjamin there, and Benjamin will be a +loadstone to draw you there and all the rest of the family to preserve +you alive and to bring about God's wonderful plan and providence in the +Hebrew nation. No; the trouble with Jacob was with his foresight; had +that been half as good as his hindsight he never would have said what he +did.</p> + +<p>Perhaps Paul did not have so much to contend with in his day. Let us +see. "In labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more +frequent, in deaths oft. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes +save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I +suffered shipwreck, a night and a day have I been in the deep; in +journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils +by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, +in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false +brethren; in weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger +and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. Besides those +things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of +all the churches" (2 Cor. 11:23-28).<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span> In spite of all these, hear his +overcoming, victorious faith say: "All things work together for good."</p> + +<p>There is probably no department in the Christian life which is more +desired and for which more prayer is offered, than the victory +department. There are so many trials, disappointments and annoyances +from day to day, that if one allows them to overcome him he is +constantly confronting failure and chagrin. But to know that one is from +day to day and moment to moment living in the praise and overcoming +life, gives him a joy and satisfaction that is simply glorious in the +extreme.</p> + +<p>There are many Christians who go through the world in a sort of +up-and-down, to-and-fro, in-and-out, zigzag way that is certainly +discouraging. To have victory today and defeat tomorrow, keeps one on +edge all the time, not knowing which way the battle is going to turn. A +lesson from the Book of Joshua is encouraging. When he began that +wonderful series of conquests just after crossing the Jordan into +Canaan, it was victory after victory. Here is a sample of the records: +"And he did to the king of Makkedah as he did unto the king of Jericho." +Then follows like statements in almost the identical language except +that the cities are different, showing that he took the last city and +conquered it and its king in precisely the same manner as he did the one +before. God had previously promised him that he should have just that +kind of victory in Canaan. "Hereby ye shall know that the living God is +among you, and that he will<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span> without fail drive out from before you the +Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Hivites, and the Perizzites, and +the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Jebusites" (Joshua 3:10). +Notice two things in this: It was to occur in Canaan, and there were to +be seven nations conquered. Is not this typical of Holy Ghost victory in +the sanctified life? Canaan is a type of holiness, and seven is the +perfect number. God wants us to have perfect victory from day to day +over all our foes, and He will supply that which will enable us to +overcome.</p> + +<p>So many so-called soldiers of the cross are living simply on the +defensive with scarcely a thought of spiritual, aggressive warfare. Look +at the great battles that have been won in the world's history. Were not +most of them won by the aggressive side? Look at the whole armor of God +as the inspired pen of Paul pictures it out in the sixth chapter of +Ephesians; the helmet for the head, the breastplate for the vital organs +of the body, the shield for the whole man, and a sword to do aggressive +execution. We see the whole front of the man protected, but what about +the back? There is no protection for that part of the body, for God's +soldiers are not expected to turn their back to the foe. If they do, +they are sure to be hit. When the writer was a boy, accompanied by other +boys, he discovered an old Indian burying ground on the beach bluff near +Santa Barbara, California. They had seen indications of such a place, +and were diligently searching for the exact spot. Finally, they +discovered some<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span> rib bones sticking out of the bank, where the constant +washing of the waves had in time crumbled the bank down. With shovels in +hand they went about the delightsome task of uncovering the dead, with +the hopes of finding wampum, arrowheads, pottery or any other relics +which might have been buried with their owner. Finally, a section of an +Indian's backbone was unearthed, and upon examination it was found that +an arrow head had pierced the vertebra, just missing the spinal cord, +and was wedged in like a nail driven into a board. The question might be +asked: "How did the arrow head get into that Indian's backbone?" +Evidently, because the Indian was on the retreat, and his enemy shot him +in the back.</p> + +<p>Where is the victorious life, when life is spent simply in the humdrum +of daily routine of selfish interests? No wonder people have an +up-and-down experience. No wonder they never get anywhere outside of the +treadmill of life. God wants us to branch out and bless the world and be +conquerors. In the Garden of Eden we read about the wonderful river that +flowed through it and watered it; but it was not self-centered nor +self-contained; it branched out. So it is in sanctified human experience +today; the Edenic stream of full salvation flows through the soul, but +it does not stop there and center itself in the individual. The stream +waters one's life and experience, but it flows out and on to bless +others also. The Edenic stream started out as one stream, but the +account tells us that it branched out into four streams and watered the +world around. So<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span> it is with that soul who will let the Holy Ghost have +His way with him. Out of his inmost being will flow rivers of living +water. This fourfold Edenic stream went out in four directions, to the +four quarters of the earth, so to speak. Four is the human number of the +Bible, and when one gets the Holy Ghost, he is expected to branch out to +the people everywhere and water the world with the precious water of +life. Holiness is not self-centered. It consists of two elements—purity +and power. If one has the thought of purity alone when he seeks the +blessing, he has a one-sided idea of it. There is a power side which +enables the possessor to conquer. Purity for the individual, and power +for the world; or in other words, power for aggressive warfare.</p> + +<p>Whoever became a conqueror that stayed always in one little, beaten +path? The world is so big, the possibilities are so great, and the grace +of God so boundless, that it looks as if we all ought to set our stakes +for bigger results in the Christian life. One day we were passing along +a street in a certain city and observed a gentleman constructing a very +peculiar piece of frame work, and our curiosity was so aroused that we +went over and asked him what he was building. He answered, "I am +building a razzle-dazzle." He then explained what that was. He said that +a razzle-dazzle was something like a merry-go-round, except that as it +went round and round it also went up and down. We thought how many +people in their so-called Christian life are riding the razzle-dazzle. +They<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span> want to be going and moving, but they are going round and round, +and not only that, they are going up and down, up and down, and never +getting anywhere in their experience. Now, we never were much in favor +of running off on tangents, but in this case we think it would be very +advantageous to strike a tangent and take a bee-line for Canaan.</p> + +<p>Many are hindered in their victorious life by the "little foxes which +spoil the vines." Their spiritual wall which surrounds them seems to +admit so many of the aggravating cares, that they find themselves +frequently overcome thereby. "Salvation, will God appoint for walls and +bulwarks" (Isa. 26:1). "But thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, and thy +gates Praise" (Isa. 60:18). When we remember that "God is our +salvation," and "Our God is a consuming fire," and this God, the +consuming fire, is the wall of salvation around us, we believe the wall +is so high that the devil's little foxes can not jump over it; so thick +they can not bore through it, and so deep they can not dig under it. +This is surely a blessed protection for those on the inside. But the +promised protection of God is still more. He will insphere His trusting +child and make him doubly safe, and make his surrounding simply +glorious. Notice the divine insphering: "As the mountains are round +about Jerusalem, so the Lord is round about his people from henceforth +even forever" (Psalm 125:2). Here is the Lord all around us. "Because he +is at my right hand, I shall not be moved" (Psa. 16:8). The Lord is by +our side. "Underneath<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span> are the everlasting arms" (Deut. 33:27). The Lord +is beneath us. "He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High +shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty" (Psalm 91:1). The Lord is +over us. And we are also taught that we may abide in Him and He will +abide in us. Think of this marvelous protection: the Lord all around us, +by our side, underneath us, over us, in us and we in Him. Then shall we +allow the trifling things of earth to conquer us and spoil our +experience? How often we hear one say words like this: "I wouldn't give +up my experience for all the world," and then possibly in an unguarded +moment go down over something not worth a quarter. We once heard of a +sailor that had braved the sea and storms for years, and finally got +drowned in a bucket of water. While drinking he had some fit or accident +which caused him to fall, so that his face was buried in the water and +he was strangled to death. Be careful of the little things; they are +sometimes more dangerous than the bigger ones. A brother was once +accosted by one of the Lord's workers and asked how he was getting along +in his Christian experience. He replied that he got along very well +usually through the day, but when he went home from his work in the +evening, his wife nagged at him so much that he invariably lost out. He +would be blessed along through the day, but when that nagging spirit of +his wife got started, even though he would hold out for some time and +keep the victory, yet as sure as he would open his mouth, the victory +was gone. He told the worker that he had an<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</a></span> experience like a pelican. +He then described how the pelican would start out in the morning and +load up its big pouch with fish, and then in the evening it would start +for home, whereupon the little birds would get after it and peck it +first on one side of the bill and then on the other, till the poor +pelican would throw its head around from one side to the other, and +finally its mouth would fly open and out would go the fish, which was +just what the birds were after. He said he had a pelican experience; +that he would get along well through the day, but the constant annoyance +of the wife in the evening would finally cause him to open his mouth, +and away would go his victory. Many a blessing has been lost, simply by +opening the mouth. It is much harder sometimes to keep the mouth shut +than to open it. "So he openeth not his mouth," was the attitude of Him +who was our example.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVII" id="CHAPTER_XVII"></a>CHAPTER XVII</h2><p class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</a></p> + +<h3>THE PALM TREE WILL NOT ADMIT OF GRAFTING</h3> + + +<p>For many years the process of grafting has been known and practiced by +horticulturists. This is accomplished by taking a scion, usually of the +previous year's growth, from a shrub or tree, and inserting it into +another shrub or tree more or less closely related to the first. It must +be so inserted that the cambium layer of the scion, that is, the layer +of formative tissue between the bark and natural wood, is closely united +to that of the stock. In time, these two parts grow together into a +perfect union. The scion thus inserted will derive its life and strength +from the original root and stock, but will bear its fruit according to +the nature of the scion.</p> + +<p>When we come to the palm tree, we find something that is opposed to this +method and will not respond. It will not yield to any mixture. It has +not the qualifications that admit of grafting processes. It can neither +be grafted in with any other tree, nor can any other tree be united with +the palm. It will not mix. It is an endogenous tree, and the cambium +layer does not obtain. It has no joining tissue that can be thus united +with any other plant.</p> + +<p>Did the Omniscient Inspirer of the Word make any<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</a></span> mistake when He said, +"The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree?"</p> + +<p>The Word of God is diametrically opposed to unholy mixtures. Hear the +word of the Lord in Deut. 22:9-11. "Thou shalt not sow thy vineyard with +divers seeds: lest the fruit of thy seed which thou hast sown, and the +fruit of thy vineyard, be defiled. Thou shalt not plow with an ox and an +ass together. Thou shalt not wear a garment of divers sorts, as of +woolen and linen together."</p> + +<p>Who has not seen the evil effects of mixing the planting of various +seeds together, such as melons and pumpkins, or other incompatible +varieties? Why not yoke an ox and an ass together? They are neither +mated in size, breed, nor disposition. It makes a lopsided pair. One is +classed with the clean animals, and the other with the unclean. We once +saw an oriental picture in the back part of a Bible where some native +was plowing with an ox and an ass together, and they had the appearance +of being ashamed of themselves. It looked as if the poor plowman would +have a hard job to get any work out of the pair.</p> + +<p>But why not the mixed garment, of woolen and linen? "They shall be +clothed with linen garments, and no wool shall come upon them, whiles +they minister in the gates of the inner court, and within. They shall +have linen bonnets upon their heads, and shall have linen breeches upon +their loins; they shall not gird themselves with any thing that causeth +sweat" (Eze. 44:17, 18). God did not want them to chafe and sweat in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</a></span> +performing their religious service; hence, the prohibition of the +mixture in garments.</p> + +<p>In this we find a beautiful lesson for spiritual experience. We have too +much of the linsey-woolsey type of religion in our day. How God must +abhor unholy mixing up!</p> + +<p>In this threefold prohibition we see the three sides of religion. Pure +religion consists of three things: doctrine, service, and experience. +First, they were not to mix the seed. What does seed typify? Read the +parable of the sower in the eighth chapter of Luke. "The seed is the +word of God." Here we have the thought: it is the doctrine of God. One +part of religion is doctrine, and we must not be mixed in this respect. +When the Bible speaks of that teaching which comes from God, it is put +in the singular and called "doctrine." When it comes from men or devils +it is called "doctrines." God's doctrine is one; men and devils' are +many. Paul admonished Timothy to take heed unto the doctrine. In Paul's +time, and in the times of the early fathers, heresy abounded. In our own +time, Christendom is rent with heresy. Unscriptural doctrine obtains +everywhere. Universalism proclaims the mercy of God reaching "from +everlasting to everlasting." So, in the ultimate outcome, all, because +Christ died for all, will be housed safely, in spite of a +Christ-rejecting life. Unitarianism, as the name suggests, believes in +one God; hence, rejects the deity of Jesus Christ, and being +Universalists also in belief, they are all going to get in by the +example of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</a></span> Savior. While the Universalist believes that God is too +good to damn him, the Unitarian believes that he is too good to be +damned. Then comes along the soul-sleeper, who mixes with his doctrine +the heresy of no conscious existence after death till the resurrection, +and the utter annihilation of the wicked following the judgment, all of +which is in direct opposition to the plain teaching of the Word. +Mormonism comes in with its deluded adherents and claims a new +revelation in the Book of Mormon, and repudiates hell, flaunts its +mantle of polygamous fornication over its dupes, and gives the world a +mixture indeed. Christian Science, the greatest misnomer in modern +parlance, foists its counterfeit religious currency over our fair land +and makes the unwary deny the existence of sin, death, Devil, and the +real personality of God himself. The blood atonement of our Savior is +obnoxious to them, and hell is not in their creed. Surely theirs is a +mixed seed, with scarcely any real truth. Then springs up the <i>ignis +fatuus</i> fallacy of Russellism with its promised "Millennial Dawn," +spreading out the "Plan of the Ages" so that its deceived votaries +discount the deity of Christ until His resurrection. They claim that His +body was not resurrected, but may have passed off into gases; that one +is not born again till he is resurrected; that hell is a farce; that the +world will have a further chance of being saved after death. Not content +with these forces, the disseminator of mixed seeds raises up a regiment +of Higher Critics, who, with their Jehoiakim penknives, have cut and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</a></span> +slashed the blessed, inspired Word of God till it is beyond recognition +as it comes from their hands. To follow their vandalism is to get into +the meshes of mysticism and doubt, and wonder what part, if any, is to +be relied upon as actual inspiration. Then we have the "New Thought," +and the "New Theology," and the "Aquarian Gospel," and their name is +Legion, the "isms" that are foisted upon gullible humanity in these +latter days. Occasionally one pokes up his personality above the horizon +and declares himself Jesus Christ, when, lo, and behold a following! Sad +indeed is it that so many people and many good people, have been +beguiled into the unscriptural teaching couched in the creed of the +so-called "Tongues Movement." When it first claimed the attention of the +Christian world their theory was first, justification, in which all sins +were forgiven; then following this experience came sanctification, which +involved the cleansing of the heart from all inbred sin; following this +definite work, comes the baptism with the Holy Ghost, accompanying which +is the speaking in tongues as an evidence of said baptism. No one must +rest satisfied that he has received his Pentecost till he has spoken in +tongues. Then the factions began to arise. Leaders opposed each other, +and all spoke in tongues as claimed. Their creed began to change, and +now one of the leading factions of the movement ridicules the thought of +sanctification as a second work of grace, and declares, that while +sanctification does come in, yet all the cleansing one gets is in the +first work when pardon takes place; that is,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</a></span> all inbred sin is then +eradicated from the heart. They still hold to the baptism with the Holy +Ghost and speaking in tongues. Many of the good people of the land have +been caught in this theological mix-up, and have dropped out of the +old-time holiness ranks. What does it all signify? It signifies a mixing +of seed—a mixing of doctrine. The theocracy of the Old Testament +forbade it in the literal, and the inspired Word also forbids it in the +spiritual, in the present dispensation.</p> + +<p>A person who is mixed in his doctrine is a dangerous element in the +community. His work is not to settle, root and ground others in the +faith, but rather to unsettle them. "A heretic after the first and +second admonition, reject." Has it ever occurred to the reader that +heresy is one of the works of the flesh, or carnal mind? Read it in Gal. +5:20. The Conservator of orthodoxy is the Holy Ghost in a purified +heart. Outside of that, where is the hope of preserving inviolate the +purity of the doctrine of God? Let me illustrate how this works. There +enters an intelligent, so-called expounder of the truth, into a pulpit, +and he proceeds to teach the people. There sits in the congregation one +with a purified heart, in whom dwells the Holy Ghost, the Author of the +inspired Word. As this ingenious mixer of seed throws out some good +truth, he adroitly mixes into it his heresy, and makes it so plausible, +that, if possible, it would deceive the very elect. His arguments are so +clear, and he uses the Scriptures so well to prove his statements, that +even to the minds of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</a></span> most spiritual, it seems that he has made the +points scripturally plain. The head responds and says, "It looks that +way," but the Holy Ghost dwelling in that purified heart causes a +shrinking. The soul closes in, and the listener says, "I do not feel +right somehow. I am not comfortable." What is the matter? It is the +blessed Conservator of orthodoxy, the Preserver of the purity of the +Word of God operating in that heart to hinder it from accepting heresy. +But here sits another who has not been so fortunate as to have the +element of inbred sin purged from the heart; hence, has not the abiding +fulness of the Holy Spirit in the heart. The speaker appeals to him in +the same way he did to the other. The head nods assent, for he certainly +makes it plain. But he has that in his heart from which heresy springs, +and so the heresy from this man appeals to its kindred spirit in the +listener, and the result is, it is swallowed down, the poison has done +its work, and another victim is numbered. Oh, reader, is it of small +import that we should be filled with the Holy Ghost, and thus have our +spiritual Protector always guarding us from poisonous seed? We would not +want to take the stand that this is the infallible rule with all people, +but we do certainly believe that this is the secret of some remaining +firm and immovable in doctrine, while others are swept from their +moorings.</p> + +<p>The next department of religion we wish to notice in connection with +wrong mixtures is that of service. The ox and the ass were not to be +yoked together.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</a></span> This signifies service. Service constitutes a large +portion of our religion. Without proper service to God we could not hope +to continue in the grace of God. Certainly it stands one in hand to know +what kind of service he should engage in.</p> + +<p>The world and the religion of Jesus Christ were never calculated to mix. +It is the unholy mixtures all down the ages that have brought the stigma +upon the Church of God. It always causes trouble. "And the mixed +multitude that was among them fell a lusting: and the children of Israel +also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat?" The children +of Israel fell into line with the murmurings of the mixture they had on +hand. God's plan has always been for His people to be separated people. +That is the reason He took them out of Egypt. He warned them before they +ever got to Canaan, that they must remain separated from the inhabitants +of the land. They were not to intermarry; they were not to mix. When +Balaam utterly failed to curse the children of Israel for Balak's sake, +because the Lord would not let him, yet on his departure he told Balak +how he could succeed anyway. He told him to mix up with the children of +Israel in an unholy and abominable alliance. He did so and brought the +curse and plague of God upon Israel, and thousands were slain thereby. +When Nehemiah was sent to rebuild Jerusalem, he found a terrible state +of affairs had arisen by the intermarriage of the Jews with the women of +Ashdod, Ammon and Moab. There were a lot of little half-breeds running<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</a></span> +around that could not talk the Jews' language. So Nehemiah had a great +cleaning up time on his hands.</p> + +<p>God has called His Church to stand out clean and spotless from the +world. What a power she would have been had she always taken the +separated, clean way! But how sad to see those who profess to be +followers of the meek and lowly Nazarene, courting the world and mixing +with them in their pleasures, pride, popularity, and polluted politics!</p> + +<p>One of the saddest things to behold today is the reckless transgression +of that plain command, "Be ye not unequally yoked together with +unbelievers." See the unhappy homes everywhere, because Christians did +not counsel with God and His Word in taking a life-partner. Oh, the +anguish, and heartaches, and backslidings, because the plain Word was +not followed! There was a certain Christian lady, who neglected to +follow the Guide Book in this important step, and right soon after the +marriage she knelt down to offer a little prayer to God, and His voice +was heard clear and distinct: "Be ye not unequally yoked together with +unbelievers." It was too late now to remedy the affair, but the same +word was in the Book before she got into trouble. For thirty years this +lady wandered on in darkness thereafter and never heard the voice of +God, till in mercy she was brought back to saving grace.</p> + +<p>How many there are who take upon them the name of Jesus Christ and yet +are mixed up in secret societies and labor unions. Let the world have +these institutions if they want, for they are simply worldly. Their<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</a></span> +methods and practices and pleasures are not conducive to spiritual life. +It is a wrong mixture. "Come out from among them and be ye separate."</p> + +<p>Let me not pass by another mixing which does not have the blessing of +God upon it. It is that of partnership in business with the unsaved. How +many of God's people have found themselves in serious difficulty on +account of unscriptural business partnership. More than once God has had +to force the alternative upon one of His children to buy out or sell +out; that he could not continue in such alliance to the glory of God. We +have been astonished and grieved at the careless and reckless way so +many professing Christians, yea, holiness people have disregarded this +command of separation, and allowed themselves to be drawn into stock +companies with the unsaved. Is it not an unequal yoking together? Shall +we take God's money, and put it in the control of the world? No wonder +so many who have been so fortunate as to possess a little of this +world's goods have suddenly found their money taking wings and flying +away. Had they counseled with God in the business, they would not have +been beguiled into the unequal yoking with unbelievers. Let us not think +we can fly in the face of the plain Word of God and take matters in our +own hands with impunity.</p> + +<p>Neither should we yoke up in church fellowship with those who are not +saved. We would not take the stand, that perchance some might not be +taking the track, that it should bar us from church membership, but when +the mass of members are not obeying God,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</a></span> and are opposed to holiness, +and are worldly in their trend, it is no place for one who wishes to be +spiritual and keep blessed. How long will it be if one mixes in with +such a crowd till he will be like them? We once were passing through the +state of Colorado and saw from the car window a beautiful, clear stream +of water join with another stream that was dark and muddy. How long did +it take the crystal stream to become muddy like the other? It certainly +did not clarify the muddy current, but the muddy current mixed right +into it and all became impure.</p> + +<p>Poor Ephraim ought to stand out as a warning to those who think they can +mix with the world with impunity. Hear the Word on his case: "Ephraim, +he hath mixed himself among the people; Ephraim is a cake not turned." +Poor, unturned cake. He had mixed so much among the people that he did +not have fire enough to bake him on both sides; it did not pay to turn +him over. What is an unbaked cake good for? It is so sticky that it will +adhere to almost anything. Ephraim adhered to this people and that, and +met with sad failure. Sticky, soggy, heavy, indigestible, unpalatable! +Who wants it? "Hot cakes" is the call, and not cold, unturned ones.</p> + +<p>The next department of religion we wish to notice is that of experience. +Here we have the prohibition of the linen and woolen garments mixed. +What is closer to a person than his garments? God has seen fit to +express salvation under the fitting emblem of garments. "For fine linen +is the righteousness of saints" (Rev.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</a></span> 19:8). "These are they which came +out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them +white in the blood of the Lamb" (Rev. 7:14). "Let thy garments be always +white, and let thy head lack no ointment" (Eccl. 9:8). "Put on thy +beautiful garments, O Jerusalem" (Isa. 52:1). "He hath clothed me with +the garments of salvation; he hath covered me with the robe of +righteousness" (Isa. 61:10). We have given these beautiful Scriptures to +show that garments are used to symbolize Christian experience. Now, as +the garment is the closest thing that comes to a person, so one's +experience is the closest thing in his religion. It certainly gets up +close to a man. God forbade under the theocracy the wearing of linen and +woolen garments mixed. This mixture causes chafing and sweat and +hardship that He wanted avoided in their religion. But in this present +day we find, alas, too frequently a linsey-woolsey religion.</p> + +<p>Let us carry out the figure. Linen is the pure, clean, vegetable +creation, and is used to signify the righteousness of the saints. Wool +is the product of the animal, and is carnal; hence, signifies the carnal +element in one's experience. This carnal element sometimes called the +flesh, obtains in every Christian's heart until he obtains the baptism +with the Holy Ghost, wherein his heart is thus made pure.</p> + +<p>"Neither shall a garment mingled of linen and woolen come upon thee" +(Lev. 19:19). As the Word of God was against the garment of this +mixture, so that experience today that is allowed to remain in the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</a></span> +heart whereby there is righteousness and carnality dwelling together is +forbidden. There must not remain carnality where grace has taken up its +abode. There will be spiritual sweating and chafing, and one's religion +will be hindered and thwarted, and in all probability there will be +failure in the end. As it was scientifically incompatible, the mixing of +linen and woolen together for a garment, so it is spiritually +incompatible, the mixing of righteousness and carnality in the same +heart. There is always more or less chafing and hardships and +discouragements. "For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the +Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary the one to the other; +so that ye can not do the things that ye would" (Gal. 5:17). Thank God, +in the economy of grace there is provided an elimination of the carnal +element of one's experience, leaving the pure, clean linen of +righteousness. Then the chafing, and galling, and spiritual +perspiration, working against carnal odds, will cease.</p> + +<p>Now for a word of application. "The righteous shall flourish like the +palm tree" in preclusion of uniting or mixing with others. There is +something in the very nature of the palm that precludes the graft, or +intermixing. There is something in the spiritual makeup of the holy, +palm tree saints that have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of +darkness. They are a class by themselves. They will not mix their +religion with the world. In doctrine they are clean, true, clear, and +scriptural. They are holding to the old landmarks which their fathers +have set. They are not running<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</a></span> after the new fads under the guise of +religion. They are settled, rooted and grounded in the truth. In service +they are separate from the world. They are not mixing with the fun, +frolic and general pastime and pleasure of the worldly element. They +scrupulously adhere to the admonition to "come out from among them" and +not to be unequally yoked together in any way. In experience, they have +no admixture of the carnal and spiritual elements. They have had their +hearts cleansed from all sin, and are really clothed with the pure, +spotless garment of salvation. They lack that cambium layer of formative +tissue that unites them to any other stock. Of course the world hates +them for standing out against them and failing to unite. The worldly +minded church members steer clear of them, for these members retain a +formative tissue that will admit of joining with the world and allowing +the world to join with them; but the palm tree saints stand aloof; they +do not mix.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVIII" id="CHAPTER_XVIII"></a>CHAPTER XVIII</h2><p class="pagenum"><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</a></p> + +<h3>IT IS ADAPTED TO WARM CLIMATES</h3> + + +<p>Our God is the God of nature as well as of grace. Trees thrive best when +in the sphere that nature intended them for. The palm tree is especially +a hot climate tree, and when taken out of its proper place it stands to +reason that it will succumb. It can not stand the cold. It was not made +that way. It matters not how hot the place may be, even in the broiling +sun of the desert, it will thrive. But place it in the cold regions, and +death will inevitably be the result.</p> + +<p>The palm tree saint has this same characteristic in the spiritual realm. +A red-hot meeting is his delight. His very nature calls out for the fire +which burns in meetings where God has His way. The warmer the meetings +the better he likes them, and the better he thrives. He can not stand +the cold. God did not make him to stand cold meetings, and so he is not +responsible for it. Cold meetings seem to chill him to the marrow. And +should he providentially be placed in such a sphere, he would feel that +he must do something to start the circulation or he would soon be frozen +to death. Why do not more people have the wisdom of those in cold +climates? To illustrate: A man starts out on a load of wood to take it +to the market several<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</a></span> miles away. The thermometer is many degrees below +zero. A friend meets him in the way and informs him that he saw him +nodding as he came down the road; that his nose is white and that frost +has gathered on his eyebrows. The poor man still has sense enough left +to see his danger, and he at once jumps off the load and begins to kick +his toes against the sled, and swing his arms around his body in that +peculiar, cold-climate style to warm himself. After a most heroic effort +he finds himself thoroughly awake, and the warm blood again coursing +through his veins, and he says to himself, "I will not allow that to +happen again."</p> + +<p>How often have we seen an iceberg in the pulpit, icicles in the pews, +and polar breezes sweeping through the place! Surely, to live in that +climate long would be to freeze to death. One would have to make a +tremendous stir if he hoped to keep up circulation in such a place. And +should the stir be made, there would be a hue and cry of fanaticism, +wild fire, crazy, or such like. But the Holy Ghost never intended +Christians to live in such an element. He never intended palm tree +saints to live in refrigerators. One may ask if refrigerators are not +good for something. Surely, they are. One can preserve a dead chicken +well in one of them, but put a live chicken in and it will soon chill +and die. The idea of thinking that a lot of little, new-born babes could +live and thrive in church refrigerators! No, they must have warmth. It +is their nature, and when one goes contrary to nature, bad results will +surely follow. Thank God there is a warm climate for those who must<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</a></span> +have it. Let us see to it that we live under the warm rays of the Sun of +righteousness, and in an element conducive to spiritual growth and +health.</p> + +<p>There is a mistaken idea abroad concerning unity. Because there is no +outward eruption, and because things seem to run smooth, they take it +for granted that there is oneness. There is such a thing as being frozen +together instead of melted together. Jesus prayed for His disciples that +they might be sanctified, that they all might be one. It is the +sanctifying baptism with the Holy Ghost and fire that makes people one +in the proper and scriptural sense. If one had any fire in which to keep +warm, and should attempt to live in some frozen regions, they would soon +cool him off, and he would be frozen together with them. The story is +told of an eagle floating down the Niagara river on a cake of ice. He +was enjoying a feast on a lamb which was frozen to the ice. After a +while the eagle neared the falls, but he was not afraid, because he +could fly. Finally, as the water got swifter, the eagle was seen to +spread his wings and prepare for the escape. When he saw that he could +remain no longer with impunity, he attempted to spring from the ice, +when, lo and behold, he found himself frozen to the cake of ice. With an +awful screech and wings flapping he went over the falls to destruction. +May the Lord save <i>us</i> from too much self-confidence and from remaining +where death and destruction are inevitable, and where freezing and +falling go together.</p> + +<p>Quite a number of years ago the writer and another<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</a></span> evangelist were +invited to a certain church in New Orleans for revival services. A +certain, noted evangelist had formerly served in that church as pastor, +and great good had resulted from his ministry. The pastor at this time +stated in his invitation to us, that should we accept it, it must be +with the understanding that we were not to preach holiness as a second +work of grace; that the church had previously undergone quite an +upheaval on that line, but now things had quieted down, and peace was +now reigning instead. It might be of some interest to know if we +accepted his invitation. Our answer was about on this line: "We thank +you for your invitation to assist in meetings in your church, but +inasmuch as you have placed an embargo on the stream of holiness as a +second work of grace, which is the only way any one ever received it, we +feel if we should accept the invitation under such conditions we would +be selling Jesus Christ at a less figure than Judas got for Him. And +furthermore, may not that peace and quietude of which you speak relative +to the church, be the quietude of the graveyard instead of a live +church?" Suffice it to say, we did not receive any further invitation.</p> + +<p>It is a very easy thing to compromise both as preachers and laymen, and +accommodate ourselves to cooled off environments, till we are a very +part of the thing ourselves. As long as God has provided a warm home for +His sheep and lambs, let us see to it that we have the benefit of the +same. Amen!</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIX" id="CHAPTER_XIX"></a>CHAPTER XIX</h2><p class="pagenum"><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</a></p> + +<h3>PALM TREE PECULIARITIES</h3> + + +<p>We are told in Titus 2:14, that pilgrims are a peculiar people. They +have characteristics exclusively their own. They belong wholly to the +Lord, and are unlike other people. To the world they appear singular, +strange.</p> + +<p>These people are peculiar in the source of their enjoyment, in their +conversation, in their dress, and in other ways which differentiate them +from the world. One saint may have a peculiarity which is not in any +other. He may have a peculiar way in manifesting his emotions when he +gets blessed, or in some striking manner of speech, or sphere of +service, or mode of dress. So it is with different varieties of the +palm. Some have peculiar characteristics which indeed belong only to +their species, and some are strikingly curious. The Christian life is +illustrated so plainly by some of these, that we will note a few.</p> + + +<h3><br />I. THE EXPLOSIVE FLOWER</h3> + +<p>There is a certain palm which buds out in enormous clusters. It is said +that "the flowers occur in an enormous cluster, at first ensheathed by +large and frequently wooden spathes, which often burst with an +explosion." Much fault has been found with some<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</a></span> of God's palm tree +saints because they have a peculiarity akin to this. To hinder this +explosive emotion in them might hinder their spiritual life itself. For +them to quench the Spirit, would be to thwart the plan and purpose of +God himself. Many precious souls have been tempted and tried because +they seem to be put up different from some others. They have wished to +be more quiet, and have wondered why they have to shout so much. Some +always have a gush of tears and have gone so far as to ask the Lord to +dry their tears, and when the Lord answered their prayer, they +invariably were made lean, and prayed again for Him to open the +fountain. On whatever plan of peculiar disposition we may be built, let +us thank God for it and let the Holy Ghost have His way in all the +minutia of life. All people do not shout, and all do not laugh, but all +get blessed if the Lord has His way. We must not be tried over those +whose blessings do not fall within our desired method, nor should we be +discouraged because the manifestations of the Spirit within us are not +exactly like some others whom we admire.</p> + +<p>"The manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit +withal." The emotions which follow these operations of the Spirit vary +according to the peculiar makeup of the individual. If there were a row +of various combustibles, such as shavings, salt, powder, gasoline, etc., +and fire were put to each one of them, there would be manifestations +according to their various characteristics. The shavings would quietly +blaze up, the salt would flicker, the powder<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</a></span> would blow up and that +would be the end of it, while the gasoline would blaze all over and keep +on till all was burned. So, when the fire of the Holy Ghost is turned +loose on a lot of consecrated saints, the manifestations of the Spirit +will vary according to the peculiar characteristics of the spiritual +material on hand. When all do the same thing it might be an evidence of +custom or training, and not of the Spirit's manifestation, for God does +not confine Himself in ruts. What could be more stirring, and conducive +to conviction than a body of fire-baptized souls under the control of +the Holy Ghost, some shouting, some laughing, some crying, and some +leaping and dancing, while others might be praying or exhorting; all +letting the Spirit work through them severally as He will. Such scenes +never fail to produce conviction upon an audience. The altar is +frequently filled with weeping penitents after such a scene.</p> + +<p>Yes, in nature we have the explosive element in the palm; so in grace we +have the bursting forth of holy emotions, the upgush of heavenly +raptures, and as a help and forewarning the Word tells us, "Quench not +the Spirit."</p> + +<p>When a soul swings loose in the Spirit and becomes so free as to shout, +or laugh, or jump for joy, it is reasonable to suppose that it is the +mind of the Spirit for that soul to retain his freedom, not allowing +himself to be tied up so that such demonstrations could not be +duplicated should God so desire. Alas, how many have failed right here! +We have noted the freedom<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</a></span> of a new, Spirit-filled soul. How the +peculiar manifestation of the Spirit blest the meeting, and the "profit +withal" was apparent. Later on we have observed how the Holy Spirit +tried to duplicate the freedom and blessing, but the dear soul felt +timid or backward and simply failed to keep abandoned to God. The +inevitable result was, that the heart closed up, the Spirit was grieved, +and dryness and leanness were the result. Let no one dare say, "I am +abandoned to the Holy Ghost" and then not let Him have His way with him +in every particular. To be consecrated means more than simply saying it. +If some one should place a thousand dollars on deposit in my name in +some bank and hand me over the bank book, telling me it all belonged to +me, and for me to draw upon it for any purpose up to the amount of the +deposit, I would certainly feel free to do with it as I pleased without +any fear of his interference. If I wanted five dollars for groceries, I +could draw on the deposit. If I wanted fifty dollars for missionary +work, it is on deposit. It is all mine; I can handle it as I please. +Consecration is putting our all—body, soul, and spirit, time, talent, +earthly store, family, future, service, all we have and know, and all we +do not know into heaven's bank on deposit and then handing the bank book +over to the Holy Ghost, saying, "Draw on the deposit for anything which +Thou in Thy infinite wisdom desirest." Be sure, then, that the Holy +Ghost will take us at our word. When He makes a draw for some particular +demonstration such as shouting, or taking a trip down<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</a></span> the aisle, or +laughing, or crying, remember He controls the deposit and has a right to +do as He pleases with what has been turned over to Him. If our time is +placed in His hands He has a right to direct it. If our money is placed +at His disposal, we must let Him say in what channels it shall be used. +It means much to say, "I am all the Lord's."</p> + + +<h3><br />II. THE LIVING SACRIFICE</h3> + +<p>The Coquito palm of Chile is a tree about fifty feet in height, with a +spreading crown of leaves. From its trunk a syrup is obtained called +<i>miel de palma</i>, which is much esteemed by the Chileans and foreigners +in cookery. This syrup is obtained by cutting down the tree, and lopping +off its crown of leaves, when the sap flows from the wound, and is +carefully collected. By cutting off a fresh slice from the wound daily, +or when the flow of sap becomes weak, it may be kept flowing for several +months. A good tree is said to yield as much as ninety gallons of sap, +which on being boiled down assumes the consistency of treacle or +molasses.</p> + +<p>Here we have a beautiful and fitting illustration of the daily and +living sacrifice of a palm tree saint. If the righteous flourish like +the palm tree, might it not be well to emulate this peculiar +characteristic? When Paul admonished the Roman Christians to present +their "bodies a living sacrifice," he did not mean for them simply to +obtain the blessing of holiness and then stop and thereafter settle down +and enjoy themselves. He meant not only a sacrifice to be offered up<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</a></span> at +the given time, but to remain offered up. Our sacrifice is to remain a +living sacrifice. The Christian life is one sacrificed to God's cause +for the sake of glorifying God and being used in His service. The very +word sacrifice means something offered up in devotion. Then if it is +offered up to another, can we claim it as our own? If we are to be like +this peculiar palm, then we are ready to be "poured forth" as Paul said +he was to the Philippians. Here is this sacrificed palm, with its very +life poured out from day to day for the benefit of humanity. And this is +kept up till there remains nothing but the trunk. Oh, what a symbol of +the constant, daily outpouring of one's life and strength for the +benefit of a lost world! Look at David Brainerd, David Livingstone, +Henry Martyn, yea, thousands of faithful men and women missionaries who +have literally poured out their lives, and died for their fellow-men.</p> + +<p>The sacrifice element in the Christian life is further illustrated in +another kind of palm known as the Cabbage palm. The terminal bud, or +"cabbage," is enclosed among many thin, snow-white, brittle flakes. It +has the flavor of the almond, but of greater sweetness, and is boiled +and eaten with meat. As its removal causes the death of the tree, it is +regarded as an extravagant delicacy only rarely to be enjoyed.</p> + +<p>Here we find the illustration of the martyr element of the palm tree +saint. Paul said, "I am now ready to be offered." Stephen gave himself a +living sacrifice to God, and right away lost his life. The martyrs<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</a></span> are +numbered by thousands. Is not this an extravagant method of spreading +the gospel? It may be from a human standpoint, but God in His infinite +wisdom can see beyond our shortsightedness, and permits such to be. "The +blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church." If there were more +persecution today there would doubtless be a better type of Christians. +We should possess the martyr spirit. The word "witness" in the original +is martyr. And surely many of those early Christians proved it. Every +consecrated soul should involve in his consecration the possibility of +losing his life for Jesus; then, if he ever faces the issue, he is +prepared for it, and if he never has to face such an issue, he might +consider it so much clear gain.</p> + + +<h3><br />III. THE FOREIGN MISSIONARY</h3> + +<p>The peculiarity of a certain kind of palm, known as the Great Rattan is +its wandering or traveling characteristic. The stems of this very +peculiar variety are of prodigious length extending for hundreds of +feet; it is stated from twelve hundred to eighteen hundred feet, +clinging by hooks attached to their leaves to the trunks and boughs of +neighboring trees, or trailing on the ground. They are extremely hard +externally and usually smooth.</p> + +<p>Here we have a beautiful illustration of the missionary spirit. We are +living in a day when many of God's dear palm tree saints are flourishing +like this Great Rattan. They have the missionary spirit. They have those +spiritual hooks attached to their experience<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</a></span> which enable them to cling +to others with a tenacity which is not human. They are endowed with a +spiritual sturdiness which in truth enables them to "endure hardness as +good soldiers." They cross mountains, deserts and oceans, and live among +the heathen to win them to Christ. What we need in these days of +self-ease and luxury is more of this Great Rattan movement. We need more +pilgrims to foreign lands. If we are not called ourselves with this +peculiar characteristic, then let us help those who are thus called. We +can help them with our money and with our prayers.</p> + +<p>We all have a call to the foreign field in one sense: "Go ye into all +the world." If God has let you off in person, then see to it that you +have a part anyway in evangelizing the world. If I can not go, I can +send. If I can not reach them by word of mouth, I can by way of the +throne. If I can not preach and teach in the foreign land, I can pray +and pay in the homeland. Amen!</p> + +<p>With the thought of the missionary and also of the living sacrifice +before us, we have the perfect combination of the two in the +self-sacrificing experience of some of the early pioneers in the foreign +lands. We, in the home lands, can scarcely realize the toils and +hardships and dangers that some of these heroes of the cross waded +through. We think of the dauntless Livingstone, who penetrated Africa's +jungles in order to plant the gospel in that benighted region. Lost to +home and the world for years, no wonder people considered him worth +looking up, and sending a Stanley in search for him. But he was doing a +work which<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</a></span> would open up nations to hear the Word of life. Though he +had to bury his loved one on the bank of the Zambesi, yet "with +undaunted courage, he set his face toward new paths." How the natives +loved this man—this living sacrifice. He was the means in God's hands +of bringing them light for darkness, comfort for sorrow, life for death. +He was the foe of the slave stealers, and delivered the poor helpless +mortals from their grasp. He toiled on in solitude, and gave his very +life to make a way to this dark and heathen world. Finally, far from the +shore, and thousands of miles from home, he took sick. He was a man of +prayer, and one morning when the native men looked into his abode, they +found only the body of this devoted follower of the Lamb; he was dead on +his knees. Those dusky, devoted souls determined to do the best they +could in memory of their apostle, and knowing that his great, loving +heart was centered in Africa, they took out his heart and buried it +beneath a tree. They then let the hot sun dry the body and those loyal +hands carried the remains many, many miles to the seashore, where, what +was left of the faithful missionary was shipped to England. And now, +with the heart of David Livingstone in the middle of Africa, his body in +Westminster Abbey, his soul in heaven, we have an example of the grace +of God in helping a man to give up his life for a lost world.</p> + +<p>Let us take a glance at Henry Martyn. Leaving England as a young man in +feeble health, for six years he worked against fearful odds in India. +There in that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</a></span> disease-ladened land and in Persia he pursued his arduous +task of learning three languages utterly adverse, such as Hindustani, +Arabic, and Persian. In these three languages he translated the entire +New Testament in six years. This is one of the most astonishing of +intellectual feats on record. Besides these translations he made others +and when we remember that he was burning up with consumptive's fever, +and yet kept right on till, in order to perfect his translation in +Persian, he made a trip to that country, and crossing burning, sand +deserts with his own body literally burning up with fever, he was surely +a living sacrifice. His passionate love for the Savior and the souls of +lost men, made him suffer on in weakness and sickness, until the short +candle of his life consuming at both ends finally flickered out in that +faraway foreign land between Persia and the western shore, and where a +lone headstone marked the spot where one of God's sainted heroes lay +down and died. How small it makes me feel as I write these lines!</p> + +<p>Another example is that of David Brainerd, the apostle to the Indians +before the colonies became independent. This young man, who died in his +thirtieth year in the home of Jonathan Edwards, was one of those early +pioneers of gospel work among the wild and pagan Indians. He was another +living sacrifice, very feeble in body, dying by inches with consumption, +yet toiled on without murmuring, and praying till his body would be +bathed in perspiration, he battled almost against hope till finally God +gave him marvelous success<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</a></span> among those benighted savages. A few lines +from the journal of this marvelous man of prayer may stir up more of a +spirit of prayer and self-sacrifice in the reader:</p> + +<p>"June 14, 1742.</p> + +<p>"I set apart this day for secret fasting and prayer, to entreat God to +direct and bless me with regard to the great work which I have in view, +of preaching the gospel—and that the Lord would return to me and show +me the light of His countenance. Had little life and power in the +forenoon. Near the middle of the afternoon, God enabled me to wrestle +ardently in intercession for my friends. But just at night the Lord +visited me marvelously in prayer. I think my soul never was in such an +agony before. I felt no restraint; for the treasures of divine grace +were opened to me. I wrestled for absent friends, for the ingathering of +souls, for multitudes of poor souls, and for many that I thought were +the children of God, personally, in many distant places. I was in such +an agony from sun half an hour high, till near dark, that I was all over +wet with sweat; but yet it seemed to me that I had wasted the day and +done nothing. Oh, my dear Savior did sweat blood for poor souls! I +longed for more compassion towards them. Felt still in a sweet frame, +under a sense of divine love and grace, and went to bed in such a frame, +with my heart set on God.</p> + +<p>"April 30, 1743.</p> + +<p>"The presence of God is what I want. I live in the most lonely, +melancholy desert, about eighteen miles<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</a></span> from Albany; for it was not +thought best that I should go to Delaware river. I board with a poor +Scotchman. His wife can talk scarce any English. My diet consists mostly +of hasty pudding, boiled corn, and bread baked in the ashes, and +sometimes a little meat and butter. My lodging is a little heap of +straw, laid upon some boards a little way from the ground; for it is a +log room, without any floor, that I lodge in. My work is exceedingly +hard and difficult. I travel on foot a mile and a half, the worst of +ways, almost daily, and back again; for I live so far from my Indians. I +have not seen an English person in this month. These, and many other +circumstances, equally uncomfortable, attend me. The Lord grant that I +may learn to 'endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.'</p> + +<p>"August 15, 1743.</p> + +<p>"Spent most of the day in labor to procure something to keep my horse on +in the winter. Enjoyed not much sweetness in the morning; was very weak +in body through the day, and thought that this frail body would soon +drop into the dust, and had some very realizing apprehensions of a +speedy entrance into another world. In this weak state of body, I was +not a little distressed for want of suitable food. I had no bread, nor +could I get any. I am forced to go or send ten or fifteen miles for all +the bread I eat; and sometimes it is moldy and sour before I eat it, if +I get any considerable quantity. And then again I have none for some +days together, for want of an opportunity to send for it, and can not +find my horse in the woods to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</a></span> go myself; and this was my case today. +But through divine goodness I had some Indian meal, of which I made +little cakes, and fried them. Yet I felt contented with my +circumstances, and sweetly resigned to God. In prayer I enjoyed great +freedom, and blessed God as much for my present circumstances, as if I +had been a king; and thought that I found a disposition to be contented +in any circumstances. Blessed be God!</p> + +<p>"January 23, 1744.</p> + +<p>"I think I never felt more resigned to God, nor so dead to the world, in +every respect, as now. Am dead to all desire of reputation and +greatness, either in life or after death. All I long for is to be holy, +humble, and crucified to the world.</p> + +<p>"March 2, 1744.</p> + +<p>"Was most of the day employed in writing on a divine subject. Was +frequent in prayer and enjoyed some small degree of assistance. But in +the evening God was pleased to grant me divine sweetness in prayer +especially in the duty of intercession. I think I never felt so much +kindness and love to those who, I have reason to think, are my +enemies—though at that time I found such a disposition to think the +best of all, that I scarce knew how to think that any such thing as +enmity and hatred lodged in any soul. It seemed that all the world must +needs be friends. I never prayed with more freedom and delight for +myself, or dearest friend, than I did now for my enemies.</p> + +<p>"March 3, 1744.</p> + +<p>"In the morning, spent (I believe) an hour in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</a></span> prayer, with great +intenseness and freedom, and with the most soft and tender affection +toward mankind. I longed that those who, I have reason to think, bear me +ill will, might be eternally happy. It seemed refreshing to think of +meeting them in heaven, how much soever they had injured me on earth. I +had no disposition to insist upon any confession from them, in order to +reconciliation and the exercise of love and kindness to them. Oh, it is +an emblem of heaven itself, to love all the world with a love of +kindness, forgiveness, and benevolence; to feel our souls sedate, mild +and meek, to be void of all evil surmisings and suspicions, and scarce +able to think evil of any man upon any occasion; to find our hearts +simple, open, and free, to those that look upon me with a different eye! +Prayer was so sweet an exercise to me, that I knew not how to cease, +lest I should lose the spirit of prayer. Felt no disposition to eat or +drink, for the sake of the pleasure of it, but only to support my body, +and fit me for divine service. Could not be content without a very +particular mention of a great number of dear friends at the throne of +grace; as also the particular circumstances of many, so far as they were +known.</p> + +<p>"July 24, 1744.</p> + +<p>"Rode about seventeen miles westward, over a hideous mountain, to a +number of Indians. Got together near thirty of them; preached to them in +the evening and lodged among them. Was weak, and felt in some degree +disconsolate; yet could have no freedom in the thought of any other +circumstances or other business<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</a></span> in life. All my desire was the +conversion of the heathen; and all hope was in God. God does not suffer +me to please or comfort myself with hopes of seeing friends, returning +to dear acquaintances, and enjoying worldly comforts.</p> + +<p>"November 22, 1744.</p> + +<p>"Came on my way from Rockciticus to the Delaware. Was very much +disordered with a cold and pain in my head. About six at night, I lost +my way in the wilderness, and wandered over rocks and mountains, down +hideous steeps, through swamps, and most dreadful and dangerous places, +and, the night being dark, so that few stars could be seen, I was +greatly exposed. I was much pinched with cold, and distressed with an +extreme pain in my head, attended with sickness at my stomach; so that +every step I took was distressing to me. I had little hope for several +hours together, but that I must lie out in the woods all night, in this +distressed case. But about nine o'clock, I found a house, through the +abundant goodness of God, and was kindly entertained. Thus I have +frequently been exposed, and sometimes lain out the whole night; but God +has hitherto preserved me, and blessed be His name. Such fatigues and +hardships as these serve to wean me from the earth; and, I trust, will +make heaven the sweeter. Formerly, when I was thus exposed to cold and +rain, I was ready to please myself with the thoughts of enjoying a +comfortable house, a warm fire, and other outward comforts; but now +these have less place in my heart, (through the grace of God),<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</a></span> and my +eye is more to God for comfort. In this world I expect tribulation; and +it does not now, as formerly, appear strange to me. I do not in such +seasons of difficulty flatter myself that it will be better hereafter; +but rather think how much worse it might be; how much greater trials +others of God's children have endured, and how much greater are yet, +perhaps, reserved for me.</p> + +<p>"October 5, 1746.</p> + +<p>"After sermon, baptized two persons. Administered the Lord's Supper to +the Indians, besides divers dear Christians of the white people. It +seemed to be a season of divine power and grace; and numbers seemed to +rejoice in God. Oh, the sweet union and harmony then appearing among the +religious people! My soul was refreshed, and my religious friends of the +white people, with me. After the sacrament, could scarcely get home, +though it was not more than twenty rods; but was supported and led by my +friends, and laid on my bed; where I lay in pain till some time in the +evening; and then was able to sit up and discourse with friends. Oh, how +was this day spent in prayers and praises among my dear people! One +might hear them, all the morning before public worship, and in the +evening, till near midnight, praying and singing praises to God, in one +or other of their houses. My soul was refreshed, though my body was +weak."</p> + +<p>Just before his death he wrote a letter to his brother Israel, who was +then in college. A part of this letter we give as follows:<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</a></span></p> + +<p>"It is on the verge of eternity I now address you. I am heartily sorry +that I have so little strength to write what I long so much to +communicate to you. But, let me tell you, my brother, eternity is +another thing than we ordinarily take it to be when in a healthful +state. Oh, how fixed and unalterable! Oh, of what infinite importance it +is, that we be prepared for eternity! I have been just a dying, now for +more than a week; and all around me have thought me so. I have had clear +views of eternity, have seen the blessedness of the godly, in some +measure, and have longed to share their happy state, as well as been +comfortably satisfied, that through grace I shall do so; but oh, what +anguish is raised in my mind, to think of eternity for those who are +Christless, for those who are mistaken, and who bring their false hopes +to the grave with them! The sight was so dreadful, I could by no means +bear it. My thoughts recoiled, and I said, under a more affecting sense +than ever before, 'Who can dwell with everlasting burnings!' Oh, +methought, could I now see my friends, that I may warn them to see it, +that they lay their foundation for eternity sure. * * * If you have +reason to think you are graceless, O give yourself and the throne of +grace no rest, till God arise and save! But if the case should be +otherwise, bless God for His grace, and press after holiness.</p> + +<p>"My soul longs, that you should be fitted for, and in due time go into +the work of the ministry. I can not bear to think of your going into any +other business in life. Do not be discouraged, because you see your<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</a></span> +elder brothers in the ministry die early, one after another. I declare, +now I am dying, I would not have spent my life otherwise for the whole +world.</p> + +<p>"Oh, my dear brother, flee fleshly lusts, and the enchanting amusements +as well as the corrupt doctrines of the present day, and strive to live +to God. Take this as the last line from your affectionate and dying +brother."</p> + +<p>About a year and six months before this faithful, self-sacrificing +servant of God passed to his reward, he wrote in his diary something +which most beautifully sets forth the thought we are trying to bring out +in the illustration of the living sacrifice life of the missionary.</p> + +<p>Under date of May 22, 1746, he wrote:</p> + +<p>"If ever my soul presented itself to God for His service, without any +reserve of any kind, it did so now. The language of my thoughts and +disposition now was, 'Here I am, Lord, send me. Send me to the ends of +the earth. Send me to the rough, savage pagans of the wilderness. Send +me from all that is called comfort in earth, or earthly comfort. Send me +even to death itself, if it be but in Thy service, and to promote Thy +kingdom.' At the same time I had as quick and lively a sense of the +value of worldly comforts as I ever had; but only saw them infinitely +overmatched by the worth of Christ's kingdom, and the propagation of His +blessed gospel. A quiet settlement, a certain place of abode, the tender +friendships of life, appeared as valuable to me, considered absolutely +and in themselves, as ever before; but considered comparatively,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</a></span> they +appeared nothing. Compared with the value and preciousness of an +enlargement of Christ's kingdom, they vanished as stars before a rising +sun. Sure I am that though the comfortable accommodations of life +appeared valuable and clear to me, yet I did surrender and resign +myself, soul and body, to the service of God, and to the promotion of +Christ's kingdom, though it should be in the loss of them all. I could +not do any other, because I could not will or choose any other. I was +constrained, and yet chose, to say, 'Farewell, friends and earthly +comforts, the dearest of them all, the very dearest, if the Lord calls +for it. Adieu, adieu; I will spend my life to my latest moments, in the +caves and dens of the earth, if the kingdom of Christ may thereby be +advanced.'</p> + +<p>"I felt extraordinary freedom at this time in pouring out my soul to God +for His cause, especially that His kingdom might be extended among the +Indians, far remote; and I had a great and strong hope that God would do +it. I continued wrestling with God in prayer for my dear little flock +here, and more especially for the Indians elsewhere, as well as for dear +friends in one place and another until it was bedtime, and I feared I +should hinder the family. But oh, with what reluctancy did I feel myself +obliged to consume time in sleep! I longed to be a flame of fire, +continually glowing in the divine service, and building up Christ's +kingdom, to my latest, my dying moment."</p> + +<p>And God granted him his desire to his dying moment. David Brainerd was +truly a living sacrifice as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</a></span> a missionary to the pagan Indians, and won +many of them to Christ, where he is rejoicing with them in glory today.</p> + + +<h3><br />IV. DIFFERENCE IN SIZE AND FORM</h3> + +<p>Here we find some very noted peculiarities. There are so many shapes and +sizes in the various departments of the palm tree world that one is lost +in wonder. Here is one gigantic tree two hundred feet high, while +another is only a few feet in height and both real palms. Some leaves +attain the enormous proportions of thirty-five feet in length by five or +six feet in breadth, while on other varieties the leaves are only a few +inches in length. Some palms have no flowers at all, while another known +as the Talipot palm throws up a branching inflorescence to a height of +thirty feet above the foliage, and it has been estimated that such an +inflorescence has included as many as sixty millions of flowers.</p> + +<p>When we see such differences in size and propensities, we are reminded +of the vast differences in the Christian world. Some saints loom up +indeed like the giants of the forest, while others are more like house +plants. Some are so full of stupendous works for God's kingdom, and are +accomplishing such herculean tasks, while others seem to be more adapted +for the mantelpiece, or things to look at. We find the same differences +obtaining on other lines. In the physical world is a Samson who can +carry off the gates of Gaza, while here is another who can scarcely +carry himself. In<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</a></span> the intellectual world there are men who can walk +through the heavens as we would stroll through a town; they weigh the +planets in their scales, and tell the composition of stars and their +distances; while others are still wondering if this world is not flat. +In the financial realm we find a man who can lug whole railroad systems, +or trans-Atlantic steamers on his shoulders, or thousands of tanks of +Standard oil. On the other hand we see some who would starve to death if +they were left to themselves. We know of one man who had been trying for +years to save up enough money on which to get divorced. We would not be +too hard on those, who, in the spiritual realm, are not able to walk off +with mountains on their shoulders; they may not be endowed with any +special gifts, and yet they may be the Lord's weak children.</p> + +<p>We would not sit in judgment on any of God's children. Christ came to +save all who will put their trust in Him, and if one is naturally +endowed with great and peculiar talents, so much the more responsibility +rests upon him; but if one does not possess the extraordinary, he may be +a trustful follower of the Lamb after all. And yet we have known of some +who certainly did not seem possessed with anything above the ordinary, +yet because of their fidelity to Christ and their abandonment to the +Holy Ghost, were really blessed in usefulness beyond the ordinary. There +is no telling what the Lord will do with the weak ones if they will only +let Him put over against them His strength. So, as in the palm tree +realm, there is<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</a></span> such a variety in size and form, so in the Christian +world we have the babe and the man, the weak and the strong, the tiny, +trusting heart who is scarcely known around the corner, and the giant of +God who wields his influence throughout the nation. So, whether we are +little or big, weak or strong, if we have the assurance that we belong +to God's kingdom, let us look up and rejoice evermore. We may be tempted +to discouragement when we see the stupendous accomplishments of some of +the palm tree saints, but we must remember that God requires from us +only that which we are able to perform. So while we may not do what some +others do, yet we can all, without an exception, measure up in our +individual sphere and prove that the Word of God is true, that "The +righteous shall flourish like the palm tree."</p> + +<p>Reader, in closing this little message to you, let me entreat you, by +the aid of the Holy Spirit, to introspect your heart and life and see if +you possess a spiritual life which would warrant you in believing that +you are flourishing like the palm tree. Amen!</p> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Palm Tree Blessing, by W. E. Shepard + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PALM TREE BLESSING *** + +***** This file should be named 36662-h.htm or 36662-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/6/6/6/36662/ + +Produced by David E. 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Shepard + +Release Date: July 9, 2011 [EBook #36662] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PALM TREE BLESSING *** + + + + +Produced by David E. Brown, Hazel Batey, Bryan Ness and +the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +Transcribers Note: +Page 7 cocoanut changed to cocoa nut +Page 7 overtops changed to over tops +Page 33 ensample changed to example +Page 68 reoice changed to rejoice +Page 68 Bastile changed to Bastille +Page 72 in-coming changed to incoming +Page 73 undercurrents changed to under-currents +Page 107 caldron changed to cauldron +Page 111 strengeneth changed to strengthenth +Page 112 scarifice changed to sacrifice +Page 151 inclosed changed to enclosed +Page 152 usally changed to usually +Punctuation has been moved inside enquotes where it was outside + + + + + The Palm Tree Blessing + + A discourse on the various characteristics of the palm tree, + illustrating the many features of the sanctified, Christian life. + + _By_ Evangelist W. E. Shepard + + _Author of_ "Wrested Scriptures Made Plain" Etc. + + NAZARENE PUBLISHING HOUSE KANSAS CITY, MO. + + + + + COPYRIGHT, 1913 NAZARENE PUBLISHING HOUSE + + + + +CONTENTS + + + CHAPTER ONE + + THE PALM TREE IS NOTED FOR ITS BEAUTY 7 + + CHAPTER TWO + + THE PALM TREE IS NOTED FOR ITS STRAIGHTNESS 11 + + CHAPTER THREE + + THE PALM TREE IS NOTED FOR ITS PERENNIAL FRESHNESS 14 + + CHAPTER FOUR + + THE PALM TREE IS NOTED FOR ITS FRUITFULNESS 19 + + CHAPTER FIVE + + THE PALM TREE IS NOTED FOR SWEETNESS OF ITS FRUIT 26 + + CHAPTER SIX + + THE PALM TREE BEARS FRUIT IN ITS OLD AGE 34 + + CHAPTER SEVEN + + THE PALM TREE IS NOTED FOR ITS UTILITY 41 + + CHAPTER EIGHT + + THE PALM TREE IS APPRECIATED 56 + + CHAPTER NINE + + THE PALM TREE WILL GROW IN THE DESERT 66 + + CHAPTER TEN + + THE PALM TREE FINDS THE WATER 71 + + CHAPTER ELEVEN + + THE PALM TREE GETS OTHERS STARTED 76 + + CHAPTER TWELVE + + THE PALM TREE MOUNTS HEAVENWARD 81 + + CHAPTER THIRTEEN + + THE PALM TREE IS PECULIAR IN ITS GROWTH 86 + + CHAPTER FOURTEEN + + THE PALM TREE HAS A ROUGH, COARSE EXTERIOR, BUT IS + SOFT AT THE HEART 89 + + CHAPTER FIFTEEN + + THE LIFE OF THE PALM TREE IS AT THE CENTER 96 + + CHAPTER SIXTEEN + + THE PALM BRANCH IS THE SYMBOL OF VICTORY 113 + + CHAPTER SEVENTEEN + + THE PALM TREE WILL NOT ADMIT OF GRAFTING 128 + + CHAPTER EIGHTEEN + + THE PALM TREE IS ADAPTED TO WARM CLIMATES 142 + + CHAPTER NINETEEN + + PALM TREE PECULIARITIES 146 + + a. _The Explosive Flower._ + + b. _The Living Sacrifice._ + + c. _The Foreign Missionary._ + + d. _Differences in Size and Form._ + + + + +Introduction + + "The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree."--Psalm 92:12. + +Wherever the Holy Spirit in the inspired Word has made any statement +concerning anything, whether in regard to flowers, fruit, agriculture, +horticulture, stock raising, minerals, earth, sea, sky, stars, science, +religion, or what not, rest assured that statement is absolutely +correct. There may be some statements which are hard to understand at +first, but which may become perfectly clear when proper light is thrown +upon them. + +The Word of God abounds in comparisons. It says the wicked are "like the +troubled sea," the backslider like the dog "turned to his own vomit +again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire." In the +first Psalm it says the ungodly "are like the chaff which the wind +driveth away," but on the other hand the godly are "like a tree planted +by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his +leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper." + +Wherever God has compared the godly or the ungodly with anything, He +certainly understood the case and made no mistake. + +If one is not sure of his spiritual standing, it might be well to select +something to which God has likened him, and then note the difference. + +Among the most beautiful comparisons in the Word is this: "_The +righteous shall flourish like the palm tree_." + +The object of this little book is to show some of the characteristics of +the palm tree blessing. Let the reader not forget to keep before his +mind the thought of measuring up, and in that way be able to determine +whether he belongs to the class mentioned. Please do not think of +neighbor So-and-so, but keep your thought on your own personal +experience. + + + + +The Palm Tree Blessing + + + + +CHAPTER I + +THE PALM TREE IS NOTED FOR ITS BEAUTY + + +It is certainly one of the most beautiful trees in nature. That is why +so many are used in decorating the premises. People do not plant scrub +oaks in their gardens, but they plant nature's beauties. + +In the palm tree realm we have a large variety, of different sizes, such +as date, fan, and cocoa nut, and in them all it seems that God laid +Himself out to make something charming to behold. + +When He compared the saint with the palm tree, it signified that there +is something in him that is beautiful. One may be counted homely, or +disfigured by some mark of nature or accident; but in spite of all he +can have God's beauty shining out from his face and life. It matters not +how he may be marked with some naturally undesirable feature, in spite +of all, the palm tree saint has the effulgence of the upper-world glory, +which over tops it all, and there shines forth real, heavenly beauty. So +there is hope for all. + +That beautiful daughter of King David, and sister to Absalom, who was +the finest looking man of his day, was called Tamar, which is the Hebrew +word for _palm_. Doubtless she was called Tamar on account of her +beauty. Absalom named his daughter Tamar for this same reason: "And unto +Absalom there was born three sons and one daughter, whose name was +Tamar: she was a woman of a fair countenance." + +Moses was so close to God and heaven during those days on the mount, +that his face literally shone. And just in proportion as people today +get close to the upper world, will God cover them with His celestial +cosmetics. This far surpasses the paint and powder and Circassian cream +of a frivolous and fashion-loving world. If people only knew it, the +more of these--and of dead birds, rag posies, and glittering +gewgaws--they put on, the more unbecoming they appear, and the more any +natural beauty they chance to have is covered up. Whenever a woman +besmears her face with paint and powder, hoping to cover up what she may +think to be unseemly, she might as well carry a placard bearing this +inscription: + + To whom it may concern: This is to certify that I am homely, and am + trying to cover up the fact by the use of paint and powder, thus + hoping to deceive the public. + + + SIGNED--O. C. PRIDE. + + + +"The King's daughter is all glorious within." And because of this it +works out, and so, with God's glory upon one, surely there is no need of +the world's adornments to supplement God's handiwork. "The ornament of +a meek and quiet spirit" is the adorning which all should seek, and all +may obtain. + +The climax of trinket wearing is to be found in the heathen world. There +they deck themselves literally from head to heel. They puncture ears, +lips, and nose to find more room for their jewelry. God's arraignment of +His people in the third chapter of Isaiah for patterning after the +heathen customs is appalling, and we wonder that the translators of the +Bible had the ingenuity to ferret out all the different kinds of +trumpery in that dead language and find their proper expression in +English. When the writer was a boy going to a country school, he was +told by the teacher that barbarians wore jewelry, and in proportion as +people did the same today they were barbarian. We once stepped into a +restaurant in the city of Omaha, and noticed a woman seated at one of +the tables. The sight of her hand eclipsed anything we had ever seen. +There were rings galore. We do not remember the number on her fingers, +but she had so many, it looked as if she had not room enough on her +fingers, so she actually had one on her thumb. Doubtless she thought +this added to her beauty. We once saw a fortune teller with large rings +in her ears, three chains around her neck, seven rings on her fingers +and eight bracelets on the wrists. + +How different is all this from the beauty which the Holy Spirit gives! +We have seen the faces of some saints that verily shone with the +brightness of the indwelling Christ within. Sometimes in deathbed +scenes God has lifted the curtain just enough to let a little of +heaven's halo fall across the features, and how it lighted up the face +and made it radiant with a glory which at once was known to be +unearthly. God surely knows how to beautify His people. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +THE PALM TREE IS NOTED FOR ITS STRAIGHTNESS + + +There is something in the very nature of this remarkable production, +that scarcely allows of any departure from the perpendicular. The palm +tree will grow straight. One seldom sees a crooked one. We remember +seeing one, but it was dead. + +Now, if we have the palm tree blessing, we are spiritually straight. +God's people are straight. They are straight in their homes, in the +church, in their business, with the world, with each other and with God. +In their business deals they will not stoop to any underhanded trickery +either on a big scale or little. They will even swear to their own hurt +and change not. They will put themselves out to hunt up the conductor in +order to pay their nickle fare before they leave the car. They never +leave the counter with a surplus of change if they know it. They are +careful about not using many words in buying and selling. They never +cover up the defects and make prominent the good points in their deals. +They endeavor to observe the Golden Rule, doing unto others as they +would have others do to them. They will surely overcome any stingy +element in their makeup, if previously possessed with such a factor. +They will not lavish their homes and let God's cause languish. Their +earthly store belongs to God, and they recognize His right to draw upon +them whenever He chooses. + +One of the greatest stumbling blocks to the world today is the +crookedness of so many so-called saints. The world knows when we walk +straight. They may call one an old fogy, brand him as a fanatic, say he +has gone crazy over religion, but at the same time they will say, "He +pays his grocery bills." And perchance a sinner is dying and wants +prayer, he will send for the very one he called fanatical and crazy. Do +you think, dear reader, that you would be the one he would call upon for +prayer? + +The story is told of a man who was felling a tree, and was buried +beneath the branches as it fell. On being extricated he was found to be +mortally injured. A physician was summoned, and saw at once that the +poor man must soon die. Being interested in his spiritual welfare, he +told the man plainly that he could not live, and advised him to make his +preparation to meet God, suggesting at the same time that he send for a +certain neighbor who was a deacon in the church. Upon the mention of +this deacon's name, the dying man recoiled, and said, "I hate him. He +has lived alongside of me for years and has never said a word to me +about my soul." + +It is said that the palm tree has such a natural tendency to grow +straight, that it will not grow crooked though heavy burdens be placed +upon it. It will push up in spite of all the load, and simply remain +straight. How like God's true saint! Satan has many burdens with which +to break his back, or cause him to deviate from the straight course, but +with this blessing, he is enabled to rise in spite of all and be a +perfectly perpendicular pilgrim. Praise the Lord! Business burdens, +domestic duties, religious responsibilities would crowd in and hold us +down, or shift our course upward, but He who carries our cares, and +bears our burdens will bring us up straight if we but look constantly to +Him. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +IT IS NOTED FOR ITS PERENNIAL FRESHNESS + + +The palm tree is an evergreen. It always has a fresh, green crown on +top, on the heavenly side. Some parts may wither; some leaves fade and +fall in time, but up at the top is a never-fading, fresh, beautiful +crown that basks in the open sunlight and is a beauty to behold. Now, +pilgrim, press up alongside of this characteristic and see if you have +the mark. + +The palm tree blessing is always a fresh blessing. Those who are so +fortunate as to have this experience have a freshness about them that +makes others desire it. There is nothing stale nor dry in their +testimonies or prayers. With this beautiful characteristic, one does not +say over the same old testimony, repeat the same stereotyped prayer at +family worship, nor ask the same blessing at the table over and over. +You might note the next time you say grace at the table, and then ask +yourself if you have the palm tree blessing. + +How refreshing some people's testimonies always are! We are sure to get +something new. Even if it is old, it is set forth in a new garb, and +people enjoy it and get blessed. They have a perennial freshness in +their lives, and a storehouse from which to draw, so that they are +always enabled to bless a congregation whenever they are present. + +There are some saints that are always in demand in meetings because they +are so juicy and blessed. There is such a crown of rejoicing toward +heaven in it all, that the meeting is sure to rise in interest and power +whenever they take part. + +Have you ever noticed a meeting that begins to rise with each succeeding +testimony? One speaks and the spiritual thermometer goes up a little, +then another in the Spirit talks out his heart, and up goes the +temperature another degree or so, and thus it rises till it reaches a +good, warm level, when suddenly some one arises and instantly down goes +the thermometer. The meeting has cooled off several degrees. What was +the matter? Will you kindly notice the next time you testify, and see if +the thermometer goes up or down? Then ask yourself about this blessing, +providing you cooled the meeting off. + +What is the reason, when some people talk or pray, the saints seem to be +so glad? They take it for granted that they are going to get something +helpful and interesting, and that the meeting will get a boost. On the +other hand, why is it when certain others take part, there is a sort of +inward sigh, "uttered or unexpressed," and a settling down to endure the +ordeal till he gets through? We will let the reader answer. Oh, to be +fresh, and free, and full of the Spirit all the time! + +The Word declares that "where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is +liberty." The liberty of the Spirit always makes a meeting fresh and +helpful. One of the prevailing hindrances in the Christian life is +quenching the Spirit. The command is, "Quench not the Spirit" and we +have no right to disobey that injunction any more than any other. We +have seen people pray through at the altar and get wonderfully blessed +and have much of the freedom of the Spirit, and after a few days when +the Spirit desired again to manifest Himself through them, they have +shrunk back through timidity, quenched the Spirit and leaked out in +their experience. Does God make provision for any one to have any less +liberty and freedom of Spirit later on in his Christian life? I trow +not. Look to it then that you do not frustrate the grace of God in your +hearts. If you were ever turned loose in a meeting, or, under the +blessing of God you ran off with the meeting, see to it that you lose +not your liberty, for the Lord may call upon you some other time to +swing loose and take things by storm. + +The story is told of Amanda Smith, the colored evangelist, who felt one +time that she should lift her hand in the service and say, "Glory to +God." At first she wondered if that was best under the circumstances, +but felt the prompting was of the Lord, so she lifted her hand and +shouted it out. Immediately the blessing of God was precipitated upon +the congregation and a wonderful time of freedom was the result. We knew +a brother who said he felt impressed once to do a similar thing, but he +allowed something to hold him back, and so grieved the Spirit, and he +declared it took him two weeks to pray back to God. It pays to obey +God. He will surely put His Spirit upon those whom He can trust. He will +give all the liberty we will use. We never need to pray for freedom in +the meetings, for all we have to do is to help ourselves. Imagine a +child coming home hungry, and asking his mother for some bread and +butter. His mother says, "There is the pantry, child, help yourself." +The child teases further for bread and butter. Once more the kind parent +informs him that the cupboard is handy, and he may help himself. But the +child continues to beg. What attitude would that parent finally take? It +would probably result in a good spanking. Imagine a child of God +continually teasing the Lord for liberty, when He is constantly saying, +"Help yourself." The freedom will surely be on hand when we step out and +do our part. + +The amusing story is told of Frederick Douglas who rose from slavery to +quite a place in history. When in bondage in the South, he was wont to +pray the Lord to give him his freedom. But he said the Lord did not +answer his prayer. Again and again he prayed, but the Lord did not +answer his petition. "One night," said he, "I went out and set my eyes +on the North Star, and scratched gravel behind, and then the Lord +answered my prayer." No wonder the paper he afterwards edited was called +the _North Star_. If more people who are in bondage to fear, and are +longing at the same time for deliverance, would do as this man of color +did--set their spiritual eyes on the pole star of freedom, and scratch +gravel--they would soon find their prayers for liberty answered. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +IT IS NOTED FOR ITS FRUITFULNESS + + +In the orient, where the date palm thrives the best, it is astonishing +the quantity of delicious fruit it bears. It affords one of the chief +industries, and is one of the principal articles of food. + +Seeing the inspired Word declares that the righteous flourish like the +palm tree, it stands to reason that the righteous bear an abundance of +spiritual fruit. Fruit-bearing is the chief characteristic of the saint. +"But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have +your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life" (Rom. 6: 23). A +nonfruit-bearing holiness is a nonentity. + +"Every branch in me that beareth not fruit, he taketh away: and every +branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it that it may bring forth more +fruit" (John 15:2). In other words, every Christian who ceases to bear +fruit, becomes a backslider and is cut off; while every one that bears +fruit, keeps connected with the True Vine, and gets cleansed, or +sanctified. This statement simply means, then, that one must get +cleansed, or lose what grace he has. These are solemn truths, and each +one should look well to his fruit bearing, and continue in the same. + +"Now the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, +gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance; against such there is +no law" (Gal. 5:22, 23). All palm tree saints are in the fruit business. +There is no law, says the text, against such a business. There is no law +written in the Bible, or upon our hearts that opposes it. There is no +law of nature that runs counter to it. The law of the land does not +forbid one having love, joy, peace, or any of the other varieties. Even +formal ecclesiastical law does not oppose one having love, joy, peace, +or the others mentioned; but sometimes it raises a hue and cry, and +brings forth a storm of persecution when the outward manifestations of +this fruit intrude into their graveyard quietness, and thus disturb +their death. + +God gave the Israelites specific instructions what to do when they +gained the Promised Land. He told them when they entered Canaan they +were to take of the fruit of the land and put it into a basket and go to +the proper place and say to the priest, "I profess this day unto the +Lord thy God, that I am come unto the country which the Lord swore unto +our fathers for to give us" (Deut. 26:3). The spiritual application is +this: When one arrives at Canaan today, he should immediately have a +fine basket of the fruit of the land, and go to the church and tell +preacher and people, that in the providence and mercy of God he has +received a clean heart full of pure love, or in other words, he has been +sanctified wholly. But he must have his basket of fruit. Alas! too many +are testifying these days to being "saved and sanctified and sweetly +kept," and when one looks for the basket of fruit, there is "nothing but +leaves," or perchance some peelings, stems and shells. + +Abraham Lincoln once said, "You may fool some of the people all the +time, and all the people some of the time; but you can't fool _all_ the +people _all_ the time." The palm tree saint does not fool any of the +people any of the time. He simply has his basket of fruit with him, and +if one is inclined to doubt his testimony, all he has to do is to look +into his basket and behold the grapes, figs, and pomegranates of Canaan. +This is what tells so on others who have not as yet arrived at the +station. When they see such delicious displays from the land of Beulah, +their mouths begin to water, and there is an inward longing for some of +the same kind. But what a stigma upon the religion of Jesus Christ, when +one lays claim to Canaan experience, and has nothing to show for it but +an empty basket! + +When the spies returned from their Canaan exploration they brought of +the fruit to Moses and said, "We came unto the land whither thou sentest +us, and surely it floweth with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of +it" (Num. 13:27). They carried the unmistakable proof with them. Let us +see to it that our testimonies are accompanied with their proper proof. + +There is altogether too much failure in Christian service, because of +the excuse of lacking in talent. It is true that some have more talent +than others, but does that excuse those of one talent? The terrible +punishment inflicted upon the one who nicely wrapped his one talent in +the napkin and laid it away, ought to alarm any who may be tempted to do +likewise. Those who are favored with more talents are held more +responsible to God for the use of them. It seems that God is not +especially hunting for brains to use in His service, as He is looking +for clean channels. If He can get the man of ten talents all consecrated +to Him, very well and good; He will certainly use him to His own glory; +but He is also ready to work with and through the simple-minded as well. +And frequently we find Him doing more through such a channel than where +there is ten times the talent. We copy the story of what God did through +a half-idiot boy as printed in the _Herald of Holiness_: + +"One time," said Dr. Broughton, "I remember beginning a meeting in an +old, conservative church in one of the most conservative towns of the +South. A large crowd had gathered to hear my first sermon. It was not +much of a sermon, however, that they heard, but a good deal of +proposition making. + +"To begin with, I asked for all fathers who had unsaved sons to stand +up. Nobody stood, however, except a little boy about twelve years old, +who sat far back in the congregation. He arose. He was not satisfied to +stand, he got up on the seat and lifted his hands. He was determined to +be seen. Everybody laughed at the mistake, and I said, 'Young man, that +will do; sit down.' My next proposition was to mothers, but not a mother +stood. The same little boy stood up, however. 'That will do,' said I; +'sit down.' Then I went for the brothers and sisters. I made five +propositions that night, and he responded to every one of them, and he +was the only one that paid any attention to them whatever. I went away +from that meeting very much humiliated. The same was true of the +services on the next night and on through the services of three days. To +every proposition I made, he responded, and he was the only one who did. +Finally, a deacon of the church came to me and said: 'That boy is a half +idiot. The fact is, he is a whole idiot, and those people are coming to +see him perform. That is what they are coming for.' + +"'Well,' said I, 'what do you think I ought to do about it?' + +"'Why,' said he, 'stop him, of course.' + +"I said, 'Stop him? Never! He is the only sign of life I have seen in +this town. I feel like paying him to go around with me to worry old +conservative deacons. Talk about that boy! Why, he is the only spark of +hope the church has in this town so far as I have been able to see. I +would not think of putting that light out.' + +"'Well,' said the deacon, 'he has thrown a damper on your meetings.' + +"I said, 'No, brother, you can not throw a damper on an icehouse, and +this old thing has been frozen over for twenty years.' + +"'All right, said he, 'let the boy go on.' + +"So it went on for the rest of the week. Now and then some other simple +soul would stand for prayer, but very seldom. + +"At the close of the sermon the next Sunday morning, when I gave out the +invitation for those who wished to join the church to come forward, that +boy walked up to the front. I asked the usual questions and took the +vote and he was received. + +"That night as I came into the church a man arose and said: 'Brother +Broughton, I want to ask a prayer for a man who is in this house, one of +the honored citizens of our town and a man of eighty-five years of age, +who has not been in a church for twenty-five years until tonight. He has +been known as a skeptic, but I see him here tonight, and I think he will +pardon me for making this request. I feel so deeply the weight of his +soul.' + +"As soon he sat down the old man arose and said: 'Friends and neighbors, +I am the man you are about to pray for. I want to tell you why I am here +tonight. This little boy who sits here by my side is my grandson. You +know that he is an unfortunate lad. It is because of that we have loved +him so. This morning he came home and threw his arms around my neck and +said, "Oh, grandpa, I have got religion, and have joined the church. And +grandpa, I am so happy that I don't know what to do. I wish grandma was +here. Oh, grandpa, you know she went to heaven three months ago and I +have nobody to talk to about Jesus."' The old man said, 'Just as the +child said that, something struck my heart that had not struck it before +since I was a boy and left home to go to college. You can call it what +you please, but if you can, by your prayers, bring the grace of God into +my heart, I will be thankful.' Before we left that night he was +converted. + +"The next morning the little fellow went out in the town and climbed +over his father's bar counter, for he was a barkeeper, and said, 'Papa, +won't you come and go with me to hear our preacher?' He promised he +would that night, which he did, and at two o'clock the father was +converted. + +"The next day he went out, declaring he was going to be a missionary to +his fellow saloon keepers. He got them, every one of them, to close up +their places and come to church. There were seven in number, and during +that week six out of the seven gave their hearts to God, and all of them +agreed to close up their business. A great revival broke out in that +town which extended all through the county, and several counties, and in +six months' time there was not a barroom in that county. Every barkeeper +agreed to quit the business, and so far as I know, there has never been +one in the county until this day. + +"Such a gracious revival of religion! How did it all come about? Not by +preaching; not by great manipulations; not by great singing, valuable as +these all may be--they did not bring it about. It came about through a +little half idiot boy, who had no better sense than to trust God the +best he knew and do his level best." + + + + +CHAPTER V + +IT IS NOTED FOR THE SWEETNESS OF ITS FRUIT + + +All palms are not of the same variety, but the date palm is the one +specially noted for its sweet fruit. When the orientals dry their dates +and press them and ship them into our country, we then learn how nearly +akin to sugar they are. + +The righteous shall flourish in sweetness. Full salvation surely +sweetens one's life and disposition. A sour holiness is a sham holiness. +Some professors of religion look and act as if they were pickled instead +of preserved. + +When God described the beauties and benefits of Beulah Land, He told the +people it was a land of honey. Honey was one of the leading commodities +of Canaan. One of the prime factors of the palm tree blessing is +spiritual honey. It is certainly a sweet experience, both in its inward +enjoyment and outward manifestation. In the various tests of life one +will find the inward proclivities making way to the surface, and out of +the abundance of the heart the mouth will speak. Sister, do you find +yourself saying, "Praise the Lord," when the clothes line breaks, or the +bread burns? What comes to the surface when your children tug at your +apron by the hour in their fretfulness? How is it when your neighbor's +chickens clean up your radish and turnip patch? or husband scolds, or +the older children are disobedient and saucy? It is true one may be +tried in these disappointing ordeals, and have the smile of heaven at +the same time, but is there an overcoming sweetness in it all that +convinces others that you have the palm tree blessing? + +Perhaps husband is smiling, as wife reads these lines; but how do you +feel when the horse balks, or the cow kicks the milk all over you? What +do you say when hammering, and you hit the wrong nail? How is your +equilibrium at the midnight hour in zero weather when wife hunches you +under the fifth rib and notifies you that baby has the colic and +requests you to get up and make a fire? Do you smile and say, +"Certainly, dear," or do you growl and let her do it? Think of the palm +tree blessing next time. + +A minister once asked his colored servant why he didn't get along +better, while she always seemed so happy. She replied that it was +because he read his Bible wrong. He could not understand that, for he +certainly knew how to read the Bible. She finally told him, where the +Bible said "Glory in tribulation," he read it, "Growl in tribulation." + +The grace of gentleness and sweetness under trying circumstances is so +scarce in this world, that it is indeed refreshing when we come in +contact with it. It is said of the mother of John and Charles Wesley, +that one of the children once asked some privilege and was denied with a +"no." The child was persistent and asked again, and the answer was +again, "no." For some reason the interrogation was requested time and +again, and the patient mother responded "no" twenty times, and the last +time in the same tone of voice as the first. We might question the +propriety of allowing a child to be so persistent, but we could not +question the propriety of suffering long, with kindness on the farther +end of it. We have been struck before now at the agitation and seeming +impatience of some leading holiness preachers when some disturbance was +made in the meeting; when a child cried, some one went out, or some +unusual noise or commotion occurred. Almost anybody can keep sweet when +everything goes their way, but the time to prove that a part of one's +stock in trade is honey, is when the trying ordeals of life press in, +and people are looking on to see if he has what he has been shouting +over in the meeting. + +There is a clause in the Bible that reads thus: "The God of all grace." +I do not know how much our God has, but it says in another place, "He +giveth more grace." We believe that in every exigency of life, the grace +of our God is sufficient. If a policeman on the street of some large +city met with some opposition as he was endeavoring to do his duty, he +would have the privilege, if unable to cope with the opposition alone, +to call upon another officer. If these two were unable to overcome, they +could have the whole police force of the city at their disposal. If this +power was not sufficient they could have the state militia, and +perchance this should fail, the whole government is back of him, and +would call out the regular army. That police officer has the whole +government ready to back him up in doing his duty. So it is with the +faithful child of God. When he is suffered to pass through some trying +ordeal, and the present stock of grace is not sufficient, "He giveth +more grace," and the "God of all grace" is at his disposal, and "God is +able to make all grace abound toward" him, and He would call out the +whole stock of grace of heaven before He would allow the faithful soul +to fail who relied upon Him. + +These testing trials are what make solid Christian character. What would +the giant oak on the mountain side amount to, if it were not for the +storms that surge against it? These storms cause the roots to take +stronger hold, and thus they grapple with earth and rock and become +practically immovable. When the storms of trial and persecution sweep up +against the pure in heart, they cause them to cleave the more to their +Protector and send the roots of faith and love deeper into the Rock +beneath. + +What does the Word mean when it says, "That the trial of your faith, +being much more precious than of gold that perisheth?" Does it not mean +that these testings of faith are worth much more than gold nuggets which +one might find in the street? Then why do we not act that way? Imagine +one walking along the road and stumbling against a big chunk of fine +gold, and then looking down at the mouth and complaining at his +misfortune. No, if such a one had been discouraged just before, we think +this sudden find would dispel all his sorrow. How would it do for us to +act as if we had found a nugget of gold, the next time some great trial +crosses our path? Would it be inconsistent to shout "Glory to God! I +have something that is worth more to me than gold tried in the fire?" +"Count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations," for "Blessed is +the man that endureth temptation." Suppose one should come into a +meeting and testify that he had more trials than anybody in the world. +We have heard testimonies that tend in that direction. Usually the +witness looks as if it were about true. But what does God's Word say +about it? "My grace is sufficient for thee." We believe that all true +pilgrims, as they journey through life, have at times all they can stand +of trials and testings. And yet, "there hath no temptation taken you but +such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you +to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also +make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it" (1 Cor. 10:13). +Now, in the light of these Scriptures, we see, that in proportion to +one's trials, temptations, and testings, God puts alongside the +sufficient grace to bear them. If one has more trial than another, and +holds true to God, it only shows that he has more grace than another. +Now, why doesn't the brother in the meeting who testifies that he has +more trials than anybody else, look up and shout himself hoarse at the +abundance of grace the Lord has for him? Let us not be infidels, but +actually believe the Word of God, and _act_ as if we believed it. Amen! + +If the Devil can get us to grunt and growl when he kicks us, it +encourages him to kick the more. Notice those pestiferous boys at +school. See them poking fun at that crying lad who declares he is going +to tell his mother. The more he cries the more encouraged they feel to +impose upon him. Now watch them as they ply their game on some +independent chap. He just laughs at them and says, "I don't care." Their +fun is spoiled and one of them says, "Come on, boys, we can't have any +fun out of him." Why not try this method on the Devil? Instead of crying +and complaining, and pitying yourself, just shout, "Glory to God!" when +he kicks you. He may try it again, but shout "Hallelujah!" right in his +face. Methinks he will say, "I don't understand that Christian; the more +I kick him, the more he praises the Lord and shouts." + +The explanation of Psa. 40:11 by that sunny, happy-hearted Christian +known as Aunt Sophia may not be far out of the way. "Let thy loving +kindness and thy truth continually preserve me." Aunt Sophia said, "Dat +just like de deah Lawd. He puts His trusting children right in de big +saucepan of His lub, and He sweetens dem wif de sweetness of His grace, +so dey nebber get sour. And when you see one who is cross and fretful +and gloomy, bress you, honies, dey is not preserved; dey's only +pickled!" + +There is nothing in the Scriptures that would indicate that any part of +the Christian life was made up of sour material. "Vinegar never catches +flies," and a sour, long-faced professor of religion is certainly a poor +sample of Christ's handiwork. When the sweetness of the palm tree +blessing enters the soul, the long face in the direction of north and +south, shortens up, and lengthens out east and west. A preacher once +entered a grocery store, and casting his eyes about, he discovered some +packages on a shelf, with the following label on them: "Warranted to +keep sweet in all climates." The company sending out the goods, +evidently had much faith in their enduring qualities. They surely knew +that the contents might be subjected to heat and cold, wet and dry, high +and low altitudes, at home and abroad. Yet they were ready to put on the +goods, "Warranted to keep sweet in all climates." Surely, when our +Preserver has put the finishing touches on His goods, He has included an +element of grace which warrants them to keep sweet in all climates. It +does not seem hard for some to keep sweet when all goes their way; when +nothing crosses their path; when all is fair sailing; but let the +nagging, disappointing, galling trials incident to this life press in +upon the soul, and the look, tone and talk are changed. The preserves +have been changed to pickles. Such a one could not well influence +another by his life and example to become a follower of the meek and +lowly Jesus. + +We may not always be aware of it, but surely others are watching us. Can +we say with Paul, "Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them +which walk, so as ye have us for an example?" (Phil. 3:17). Again, +"Those things which ye have both learned, and received, and heard and +seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you" (Phil. 4:9). + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +THE PALM TREE BEARS FRUIT IN OLD AGE + + +It is a very long-lived tree. At the age of about thirty it seems to +have reached its height in fruitfulness, but will continue its prolific +yield for seventy years more under proper conditions, so that at the +century mark it is still flourishing. It is said that it bears its very +sweetest fruit in its old age. + +In the realm of grace God has not planned for spiritual declension in +old age. The free grace of God is just as willingly bestowed then as in +decades before. The next verses which follow the statement: "The +righteous shall flourish like the palm tree," bring out this glorious +truth. "Those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in +the courts of our God. They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; +they shall be fat and flourishing" (Psa. 92:13, 14). + +Do we not often see old people, after they have possibly professed +holiness for many years, in their declining days, take on a fretful, +cross, murmuring spirit, and make it hard to get along with them? +Instead of the little children delighting to be around them, if they +should express themselves, they would say, "What is the matter with +grandpa; he is getting so crabbed and cross?" One of the saddest and +also one of the most dangerous calamities that can befall an old +Christian, is to lose the sweetness and juice and fruitfulness of early +piety. + +"The trees of the Lord are full of sap." This sap life is characteristic +of the palm tree, and he who lacks the sweet juice of fresh life +bubbling up in his heart should inquire into his experience. + +One of the most encouraging and soul-inspiring examples to young +converts is the victorious faith and activities of the aged saints. How +it blesses our souls when we stand in the presence of such an +octogenarian. The fire still burning within, he is ready to pray, shout +or testify at a moment's notice. There are many of God's old palm trees, +though they may have the word "superannuated" attached somewhere, yet +they are ever active in bringing forth fruit. Like the old horse that +was superannuated from the fire department, and was used in a delivery +wagon, when he heard the fire bell ring, he champed his bits and struck +off down the road and never stopped till he had backed up to the fire. +Live meetings and revival fires set some of these old war horses going, +and one would think they were surely renewing their youth. They love the +way and will not rust out with advancing years. + +Look at the unceasing and untiring activities of John Wesley, much of it +after he had crossed the line of fourscore years. The following +information concerning him is current in religious papers: + + +"HOW JOHN WESLEY WORKED" + +"His travels were immense, amounting to about 290,000 miles, or about +twelve times the circumference of the globe, making about 5,000 miles a +year. + +"He preached before the days of steam or electricity, twenty sermons a +week, and often more. Most of these sermons were preached in the open +air, and often amid showers of brickbats, rotten eggs, and personal +violence calculated to test the strongest nerve. A Baptist preacher +recently celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of his pastorate. It was +announced as an unusual fact that he had preached an average of three +sermons a week during the fifty years. But John Wesley preached on an +average, for fifty-four years, three sermons a day. The Baptist +clergyman had preached during the time a little over 8,000 sermons. Mr. +Wesley preached in fifty-four years, more than 44,000 sermons. This did +not include numberless addresses and exhortations on a great variety of +occasions. + +"For many years he was editor of the 'Arminian Magazine,' a periodical +of fifty-six pages--the work of one man in these times. + +"He wrote and published a commentary on the whole Bible in four large +volumes. + +"He compiled and published a dictionary of the English language--no +small undertaking. + +"He wrote and published a work of four volumes on natural philosophy. + +"He wrote and published a work of four volumes on ecclesiastical +history. + +"He wrote and published comprehensive histories of England and Rome. + +"He wrote grammars of the Hebrew, Latin, Greek, French, and English +languages. + +"He wrote, abridged, revised, and published a library of fifty volumes +known as the 'Christian Library,' and some time after he re-read, +revised, corrected, and published the whole in thirty large volumes. +This library contains one of the richest collections found in the +English language. + +"He wrote a good-sized work on electricity. + +"He prepared and published for the common people three works on +medicine. + +"He published six volumes of church music. His poetical works, in +connection with his brother Charles, amounted to not less than forty +volumes. Charles wrote most of them, but they passed under the keen +revision of John, without which we doubt if Charles Wesley's hymns would +have been what they are--the most beautiful and soul-inspiring to be +found in the English language. + +"In addition to these multiplied publications, we have seven large +volumes, including sermons, journals, letters and controversial papers +known as 'Wesley's Works.' It is claimed that Mr. Wesley's works, +including abridgments and translations, amounted to at least two hundred +volumes. It is difficult to understand how a man could have found time +to accomplish so much literary labor while perpetually on the wing. + +"In addition to all this, Wesley was a pastor and did more real +pastoral work than nine-tenths of the pastors of these times. One has +only to read his journals to be convinced of this. For a time he visited +all the class and band meetings, and had special charge of the select +societies. He appointed all the class and band leaders, stationed all +the preachers, and had a general oversight of the many thousands of his +followers. + +"He improved every moment of the day. Mr. Fletcher, who was for some +time his traveling companion, says of him, 'His diligence is matchless. +Though oppressed with the weight of seventy years, and the care of +30,000 souls, he shamed still, by his unabating zeal and immense labors, +all the young ministers of England, perhaps, of Christendom. He has +frequently blown the gospel trumpet and rode twenty miles before most of +the professors who despise his labors have left their downy pillows. As +he begins the day, the week, so he concludes them, still intent upon +extensive service for the glory of the Redeemer and the good of souls. + +"'From four o'clock in the morning until ten at night every moment was +occupied in loving efforts to save the lost; and he never lost ten +minutes from wakefulness at night, as he himself affirmed. His motto +was, "always in haste, but never in a hurry." "Leisure and I have taken +leave of each other." "Ten thousand cares are no more to me than ten +thousand hairs on my head." "I am never weary with writing, preaching or +traveling," are a few of the utterances of this remarkable man. And in +the midst of all this wonderful activity he says, "I enjoy more hours of +private retirement than any man in England."'" + +No wonder he could shout on his dying bed with the heavenly halo around +his head and say, "The best of all is, God is with us." + +Look at that apostle of faith, George Muller, after he had prayed in +millions of dollars, cared for thousands of orphans, preached in many +lands and sent missionaries throughout the world, still active for God +between eighty and ninety years of age. + +Thomas Mayhew was one of those early missionaries to the North American +Indians. When on his way to the old country to seek further aid for his +work, he was lost at sea. His old father, then past his seventieth year, +regarded this sad bereavement as God's call for him to fill the place +made vacant by the death of his son. He immediately began to study the +Indian language, and went forth to carry on the mission of his son, +which he did until his death at the age of ninety-three. In his travels, +the old man would often have to walk twenty miles through the woods to +preach to the Indians. Surely, this was better than idle sorrow. It was +bringing forth fruit in old age. He had the palm tree vitality and +blessing. + +I am thinking just now of an aged minister. For over half a century he +has served God in the regular ministry, and now although over six years +past the "allotted time" of life, he is untiring in his work and zeal +for God. He is up to date in all the departments of the work. He is +superintendent of the home department of the Sunday school, and does +work like a pastor in his regular visitations. He enters open doors and +preaches many sermons. He is a most zealous advocate of prohibition, and +stands in the forefront ranks in pushing that important work, and is +president of the prohibition work in his community. His zeal for the +foreign missionary field is most inspiring, and by faith, with all the +other blessings of giving that he takes upon himself, he has just taken +a native missionary to support from his limited means. While he is so +active on all the live issues of the church, and is at his post to push +and pull, yet he is seemingly most at home in the battle for souls. You +can count on him at the revival unless he is providentially hindered. +And when the seekers line up at the altar, he is at hand to pray and +shout the battle on. He has the word "superannuated" applied somewhere, +but we think it a misnomer and that a more appropriate word would be +"superabundant." + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +THE PALM TREE IS NOTED FOR ITS UTILITY + + +The uses to which the different palm tree varieties are put are +something marvelous in the extreme. There is nothing like it in all the +vegetable world. All parts are utilized, from the trunk and branches to +the sap. From the branches they make cages for poultry, and fences for +gardens. From the leaves they manufacture couches, baskets, bags, and +mats. From the fiber they make thread, ropes, and rigging. From the sap +is manufactured a drink, while seeds are ground up for provender for +camels. + +The following will show some of the many uses of the various kinds of +palms: Fuel, clothing, building material, tents, cages, crates, fences, +thatching, bridges, masts, boats, oars, canes, umbrellas, umbrella +sticks, couches, baskets, bags, matting, mattresses, hammocks, pillows, +cushions, carpets, sail cloth, oakum, paste-board, kites, thread, +fishlines, bowstrings, ropes, rigging, tables, stands, chairs, +bedsteads, cradles, window blinds, brooms, brushes, utensils, cooking +vessels, weapons, shields, tools, hooks, spear tips, arrow heads, +needles, fans, ornaments, hats, bonnets, musical instruments, paper, +writing paper, candles, wax, resin, tannin, dying materials, medicines, +tonics, refreshing drinks, vinegar, sugar, starch, meal, bread, sago, +syrup for cooking, substitute for salt, oil for butter, oil for light +and lubrication, and for making soap. And the carnal ingenuity of +depraved man has even discovered how he can get drunk on the fermented +juices. Besides all these a substance is used in tanning leather. The +shell of the stems is used for making gutters, timber for flooring and +wharf material, stems for blowpipes for poisonous arrows. One kind of +palm is used in the construction of rude suspension bridges. Another +affords a substitute for ivory. One part is used for fattening hogs. It +is said that the various uses are declared to be three hundred sixty. +Thus we see that it could be of some use about every day in the year. +Reader, are you flourishing like this, and good for something every day +in the year? + +God certainly intends us to be useful. It means something to fill one's +sphere in the world as Christ intended. There is something more to do +than to plow corn, milk cows, and feed hogs; something more than to keep +house, wash clothes and scrub floors. There is more at hand than the +mere avocations of life, necessary as some of them are. God never called +anybody to labor alone for the perishable things of this life. "A man's +life consisteth not in the abundance of things which he possesseth." The +real business of every Christian is primarily to serve God, and glorify +Him; the other services are merely incidental. The old shoemaker had it +right. When asked what his business was, he replied: "My business is to +serve the Lord; but I make boots and shoes to pay expenses." + +Even those who are shut indoors through feeble health may find avenues +for usefulness, and do service that will tell for eternity. In Pasadena, +Cal., is a blind girl, and almost entirely deaf, yet she applies herself +to the Lord's work, and makes articles for sale, devoting the proceeds +to the foreign missionary work. + +A remarkable story has been published in the _Ladies' Home Journal_ of +March 1, 1911, showing what a girl can do without hands and arms. +Through the kindness of The Curtis Publishing Company, we are permitted +to insert the article in this book. It was written by the young lady +herself. + +"I was not born a cripple. Even as a child I did not always have to make +hands of my feet. Indeed, till I was nine years old, I not only had arms +and hands like other children, but I was also a strong, healthy, normal +child like my two brothers, who were older than I, and my sister, who +was two years younger. Our family was in poor and humble circumstances +as far back as I can remember. My parents were both English, but my +father became naturalized as a citizen of this country in 1882--the year +in which I was born. + +"Since I grew up I have learned that my father and mother were in good +circumstances at the time of their marriage, and for some ten or twelve +years afterward; that my father was a steady, hard-working, kindly man; +and that he and my mother were devoted to one another and were very +happy together. But after the birth of my brothers my mother was taken +ill and was in poor health for a long time. Then, just as she was at the +worst of her illness, my father lost his position, and matters speedily +began to go from bad to worse. A tendency to strong drink, which he had +kept well curbed for my mother's sake, now began to get the better of +him. Her failing health made it impossible for her to look out for him +as she had hitherto done. The new work which he succeeded in obtaining +was hard and distasteful, and the family grew poorer and poorer until at +last there were times when we had not enough of food and clothing, and +the charitable societies of Chicago, where we lived, began to look after +us. + +"In the summer just before my ninth birthday, I was one of a number of +children who were sent into the country for a two-weeks' outing by the +managers of a fresh air fund. Those were the two pleasantest weeks of my +life. The beautiful, green country, the grass, flowers, trees, and birds +delighted me. I was well and robust, and I ran and picked flowers and +played and enjoyed myself to the utmost. A few weeks after I came home +from this wonderful outing my mother died, and I became the housekeeper +of the family. I was then just nine years old. I did the work as well as +I could, although there was not much to do nor much to do it with, in +the bare place which we called 'home,' in the basement of a small city +dwelling. Soon after I had lost my mother's companionship I lost my +sister's also, for she was adopted by well-to-do people, whose identity +I did not know and have never learned. + +"On the afternoon of the following Thanksgiving day, while my brothers +were playing outdoors and my father and I were alone in the house, I was +puttering about when I found a bottle filled with what I afterward knew +must have been whisky. Being only a child, and possessed of a child's +thoughtless curiosity, I took a long drink from the bottle. The effect +was almost instantaneous. I grew weak and stupefied. At that moment my +father, who was in an adjoining room, told me to go and put some wood on +the kitchen range. I said that I felt sick and could not go, but he +insisted and I obeyed. No sooner had I got the lids off the range, +however, than the combined effect of the liquor and the heat overpowered +me, and I fell forward upon the open fire, unconscious. + +"My younger brother, who came in from play and lifted me off, saved me +from death. But at the hospital it was found necessary to amputate both +my arms. The burns about my neck and chest were severe, but not serious, +and two months later I was discharged from the hospital. A state society +for the care of children had already arranged with my father to take +full control of me. A fund contributed to by generous people far and +near was raised for my support and education, and after spending some +months in a nursery I became an inmate of the Home for Destitute +Crippled Children in Chicago. + +"In this home I was given instruction in the common school studies, and +I learned to write and sew with my feet. After four years I was +transferred by the Illinois Home Society to the care of a private family +in Wisconsin, where I lived for eight years, going to the public school +and practically completing the high school course. During all this time +I continued to learn how to make hands of my feet, and I have kept on +perfecting myself in this necessary acquirement ever since. It has, of +course, taken a great deal of perseverance and determination, and has +required constant effort and practice, coupled with no little physical +skill and suppleness. But it must be borne in mind that for nearly +twenty years I have been without hands and arms, and that during most of +this time I have had to wait on myself. So my feet have been in almost +continual training. I have never found a task too hard to undertake nor +too tedious to finish, and no one appreciates the truth of the old +saying, 'Where there's a will, there's a way,' better than I do. + +"As a result, I have learned to dress myself, almost completely. I can +take a bath by myself, wash my face, brush my teeth, put on most of my +clothes, and comb my hair when it is not too long. I can put on and take +off my eyeglasses. I can use the scissors to cut paper, cloth, or any +other material with which I am working, and then thread the needle, knot +the thread and do the necessary sewing. I can sweep and dust, mop and +scrub, and even blacken stoves. I can sketch and draw, although I have +never had a lesson in these accomplishments and have acquired the little +knowledge and skill I possess in this art solely by practice. In the +same way I have also learned to sharpen my own pencils, opening and +closing the knife myself. I have even made articles of furniture, such +as small bookcases and writing desks, sawing all the lumber, driving the +nails, putting on the hinges, and finally varnishing the completed +article. In short, I do with my feet almost anything that others do with +their hands. + +"At the close of my high school course I found myself, at the age of +twenty-one, left practically on my own resources. The fund which had +been raised for me was exhausted, the obligation of the state society +which had taken charge of me had ceased, my father had passed away, my +brothers were poor and could not help me, and my sister had gone out of +my life. For a while I earned a little money by selling my drawings, +name-cards and other work. Then I gave exhibitions, in homes and +elsewhere, of my skill with my feet. Eventually I found it possible to +attend Taylor University at Upland, Indiana, and while there the hope I +had long cherished of some day being able to be of some help to poor, +deserving, crippled children took shape and my life work was made plain +to me. + +"A Home for Disabled Children was planned and eventually started in +Maywood, Illinois. I took special studies to qualify me to handle +properly and capably the work of financial secretary of the Home. During +the year and a half between the starting of the Home and the writing of +this article five children have been cared for and a great deal of +improvement has been observed in all of them. + +"It is not the intention to overcrowd the Home with children, or make it +institutional in any way, but to give them a real home with good care +and Christian training, and also an education which will enable them to +become self-supporting. In this way I hope to show that even a girl +without arms, born and raised under the most unfavorable circumstances, +can accomplish much good by lending a 'helping hand' to other cripples, +and thus make their lives better, sweeter and more useful." + +This lady's name is Kittie Smith, and the written article would be much +more interesting could we accompany it with the dozen or more +illustrations in the _Ladies' Home Journal_, where she is seen writing a +letter, using the telephone, making fancy-work, drinking water at +dinner, using the typewriter and cutting out material for a dress. +Pictures of her drawings, the desk, the table and quilt she made are +also given. + +Here is a lady, educated, trained, and equipped for a life of special +usefulness, who has had to battle through difficulties which would tend +to discourage the stoutest hearts. Yet, in spite of all, she is engaged +in Christian work and proving to the world what one is enabled to do who +will. + +We have lately seen the half-tone picture in _Popular Mechanics_, of a +man who had lost both legs and both arms in a railroad accident, yet he +makes his living by selling the pictures which he paints. He brings +into requisition his chin and the stump of his right arm in handling the +brush. + +About fifty years ago there was a member of the British Parliament by +the name of Cavanaugh. This man was born with no legs whatever and with +no arms, save stumps half way up to his elbows. His penmanship was good, +using a false hand for his writing. He was wheeled in each time by a +valet, and was the only member who was allowed to address the Parliament +without standing. + +There are some men who will not down, even from the standpoint of the +world. May we not take a lesson from these "unfortunates" and rise above +every impediment, and yet succeed in the kingdom of God? + +How many powerful revivals have occurred, when it was discovered that +they were the result of the faithful, intercessory praying of some +shut-in saint, who had on the prayer list the very ones who got saved! + +Let me cite a quotation from Charles G. Finney's Revival Lectures: + +"A pious man in the western part of this state (New York) was sick with +consumption. He was a poor man, sick for years. An unconverted merchant +in the place had a kind heart, and used to send him now and then +something for his comfort, or for his family. He felt grateful for the +kindness, but could make no return, as he wanted to do. At length he +determined that the best return he could make would be to pray for his +salvation. He began to pray and his soul kindled, and he got hold of +God. There was no revival there, but by and by, to the astonishment of +everybody, this merchant came right out on the Lord's side. The fire +kindled all over the place, and a powerful revival followed, and +multitudes were converted. + +"This poor man lingered in this way for several years, and died. After +his death, I visited the place, and his widow put into my hands his +diary. Among other things, he says in his diary: 'I am acquainted with +about thirty ministers and churches.' He then goes on to set apart +certain hours in the day and week to pray for each of these ministers +and churches, and also certain seasons for praying for the different +missionary stations. Then followed, under different dates, such facts as +these: 'Today,' naming the date, 'I have been enabled to offer what I +call the prayer of faith for the outpouring of the Spirit on----church +and I trust in God there will soon be a revival there.' Under another +date, 'I have today been able to offer what I call the prayer of faith +for such a church, and trust there will soon be a revival there.' Thus +he had gone over a great many churches, recording the fact that he had +prayed for them in faith that a revival might soon prevail among them. +Of the missionary stations, if I recollect right, he mentions in +particular the mission of Ceylon. I believe the last place mentioned in +his diary, for which he offered the prayer of faith, was the place in +which he lived. Not long after noting these facts in the diary, the +revival commenced, and went over the region of country, nearly I +believe, if not quite in the order in which they had been mentioned in +his diary; and in due time news came from Ceylon that there was a +revival of religion there. The revival in his own town did not commence +till after his death. Its commencement was at the time when his widow +put into my hands the document to which I have referred. She told me +that he was so exercised in prayer during his sickness, that she often +feared he would pray himself to death. The revival was exceedingly great +and powerful in all the region; and the fact that it was about to +prevail had not been hidden from this servant of the Lord. According to +His Word, 'The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him.' Thus, +this man too feeble in body to go out of his house, was yet more useful +to the world and the Church of God, than all the heartless professors of +the country. Standing between God and the desolations of Zion, and +pouring out his heart in prevailing prayer, as a prince he had power +with God, and prevailed." (Finney's Lectures, pp. 112, 113). + +Fanny Crosby was blind, yet see how she has blessed the world with her +thousands of beautiful hymns, written even down to her old age. Let the +weak ones look up and take on fresh courage. "My grace is sufficient for +thee," and "He giveth more grace," are promises that should encourage +those who are seemingly shut off from opportunities of service. +"Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might." The avenue to +God in prayer, and the way to hearts are still open. Be of some service +still. Like the palm tree, every Christian can be of much use in the +world. + +Three young ladies had just graduated from school and were talking over +their ambitions in life. One said her great ambition was to be an author +and write some great book. Another said her ambition was to be an artist +and paint some great picture which might be hung up in some gallery for +people to see. The other young lady was silent, and hung her head. Her +teacher saw her and remarked that she had not yet expressed her +ambitions in life. Finally, she replied: "I know that I do not amount to +much, and that I have not much talent, but I was just thinking that my +greatest ambition is so to live in this world, that when Jesus finally +sees me coming, He can say, 'There comes one who has filled just the +niche in the world that I wanted her to fill.'" + +As all parts of the palm tree are utilized, so will all of the palm tree +saint be consecrated to God, so that God may call upon him at any time +for any service which He in His infinite wisdom may require. But it will +take a complete yielding up of all one's parts; his spirit, soul and +body; his hands to work, his feet to walk, his eyes to see, his ears to +hear, his tongue to talk, his mind to think, his heart to love, his +talents, time, and earthly store at God's disposal, his family, his +service, his all simply abandoned to the Holy Ghost. + +Reader, this is the way to be useful, and the way to have all there is +of you used. If you are not thus consecrated, look into your experience. + +Fifty years ago seven shoemakers in a shop in the city of Hamburg said, +"By the grace of God we will help to send the gospel to our destitute +fellow-men." It is said that in twenty-five years they had established +fifty self-supporting churches, had gathered ten thousand converts, had +distributed four hundred thousand Bibles and eight million tracts, and +had carried the gospel to five million of their race. How many men would +it take like that to carry the gospel to the world in twenty-five years? + +Mrs. Adelaide L. Beers, wife of Rev. Alexander Beers, principal of the +Free Methodist Seminary at Seattle, Wash., has furnished the following +information concerning a family who moved to Seattle a number of years +ago. It beautifully illustrates the thought before us of utility in the +Christian life. It not only illustrates utility itself, but like the +palm tree, utility of all parts. + +Mr. and Mrs. M----, formerly of Goldendale, Wash., had a family of six +boys and two girls. Having received the blessing of entire +sanctification, and wanting their children educated for God, they felt +they could not endanger their souls by placing them in worldly, +Christless schools. + +They owned a farm at Goldendale, but had little means available. They +were not daunted, however, by the difficulties in the way, but with the +heroic spirit of the "ancient worthies," they arranged to move to +Seattle. The mother took the train, while as many as could, rode in a +large wagon, and the others walked, leading several horses and cows. In +turn they rode and walked, making the wearisome journey across the +mountains, filled with hope and courage for the future. Soon after the +mother's arrival in Seattle, a girl baby was born, being the ninth and +last child. + +The first year of their stay in their new home was one of great hardship +and self-denial. They lived on the plainest food, while every member of +the family except the baby worked very hard to obtain a livelihood. The +two older girls were already saved and sanctified and were placed at +once in the Free Methodist Seminary. The boys were soon entered as +students, and one by one converted to God. Two of the little boys, with +knee trousers were clearly saved in the children's meeting which was +regularly conducted by Mrs. Beers. + +A few years of consecrated service and Christian education have passed +and we sum up the results. A faithful father and mother have trained +their family for heaven, and gladly yielded their all to Christ. The +mother has left the toils and cares of earth, and has gone to be with +Jesus. One is now at the head of the Free Methodist missionary work in +China. Another has been accepted as a missionary to China by the General +Missionary Board and is to labor with his brother. One of the daughters +is a successful missionary, laboring with her husband, who is at the +head of the missionary work in Japan. She received her call while a +student in the Seattle Seminary. Another heard the Macedonian call and +gladly left all to go to China. One son is filling the principal's chair +at the Free Methodist Seminary at Spring Arbor, Mich., while another is +principal of a high school in Seattle. All the family are saved, and are +proving the Scripture true: "Train up a child in the way he should go, +and when he is old he will not depart from it." While Sister M---- has +finished her work and gone home to heaven, "her children rise up and +call her blessed." + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +THE PALM TREE IS APPRECIATED + + +Search the world over; call for a consensus of opinion in civilized +countries and heathen lands, and ask them what is the most appreciated +tree in the world, and see if they do not with one voice exclaim, "The +palm tree." + +In the civilized portions of the globe where the various kinds are not +brought into requisition for their extensive utility, yet the beauty of +the trees demands that they have a place in the front yards to decorate +their surroundings. If any tree at all is used to beautify the place, it +is quite sure to be a palm. And when the climate does not admit of +outside growth, the hothouse will have its various kinds. But where is +there a tree in the world that furnishes so much material for +practically all the necessities of life where the palm is indigenous? +When we think of the great variety of food, and furniture, building +material, and the hundreds of useful articles of every description that +are made from some part or other of this most valuable tree, it stands +to reason that it occupies the very foremost place of utility and +appreciation. There are some places in the world that the inhabitants +practically live from the products of the palm. The appreciation of it +could hardly be estimated. Take it away and the people perish. + +In the realm of grace, there is an experience that is most appreciated. +It is appreciated most by those who are the most familiar with it. It +appeals little to those in spiritually frigid zones, who are utterly +foreign to its utility; but by those of a warmer climate who know of its +valuable properties, it is prized above rubies and diamonds. Just as the +Icelander or Greenlander cares nothing for the palm, and perhaps knows +nothing of its merits, so the people who dwell in spiritual Arctics do +not appreciate the possibilities of this full salvation grace. Ask the +possessor of the palm tree blessing what it is worth, and language at +once fails. It becomes his very life from day to day. It furnishes his +spiritual necessities of life. Cut off its supplies and he would be +stranded as quickly as the islander in the tropics, without his real +palm. + +Let the definite seeker after this blessing reach the point of actual +possession, and he will have to pass the station of utmost desire and +appreciation. He will reach a want in his soul that will surpass every +other desire. He will sell all to purchase that field. It is the pearl +of great price to him. + +Why do not more people obtain it? Because they are not willing to part +with that which stands in the way of its possession. When God says, +"Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness; for +they shall be filled," He gave us a divine philosophy concerning the +proper seeking. He wants a seeker to appreciate what he is after. That +which costs nothing is rarely properly appreciated. That which costs a +struggle and "all that he hath," will be held in high esteem. The +crucifixion route which results in the death of "the old man," and the +incoming of the fulness of God, puts one where he would rather part with +life itself than this pearl of great price. + +We have been amazed at seekers at the altar of prayer; at the listless, +lifeless way they have sought. Many times they fail even to make an +audible prayer. This is _prima facie_ evidence of a lack of +appreciation. When the hunger reaches practical starvation, and the +desire becomes sufficient, then the seeker will lay aside all +conventionalities and press his claims regardless of people present or +opposing foes, and lay hold on the precious prize. + +How often have we observed the half-hearted seeker make his indifferent +prayer and wait awhile and go away without the blessing sought, when at +a later time, when intensity took the place of listlessness, and hunger +pressed the soul, the agonizing heart pressed through spiritual +chloroform, broke loose the padlock from the lips, and soon was +rejoicing in the freedom of full salvation! One time the writer was +conducting a meeting in Knoxville, Tenn., and a sister came to the altar +a number of times. She wanted the blessing, but did not seem to be +enough in earnest, although she prayed aloud each time she came. +Finally, we said to the sister, "If you will do what I ask you to do, +you will get through in five minutes." Of course she wanted to know +what that was and she certainly would like to get through. We told her +to pray like a house afire. Immediately, she took us at our word and +started in according to our suggestion. It occurred so suddenly that we +wondered if we had not made a mistake and had a fear that it would not +be as predicted. To make sure, and unbeknown to the sister, we took out +our watch, and timed the prayer. In just three and a half minutes the +fire fell and our seeker obtained her heart's desire. While pastor in +the city of Los Angeles we had a member who was seeking the blessing of +holiness periodically. She would come to the altar and weep and make a +nice little prayer, but failed to reach the line of intensity adequate +for the blessing. Obtaining nothing she would depart and not be at the +altar again for perhaps a couple of months. When a service would reach a +specially high tide of power and victory this lady would be down with +others seeking holiness. Revival meetings were in progress and she was +at the altar one evening, and, as usual, was not receiving. We tried to +show her that she should constantly seek till she found; that she should +come to the altar every time she had an opportunity till she got +through. Finally, we asked her if she would promise to come to the altar +one hundred times in succession without a letup, if she did not get the +blessing before the hundred times were expired. After awhile she +promised thus to do. Immediately we took out our pencil and right under +her face we wrote the number 100 on the altar rail, and pointing to it, +said, "You have now promised to come to this altar one hundred times in +succession providing you do not get through before." She assented. The +following night she was faithful to her promise and got through that +night. Intensity, desire, appreciation and determination are all factors +in real seeking. Why do so many fail? There is a reason. Here is a soul +that seeks one, two, three, or more nights and then ceases. On being +asked why the seeking ceased the answer is, "Well, I tried and I did not +get anything, and what is the use of trying further?" Now, the Lord took +that all in at the start. He knew that the seeking was going to let up, +and of course could not consistently bestow the gift under such +conditions. If the Lord can look down the road and see that the seeker +is going to give up at the end of a week or a month, He certainly has +not the gift for one who does not value it more than that. But if He can +look down the road and see a pile of bleached bones, or in other words, +one who will die in the attempt before he will give up, He sees a heart +that is about prepared to receive it now. + +We once heard the story of a man who was real hungry for holiness. He +was in attendance at some spiritual gathering where a number of people +were professing the experience. He cast about in his mind to find some +holy man whom he might get to pray with him. After selecting his man, he +asked him if he would go into the woods and pray with him that he might +obtain the experience of sanctification. The brother was only too glad +to go and was ready for the trip at once. The anxious seeker said, "I +have made up my mind that if I do not obtain the blessing at once I am +going to remain all night in prayer. Will you stay with me?" The brother +responded in the affirmative. "But wait," said the seeker. "If I do not +obtain the first night I am going to remain the second night. Will you +remain with me?" After a little thought he again answered in the +affirmative. He was ready to start, when the seeker declared he was +going to remain the third night, then the fourth, until it amounted to a +whole week. When he obtained the promise of his friend to stay by him, +they started for the woods. After looking about for a good, grassy spot, +and one that was nicely sheltered from the dew of the night he said, +"This is a good place; let us pray." His knees scarcely touched the +grass when he shouted, "Glory to God, I've got it!" Certainly! A good +week of solid prayer ought to clear the way for anybody to enter in, and +that honest, determined soul had virtually done that thing by faith, and +God saw that he was bound to pray through, and so He cut the work short +in righteousness and bestowed it upon him on the spot. + +There is something about an intensified determination that God honors. +The fact is, that He honors faith, and when the seeking soul gets into +the state of mind where he feels that he wants the grace more than life, +and is determined to have it at any cost, it invariably opens up the way +of faith, and the victory at once is his. We once heard of a young man +at a campmeeting who was seeking the Lord. When he came to the altar he +curled up with his head in his arms and was perfectly mute. He would +neither pray nor answer a question. While others were saved around him, +he remained silent, and would leave without any help. This was repeated +time and again. He always curled up the same way, and would never say a +word to God or man. Finally, the workers, seeing they could not get +anything out of him nor help him in any way, agreed among themselves to +let him entirely alone. After this he came as usual to the altar, took +his usual position, and while others around were praying through, he +obtained nothing and went away. After a while it seemed to dawn upon his +benighted mind that everybody had forsaken him, and that he had better +pray for himself. Accordingly, he threw up his hands and screamed for +help at the top of his voice. The merciful Christ, who said, "Him that +cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out," was right present to take him +in. In an instant he had the victory and leaped to his feet and shouted, +"Glory to God! If it had not been for Jesus Christ, I never would have +been saved." Certainly not. + +When all earthly hopes are gone, and one is thrown out alone on the +merits of Jesus Christ, it is then that faith takes hold and the victory +comes. It is certainly a sad sight at the altar when some daughter is +crying her way to God in a penitential grief, to have her foolish mother +kneel down beside her and begin to stroke her and say, "My dear child, +you have always been a good girl." Immediately note how the girl drops +the Lord and goes to leaning on her mother. The repentance stops at +once, self-pity takes its place, a soul is arrested in getting saved and +may possibly be lost forever. And yet this is being done continually. + +Mr. Charles G. Finney tells of a woman in one of his meetings who was +much burdened on account of her sins. Mr. Finney was stopping at her +house and daily he was called upon to come and pray for the woman. He +responded from time to time and prayed for her the best he knew how, but +found out that it was doing no good. Finally, the Lord showed him that +the woman was depending upon his prayers instead of the Lord. The next +time she asked him to come and pray for her, he said, "I will pray for +you no more." Heartbroken and alarmed she threw herself on the mercy of +the Lord and was saved at once. Christ must be depended upon alone. +Other props must go. He needs no earthly help to save a sinner or +sanctify a believer. + +And when the struggle is over and the pearl of full salvation is found, +it will be observed that the harder the struggle and the more it cost, +the more will it be appreciated. It is quite apparent that the cause of +the fearful decadence of religion on every hand is the failure of +obtaining the real thing on the one hand, and the failure to appreciate +on the other. How some can claim Christ today and sell Him out tomorrow, +is a marvel. The way to appreciate anything is to note what one will be +with it, and what he will be without it. What is one with this great +pearl in his possession? He is safe for both worlds. He is saved from +inward and outward sin. He has "joy unspeakable and full of glory." He +has a life of usefulness ahead and a certainty of everlasting bliss in +glory, where he will bear the palm of victory, wear the crown of glory, +walk the gold-paved streets of the New Jerusalem, enjoy the presence of +Christ and the angels and redeemed loved ones, and sing and shout and +shine and serve forevermore. This surely will pay. On the other hand, to +fail, means a life of sin and sorrow and suffering here, a loss of souls +which one might win to Christ, an awful death bed, a frightful judgment +day, and an eternity of remorse and horror and darkness and death and +damnation. + +Reader, how much is Christ worth? How much do you appreciate His gift? +Let us ask some who let it slip. Judas, what is it worth? What is Christ +worth to you? The answer is, "Sixteen dollars and ninety-six cents." +That was his price for the Savior; the price of a slave in the olden +times if he were killed by a beast; the lowest price placed upon a human +being. Demas, how much is it worth? The answer is, "The love of this +present world," for that is what he obtained. Saul, what is your +salvation worth? "The gratifying of a jealous disposition," for he sold +out on that line, till it turned to anger, then hatred and then murder, +till finally he was utterly forsaken by God, and he turned into a +spiritualist, consulted the witch of Endor, went into battle, committed +suicide and passed off from the stage of action here. Solomon, what was +yours worth? "Outlandish women," is the answer, not from Solomon's lips, +but from the inspired pen of Nehemiah. "Nevertheless even him did +outlandish women cause to sin." Young lady, what was the price of your +soul? "Mother, hang my fine dresses upon the wall and let me see them. +There, mother, is the price of my soul," and she passed out into the +darkness of the outer world. Again, young lady, what is the price of +_your_ soul? "That young man. I gave up Christ for him. I had to decide +between the two, and I took him. Christ has been a stranger to me ever +since." Shall we sell out Christ for pleasure, or people, or pursuits, +or popularity? God forbid. Let us raise the price of our soul and +appreciate the gift of God and let nothing come between. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +THE PALM TREE WILL GROW IN THE DESERT + + +It is such a hardy, thrifty tree, that if it has any chance at all, it +will thrive where other trees will fail. Even in the hot sands of the +Sahara, its green foliage is seen, and it grows in spite of discouraging +environments. + +The Holy Spirit made no mistake when He declared that a certain class +should flourish like the palm tree. Where will it flourish? Any place in +a proper climate where it has half a chance. By the rivers of water, on +the rugged mountain side, by the rocky hedges, in the desert sands where +scorching sun and swirling simoon have beat upon it, there it grows. It +is a _flourishing_ tree. + +In the realm of gospel grace, God has made provision for saints to +flourish under circumstances that are a wonder to the world. + +The outward condition of some of God's people is indeed deplorable. They +are surrounded with deepest poverty, in the poorest of health, with a +number of small children depending upon them, and in addition to all, +they are away from former home and friends. Some women are actually +undergoing all this, and to make the desert worse, they have a +profligate, abusive husband further to burden their life. And yet, "the +God of all grace" has come into these lives who have abandoned +themselves to the Holy Ghost, and proved to them that they are of God's +own hand planting, and through His sustaining grace they have flourished +in their experiences, even in such desert places. I have no doubt if the +reader will cast about in his mind he can recall those of like +experience. + +"The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the +desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose. It shall blossom +abundantly, and rejoice with joy and singing. * * * And the ransomed of +the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy +upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and +sighing shall flee away" (Isa. 35:1, 2, 10). + +There is nothing else in the world that will cause deep, settled +satisfaction in the human heart when the surroundings are of the desert +nature. The people of the world draw their pleasure and satisfaction +from the things of the world, but these are not calculated to satisfy +the longings of the heart. No matter how much one may have in the way of +worldly riches, worldly honors, worldly pleasures, there is always a +void in the soul, a something that is not satisfied. The human heart is +so big, that if the whole world were poured into it, it would not fill +one crack or crevice. + +When God made the animal creation, He designed that all their pleasure +should be obtained from their surroundings--from the things in this +world, whether it be the fish in the stream, the bird in the air, or +the wild animal that roams over mountain and glen. But when He made man +He put into him desires, hopes, and ambitions that reach out and above +this mundane sphere. He never intended that man should draw his +satisfaction and enjoyment just from this world. Outside of grace, no +one is satisfied, because he is out of his natural, normal, creative +element. The little bird, or fish, or other animal is satisfied because +it is in its creative sphere. Man, living in sin and away from God and +holiness, is dissatisfied, because he is out of his proper element. What +is man's creative sphere? "Created in righteousness and true holiness." +That is the way God created man, and until man gets back to God, in +communion with Him and heaven, he never will have a satisfying portion. +"For he satisfieth the longing soul and filleth the hungry soul with +goodness" (Psa. 107:9). Without any of this world's goods in the way of +riches, honors or pleasures, one abandoned to the Holy Ghost will have a +deep sense of soul-satisfaction, and will rejoice in the midst of +dismal, desert surroundings. + +When Madame Guyon was in the Bastille, a prisoner of the Lord, she +declared the Lord made the old stones of the murky wall to shine like +rubies. + +One of the happiest men it was ever my lot to meet, was one who had +nothing of this world to cause his happiness. He was an inmate of the +poorhouse at Placerville, Cal. He occupied a small, dingy bedroom all +alone, and lay on a cot, afflicted in body, and never expected to leave +it till Jesus said, "Come up higher." While engaged in evangelistic +services in that city, we visited him more than once. It was a +benediction to enter his presence and behold his smiling face and hear +his praises to God. It seemed he was living four-fifths in heaven. He +was certainly flourishing like the palm tree in that desert. We had a +feeling of sorrow for the dear brother in his affliction, and lent him a +book on divine healing, hoping that he might get the inspiration of +faith, and trust the Lord to heal him. After we thought he had time to +read the little book, we called on him again and asked him what he +thought of it, and his answer was about as follows: "I have been +thinking that it would be best to let good enough alone. I am getting +along so well here and am so blessed, I do not know how it might turn +out if I should get well." + +Another man, one of the most contented and happy that I ever saw, was a +born cripple. He had one arm and a part of another; was so crooked in +his lower limbs that it was with great difficulty that he could propel +himself with the use of canes. This brother from poverty's dale would +hobble out on Fourth street in San Francisco, with his little carpet-bag +stool, and basket of trinkets for sale, and sit there reading his +Testament, and shine for God. One day this brother handed a man a five +dollar gold piece, desiring him to go and get it changed. The dishonest +man never returned, but the dear brother never murmured, only said that +he could not afford to lose it. Just about that time a stranger came by +and purchased some little article and handed him a five-dollar gold +piece and would not accept any change. "In some way or other, God will +provide." + +Every night found this happy, sanctified cripple at the gospel mission +with shining face and victorious testimony. He usually closed his +testimony with these words: "This has been a little the best day I ever +had in all my life." Brother Cooley is now rejoicing where the streets +are made of gold. + +Why will souls not learn to seek their pleasure from the right source? +With the failure of multiplied millions who have gone on before and +those who are now trying to fill their cup with earth's deceiving joys, +shall I be such an egotistical fool as to think I can succeed in +something when all before me tried and failed? The way of true success +is laid down in the Word; "This book of the law shall not depart out of +thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou +mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then +thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good +success" (Josh. 1:8). + + + + +CHAPTER X + +THE PALM TREE FINDS THE WATER + + +This marvelous production of nature is not hindered by the scorching sun +of the desert, nor is it dependent upon the copious showers of rain. If +the rain comes, all well and good; but if it fails, the palm flourishes +right on anyway. But it will get to water. If it does not come down from +above, then it sends down its roots till they drink at the subterranean +stream below. Water it must have and water it will find. + +Now, if God has a people that flourish this way, it signifies that they +will get where there is the water of life. If the "showers of blessing" +are falling in the revival meeting, or campmeeting, or at the regular +preaching service, they are sure to be present if possible and "take of +the water of life freely." Perchance they are out on some spiritual +desert far from any means of grace where the gospel sound is never +heard; there they are not dependent upon the revival rains, but they +send down the roots of faith till they strike the under-currents, and +then with joy they "draw water out of the wells of salvation." + +How refreshing to meet with such independent specimens of God's +handiwork! If they get to the place of worship where God's people are +free, they are a whole campmeeting in themselves. Out of them are +flowing "rivers of living water," because of the Spirit's incoming. They +never dry up, nor freeze up, because they keep in touch with the living +stream from the heavenly fountain head, and bask in the spiritual +tropics where the Sun of righteousness has arisen upon them. + +Oh, for more palm tree saints! May we all be so in touch with the +reservoir of the skies, that we may say, "All my springs are in thee." +Then, no matter whether our lot is with many pilgrims or none, we may +flourish on and shine and shout, and show to the world that we are in +touch with hidden springs. Amen! + +It is certainly a puzzle to the world and worldly minded professors, +when one, who has no visible means of enjoyment, keeps up a happy, +cheerful experience, and though her lot or his lot is extremely dry, and +barren of what generally goes to make people happy, yet the hidden +stream is flowing, and that soul is drinking of the fountain that never +runs dry. The deep, underlying current has been found and is supplying a +peace which the world can not give, nor can it take away. + +When the martyrs went to the stake, they had a triumphant tread and a +victorious faith and a well-spring of joy which were indeed an enigma to +the persecutors. + +Who can understand Madame Guyon in her dismal prison cell singing her +sweet song, a hundred times happier than those outside, or realize the +triumphant joy of the Apostle Paul as he faces the axman's block, and +expresses a gladsome victory over it all, unless he is acquainted with +the deep undercurrent of full salvation life? + +What would have become of the Apostle John on Patmos' lonely isle, shut +off from all associations with kindred spirits on earth, with no +prayermeeting nor fellowship such as he had been so accustomed to enjoy, +had he not known the way to the hidden springs which brought him in +contact with the Eternal? There was no place to banish this pilgrim +saint that would shut him off from the water of life. When human hands +banished him to an island in the sea, thinking they could cut off his +supply, he proved to the world that he could reach the hidden springs +and be in touch with the Infinite, in spite of his banishment. God's +holy ones are a conundrum to the world. "For we are made a spectacle +[theater in the margin] unto the world, and to angels, and to men," and +they do not understand the mystery of the hidden glory and springs of +life, the very angels desiring to look into some of these mysteries (1 +Peter 1:12). + +There are some people, when we have not seen them for a few months, we +hardly dare to ask them how they are prospering, for fear they will drop +their heads and say, "Well, not so well as I would like." They have not +been drinking at the fountain. They did not send down their roots and +find the under-currents of saving grace; and the result is, they have no +victorious testimony to the power of Jesus to save. On the other hand, +there are certain individuals, though we have not seen them for years, +we scarcely think of asking them how they are getting along, for we have +known of their overcoming life so long, that we naturally take it for +granted that it is still well with their souls. We do not expect +anything different from the past, except more of it. Many years ago we +received a postal card from a brother in a distant city relative to some +business. It being a business card, the most of it was printed matter, +even his name being printed. The card closed with these words: "Yours +saved, H. W. S.----." In thinking the matter over, we observed that in +all probability the brother had several hundreds of the cards printed, +and he knew very well that it would take some time, perhaps weeks or +months, before the last card would be sent out. The thought then was, +Brother S----, how did you know that when the last card would be sent +out, it would still be, "Yours, saved, H. W. S----?" How did you know +but it would be, "Yours, backslidden, H. W. S----?" The fact was, that +Brother S---- had made no calculation on backsliding, and he figured +that the last card would be just as true as the first. Eight or ten +years passed and we received a note from this same brother. Instead of +signing his name the way he did before, it was, "Yours saved to the +uttermost, hallelujah, H. W. S----." Now, after years had passed and +gone, he could still sign his name the same, only more of it. + +In the economy of grace, God has made no provision for one to have less +grace than in the past. The best experience of one's life should be +up-to-date. It is a sad epoch in one's life when he can take a +retrospect and look down the lane of long ago and see a better +experience than now. That person has certainly headed toward Egypt that +sees the highest plane of his Christian experience, and then gets the +consent of his mind to live on a lower plane. "Therefore, leaving the +principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection." +When the children of Israel crossed the Red Sea they sang and shouted +and had a hallelujah time; but their slogan was, "On to Canaan." When +finally, the survivors and those who were born on the way crossed the +River Jordan, they built a monument, which signified that they had come +over there to stay. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +THE PALM TREE GETS OTHERS STARTED + + +Where this remarkable tree finds root, and grows, it is almost sure, +sooner or later, to cause other palms to spring up; so that it does not +need to be alone. + +Take it out in the sands of the Sahara, when this product of nature gets +started, others spring up, then more, and they bring the moisture to the +surface, till the green grass begins to spread, and the springs come, +till finally the beautiful oases are found here and there, and make the +stopping places for the desert caravans, where the travelers find rest +and coolness in the shadows and water for man and beast. There are +places in the orient where the Arabs have planted these palms on purpose +to start an oasis. Refreshing spot! Prolific palm trees! Reader, are you +still measuring up? Are you growing alone? Has no other tree started +because of your life and influence? May be you are saying, "We do not +have any holiness meetings or prayermeetings where we live." But why? If +not, why not? Is there not a kitchen in your house? What hinders you +from having a good prayermeeting, or Sunday school there? Be careful, or +you will not find yourself flourishing like the palm tree. Surely, you +ought to get another tree started; then, by that one's influence, get +another, then another, till springs arise in your desert place, and the +spiritual oasis will call for the desert traveler to come and rest and +drink. + +Never rest contented to grow alone; it is too lonesome. It is neither +like nature nor grace. Get some one else saved, or find out the reason +why. We know a man who once held a prayermeeting in a schoolhouse six +months before anybody else attended. Finally, they began to come and it +resulted in a revival. See the persistence of some of the foreign +missionaries. Think of the hardships of those early pioneers who blazed +their way through dark continents, and with a determination to win, they +pressed their way through and with faith and prayer and continuous +efforts, they saw the fruit of their labor in others finding Christ as +their personal Savior. With David Livingstone's heart in the middle of +Africa, his sun-dried mummy in Westminster Abbey, his spirit in the +glory world, do you not think he is glad he got others started to carry +on his work in the land of darkness? If John G. Paton, taking his life +in his hands, could go into the New Hebrides, and there brave the awful +hardships and dangers of those cannibal islands, and finally win out and +see them converted to God like a nation born in a day, does it not look +as if you, my dear reader, ought to start the work somehow in your +midst, and get hold of God by fasting and prayer, and never give up till +an oasis is started in your community? "Where there is a will, there is +a way." It takes grit and grace, but God's storehouse has never yet been +exhausted, and there is yet the man to be born that has proved all the +possibilities of grace. + +Cast about in your mind and think of that person, perhaps only a lassie +or lad, that found Christ, and though persecuted at home at first, yet, +by faithful perseverance, finally won the whole family to God. Think of +that one who dropped into the revival meeting some distance from his +home and found the Lord, and then carried the fire back to his own +community and the revival broke out there. Think of those faithful +pilgrims who have moved far out into some frontier settlement and stood +firm for God and holiness, and finally got a meeting started and today +the church flourishes in their midst. They had the experience that +flourishes like the palm tree. + +There is something in the very nature and heart of the palm tree saint +that longs and plans for the planting of God's kingdom among men. If one +is so situated that he is isolated from sanctified people, he is not +going to sit down on the stool of do-nothing and wither up and die; but +he will begin to cast about and see what he can do to start a Sunday +school, or a prayermeeting, or send for a holiness preacher. He must get +other palms started in his community. Dr. Carradine tells the story of +the two women at the toll bridge in Kentucky who got the blessing of +sanctification and set about praying for a holiness meeting in their +community. They prayed long and faithfully and would not give up. +Somebody heard of their experience and visited them, then wrote an +article about them and put it in the paper. A preacher providentially +saw the article many miles from their abode, but it so got hold of his +heart that he made up his mind to see them and get the same thing. God +honored his desire and faith and was answering their prayer at the same +time. This brother received the blessing and so preached it that others +in his church received the same. At the conference this brother was +persecuted on account of the newfound blessing of holiness, but he had +grace enough to stand and endure and not retaliate. Dr. Carradine saw +the abundant grace in this brother's heart and life, and it made him +hungry for the same thing. In due time the persecuted brother was +invited to hold a revival meeting in Dr. Carradine's church, which +resulted in the doctor's getting the experience himself. Time passed on +and finally the prayers of these two faithful women were answered, in +that Dr. Carradine held a meeting in their town and led a number of +others into the experience. These two palm tree saints felt a spiritual +loneliness in being there without others growing, and so they never +rested till they had a grove of them. + +A certain preacher who was also a carpenter in southern California, was +about to move to some new place. He carefully thought the matter over +and decided to move to a place where he hoped in the near future to +plant a grove of palm tree saints. He thought he and his family might +form a nucleus and thus establish the church of his choice (for it was a +holiness church) in that place. Accordingly he went, and worked at his +trade and preached what he could and got as many interested as he was +able, and after a while the writer, together with a fine band of +workers, went to this town and pitched a tent and began to preach +holiness. Before we left we established a church, with this brother as +pastor, and now after a very few years, this brother is enjoying +holiness in the heavenly world, and the church planted in that town is +flourishing, having built a church and parsonage. There is something in +it that wants to get others started. That is the secret of successful +missionary work among the heathen. Carey leaves the cobbler's bench and +sails across the seas and soon has his palm grove growing in India's +soil. Paton moves to the Hebrides and jeopardizes his life among the +savages, but never lets up till he sees the groves flourishing in that +dark and dreary land. Livingstone plunges into darkest Africa alone, but +he does not remain alone; God reaches those black and benighted savages +and turns them into saints, and the oases begin on African soil. And so +on all over the world today are being planted God's palm tree saints who +are getting others started and the big world is now being dotted with +palm tree groves. Thank God forever. Reader, where are you living? Is +your abode far off from sanctified people? Do not get discouraged; God +answers prayer. Do your best, and the first thing you know you will have +some one to take his place by your side to push the work, and who knows +but that in a short time there may be a flourishing community of full +salvation saints there? + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +THE PALM TREE MOUNTS HEAVENWARD + + +It would seem that the variety of palms which climbs upward into the +sky, was bent on getting as far from the earth and as near heaven as +possible. They ascend till they outstrip the other trees, and seemed +determined to get above swamp, miasma and everything else of a groveling +nature. There, in their exalted sphere, they wave their perennial +boughs, and bear their fruit, and bask in the beautiful sunshine, and +live in an element truly above the world. + +Are you flourishing like that? Is there something divine in your very +being that makes you ambitious to rise as far above this world of sin +and as near heaven as it is possible to get? Can you sing from +experience, + + "I rise to walk in heaven's own light, + Above the world and sin; + With heart made pure and garments white, + And Christ enthroned within?" + +God has chosen us to sit together in heavenly places above the mist and +fog and spiritual malaria of this sin-laden world. With the palm tree +blessing in our souls, we are not yearning for the flesh-pots of Egypt. +The leeks and garlic and onions of the past Egyptian diet have no +charms for such a one. He has risen to heavenly heights, where he +catches the smiles of his Savior and is enabled really to look down on +things terrestrial. + +When Pharaoh was pressed by Moses and Aaron to let the children of +Israel go, he first refused, then tried to compromise by letting them +worship the Lord "in the land." When this failed, he tried the second +compromise and said he would let them go, "only ye shall not go very far +away." Pharaoh was certainly a long-headed schemer. He knew if they did +not get very far away, he would not have very far to go after them. +Then, again, he knew if they were not very far away, and had a hard time +to get something to eat, they would not have far to get back and fill up +on garlic and onions. + +It is just that way with Pharaoh's antitype, the Devil. He first refuses +to let his subjects go. Then if they are bound to go and be Christians +he tries to get them to do their religion "in the land;" that is, remain +in the world and be worldly professors. How many are really deceived at +this point! When the Devil sees that this compromise will not take, he +tries the next one and says if they are bound to be Christians, all +right and good, but "ye shall not go very far away." + +How many poor deluded souls bite at this bait! They do not get very far +away from Egypt, and certainly the Devil has not very far to go after +them. Then, when they fail to get enough in their religion to satisfy +the longing desires of their hearts, they naturally turn toward the +flesh-pots of Egypt, and should they feel abashed because of their +church profession in going outright to the theater, dance, card parties +and other worldly amusements, they get them up in the name of the church +and religion, and have a fourth class performance in the church, or +enjoy the fun and frolic of strawberry festivals, bean suppers, oyster +stews, grab-bags, fish ponds, and so on _ad libitum_. They may try to +hide the smell of their Egyptian diet, but anybody can tell when one has +been eating onions and garlic. + +Thank God some folks got such a boost when they left Egypt, that they +never long for any of the former life. Like the palm tree, they are +above it all. + +Imagine the Apostle Paul attending the performances which some churches +have these days! There are pilgrims scattered over the world today so +lofty in their spiritual makeup, that to stoop to the level of the +pleasures of the worldly professors would be so utterly incongruous that +it would border on the ridiculous. + +The palm tree blessing is a high blessing. It is the "higher life" +indeed. "And a highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called +the way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it" (Isa. 35:8). + +"There is a path which no vulture's eye hath seen." This is the path of +the pilgrim. It is so high that the vulture in his aerial flights has +never yet been able to look down upon it. Pity such a person? Never! The +world thinks they are looking down upon us, but no worldling on this +mundane globe ever looks down on the palm tree saint as he walks the +narrow, heavenly trail, practically oblivious of conditions below. Let +not any worldling think that he is looking down on God's holy ones; they +are looking down on him and they are so far above, that he looks like a +mere dot upon the surface. + +The minds of many are turned toward the airships of the day. The +aviators are vying with each other in long distances, speed, altitudes, +and endurance; but the palm tree saints have solved the problems of +aviation long ago. They have an heirship, though it may not be spelled +exactly like those of the world, yet, for altitude, endurance, speed, +and long traveling, it perfectly eclipses them all. The aviator of the +world may break the world's record today, and break his neck tomorrow, +but the possibilities of the Christian aviator are exceedingly charming +and the dangers are reduced to naught. He is safer in his heirship than +on the earth. Borne upward on the wings of faith, pushed onward by the +propeller of perfect love, with a lateral stability which is a marvel to +many who gave him "just three weeks to hold out," he is still rushing on +toward the meridian sun, and has been out of sight for years. He never +expects to come down again. Some day he will fly so far away from +earth's attraction, and get so near heaven, that the gravitation, +inversely to the square of their distances, will pull so in the other +direction, that he will sail into glory and drop his pardon and purity +biplane on the gold-paved streets of the New Jerusalem, amidst the +shouts and cheers of the angelic host and the multitudes that have +sailed in before, there to enjoy an eternal "aviation meet" with prizes +and crowns of glory for all. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +THE PALM TREE IS PECULIAR IN ITS GROWTH + + +We have in the botanical world the exogenous and the endogenous tree. +The exogenous tree grows by adding to its exterior. Year after year adds +layers or rings to the outside, thus increasing its size. It is in this +way that scientists are enabled to determine the age of trees. Some of +the mammoth trees of California show an age of many hundred years. Most +of the trees with which we have to do are of the exogenous type. + +The endogenous tree increases by internal growth. The palm tree is +endogenous. Its growth is internal; out from the center and out at the +top. + +How exact to the analogy was the Holy Spirit when He inspired the +statement, that "the righteous shall flourish like the palm tree"! The +palm tree saint does not have his growth from the external, pushing out +along the lines of earth, and parallel to things of the world; but his +growth is internal, and upward toward God and heaven, and perpendicular +or diametrically opposed to the world, the flesh and the Devil. + +When the Holy Spirit gave us a picture of the sinner, it was "spreading +himself like a green bay tree." A glance at the margin of this text will +reveal that the green bay tree indicates one that is growing in its own +soil. It has never been transplanted. It remains in the same old +conditions and environments. It spreads out on the earth and clings to +things terrestrial. Thus, the sinner, growing in the same soil, in the +same surroundings and conditions of sin year after year, having never +been transplanted nor translated from nature's darkness to the marvelous +light of God, pushes out along worldly lines and worldly pleasures, +knowing nothing of the internal developments of grace, nor upward growth +toward God and glory. + +Whenever a professing Christian spreads out with worldly ambitions, is +determined to lay up his treasures upon earth, hungering more for the +adjoining quarter section of land than for the mansions beyond, +determined to have a name down here at the risk of having none in +heaven, he certainly is far from the palm tree type. + +With Christ crowned inside, and all the elements of Christian growth +firmly planted within the heart, no wonder there are inward developments +unseen by mortal eye, that expand the saint's soul more and more as the +years roll on, and enable him to rise more and more above terrestrial +things to heights in the heavenlies. + +With the secret of growth internal, it is not hindered by elements +external, for one's life "is hid with Christ in God." How comforting, +then, to the soul, to know that his secret growth is so far from +external things, that neither trials, tests, troubles, tribulations, +persecutions, disappointments, losses, crosses, circumstances, men, nor +devils can necessarily hinder him from pushing out and up in the divine +life. + +In the earlier days of persecution of holiness professors, how often the +fighting faction has tried to snow some of God's fire-baptized saints +under, only to see them rise up through the snowdrift, with perennial +freshness and smiling face ready for the next cold blizzard of snow. Or, +perhaps it was a wet blanket suddenly thrown over them and their +testimony, but the fire within only burnt its way through and turned the +wet into steam and proved the possessor to be practically invulnerable. +It is indeed hard to cut off one's growth when it comes from within. +There may be a momentary check at times when unforeseen obstacles are +thrust in one's way, but the growth producing qualities within assert +themselves and burst out with increasing force which make the tormentors +wonder "what next?" + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +THE PALM TREE HAS A COARSE, ROUGH EXTERIOR; BUT IT IS SOFT AT HEART + + +In spite of its symmetry, its wonderful beauty and its perennial +freshness, the palm tree has rather a harsh exterior. But being an +endogenous tree, its pithy interior makes it always soft at the center, +or heart. + +In the realm of grace, we often find some of God's best saints with a +somewhat coarse-grained exterior. They may be uncouth, unlettered, +uncultured, and reared in the backwoods, but they can look up with Job +and say, "He maketh my heart soft." + +While Christian education is to be prized, and culture to be much +esteemed, there are some who have not had these advantages, yet have +proved by actual experience that God's grace is free for all, and a +clean, soft heart can abide beneath a rough exterior. + +Methinks Elijah, with his rough garments and shaggy hair, had underneath +his crude exterior one of the softest hearts of his time. John the +Baptist, with camel's hair clothing, leathern girdle, and locust pabulum +had a kind, soft heart within. + +Sometimes God's people are much misunderstood because of their natural +uncouthness and blunt manners, when, if their hearts could be seen, +they would appear whiter than snow and softer than silk. Thank God, He +knows. + +The beautiful blessing of "perfect love" has been often misunderstood. +Some seem to think it is a sort of lovey-dovey, sentimental something +that makes its possessor smile on everybody and everything no matter +what the moral quality may be. Perfect love sometimes assumes the rugged +type, and deals along drastic lines. It can weep with those who weep, +but when there is a very critical operation to perform, there may be no +place for tears just then, for tears would blind the eyes. + +Elijah, whose heart was full of perfect love, came to a place where the +false prophets had to be exterminated, and he had grace and grit enough +to carry out the heaven-appointed program. + +John the Baptist, whose experience Jesus Christ himself did not +question, could face the hypocritical church members and say, "O +generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to +come? Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance" (Matt. 3:7, 8). + +No, perfect love deals death blows where death blows are needed. A mad +dog is running loose in the street. Children are playing on the opposite +corner. Some one rushes out with a bludgeon in his hand, and jeopardizes +his life, but he lays out the mad dog. Some sentimental on-looker asks, +"Was that love that prompted you to treat that dog thus?" He answers, +"Yes; love for those innocent children over on the corner." + +A man is drowning. In vain he struggles and screams. He is about to +perish, when a stalwart specimen of humanity swims out and deals the +poor man a terrible blow in the proper place to stun him. He ceases to +struggle, and the expert life-saver swims ashore and lays his man at the +feet of rejoicing friends. Some one says, "Was that love that made you +strike that poor, helpless man?" He replies, "Yes; if I hadn't stunned +him, he would have drowned himself and me too." + +A freight train was pulling into an Illinois town in the night. The crew +saw a building on fire and had reason to believe that a friend was +upstairs in a certain room. The train was stopped and two men rushed to +the scene of the fire. Up the stairs they mounted and never stopped to +knock at the chamber door, but rushed to the slumberer. There was no +time for ceremonies. They grabbed the man and dragged him down the +stairs most abruptly. They had scarcely reached the outside when the +stairway fell in, and had they been a minute later all would have been +lost. Imagine that rescued victim complaining of harsh treatment, +skinned shins and sprained ankles! Love made the rescuers adopt speedy +and most drastic measures and nothing else would have saved. + +When the writer was a small boy in Iowa, a presiding elder of the M. E. +church lived in his town. He was an exceedingly corpulent man, weighing +something over three hundred fifty pounds. One day he was taken very +sick and a physician prescribed for him, leaving the medicine in the +form of powders for him to take. The great, big preacher looked at the +small powders and then at his bigness, and said to himself: "I am so +large I think I would better take two of them." He accordingly took a +double dose and soon discovered that they were putting him to sleep. His +family and friends saw the awful mistake he had made, and determined to +use desperate measures to keep him awake, or they well knew they would +soon have a dead presiding elder on their hands. Accordingly, love went +to work. They walked him about, switched him, and punished him in any +way their quickened ingenuity could invent. In vain he begged them to +let him alone and sleep, but they threshed him and punished him till +they wore off the effect of the opiate and saved his life. Would any one +question the promptings of love that led those people to give their +presiding elder such a beating? I trow not. + +Did Jesus Christ love when He drove the money changers out of the temple +at the end of a whip? Did Daniel have love when he faced the wicked +Belshazzar and told him of his sins at the risk of his own life? Was +there love in Jeremiah's heart when he swore to the truth and changed +not, even if he did land in the dark, miry dungeon? Where was Joshua's +love when he put his foot on the necks of the Canaanitish kings? What +about Samuel and Agag? Look over the history of the Old and New +Testaments and note some of the rugged measures taken by God's prophets +and others, and see that it was not always of the easy-going, +soft-gloved, alligator-teared type. + +In the far North, when it was an object to get the mail over those +bleak, barren plains, with the thermometer many degrees below zero, one +frightfully frigid morning the express driver was bundled up for his +long, cold ride in his sleigh. Just as he was about to start, a rather +scantily dressed woman came up with a baby in her arms, and told the +driver that she had just received news of her husband's death, and she +must go to him. He remonstrated with her and tried to show her that she +could never stand the cold trip; that she would certainly freeze on the +way. But his words were futile, for she climbed into the sleigh and was +determined to go to her husband. Finding that he could not prevail upon +her to desist, he tucked her in the bottom of the sleigh, piled the +straw around, placed the wraps about her and her baby and started on. As +they progressed, the cold grew more and more intense. The icy flakes +began to fill the air, and the wind was cutting its way through to the +very marrow. Finally, the driver saw the poor woman nodding, and +discovered the sleepy droop of her eyelids. He thought, "Oh, the poor +woman is freezing to death and what shall I do?" He hastily tried to +think of some way of saving her life, when suddenly he stopped the +sleigh, and quietly, without saying a word, took the baby from her arms +and lifted the freezing form of the woman into the road; then he took +the babe in his own arms and drove on. At first she staggered and +stumbled around and then seemed to come to herself and discovered that +the driver was actually running off with her baby. The chase then began +in good earnest. He managed to keep just far enough ahead to encourage +her in her desperate run. Finally, he saw the glow return to her cheek, +and knew that the warm blood was again coursing through her body, and +then he quietly let her in, placed the babe in her arms, snugly tucked +them in and drove on to their destination. At the journey's end she +said, "Oh, how I thank you for what you did! If you had not done that, +my baby would have been an orphan tonight." Rough treatment was that; +but it was prompted by love. Judging from the exterior appearance, it +surely looked rough and frightfully cruel; but a heart of kindness was +beneath it all. + +A certain phrenologist was giving a public exhibition showing the +science of phrenology. A well-known citizen was on the platform having +his cranium and physiognomy examined, the result of which was being +communicated to the audience. The man had some very prominent bumps and +features which indicated a disposition far from pleasant, and the +examiner was telling it out to the congregation as one striking, ugly +point after another was discovered. As the phrenologist proceeded from +one statement to another, delineating the man's character, the +congregation first smiled, and then burst into laughter. The professor +was actually describing the man opposite to what he really was. They +knew the man, and it excited their risibilities to see the scientist so +far miss the mark. Of course it was embarrassing to him, but on +concluding his talk, the gentleman who had been examined asked if he +might say a word. He then told the people that the phrenologist had told +the truth and had given a very accurate description of his natural +disposition; that he had perfectly pictured out his former life; that +the reason why he was not that way now, was because of the grace of God +that had come into his life. Grace had made the change, but the old, +rough exterior was not worn off, and the phrenologist had judged from +the appearance. + +Let us not judge by the external simply. Like the palm tree, one may be +crude and rough outside, but inside he may meet the loving approbation +of God. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +THE LIFE OF THE PALM TREE IS AT THE CENTER + + +This is unlike the life of all the exogenous trees, which is at the +surface, or rather just beneath the bark. When the life-giving sap +circulates along the length of these trees, it moves in its course close +to the outside surface. When the maple tree is tapped they catch this +flow of sap, because it is near to the outside. When farmers want to +destroy a tree, all they have to do is to girdle it, or, in other words, +cut the bark down to the wood all around the tree, and thus stop the +circulation of sap, and the tree soon withers and dies. Such a tree can +not stand too much abuse. If it is chopped and hacked and peeled, or +girdled, it seems to discourage it, and it gives up and dies. Not so +with the palm tree. It has its life at the center. One may rip it and +peel it and girdle it, and it grows just the same; it has a hidden life. +We have actually seen a row of palms which had been burnt, and yet they +had pushed out of their dismal darkness, and thrown out fresh foliage. +They do not get discouraged and quit when the odds are against them. + +Does the reader still find himself flourishing like the palm tree? The +perplexing and persecuting times will come more or less to all of us, +and then how we will need the palm tree blessing! + +Take the professor of religion minus the real possession, and let him be +placed under the distressing ordeal of certain lines of adversity. Let +him be cut with the cruel tongue of the talker, peeled with popular +prejudice, girdled with the scalpel of the religious dissecter, crunched +by cruel cannibals who love to devour one another, and see how quickly +the spiritual sap ceases to flow. See how soon he withers and shrinks up +and says, "What is the use of trying any more; I might as well give up +my religion." He may not come out openly and above board and declare his +intentions, but that is about the outcome. But see how it works on the +palm tree saint, whose life is "hid with Christ in God." Drag him +through the streets by the hair of his head as they did John Wesley; +incarcerate him as they did John Bunyan; incinerate him as they did the +martyrs of old; excommunicate him and revile him as they did some in our +own day; ecclesiastically decapitate him and skin him alive and girdle +him clear around, and then see him leap and dance, and sing and shout +"Hallelujah! You can't hurt me, for I have the palm tree blessing, and +my life is hidden inside." The sap flows right on, and, though the +outside may be somewhat worse for the wear, yet the Christ-life within +surmounts it all and shouts its victorious way over all obstacles. + +Had the early saints not known this wonderful blessing, they surely +would have failed in the struggles of life. Hear the Apostle Paul as he +faces the guillotine block: "For I am now ready to be offered, and the +time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have +finished my course, I have kept the faith; henceforth, there is laid up +for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, +shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also +that love his appearing" (2 Tim. 4:6-8). + +Hear the Apostle John on that dreary Isle of Patmos: "He that +overcometh, shall inherit all things." "These are they which come out of +great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in +the blood of the Lamb." + +See the martyrs all down the ages with an inner current of joy as they +faced fagots, and with unfaltering step gave up their lives and flew to +heaven in chariots of fire. There were no outside punishments that could +cut off their life flow. It was hidden so deep that stripes, nor stocks, +nor sword, nor stones, nor any other kind of affliction or infliction +could reach its fountain head. + +There are those of our present day who know by actual experience the +joys of this inner, invulnerable gift. Had it not been for this, they +would have been swept into the vortex of discouragement and despair long +ago. O, the unspeakable joy of a life that is not superficial, but +hidden so deep that the Devil's darts or any of his devices can not +reach it! + +How is it that sister can sing and smile when a thousand trials +conspire to cut off the flow of holy joy? Because she has the palm tree +blessing, and her life of devotion and blessing is not external where +the things of earth can reach it. + +When one murmurs and complains, and finds fault with environments and +the things which would tend to annoy, let him know that he is living at +the external, and does not know the joys of internal rest where these +things do not intrude. Thank God for an inner current of holy life, +which flows on, supplying the life more abundant and keeping the soul in +blessed equipoise amidst the surging of life's storms. + +So we see that the palm tree is endowed with an abundant life. Jesus +said in John 10:10, "I am come that they might have life, and that they +might have it more abundantly." The palm tree is certainly a fine type +or illustration of life more abundant. Now, if the Christian is to +measure up alongside of this characteristic, then he must have that +which Jesus meant by the more abundant life. It is not sufficient to +have life in Christ; he must have it abundantly. + +What is this life more abundant? Look at the schoolboys as they file out +of school. They can scarcely contain themselves, having been pentup +through the day. Some are yelling, some are running and some are +manifesting their life in other ways. They seem to have more than they +know what to do with. Look at the stall-fed calf. See it gamboling over +the meadow. Notice the lambs frisk and frolic. Every action signifies +abundant life. This is all physical life; yet the Holy Ghost coming +into the believer's heart and life will impart the spiritual life more +abundant. Wherever there is life, we may hope to see the manifestation +of that life. If there is life more abundant, then we may hope to see +more abundant manifestations of that life. The sinner is dead in +trespasses and sins. The believer is made alive in Jesus Christ. The +difference between a Christian and a sinner is the difference between a +living body and a corpse. If a funeral was in progress and Jesus Christ +should come by as He did when the procession was on the way from Nain to +the cemetery, and speak life into the dead body, how long would it be +before the person in the coffin would find it out, and also the people +looking on? When a soul is born again, regenerated by power divine, +there are manifestations of that life, and the individual certainly +finds it out, and it is obvious to those who know him. Where there are +no manifestations of life it is certainly taxing to one's credulity to +believe there is life. The other day we read in the paper of a funeral +in progress, and in the midst of the service the child who was dead or +supposed to be, arose in the casket and looked quietly around. The +grandmother sitting near by was so shocked at the sight that she +instantly fell over dead. It would not take the observers long to +ascertain that the child on the one hand was alive and that the +grandmother on the other hand was dead. There is too much in these +latter days that passes for life when it is death. It is certainly a +marvelous experience to be made alive unto God. We pick up a paper and +read of a certain revival where hundreds and perhaps thousands have +been converted. The question is: Have they really been made alive from +the dead, or have they simply made a resolution and joined the church? + +We have never been very visionary, nor have we been carried away in +trances; but we did have a dream once that we felt sure was from the +Lord; at least the interpretation came so clearly and quickly at the +moment of waking, that we have felt the Lord's hand was in it. The dream +ran thus: We had gone into a cemetery and followed a lady into a tomb. +At the center of this tomb was a casket. The lady walked up to the +casket and quietly lifted the lid and laid it aside. She then gently +placed her hands inside the casket and lifted out of it the form of a +young man. This young man seemed to come to life as she took him out. +She then placed him on her lap, took a clothes brush and nicely brushed +his clothes. He then stood up. We were standing near the wall, and this +young man was observed to roll a cigarette between his fingers and +looking our way, asked for a match. We had none for that purpose and +never do. Immediately we said, "Just out of the grave and yet he +continues in his sins." Then the lady gently took this young man and +laid him within the casket, and he was as dead as before. The lid was +placed in shape and immediately we awoke, whereupon a voice seemed to +say clearly, "This is a modern revival." And is it not true? Do they not +have many who stand up or sign their names and join the church? They +seem to have a little life for awhile; are brushed up and stood up, +when, lo, and behold the old sinful life clings to them, and in a few +days they are back in their old state of death just as dead as before. +Surely, this is not the kind of life Jesus came to bring. + +Now, if in the incipient life which Jesus brings, there are +manifestations of the same, does it not hold true that in the life more +abundant there should be expected greater manifestations of that life? +We read that the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, etc. This +obtains in the justified relation, when the power of an endless life +begins to work in the heart and life of an individual. Then when that +life becomes more abundant in the sanctified experience, the love, joy, +peace, and all the rest are more abundant. In pardon we have love; in +purity, perfect love. In pardon we have joy; in purity, fulness of joy. +In pardon we have peace; in purity perfect peace. In pardon we have +salvation; in purity, full salvation. In pardon we have life; in purity +life more abundant. Surely, the sanctified soul ought to manifest more +love, joy, peace, longsuffering, and the rest of the imparted graces +than those who do not enjoy sanctification. Alas, too many who profess +this "second blessing, properly so-called," do not manifest it in their +lives. The palm tree abundance seems to be wanting. When our dear mother +was very old, and did not always get her letters properly connected in +her letter writing, one time she wrote us a letter in which she spoke of +the blessing of sanctification. She got all the letters in, but placed +the "c" before the "a" and made it spell "scantified." We thought that +was true of far too many; their sanctification is scantification; alas, +far too scant. + +We had this life more abundant wonderfully illustrated on a certain +occasion while holding a meeting in the city of Indianapolis. We stepped +into a doctor's office and observed a platform about four feet square. +This platform was perfectly insulated by having glass feet beneath. The +object of the platform was to form a place for an individual to sit and +then fill him full of electricity. A chair was placed on this platform, +and we were asked to take a seat on it. At first we were somewhat +dubious. We had read of the electrocuting chair, and did not know to +just what extent the lightning might be turned on. After a little +persuasion, and looking at the matter rather philosophically, thinking +that others had been there without being killed, we ventured to take a +seat. At once the power was turned on and in a moment every hair on our +head was standing straight up, we observed in the mirror. The power went +through and through our body from head to foot. It felt glorious, and no +one needed to tell us that something was going on inside. The doctor +placed his hand near our body, and a sharp crack was heard, a spark of +lightning flew out to meet him. Every time the hand approached any part +of us, the report was heard and lightning would flash. Our friend was +sitting near and he was asked to shake hands with us, whereby he +responded, "No, you don't." He felt there was too much going on for him +to trifle with lightning that way. Now, we would not want to convey the +thought, that necessarily when one obtains the blessing of holiness +there will be felt electric shocks throughout his being; but we do mean +to say that when an individual places himself and all that he has on +God's platform of consecration, and becomes perfectly insulated from +this world, that God will turn on the power of the sanctifying baptism +with the Holy Ghost, and that individual will surely know that the +mighty work has taken place. And not only the one who receives the +blessing will be cognizant of the fact, but others who come in contact +with him will ascertain the same. To say that one has the blessing of +holiness, but has no power, is to say what is not true. To say, "I am +still sanctified, but I have lost the power," is to speak contradictory +to the Word of God. There are some things which God has joined together, +and surely we have no right to put them asunder. When the individual +becomes perfectly insulated from the world and worldliness, and makes +proper connection with the dynamos of the skies, something is surely +going to happen. + +Once we heard a preacher tell an experience he had when a telegraph +operator. It sometimes fell to his lot to go down the line and see what +caused obstructions to the messages. One time while out on such duty he +observed the line was broken. Usually he took along with him a telegraph +instrument with which to send and receive messages. This time he had +neglected to carry such an instrument. He saw the importance of sending +back a message, but having no instrument, he did not see how it could be +done. At length he thought of placing the two ends of the wire together, +and by joining them in the proper way he could use the Morse code of +dots and dashes, etc. He accordingly tried the experiment and it worked +so successfully that he managed to get a message through to the office. +The next thing was, how could he get a message from the office to +himself? He could not hear the dots and dashes as they might pass along +the wire to him. Finally, the thought struck him, that he could make his +body a means of transmission of the message. Accordingly, he took hold +of one end of the wire with one hand and the other wire with the other +hand, when here came along the message and passed right through his +body, making the dots and dashes of the system perceptibly realized by +the jerking of the hands and arms. Here he had hold of one wire +connected with the office, and with the other hand he had grasped the +wire that connected with the other side and through him came the +message. Would to God that more people had learned the secret of perfect +insulation, and could have their very being so transformed that they +would become channels through which the Holy Ghost could pour His own +messages of divine truth out on a careless and deceived world! We need +to become channels of life, abundant life to a lost and ruined world. + +The world is perishing for life. The old humdrum of lifeless religion is +too repulsive. When a certain noted preacher was asked why more people +did not attend church, the answer was, "Because they can not stand the +humdrum." There is something about life that is attractive. A jumping, +laughing, rollicking baby always attracts attention. The frisking lamb, +the playing pups, the rollicking children, all attract. Folks don't like +death. Funerals are sad. Graveyards are quiet places. The heart of man +cries out for life. God puts a spiritual hunger within the breast for +the life more abundant. The lifeless, emotionless, joyless prayermeeting +or preaching service never had its origin in the pentecostal upper room. +They are not the congregations of Spirit-filled, fire-baptized souls. +David said, "My cup runneth over." Isaiah said in that memorable twelfth +chapter, that people would do five things: praise, pray, testify, sing, +and shout. Then he gives as a cause for it all, that "Great is the Holy +One of Israel in the midst of thee." And it is true to the letter. When +God gets in the midst of people there are these beautiful +manifestations. The people praise the Lord, call upon His name, make +mention that His name is exalted, sing and shout. When the meeting dies, +these things are wanting. "Life, life, eternal life!" Let this be our +cry till the dead wake up, and the slumbering church arouses from its +stupor, and the pulpit pulsates with pentecostal fire. + +The last thing a person wants to meet is death. No wonder it is termed +an enemy. If then death is so dreaded in the material world, why should +we not abhor spiritual death? Thank God we do not need to have it +around. With Christ the very embodiment of life, who was dead, but now +is alive forevermore; with heaven's mighty reservoir of the elixir of +life at our command, there is no need of spiritual cemeteries. We do not +have to leak out our life because somebody said so; because some +persecutor said something detrimental to us, or used some weapon of war +against us. Did not martyrs of old face death at every turn? Paul said, +"I die daily." He was in constant jeopardy. He never could tell when an +angry mob would swoop down upon him, or he would be cast to the wild +beasts. Yet none of these things moved him. He had a life like the palm +tree, so hidden inside that external things did not affect. Indeed some +of the early martyrs seemed to be endowed with miraculous physical life. +It is recorded that the Apostle John was cast into a cauldron of boiling +oil, but was miraculously delivered, the oil having no effect on him. + +When Blandina, a Christian lady, was undergoing such tremendous tortures +by her persecutors, though weak in her constitution, yet she sustained +such aid from heaven, that her tormentors several times became weary in +their wicked work, and declared that she must have been supported by +some invisible power. + +Sanctus was a deacon at Vienne. He was tortured for Jesus' sake and bore +it all with marked fortitude and exclaimed, "I am a Christian." When +red-hot plates were applied repeatedly to the most sensitive parts of +his body, till the sinews were contracted, still he remained unmovable, +inflexible in his steadfastness, and he was again placed in prison. In +a few days he was brought forth again, when his tormentors were +wonderfully astonished to find that his wounds were healed and his body +sound and perfect. He was again put to the torture, but being unable to +take his life, he was again remanded to prison, where soon afterward he +was beheaded. + +We may not be called upon to suffer physical torture at the hands of +heartless persecutors in these days, but "They that will live godly in +Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." We surely will have it in some +form if true to God. The world does not love our Christ. Jesus told His +own brothers that the world could not hate them, but it hated Him, +because He told them their deeds were evil. When our persecutors come, +what are we going to do? If we have the palm tree blessing, we have a +life hidden so deep that the world can not reach it. This life is a +heart life. It does not lie on the surface where the enemy's tortures +can reach it. Look at the sainted martyrs in the early day; how they +endured the afflictions that were heaped upon them, without a murmur, +and would not flinch, nor compromise a hair's breadth. Their tormentors +were taxed to the extreme in devising modes of suffering by which they +hoped to succeed in getting the Christians to deny Christ. In order to +show the real hidden life of the palm tree saint we will record the case +of two martyrs as told in "The Historic Martyrs of the Primitive +Church," by A. J. Mason. + +Probus was presented. "Put away all foolish language," said Maximus, +"and tell me what you are called." + +"My first and best name is Christian; my second, by which men call me, +is Probus." + +"Of what station in life?" + +"My father was a Thracian, but I was born at Sida in Pamphilia. I am a +civilian, but a Christian." + +"Little good you will get from that name. Follow my advice, and +sacrifice to the gods, that you may receive honor from the emperors, and +be a friend of mine." + +"I do not want the honor of the emperors, nor am I anxious for your good +offices. I had a considerable property, but I gave it up, to serve the +living God through Christ." + +"Take off his cloak. Gird him up. Put him at the stretch. Beat him with +thongs of rawhide." + +The compassionate centurion, Demetrius, again spoke: "Spare yourself, +man; you see your blood running to the ground." + +"My body is at your disposal," answered Probus. "But your punishments to +me are an anointing with sweet ointments." + +After a time Maximus began again his attempts at persuasion: "Will you +not have done with this madness now? Do you persist in it, unhappy man?" + +"I am not mad. I am wiser than you. I do not serve devils." + +"Turn him over and beat him on the belly." + +"Lord, help thy servant." + +"As you beat him, say, 'Christian man, where is your helper?" + +"He has helped, and He helps me still. I care so little for your +punishment, that I will not obey you." + +"Think of your body, unhappy wretch. All the floor is covered with the +blood from it." + +"Let me tell you this: the more my body suffers for Christ's sake, the +better it is for the health of my soul." + +"Put him in irons, and stretch him to the fourth hole. Let him have no +attention paid to him." + +Tarachus is then brought before Maximus. + +"Well, well, Tarachus," said Maximus. "I suppose that the reason why +people honor old age is because of the greater wisdom in counsel that +comes with it. Therefore, give yourself good advice, and do not today +persist in your former notions, but sacrifice to the gods, and earn the +praise of piety." + +"I am a Christian," answered Tarachus, "and I pray that you and your +emperors may earn the same praise, and may put away all hardness of +heart and blindness, and be quickened by the true God to a higher and +better grounded conviction." + +"Knock his mouth with stones, and say to him, 'Cease your folly.'" + +"If I were not of sound mind, I should be a fool as you are." + +"See, your teeth are all loosened. Have pity on yourself, unhappy man." + +"Nothing that you can do hurts me, not if you were to cut off all my +extremities. I stand steadfastly before you in Christ which +strengtheneth me." + +"Follow my advice. You had better. Come and sacrifice." + +"If I knew that I had better do it, I should not suffer as I do." + +"Strike him on the mouth and tell him to cry out." + +"When my teeth are dashed out, and my jaws crushed, I can not cry out." + +"Will you not even now comply, impious man? Come to the altars, and pour +a drink-offering to the gods." + +"Though you have stopped my voice so that I can not cry out, you can not +hinder the thoughts of my soul. You have made me bolder and firmer." + +"I will take down your firmness, ruffian." + +"I am at your disposal. Whatever you devise, I shall be more than a +match for you in the name of God who strengtheneth me." + +"Open his hands and put fire in them." + +"I am not afraid of your fire, which endures for a moment; but I am +afraid lest, if I were to obey you, I should become a partaker of the +eternal fire." + +"Look, your hands are consumed with the fire. Will you leave off your +madness, senseless man, and sacrifice?" + +"You talk to me as if I had begged you not to use your arts of +persuasion upon my body. I am proof against all that you are doing to +me." + +"Tie his feet and hang him aloft by them; then send up a thick smoke in +his face." + +"I thought nothing of your fire; do you suppose that I shall be afraid +of your smoke?" + +"Consent to sacrifice, now that you are hung up." + +"_You_ may sacrifice, sir; you are accustomed to sacrificing--even to +sacrificing men. But God forbid that I should do so." + +"Put strong vinegar, mixed with salt up his nostrils." + +"Your vinegar is sweet and your salt has lost its saltness." + +"Mix mustard with the vinegar and pour it into his nostrils." + +"Your officers are deceiving you, Maximus; they gave me honey instead of +vinegar." + +"I will think of some punishment for you next court day, and I will put +an end to your folly." + +"And I shall be the readier for your devices." + +"Take him down; put him in chains and give him over to the gaoler. Call +the next." + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +THE PALM BRANCH IS THE SYMBOL OF VICTORY + + +"After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could +number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood +before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and +_palms_ in their hands; and cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation +to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. * * * These +are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their +robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb" (Rev. 7:9, 14). + +"When this cruel war is over," and the last enemy, death, has been +conquered, and every tribulation has been passed through triumphantly, +then we shall come forth on the victor's side, clothed with white robes, +and waving our palm branches gloriously, having overcome by the blood of +the Lamb and the word of our testimony. + +When Jesus made that triumphal entry into Jerusalem, just before His +crucifixion, the rejoicing followers acknowledged His kingly victories, +and did homage by preparing His way, and "took branches of palm trees, +and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of +Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord" (John 12:13). + +Not only did the palm branch have the significance of victory in the +Bible, but certain countries have used it as a token of victory and +rejoicing, a symbol or evidence of superiority or success. In our +present day, "to bear the palm" means to come off victoriously. This +expression has evidently been borrowed from the ancient symbol. + +What other tree in all the world could so well be used to signify +victory? When we think of its beauty, its perpendicular straightness, +its perennial freshness, its sweet and abundant fruitfulness even in old +age, its almost incomprehensible utility, its successful development +where other trees fail, its natural propensity to ascend heavenward, its +marvelous hardiness with its internal and upward growth, does it not +stand to reason that the palm branch should be the most fitting type of +Christian triumph and joyous victory? No other tree could be used so +well to symbolize the victory of him who is fighting under the banner of +King Emmanuel. + +Now, if we are to flourish like the palm tree, then we shall flourish +with victory. + +We are taught in the Word that "we are more than conquerors through him +that loved us" (Rom. 8:37). This means that the palm tree saint can +fight and win and be ready to fight again. + +David's fight with Goliath illustrates it. He marched out against his +enemy and God's enemy with five sling stones, and the first throw +something entered Goliath's head that made an impression which he never +got over. And then the stripling, shepherd lad had four more stones to +kill four more giants if necessary. + +In the economy of God's grace He never arranged for us to be succumbers, +but rather overcomers. Read the marvelous promises of Revelation for +those who overcome. There are seven of them, and note the ascending +scale. + +1. "To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life which +is in the midst of the paradise of God." + +2. "He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death." + +3. "To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and I +will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written which +no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it." + +4. "And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him +will I give power over the nations. * * * And I will give him the +morning star." + +5. "He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and +I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess +his name before my Father, and before his angels." + +6. "Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, +and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my +God, and the name of the city of my God, which is New Jerusalem, which +cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new +name." + +7. "To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, +even as I also overcame and am set down with my Father in his throne." + +Wonderful stepping stones to the throne! Seven steps and into glory! + +Let us examine them in their order: + +1. He eats of the tree of life. Death has slipped away and eternal life +has come. He is living forever _now_. We eat of earth's food to live +here, and we eat of the tree of life to live forever. + +2. He has promise of a safe passage and a proper landing. He shall not +be hurt with the second death. Insurance in the King's Insurance +Company, secures a positive guaranty against the second death. Wrapped +in the asbestos robes of full salvation, makes one immune from the fires +of perdition. + +3. He eats again; but now it is hidden manna. Hidden manna was inside +the holy of holies. Thus, he reaches the "second blessing" properly +so-called. Now arises special persecution and calumny; but the great +Judge in casting the ballot for the condemned, puts in the white stone +for acquittal: hence, he receives the white stone at this stage. "What +shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against +us?" (Rom. 8:31). + +4. Power, the positive side of holiness is now particularly manifested. +Also, the night of trouble, trial, testing, temptations, and tears will +pass away. The "morning star" is seen. He is looking toward the +sun-rising, toward the morning when the Sun of righteousness shall +appear. + +5. Now, the "white raiment" of a holy life shines forth particularly. +His outward life and testimony give him away. His hidden life manifests +itself outwardly and differentiates itself from all other life. The +inward glory is shining out to the surface, and his life is seen and +felt. In proportion to the inward glory will the outward effulgence be +manifested. Jesus, on the mount of transfiguration, let the inward glory +out through His garments, and they became garments of light. + +Now comes the announcement that his name will not be blotted out of the +book of life. While it is possible to pass the point in sin, where the +soul fixes its destiny for damnation, so it seems that there is a point +in the progress of spirituality and grace and overcoming, that fixes the +soul's destiny for glory. His name is confessed before God and the +angels. The veil is getting very thin here, between the overcoming +pilgrim and paradise. In fact he is living mostly in heaven now. + +6. He is now counted a pillar in a peculiar sense. Like the pillars of +ancient Egypt and Babylon where great monarchs carved their names, +battles, victories, marvelous achievements, and chiseled their pedigree +and dynasty, so God takes this time-honored, battle-scarred, +self-sacrificing pilgrim at this stage and makes him an illustrious +pillar in the temple of God, and writes in his favor his victories and +exploits, his overcoming life. He is to go no more out. As some are +sealed for eternal damnation in this life, so he is sealed for eternal +glory. + +"I will write upon him." Yes, God will carve upon him victories and +conquests. He will write upon him the city of God--his sure destination. +Like the address on a sealed letter, with the government of the country +back of it to see that it arrives safely at its destination, so with +God's "epistles," "sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise," with the +address of his destination plainly written thereon, and with the +government of all heaven interested in seeing him through, we see the +overcoming saint nearing the Great White Throne. The end is near; he is +overcoming to the last. He has been ascending the steps, till now he +sees inside the pearly gates, and one step more will put him inside. + +7. Here he is in glory at last, and a place with Jesus in His throne. +Exalted place! With Christ, the great Overcomer, he sits down with Him +in His throne. It is more than finite minds can comprehend. Surely, it +will pay to be true to Jesus and be a final overcomer. + +When we read these wonderful promises to the overcomer, and see with +what precision and certainty he is made to ascend the spiritual scale to +glory, we scarcely wonder, that before we reach the close of Revelation +we hear the sudden announcement: "He that overcometh shall inherit all +things." + +"And this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith" (1 +John 5:4). The overcoming, victorious life is the only kind that +satisfies the soul and qualifies for spiritual success in this world. +The outside world is looking upon us, and if they do not see something +in us beyond that which they see in themselves, there will be no +inducement from our standpoint for them to make any change. + +God has provided a life in which it is possible to "rejoice evermore, +pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks." The psalmist said, "I +will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my +mouth." No person can, by mere volition, bring himself into a frame of +mind to bless the Lord at all times and have His praise continually in +his mouth. The harassing trials and nagging disappointments incident to +earthly life are too many and too severe to admit of the everlasting +praise life without the grace of God within. And many with a measure of +God's grace have not become acquainted with the secret of continual +praise. Let us look at two statements, one in the Old Testament, and the +other in the New Testament. + +"All these things are against me" (Gen. 42:36). + +"All things work together for good" (Rom. 8:28). + +The first statement comes from Jacob; the second from the Apostle Paul. +Paul said he had learned whatsoever state he was in, therewith to be +content (Phil. 4:11). Jacob was looking at the mere external, and +judging accordingly. What were the things that were against Jacob? "Me +have ye bereaved of my children: Joseph is not, and Simeon is not, and +ye will take Benjamin away. All these things are against me." But Jacob, +you are very much mistaken. The very things you say are against you, +are all working together for your good. Joseph, right now is in Egypt, +the governor of that land, and is not dead as you suppose. Simeon is all +right under Joseph's watchful care, and Benjamin will be in the best of +hands. Joseph went before, to be a loadstone to draw Simeon there, and +Simeon is a loadstone to draw Benjamin there, and Benjamin will be a +loadstone to draw you there and all the rest of the family to preserve +you alive and to bring about God's wonderful plan and providence in the +Hebrew nation. No; the trouble with Jacob was with his foresight; had +that been half as good as his hindsight he never would have said what he +did. + +Perhaps Paul did not have so much to contend with in his day. Let us +see. "In labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more +frequent, in deaths oft. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes +save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I +suffered shipwreck, a night and a day have I been in the deep; in +journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils +by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, +in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false +brethren; in weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger +and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. Besides those +things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of +all the churches" (2 Cor. 11:23-28). In spite of all these, hear his +overcoming, victorious faith say: "All things work together for good." + +There is probably no department in the Christian life which is more +desired and for which more prayer is offered, than the victory +department. There are so many trials, disappointments and annoyances +from day to day, that if one allows them to overcome him he is +constantly confronting failure and chagrin. But to know that one is from +day to day and moment to moment living in the praise and overcoming +life, gives him a joy and satisfaction that is simply glorious in the +extreme. + +There are many Christians who go through the world in a sort of +up-and-down, to-and-fro, in-and-out, zigzag way that is certainly +discouraging. To have victory today and defeat tomorrow, keeps one on +edge all the time, not knowing which way the battle is going to turn. A +lesson from the Book of Joshua is encouraging. When he began that +wonderful series of conquests just after crossing the Jordan into +Canaan, it was victory after victory. Here is a sample of the records: +"And he did to the king of Makkedah as he did unto the king of Jericho." +Then follows like statements in almost the identical language except +that the cities are different, showing that he took the last city and +conquered it and its king in precisely the same manner as he did the one +before. God had previously promised him that he should have just that +kind of victory in Canaan. "Hereby ye shall know that the living God is +among you, and that he will without fail drive out from before you the +Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Hivites, and the Perizzites, and +the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Jebusites" (Joshua 3:10). +Notice two things in this: It was to occur in Canaan, and there were to +be seven nations conquered. Is not this typical of Holy Ghost victory in +the sanctified life? Canaan is a type of holiness, and seven is the +perfect number. God wants us to have perfect victory from day to day +over all our foes, and He will supply that which will enable us to +overcome. + +So many so-called soldiers of the cross are living simply on the +defensive with scarcely a thought of spiritual, aggressive warfare. Look +at the great battles that have been won in the world's history. Were not +most of them won by the aggressive side? Look at the whole armor of God +as the inspired pen of Paul pictures it out in the sixth chapter of +Ephesians; the helmet for the head, the breastplate for the vital organs +of the body, the shield for the whole man, and a sword to do aggressive +execution. We see the whole front of the man protected, but what about +the back? There is no protection for that part of the body, for God's +soldiers are not expected to turn their back to the foe. If they do, +they are sure to be hit. When the writer was a boy, accompanied by other +boys, he discovered an old Indian burying ground on the beach bluff near +Santa Barbara, California. They had seen indications of such a place, +and were diligently searching for the exact spot. Finally, they +discovered some rib bones sticking out of the bank, where the constant +washing of the waves had in time crumbled the bank down. With shovels in +hand they went about the delightsome task of uncovering the dead, with +the hopes of finding wampum, arrowheads, pottery or any other relics +which might have been buried with their owner. Finally, a section of an +Indian's backbone was unearthed, and upon examination it was found that +an arrow head had pierced the vertebra, just missing the spinal cord, +and was wedged in like a nail driven into a board. The question might be +asked: "How did the arrow head get into that Indian's backbone?" +Evidently, because the Indian was on the retreat, and his enemy shot him +in the back. + +Where is the victorious life, when life is spent simply in the humdrum +of daily routine of selfish interests? No wonder people have an +up-and-down experience. No wonder they never get anywhere outside of the +treadmill of life. God wants us to branch out and bless the world and be +conquerors. In the Garden of Eden we read about the wonderful river that +flowed through it and watered it; but it was not self-centered nor +self-contained; it branched out. So it is in sanctified human experience +today; the Edenic stream of full salvation flows through the soul, but +it does not stop there and center itself in the individual. The stream +waters one's life and experience, but it flows out and on to bless +others also. The Edenic stream started out as one stream, but the +account tells us that it branched out into four streams and watered the +world around. So it is with that soul who will let the Holy Ghost have +His way with him. Out of his inmost being will flow rivers of living +water. This fourfold Edenic stream went out in four directions, to the +four quarters of the earth, so to speak. Four is the human number of the +Bible, and when one gets the Holy Ghost, he is expected to branch out to +the people everywhere and water the world with the precious water of +life. Holiness is not self-centered. It consists of two elements--purity +and power. If one has the thought of purity alone when he seeks the +blessing, he has a one-sided idea of it. There is a power side which +enables the possessor to conquer. Purity for the individual, and power +for the world; or in other words, power for aggressive warfare. + +Whoever became a conqueror that stayed always in one little, beaten +path? The world is so big, the possibilities are so great, and the grace +of God so boundless, that it looks as if we all ought to set our stakes +for bigger results in the Christian life. One day we were passing along +a street in a certain city and observed a gentleman constructing a very +peculiar piece of frame work, and our curiosity was so aroused that we +went over and asked him what he was building. He answered, "I am +building a razzle-dazzle." He then explained what that was. He said that +a razzle-dazzle was something like a merry-go-round, except that as it +went round and round it also went up and down. We thought how many +people in their so-called Christian life are riding the razzle-dazzle. +They want to be going and moving, but they are going round and round, +and not only that, they are going up and down, up and down, and never +getting anywhere in their experience. Now, we never were much in favor +of running off on tangents, but in this case we think it would be very +advantageous to strike a tangent and take a bee-line for Canaan. + +Many are hindered in their victorious life by the "little foxes which +spoil the vines." Their spiritual wall which surrounds them seems to +admit so many of the aggravating cares, that they find themselves +frequently overcome thereby. "Salvation, will God appoint for walls and +bulwarks" (Isa. 26:1). "But thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, and thy +gates Praise" (Isa. 60:18). When we remember that "God is our +salvation," and "Our God is a consuming fire," and this God, the +consuming fire, is the wall of salvation around us, we believe the wall +is so high that the devil's little foxes can not jump over it; so thick +they can not bore through it, and so deep they can not dig under it. +This is surely a blessed protection for those on the inside. But the +promised protection of God is still more. He will insphere His trusting +child and make him doubly safe, and make his surrounding simply +glorious. Notice the divine insphering: "As the mountains are round +about Jerusalem, so the Lord is round about his people from henceforth +even forever" (Psalm 125:2). Here is the Lord all around us. "Because he +is at my right hand, I shall not be moved" (Psa. 16:8). The Lord is by +our side. "Underneath are the everlasting arms" (Deut. 33:27). The Lord +is beneath us. "He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High +shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty" (Psalm 91:1). The Lord is +over us. And we are also taught that we may abide in Him and He will +abide in us. Think of this marvelous protection: the Lord all around us, +by our side, underneath us, over us, in us and we in Him. Then shall we +allow the trifling things of earth to conquer us and spoil our +experience? How often we hear one say words like this: "I wouldn't give +up my experience for all the world," and then possibly in an unguarded +moment go down over something not worth a quarter. We once heard of a +sailor that had braved the sea and storms for years, and finally got +drowned in a bucket of water. While drinking he had some fit or accident +which caused him to fall, so that his face was buried in the water and +he was strangled to death. Be careful of the little things; they are +sometimes more dangerous than the bigger ones. A brother was once +accosted by one of the Lord's workers and asked how he was getting along +in his Christian experience. He replied that he got along very well +usually through the day, but when he went home from his work in the +evening, his wife nagged at him so much that he invariably lost out. He +would be blessed along through the day, but when that nagging spirit of +his wife got started, even though he would hold out for some time and +keep the victory, yet as sure as he would open his mouth, the victory +was gone. He told the worker that he had an experience like a pelican. +He then described how the pelican would start out in the morning and +load up its big pouch with fish, and then in the evening it would start +for home, whereupon the little birds would get after it and peck it +first on one side of the bill and then on the other, till the poor +pelican would throw its head around from one side to the other, and +finally its mouth would fly open and out would go the fish, which was +just what the birds were after. He said he had a pelican experience; +that he would get along well through the day, but the constant annoyance +of the wife in the evening would finally cause him to open his mouth, +and away would go his victory. Many a blessing has been lost, simply by +opening the mouth. It is much harder sometimes to keep the mouth shut +than to open it. "So he openeth not his mouth," was the attitude of Him +who was our example. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +THE PALM TREE WILL NOT ADMIT OF GRAFTING + + +For many years the process of grafting has been known and practiced by +horticulturists. This is accomplished by taking a scion, usually of the +previous year's growth, from a shrub or tree, and inserting it into +another shrub or tree more or less closely related to the first. It must +be so inserted that the cambium layer of the scion, that is, the layer +of formative tissue between the bark and natural wood, is closely united +to that of the stock. In time, these two parts grow together into a +perfect union. The scion thus inserted will derive its life and strength +from the original root and stock, but will bear its fruit according to +the nature of the scion. + +When we come to the palm tree, we find something that is opposed to this +method and will not respond. It will not yield to any mixture. It has +not the qualifications that admit of grafting processes. It can neither +be grafted in with any other tree, nor can any other tree be united with +the palm. It will not mix. It is an endogenous tree, and the cambium +layer does not obtain. It has no joining tissue that can be thus united +with any other plant. + +Did the Omniscient Inspirer of the Word make any mistake when He said, +"The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree?" + +The Word of God is diametrically opposed to unholy mixtures. Hear the +word of the Lord in Deut. 22:9-11. "Thou shalt not sow thy vineyard with +divers seeds: lest the fruit of thy seed which thou hast sown, and the +fruit of thy vineyard, be defiled. Thou shalt not plow with an ox and an +ass together. Thou shalt not wear a garment of divers sorts, as of +woolen and linen together." + +Who has not seen the evil effects of mixing the planting of various +seeds together, such as melons and pumpkins, or other incompatible +varieties? Why not yoke an ox and an ass together? They are neither +mated in size, breed, nor disposition. It makes a lopsided pair. One is +classed with the clean animals, and the other with the unclean. We once +saw an oriental picture in the back part of a Bible where some native +was plowing with an ox and an ass together, and they had the appearance +of being ashamed of themselves. It looked as if the poor plowman would +have a hard job to get any work out of the pair. + +But why not the mixed garment, of woolen and linen? "They shall be +clothed with linen garments, and no wool shall come upon them, whiles +they minister in the gates of the inner court, and within. They shall +have linen bonnets upon their heads, and shall have linen breeches upon +their loins; they shall not gird themselves with any thing that causeth +sweat" (Eze. 44:17, 18). God did not want them to chafe and sweat in +performing their religious service; hence, the prohibition of the +mixture in garments. + +In this we find a beautiful lesson for spiritual experience. We have too +much of the linsey-woolsey type of religion in our day. How God must +abhor unholy mixing up! + +In this threefold prohibition we see the three sides of religion. Pure +religion consists of three things: doctrine, service, and experience. +First, they were not to mix the seed. What does seed typify? Read the +parable of the sower in the eighth chapter of Luke. "The seed is the +word of God." Here we have the thought: it is the doctrine of God. One +part of religion is doctrine, and we must not be mixed in this respect. +When the Bible speaks of that teaching which comes from God, it is put +in the singular and called "doctrine." When it comes from men or devils +it is called "doctrines." God's doctrine is one; men and devils' are +many. Paul admonished Timothy to take heed unto the doctrine. In Paul's +time, and in the times of the early fathers, heresy abounded. In our own +time, Christendom is rent with heresy. Unscriptural doctrine obtains +everywhere. Universalism proclaims the mercy of God reaching "from +everlasting to everlasting." So, in the ultimate outcome, all, because +Christ died for all, will be housed safely, in spite of a +Christ-rejecting life. Unitarianism, as the name suggests, believes in +one God; hence, rejects the deity of Jesus Christ, and being +Universalists also in belief, they are all going to get in by the +example of the Savior. While the Universalist believes that God is too +good to damn him, the Unitarian believes that he is too good to be +damned. Then comes along the soul-sleeper, who mixes with his doctrine +the heresy of no conscious existence after death till the resurrection, +and the utter annihilation of the wicked following the judgment, all of +which is in direct opposition to the plain teaching of the Word. +Mormonism comes in with its deluded adherents and claims a new +revelation in the Book of Mormon, and repudiates hell, flaunts its +mantle of polygamous fornication over its dupes, and gives the world a +mixture indeed. Christian Science, the greatest misnomer in modern +parlance, foists its counterfeit religious currency over our fair land +and makes the unwary deny the existence of sin, death, Devil, and the +real personality of God himself. The blood atonement of our Savior is +obnoxious to them, and hell is not in their creed. Surely theirs is a +mixed seed, with scarcely any real truth. Then springs up the _ignis +fatuus_ fallacy of Russellism with its promised "Millennial Dawn," +spreading out the "Plan of the Ages" so that its deceived votaries +discount the deity of Christ until His resurrection. They claim that His +body was not resurrected, but may have passed off into gases; that one +is not born again till he is resurrected; that hell is a farce; that the +world will have a further chance of being saved after death. Not content +with these forces, the disseminator of mixed seeds raises up a regiment +of Higher Critics, who, with their Jehoiakim penknives, have cut and +slashed the blessed, inspired Word of God till it is beyond recognition +as it comes from their hands. To follow their vandalism is to get into +the meshes of mysticism and doubt, and wonder what part, if any, is to +be relied upon as actual inspiration. Then we have the "New Thought," +and the "New Theology," and the "Aquarian Gospel," and their name is +Legion, the "isms" that are foisted upon gullible humanity in these +latter days. Occasionally one pokes up his personality above the horizon +and declares himself Jesus Christ, when, lo, and behold a following! Sad +indeed is it that so many people and many good people, have been +beguiled into the unscriptural teaching couched in the creed of the +so-called "Tongues Movement." When it first claimed the attention of the +Christian world their theory was first, justification, in which all sins +were forgiven; then following this experience came sanctification, which +involved the cleansing of the heart from all inbred sin; following this +definite work, comes the baptism with the Holy Ghost, accompanying which +is the speaking in tongues as an evidence of said baptism. No one must +rest satisfied that he has received his Pentecost till he has spoken in +tongues. Then the factions began to arise. Leaders opposed each other, +and all spoke in tongues as claimed. Their creed began to change, and +now one of the leading factions of the movement ridicules the thought of +sanctification as a second work of grace, and declares, that while +sanctification does come in, yet all the cleansing one gets is in the +first work when pardon takes place; that is, all inbred sin is then +eradicated from the heart. They still hold to the baptism with the Holy +Ghost and speaking in tongues. Many of the good people of the land have +been caught in this theological mix-up, and have dropped out of the +old-time holiness ranks. What does it all signify? It signifies a mixing +of seed--a mixing of doctrine. The theocracy of the Old Testament +forbade it in the literal, and the inspired Word also forbids it in the +spiritual, in the present dispensation. + +A person who is mixed in his doctrine is a dangerous element in the +community. His work is not to settle, root and ground others in the +faith, but rather to unsettle them. "A heretic after the first and +second admonition, reject." Has it ever occurred to the reader that +heresy is one of the works of the flesh, or carnal mind? Read it in Gal. +5:20. The Conservator of orthodoxy is the Holy Ghost in a purified +heart. Outside of that, where is the hope of preserving inviolate the +purity of the doctrine of God? Let me illustrate how this works. There +enters an intelligent, so-called expounder of the truth, into a pulpit, +and he proceeds to teach the people. There sits in the congregation one +with a purified heart, in whom dwells the Holy Ghost, the Author of the +inspired Word. As this ingenious mixer of seed throws out some good +truth, he adroitly mixes into it his heresy, and makes it so plausible, +that, if possible, it would deceive the very elect. His arguments are so +clear, and he uses the Scriptures so well to prove his statements, that +even to the minds of the most spiritual, it seems that he has made the +points scripturally plain. The head responds and says, "It looks that +way," but the Holy Ghost dwelling in that purified heart causes a +shrinking. The soul closes in, and the listener says, "I do not feel +right somehow. I am not comfortable." What is the matter? It is the +blessed Conservator of orthodoxy, the Preserver of the purity of the +Word of God operating in that heart to hinder it from accepting heresy. +But here sits another who has not been so fortunate as to have the +element of inbred sin purged from the heart; hence, has not the abiding +fulness of the Holy Spirit in the heart. The speaker appeals to him in +the same way he did to the other. The head nods assent, for he certainly +makes it plain. But he has that in his heart from which heresy springs, +and so the heresy from this man appeals to its kindred spirit in the +listener, and the result is, it is swallowed down, the poison has done +its work, and another victim is numbered. Oh, reader, is it of small +import that we should be filled with the Holy Ghost, and thus have our +spiritual Protector always guarding us from poisonous seed? We would not +want to take the stand that this is the infallible rule with all people, +but we do certainly believe that this is the secret of some remaining +firm and immovable in doctrine, while others are swept from their +moorings. + +The next department of religion we wish to notice in connection with +wrong mixtures is that of service. The ox and the ass were not to be +yoked together. This signifies service. Service constitutes a large +portion of our religion. Without proper service to God we could not hope +to continue in the grace of God. Certainly it stands one in hand to know +what kind of service he should engage in. + +The world and the religion of Jesus Christ were never calculated to mix. +It is the unholy mixtures all down the ages that have brought the stigma +upon the Church of God. It always causes trouble. "And the mixed +multitude that was among them fell a lusting: and the children of Israel +also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat?" The children +of Israel fell into line with the murmurings of the mixture they had on +hand. God's plan has always been for His people to be separated people. +That is the reason He took them out of Egypt. He warned them before they +ever got to Canaan, that they must remain separated from the inhabitants +of the land. They were not to intermarry; they were not to mix. When +Balaam utterly failed to curse the children of Israel for Balak's sake, +because the Lord would not let him, yet on his departure he told Balak +how he could succeed anyway. He told him to mix up with the children of +Israel in an unholy and abominable alliance. He did so and brought the +curse and plague of God upon Israel, and thousands were slain thereby. +When Nehemiah was sent to rebuild Jerusalem, he found a terrible state +of affairs had arisen by the intermarriage of the Jews with the women of +Ashdod, Ammon and Moab. There were a lot of little half-breeds running +around that could not talk the Jews' language. So Nehemiah had a great +cleaning up time on his hands. + +God has called His Church to stand out clean and spotless from the +world. What a power she would have been had she always taken the +separated, clean way! But how sad to see those who profess to be +followers of the meek and lowly Nazarene, courting the world and mixing +with them in their pleasures, pride, popularity, and polluted politics! + +One of the saddest things to behold today is the reckless transgression +of that plain command, "Be ye not unequally yoked together with +unbelievers." See the unhappy homes everywhere, because Christians did +not counsel with God and His Word in taking a life-partner. Oh, the +anguish, and heartaches, and backslidings, because the plain Word was +not followed! There was a certain Christian lady, who neglected to +follow the Guide Book in this important step, and right soon after the +marriage she knelt down to offer a little prayer to God, and His voice +was heard clear and distinct: "Be ye not unequally yoked together with +unbelievers." It was too late now to remedy the affair, but the same +word was in the Book before she got into trouble. For thirty years this +lady wandered on in darkness thereafter and never heard the voice of +God, till in mercy she was brought back to saving grace. + +How many there are who take upon them the name of Jesus Christ and yet +are mixed up in secret societies and labor unions. Let the world have +these institutions if they want, for they are simply worldly. Their +methods and practices and pleasures are not conducive to spiritual life. +It is a wrong mixture. "Come out from among them and be ye separate." + +Let me not pass by another mixing which does not have the blessing of +God upon it. It is that of partnership in business with the unsaved. How +many of God's people have found themselves in serious difficulty on +account of unscriptural business partnership. More than once God has had +to force the alternative upon one of His children to buy out or sell +out; that he could not continue in such alliance to the glory of God. We +have been astonished and grieved at the careless and reckless way so +many professing Christians, yea, holiness people have disregarded this +command of separation, and allowed themselves to be drawn into stock +companies with the unsaved. Is it not an unequal yoking together? Shall +we take God's money, and put it in the control of the world? No wonder +so many who have been so fortunate as to possess a little of this +world's goods have suddenly found their money taking wings and flying +away. Had they counseled with God in the business, they would not have +been beguiled into the unequal yoking with unbelievers. Let us not think +we can fly in the face of the plain Word of God and take matters in our +own hands with impunity. + +Neither should we yoke up in church fellowship with those who are not +saved. We would not take the stand, that perchance some might not be +taking the track, that it should bar us from church membership, but when +the mass of members are not obeying God, and are opposed to holiness, +and are worldly in their trend, it is no place for one who wishes to be +spiritual and keep blessed. How long will it be if one mixes in with +such a crowd till he will be like them? We once were passing through the +state of Colorado and saw from the car window a beautiful, clear stream +of water join with another stream that was dark and muddy. How long did +it take the crystal stream to become muddy like the other? It certainly +did not clarify the muddy current, but the muddy current mixed right +into it and all became impure. + +Poor Ephraim ought to stand out as a warning to those who think they can +mix with the world with impunity. Hear the Word on his case: "Ephraim, +he hath mixed himself among the people; Ephraim is a cake not turned." +Poor, unturned cake. He had mixed so much among the people that he did +not have fire enough to bake him on both sides; it did not pay to turn +him over. What is an unbaked cake good for? It is so sticky that it will +adhere to almost anything. Ephraim adhered to this people and that, and +met with sad failure. Sticky, soggy, heavy, indigestible, unpalatable! +Who wants it? "Hot cakes" is the call, and not cold, unturned ones. + +The next department of religion we wish to notice is that of experience. +Here we have the prohibition of the linen and woolen garments mixed. +What is closer to a person than his garments? God has seen fit to +express salvation under the fitting emblem of garments. "For fine linen +is the righteousness of saints" (Rev. 19:8). "These are they which came +out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them +white in the blood of the Lamb" (Rev. 7:14). "Let thy garments be always +white, and let thy head lack no ointment" (Eccl. 9:8). "Put on thy +beautiful garments, O Jerusalem" (Isa. 52:1). "He hath clothed me with +the garments of salvation; he hath covered me with the robe of +righteousness" (Isa. 61:10). We have given these beautiful Scriptures to +show that garments are used to symbolize Christian experience. Now, as +the garment is the closest thing that comes to a person, so one's +experience is the closest thing in his religion. It certainly gets up +close to a man. God forbade under the theocracy the wearing of linen and +woolen garments mixed. This mixture causes chafing and sweat and +hardship that He wanted avoided in their religion. But in this present +day we find, alas, too frequently a linsey-woolsey religion. + +Let us carry out the figure. Linen is the pure, clean, vegetable +creation, and is used to signify the righteousness of the saints. Wool +is the product of the animal, and is carnal; hence, signifies the carnal +element in one's experience. This carnal element sometimes called the +flesh, obtains in every Christian's heart until he obtains the baptism +with the Holy Ghost, wherein his heart is thus made pure. + +"Neither shall a garment mingled of linen and woolen come upon thee" +(Lev. 19:19). As the Word of God was against the garment of this +mixture, so that experience today that is allowed to remain in the +heart whereby there is righteousness and carnality dwelling together is +forbidden. There must not remain carnality where grace has taken up its +abode. There will be spiritual sweating and chafing, and one's religion +will be hindered and thwarted, and in all probability there will be +failure in the end. As it was scientifically incompatible, the mixing of +linen and woolen together for a garment, so it is spiritually +incompatible, the mixing of righteousness and carnality in the same +heart. There is always more or less chafing and hardships and +discouragements. "For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the +Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary the one to the other; +so that ye can not do the things that ye would" (Gal. 5:17). Thank God, +in the economy of grace there is provided an elimination of the carnal +element of one's experience, leaving the pure, clean linen of +righteousness. Then the chafing, and galling, and spiritual +perspiration, working against carnal odds, will cease. + +Now for a word of application. "The righteous shall flourish like the +palm tree" in preclusion of uniting or mixing with others. There is +something in the very nature of the palm that precludes the graft, or +intermixing. There is something in the spiritual makeup of the holy, +palm tree saints that have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of +darkness. They are a class by themselves. They will not mix their +religion with the world. In doctrine they are clean, true, clear, and +scriptural. They are holding to the old landmarks which their fathers +have set. They are not running after the new fads under the guise of +religion. They are settled, rooted and grounded in the truth. In service +they are separate from the world. They are not mixing with the fun, +frolic and general pastime and pleasure of the worldly element. They +scrupulously adhere to the admonition to "come out from among them" and +not to be unequally yoked together in any way. In experience, they have +no admixture of the carnal and spiritual elements. They have had their +hearts cleansed from all sin, and are really clothed with the pure, +spotless garment of salvation. They lack that cambium layer of formative +tissue that unites them to any other stock. Of course the world hates +them for standing out against them and failing to unite. The worldly +minded church members steer clear of them, for these members retain a +formative tissue that will admit of joining with the world and allowing +the world to join with them; but the palm tree saints stand aloof; they +do not mix. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +IT IS ADAPTED TO WARM CLIMATES + + +Our God is the God of nature as well as of grace. Trees thrive best when +in the sphere that nature intended them for. The palm tree is especially +a hot climate tree, and when taken out of its proper place it stands to +reason that it will succumb. It can not stand the cold. It was not made +that way. It matters not how hot the place may be, even in the broiling +sun of the desert, it will thrive. But place it in the cold regions, and +death will inevitably be the result. + +The palm tree saint has this same characteristic in the spiritual realm. +A red-hot meeting is his delight. His very nature calls out for the fire +which burns in meetings where God has His way. The warmer the meetings +the better he likes them, and the better he thrives. He can not stand +the cold. God did not make him to stand cold meetings, and so he is not +responsible for it. Cold meetings seem to chill him to the marrow. And +should he providentially be placed in such a sphere, he would feel that +he must do something to start the circulation or he would soon be frozen +to death. Why do not more people have the wisdom of those in cold +climates? To illustrate: A man starts out on a load of wood to take it +to the market several miles away. The thermometer is many degrees below +zero. A friend meets him in the way and informs him that he saw him +nodding as he came down the road; that his nose is white and that frost +has gathered on his eyebrows. The poor man still has sense enough left +to see his danger, and he at once jumps off the load and begins to kick +his toes against the sled, and swing his arms around his body in that +peculiar, cold-climate style to warm himself. After a most heroic effort +he finds himself thoroughly awake, and the warm blood again coursing +through his veins, and he says to himself, "I will not allow that to +happen again." + +How often have we seen an iceberg in the pulpit, icicles in the pews, +and polar breezes sweeping through the place! Surely, to live in that +climate long would be to freeze to death. One would have to make a +tremendous stir if he hoped to keep up circulation in such a place. And +should the stir be made, there would be a hue and cry of fanaticism, +wild fire, crazy, or such like. But the Holy Ghost never intended +Christians to live in such an element. He never intended palm tree +saints to live in refrigerators. One may ask if refrigerators are not +good for something. Surely, they are. One can preserve a dead chicken +well in one of them, but put a live chicken in and it will soon chill +and die. The idea of thinking that a lot of little, new-born babes could +live and thrive in church refrigerators! No, they must have warmth. It +is their nature, and when one goes contrary to nature, bad results will +surely follow. Thank God there is a warm climate for those who must +have it. Let us see to it that we live under the warm rays of the Sun of +righteousness, and in an element conducive to spiritual growth and +health. + +There is a mistaken idea abroad concerning unity. Because there is no +outward eruption, and because things seem to run smooth, they take it +for granted that there is oneness. There is such a thing as being frozen +together instead of melted together. Jesus prayed for His disciples that +they might be sanctified, that they all might be one. It is the +sanctifying baptism with the Holy Ghost and fire that makes people one +in the proper and scriptural sense. If one had any fire in which to keep +warm, and should attempt to live in some frozen regions, they would soon +cool him off, and he would be frozen together with them. The story is +told of an eagle floating down the Niagara river on a cake of ice. He +was enjoying a feast on a lamb which was frozen to the ice. After a +while the eagle neared the falls, but he was not afraid, because he +could fly. Finally, as the water got swifter, the eagle was seen to +spread his wings and prepare for the escape. When he saw that he could +remain no longer with impunity, he attempted to spring from the ice, +when, lo and behold, he found himself frozen to the cake of ice. With an +awful screech and wings flapping he went over the falls to destruction. +May the Lord save _us_ from too much self-confidence and from remaining +where death and destruction are inevitable, and where freezing and +falling go together. + +Quite a number of years ago the writer and another evangelist were +invited to a certain church in New Orleans for revival services. A +certain, noted evangelist had formerly served in that church as pastor, +and great good had resulted from his ministry. The pastor at this time +stated in his invitation to us, that should we accept it, it must be +with the understanding that we were not to preach holiness as a second +work of grace; that the church had previously undergone quite an +upheaval on that line, but now things had quieted down, and peace was +now reigning instead. It might be of some interest to know if we +accepted his invitation. Our answer was about on this line: "We thank +you for your invitation to assist in meetings in your church, but +inasmuch as you have placed an embargo on the stream of holiness as a +second work of grace, which is the only way any one ever received it, we +feel if we should accept the invitation under such conditions we would +be selling Jesus Christ at a less figure than Judas got for Him. And +furthermore, may not that peace and quietude of which you speak relative +to the church, be the quietude of the graveyard instead of a live +church?" Suffice it to say, we did not receive any further invitation. + +It is a very easy thing to compromise both as preachers and laymen, and +accommodate ourselves to cooled off environments, till we are a very +part of the thing ourselves. As long as God has provided a warm home for +His sheep and lambs, let us see to it that we have the benefit of the +same. Amen! + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +PALM TREE PECULIARITIES + + +We are told in Titus 2:14, that pilgrims are a peculiar people. They +have characteristics exclusively their own. They belong wholly to the +Lord, and are unlike other people. To the world they appear singular, +strange. + +These people are peculiar in the source of their enjoyment, in their +conversation, in their dress, and in other ways which differentiate them +from the world. One saint may have a peculiarity which is not in any +other. He may have a peculiar way in manifesting his emotions when he +gets blessed, or in some striking manner of speech, or sphere of +service, or mode of dress. So it is with different varieties of the +palm. Some have peculiar characteristics which indeed belong only to +their species, and some are strikingly curious. The Christian life is +illustrated so plainly by some of these, that we will note a few. + + +I. THE EXPLOSIVE FLOWER + +There is a certain palm which buds out in enormous clusters. It is said +that "the flowers occur in an enormous cluster, at first ensheathed by +large and frequently wooden spathes, which often burst with an +explosion." Much fault has been found with some of God's palm tree +saints because they have a peculiarity akin to this. To hinder this +explosive emotion in them might hinder their spiritual life itself. For +them to quench the Spirit, would be to thwart the plan and purpose of +God himself. Many precious souls have been tempted and tried because +they seem to be put up different from some others. They have wished to +be more quiet, and have wondered why they have to shout so much. Some +always have a gush of tears and have gone so far as to ask the Lord to +dry their tears, and when the Lord answered their prayer, they +invariably were made lean, and prayed again for Him to open the +fountain. On whatever plan of peculiar disposition we may be built, let +us thank God for it and let the Holy Ghost have His way in all the +minutia of life. All people do not shout, and all do not laugh, but all +get blessed if the Lord has His way. We must not be tried over those +whose blessings do not fall within our desired method, nor should we be +discouraged because the manifestations of the Spirit within us are not +exactly like some others whom we admire. + +"The manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit +withal." The emotions which follow these operations of the Spirit vary +according to the peculiar makeup of the individual. If there were a row +of various combustibles, such as shavings, salt, powder, gasoline, etc., +and fire were put to each one of them, there would be manifestations +according to their various characteristics. The shavings would quietly +blaze up, the salt would flicker, the powder would blow up and that +would be the end of it, while the gasoline would blaze all over and keep +on till all was burned. So, when the fire of the Holy Ghost is turned +loose on a lot of consecrated saints, the manifestations of the Spirit +will vary according to the peculiar characteristics of the spiritual +material on hand. When all do the same thing it might be an evidence of +custom or training, and not of the Spirit's manifestation, for God does +not confine Himself in ruts. What could be more stirring, and conducive +to conviction than a body of fire-baptized souls under the control of +the Holy Ghost, some shouting, some laughing, some crying, and some +leaping and dancing, while others might be praying or exhorting; all +letting the Spirit work through them severally as He will. Such scenes +never fail to produce conviction upon an audience. The altar is +frequently filled with weeping penitents after such a scene. + +Yes, in nature we have the explosive element in the palm; so in grace we +have the bursting forth of holy emotions, the upgush of heavenly +raptures, and as a help and forewarning the Word tells us, "Quench not +the Spirit." + +When a soul swings loose in the Spirit and becomes so free as to shout, +or laugh, or jump for joy, it is reasonable to suppose that it is the +mind of the Spirit for that soul to retain his freedom, not allowing +himself to be tied up so that such demonstrations could not be +duplicated should God so desire. Alas, how many have failed right here! +We have noted the freedom of a new, Spirit-filled soul. How the +peculiar manifestation of the Spirit blest the meeting, and the "profit +withal" was apparent. Later on we have observed how the Holy Spirit +tried to duplicate the freedom and blessing, but the dear soul felt +timid or backward and simply failed to keep abandoned to God. The +inevitable result was, that the heart closed up, the Spirit was grieved, +and dryness and leanness were the result. Let no one dare say, "I am +abandoned to the Holy Ghost" and then not let Him have His way with him +in every particular. To be consecrated means more than simply saying it. +If some one should place a thousand dollars on deposit in my name in +some bank and hand me over the bank book, telling me it all belonged to +me, and for me to draw upon it for any purpose up to the amount of the +deposit, I would certainly feel free to do with it as I pleased without +any fear of his interference. If I wanted five dollars for groceries, I +could draw on the deposit. If I wanted fifty dollars for missionary +work, it is on deposit. It is all mine; I can handle it as I please. +Consecration is putting our all--body, soul, and spirit, time, talent, +earthly store, family, future, service, all we have and know, and all we +do not know into heaven's bank on deposit and then handing the bank book +over to the Holy Ghost, saying, "Draw on the deposit for anything which +Thou in Thy infinite wisdom desirest." Be sure, then, that the Holy +Ghost will take us at our word. When He makes a draw for some particular +demonstration such as shouting, or taking a trip down the aisle, or +laughing, or crying, remember He controls the deposit and has a right to +do as He pleases with what has been turned over to Him. If our time is +placed in His hands He has a right to direct it. If our money is placed +at His disposal, we must let Him say in what channels it shall be used. +It means much to say, "I am all the Lord's." + + +II. THE LIVING SACRIFICE + +The Coquito palm of Chile is a tree about fifty feet in height, with a +spreading crown of leaves. From its trunk a syrup is obtained called +_miel de palma_, which is much esteemed by the Chileans and foreigners +in cookery. This syrup is obtained by cutting down the tree, and lopping +off its crown of leaves, when the sap flows from the wound, and is +carefully collected. By cutting off a fresh slice from the wound daily, +or when the flow of sap becomes weak, it may be kept flowing for several +months. A good tree is said to yield as much as ninety gallons of sap, +which on being boiled down assumes the consistency of treacle or +molasses. + +Here we have a beautiful and fitting illustration of the daily and +living sacrifice of a palm tree saint. If the righteous flourish like +the palm tree, might it not be well to emulate this peculiar +characteristic? When Paul admonished the Roman Christians to present +their "bodies a living sacrifice," he did not mean for them simply to +obtain the blessing of holiness and then stop and thereafter settle down +and enjoy themselves. He meant not only a sacrifice to be offered up at +the given time, but to remain offered up. Our sacrifice is to remain a +living sacrifice. The Christian life is one sacrificed to God's cause +for the sake of glorifying God and being used in His service. The very +word sacrifice means something offered up in devotion. Then if it is +offered up to another, can we claim it as our own? If we are to be like +this peculiar palm, then we are ready to be "poured forth" as Paul said +he was to the Philippians. Here is this sacrificed palm, with its very +life poured out from day to day for the benefit of humanity. And this is +kept up till there remains nothing but the trunk. Oh, what a symbol of +the constant, daily outpouring of one's life and strength for the +benefit of a lost world! Look at David Brainerd, David Livingstone, +Henry Martyn, yea, thousands of faithful men and women missionaries who +have literally poured out their lives, and died for their fellow-men. + +The sacrifice element in the Christian life is further illustrated in +another kind of palm known as the Cabbage palm. The terminal bud, or +"cabbage," is enclosed among many thin, snow-white, brittle flakes. It +has the flavor of the almond, but of greater sweetness, and is boiled +and eaten with meat. As its removal causes the death of the tree, it is +regarded as an extravagant delicacy only rarely to be enjoyed. + +Here we find the illustration of the martyr element of the palm tree +saint. Paul said, "I am now ready to be offered." Stephen gave himself a +living sacrifice to God, and right away lost his life. The martyrs are +numbered by thousands. Is not this an extravagant method of spreading +the gospel? It may be from a human standpoint, but God in His infinite +wisdom can see beyond our shortsightedness, and permits such to be. "The +blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church." If there were more +persecution today there would doubtless be a better type of Christians. +We should possess the martyr spirit. The word "witness" in the original +is martyr. And surely many of those early Christians proved it. Every +consecrated soul should involve in his consecration the possibility of +losing his life for Jesus; then, if he ever faces the issue, he is +prepared for it, and if he never has to face such an issue, he might +consider it so much clear gain. + + +III. THE FOREIGN MISSIONARY + +The peculiarity of a certain kind of palm, known as the Great Rattan is +its wandering or traveling characteristic. The stems of this very +peculiar variety are of prodigious length extending for hundreds of +feet; it is stated from twelve hundred to eighteen hundred feet, +clinging by hooks attached to their leaves to the trunks and boughs of +neighboring trees, or trailing on the ground. They are extremely hard +externally and usually smooth. + +Here we have a beautiful illustration of the missionary spirit. We are +living in a day when many of God's dear palm tree saints are flourishing +like this Great Rattan. They have the missionary spirit. They have those +spiritual hooks attached to their experience which enable them to cling +to others with a tenacity which is not human. They are endowed with a +spiritual sturdiness which in truth enables them to "endure hardness as +good soldiers." They cross mountains, deserts and oceans, and live among +the heathen to win them to Christ. What we need in these days of +self-ease and luxury is more of this Great Rattan movement. We need more +pilgrims to foreign lands. If we are not called ourselves with this +peculiar characteristic, then let us help those who are thus called. We +can help them with our money and with our prayers. + +We all have a call to the foreign field in one sense: "Go ye into all +the world." If God has let you off in person, then see to it that you +have a part anyway in evangelizing the world. If I can not go, I can +send. If I can not reach them by word of mouth, I can by way of the +throne. If I can not preach and teach in the foreign land, I can pray +and pay in the homeland. Amen! + +With the thought of the missionary and also of the living sacrifice +before us, we have the perfect combination of the two in the +self-sacrificing experience of some of the early pioneers in the foreign +lands. We, in the home lands, can scarcely realize the toils and +hardships and dangers that some of these heroes of the cross waded +through. We think of the dauntless Livingstone, who penetrated Africa's +jungles in order to plant the gospel in that benighted region. Lost to +home and the world for years, no wonder people considered him worth +looking up, and sending a Stanley in search for him. But he was doing a +work which would open up nations to hear the Word of life. Though he +had to bury his loved one on the bank of the Zambesi, yet "with +undaunted courage, he set his face toward new paths." How the natives +loved this man--this living sacrifice. He was the means in God's hands +of bringing them light for darkness, comfort for sorrow, life for death. +He was the foe of the slave stealers, and delivered the poor helpless +mortals from their grasp. He toiled on in solitude, and gave his very +life to make a way to this dark and heathen world. Finally, far from the +shore, and thousands of miles from home, he took sick. He was a man of +prayer, and one morning when the native men looked into his abode, they +found only the body of this devoted follower of the Lamb; he was dead on +his knees. Those dusky, devoted souls determined to do the best they +could in memory of their apostle, and knowing that his great, loving +heart was centered in Africa, they took out his heart and buried it +beneath a tree. They then let the hot sun dry the body and those loyal +hands carried the remains many, many miles to the seashore, where, what +was left of the faithful missionary was shipped to England. And now, +with the heart of David Livingstone in the middle of Africa, his body in +Westminster Abbey, his soul in heaven, we have an example of the grace +of God in helping a man to give up his life for a lost world. + +Let us take a glance at Henry Martyn. Leaving England as a young man in +feeble health, for six years he worked against fearful odds in India. +There in that disease-ladened land and in Persia he pursued his arduous +task of learning three languages utterly adverse, such as Hindustani, +Arabic, and Persian. In these three languages he translated the entire +New Testament in six years. This is one of the most astonishing of +intellectual feats on record. Besides these translations he made others +and when we remember that he was burning up with consumptive's fever, +and yet kept right on till, in order to perfect his translation in +Persian, he made a trip to that country, and crossing burning, sand +deserts with his own body literally burning up with fever, he was surely +a living sacrifice. His passionate love for the Savior and the souls of +lost men, made him suffer on in weakness and sickness, until the short +candle of his life consuming at both ends finally flickered out in that +faraway foreign land between Persia and the western shore, and where a +lone headstone marked the spot where one of God's sainted heroes lay +down and died. How small it makes me feel as I write these lines! + +Another example is that of David Brainerd, the apostle to the Indians +before the colonies became independent. This young man, who died in his +thirtieth year in the home of Jonathan Edwards, was one of those early +pioneers of gospel work among the wild and pagan Indians. He was another +living sacrifice, very feeble in body, dying by inches with consumption, +yet toiled on without murmuring, and praying till his body would be +bathed in perspiration, he battled almost against hope till finally God +gave him marvelous success among those benighted savages. A few lines +from the journal of this marvelous man of prayer may stir up more of a +spirit of prayer and self-sacrifice in the reader: + +"June 14, 1742. + +"I set apart this day for secret fasting and prayer, to entreat God to +direct and bless me with regard to the great work which I have in view, +of preaching the gospel--and that the Lord would return to me and show +me the light of His countenance. Had little life and power in the +forenoon. Near the middle of the afternoon, God enabled me to wrestle +ardently in intercession for my friends. But just at night the Lord +visited me marvelously in prayer. I think my soul never was in such an +agony before. I felt no restraint; for the treasures of divine grace +were opened to me. I wrestled for absent friends, for the ingathering of +souls, for multitudes of poor souls, and for many that I thought were +the children of God, personally, in many distant places. I was in such +an agony from sun half an hour high, till near dark, that I was all over +wet with sweat; but yet it seemed to me that I had wasted the day and +done nothing. Oh, my dear Savior did sweat blood for poor souls! I +longed for more compassion towards them. Felt still in a sweet frame, +under a sense of divine love and grace, and went to bed in such a frame, +with my heart set on God. + +"April 30, 1743. + +"The presence of God is what I want. I live in the most lonely, +melancholy desert, about eighteen miles from Albany; for it was not +thought best that I should go to Delaware river. I board with a poor +Scotchman. His wife can talk scarce any English. My diet consists mostly +of hasty pudding, boiled corn, and bread baked in the ashes, and +sometimes a little meat and butter. My lodging is a little heap of +straw, laid upon some boards a little way from the ground; for it is a +log room, without any floor, that I lodge in. My work is exceedingly +hard and difficult. I travel on foot a mile and a half, the worst of +ways, almost daily, and back again; for I live so far from my Indians. I +have not seen an English person in this month. These, and many other +circumstances, equally uncomfortable, attend me. The Lord grant that I +may learn to 'endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.' + +"August 15, 1743. + +"Spent most of the day in labor to procure something to keep my horse on +in the winter. Enjoyed not much sweetness in the morning; was very weak +in body through the day, and thought that this frail body would soon +drop into the dust, and had some very realizing apprehensions of a +speedy entrance into another world. In this weak state of body, I was +not a little distressed for want of suitable food. I had no bread, nor +could I get any. I am forced to go or send ten or fifteen miles for all +the bread I eat; and sometimes it is moldy and sour before I eat it, if +I get any considerable quantity. And then again I have none for some +days together, for want of an opportunity to send for it, and can not +find my horse in the woods to go myself; and this was my case today. +But through divine goodness I had some Indian meal, of which I made +little cakes, and fried them. Yet I felt contented with my +circumstances, and sweetly resigned to God. In prayer I enjoyed great +freedom, and blessed God as much for my present circumstances, as if I +had been a king; and thought that I found a disposition to be contented +in any circumstances. Blessed be God! + +"January 23, 1744. + +"I think I never felt more resigned to God, nor so dead to the world, in +every respect, as now. Am dead to all desire of reputation and +greatness, either in life or after death. All I long for is to be holy, +humble, and crucified to the world. + +"March 2, 1744. + +"Was most of the day employed in writing on a divine subject. Was +frequent in prayer and enjoyed some small degree of assistance. But in +the evening God was pleased to grant me divine sweetness in prayer +especially in the duty of intercession. I think I never felt so much +kindness and love to those who, I have reason to think, are my +enemies--though at that time I found such a disposition to think the +best of all, that I scarce knew how to think that any such thing as +enmity and hatred lodged in any soul. It seemed that all the world must +needs be friends. I never prayed with more freedom and delight for +myself, or dearest friend, than I did now for my enemies. + +"March 3, 1744. + +"In the morning, spent (I believe) an hour in prayer, with great +intenseness and freedom, and with the most soft and tender affection +toward mankind. I longed that those who, I have reason to think, bear me +ill will, might be eternally happy. It seemed refreshing to think of +meeting them in heaven, how much soever they had injured me on earth. I +had no disposition to insist upon any confession from them, in order to +reconciliation and the exercise of love and kindness to them. Oh, it is +an emblem of heaven itself, to love all the world with a love of +kindness, forgiveness, and benevolence; to feel our souls sedate, mild +and meek, to be void of all evil surmisings and suspicions, and scarce +able to think evil of any man upon any occasion; to find our hearts +simple, open, and free, to those that look upon me with a different eye! +Prayer was so sweet an exercise to me, that I knew not how to cease, +lest I should lose the spirit of prayer. Felt no disposition to eat or +drink, for the sake of the pleasure of it, but only to support my body, +and fit me for divine service. Could not be content without a very +particular mention of a great number of dear friends at the throne of +grace; as also the particular circumstances of many, so far as they were +known. + +"July 24, 1744. + +"Rode about seventeen miles westward, over a hideous mountain, to a +number of Indians. Got together near thirty of them; preached to them in +the evening and lodged among them. Was weak, and felt in some degree +disconsolate; yet could have no freedom in the thought of any other +circumstances or other business in life. All my desire was the +conversion of the heathen; and all hope was in God. God does not suffer +me to please or comfort myself with hopes of seeing friends, returning +to dear acquaintances, and enjoying worldly comforts. + +"November 22, 1744. + +"Came on my way from Rockciticus to the Delaware. Was very much +disordered with a cold and pain in my head. About six at night, I lost +my way in the wilderness, and wandered over rocks and mountains, down +hideous steeps, through swamps, and most dreadful and dangerous places, +and, the night being dark, so that few stars could be seen, I was +greatly exposed. I was much pinched with cold, and distressed with an +extreme pain in my head, attended with sickness at my stomach; so that +every step I took was distressing to me. I had little hope for several +hours together, but that I must lie out in the woods all night, in this +distressed case. But about nine o'clock, I found a house, through the +abundant goodness of God, and was kindly entertained. Thus I have +frequently been exposed, and sometimes lain out the whole night; but God +has hitherto preserved me, and blessed be His name. Such fatigues and +hardships as these serve to wean me from the earth; and, I trust, will +make heaven the sweeter. Formerly, when I was thus exposed to cold and +rain, I was ready to please myself with the thoughts of enjoying a +comfortable house, a warm fire, and other outward comforts; but now +these have less place in my heart, (through the grace of God), and my +eye is more to God for comfort. In this world I expect tribulation; and +it does not now, as formerly, appear strange to me. I do not in such +seasons of difficulty flatter myself that it will be better hereafter; +but rather think how much worse it might be; how much greater trials +others of God's children have endured, and how much greater are yet, +perhaps, reserved for me. + +"October 5, 1746. + +"After sermon, baptized two persons. Administered the Lord's Supper to +the Indians, besides divers dear Christians of the white people. It +seemed to be a season of divine power and grace; and numbers seemed to +rejoice in God. Oh, the sweet union and harmony then appearing among the +religious people! My soul was refreshed, and my religious friends of the +white people, with me. After the sacrament, could scarcely get home, +though it was not more than twenty rods; but was supported and led by my +friends, and laid on my bed; where I lay in pain till some time in the +evening; and then was able to sit up and discourse with friends. Oh, how +was this day spent in prayers and praises among my dear people! One +might hear them, all the morning before public worship, and in the +evening, till near midnight, praying and singing praises to God, in one +or other of their houses. My soul was refreshed, though my body was +weak." + +Just before his death he wrote a letter to his brother Israel, who was +then in college. A part of this letter we give as follows: + +"It is on the verge of eternity I now address you. I am heartily sorry +that I have so little strength to write what I long so much to +communicate to you. But, let me tell you, my brother, eternity is +another thing than we ordinarily take it to be when in a healthful +state. Oh, how fixed and unalterable! Oh, of what infinite importance it +is, that we be prepared for eternity! I have been just a dying, now for +more than a week; and all around me have thought me so. I have had clear +views of eternity, have seen the blessedness of the godly, in some +measure, and have longed to share their happy state, as well as been +comfortably satisfied, that through grace I shall do so; but oh, what +anguish is raised in my mind, to think of eternity for those who are +Christless, for those who are mistaken, and who bring their false hopes +to the grave with them! The sight was so dreadful, I could by no means +bear it. My thoughts recoiled, and I said, under a more affecting sense +than ever before, 'Who can dwell with everlasting burnings!' Oh, +methought, could I now see my friends, that I may warn them to see it, +that they lay their foundation for eternity sure. * * * If you have +reason to think you are graceless, O give yourself and the throne of +grace no rest, till God arise and save! But if the case should be +otherwise, bless God for His grace, and press after holiness. + +"My soul longs, that you should be fitted for, and in due time go into +the work of the ministry. I can not bear to think of your going into any +other business in life. Do not be discouraged, because you see your +elder brothers in the ministry die early, one after another. I declare, +now I am dying, I would not have spent my life otherwise for the whole +world. + +"Oh, my dear brother, flee fleshly lusts, and the enchanting amusements +as well as the corrupt doctrines of the present day, and strive to live +to God. Take this as the last line from your affectionate and dying +brother." + +About a year and six months before this faithful, self-sacrificing +servant of God passed to his reward, he wrote in his diary something +which most beautifully sets forth the thought we are trying to bring out +in the illustration of the living sacrifice life of the missionary. + +Under date of May 22, 1746, he wrote: + +"If ever my soul presented itself to God for His service, without any +reserve of any kind, it did so now. The language of my thoughts and +disposition now was, 'Here I am, Lord, send me. Send me to the ends of +the earth. Send me to the rough, savage pagans of the wilderness. Send +me from all that is called comfort in earth, or earthly comfort. Send me +even to death itself, if it be but in Thy service, and to promote Thy +kingdom.' At the same time I had as quick and lively a sense of the +value of worldly comforts as I ever had; but only saw them infinitely +overmatched by the worth of Christ's kingdom, and the propagation of His +blessed gospel. A quiet settlement, a certain place of abode, the tender +friendships of life, appeared as valuable to me, considered absolutely +and in themselves, as ever before; but considered comparatively, they +appeared nothing. Compared with the value and preciousness of an +enlargement of Christ's kingdom, they vanished as stars before a rising +sun. Sure I am that though the comfortable accommodations of life +appeared valuable and clear to me, yet I did surrender and resign +myself, soul and body, to the service of God, and to the promotion of +Christ's kingdom, though it should be in the loss of them all. I could +not do any other, because I could not will or choose any other. I was +constrained, and yet chose, to say, 'Farewell, friends and earthly +comforts, the dearest of them all, the very dearest, if the Lord calls +for it. Adieu, adieu; I will spend my life to my latest moments, in the +caves and dens of the earth, if the kingdom of Christ may thereby be +advanced.' + +"I felt extraordinary freedom at this time in pouring out my soul to God +for His cause, especially that His kingdom might be extended among the +Indians, far remote; and I had a great and strong hope that God would do +it. I continued wrestling with God in prayer for my dear little flock +here, and more especially for the Indians elsewhere, as well as for dear +friends in one place and another until it was bedtime, and I feared I +should hinder the family. But oh, with what reluctancy did I feel myself +obliged to consume time in sleep! I longed to be a flame of fire, +continually glowing in the divine service, and building up Christ's +kingdom, to my latest, my dying moment." + +And God granted him his desire to his dying moment. David Brainerd was +truly a living sacrifice as a missionary to the pagan Indians, and won +many of them to Christ, where he is rejoicing with them in glory today. + + +IV. DIFFERENCE IN SIZE AND FORM + +Here we find some very noted peculiarities. There are so many shapes and +sizes in the various departments of the palm tree world that one is lost +in wonder. Here is one gigantic tree two hundred feet high, while +another is only a few feet in height and both real palms. Some leaves +attain the enormous proportions of thirty-five feet in length by five or +six feet in breadth, while on other varieties the leaves are only a few +inches in length. Some palms have no flowers at all, while another known +as the Talipot palm throws up a branching inflorescence to a height of +thirty feet above the foliage, and it has been estimated that such an +inflorescence has included as many as sixty millions of flowers. + +When we see such differences in size and propensities, we are reminded +of the vast differences in the Christian world. Some saints loom up +indeed like the giants of the forest, while others are more like house +plants. Some are so full of stupendous works for God's kingdom, and are +accomplishing such herculean tasks, while others seem to be more adapted +for the mantelpiece, or things to look at. We find the same differences +obtaining on other lines. In the physical world is a Samson who can +carry off the gates of Gaza, while here is another who can scarcely +carry himself. In the intellectual world there are men who can walk +through the heavens as we would stroll through a town; they weigh the +planets in their scales, and tell the composition of stars and their +distances; while others are still wondering if this world is not flat. +In the financial realm we find a man who can lug whole railroad systems, +or trans-Atlantic steamers on his shoulders, or thousands of tanks of +Standard oil. On the other hand we see some who would starve to death if +they were left to themselves. We know of one man who had been trying for +years to save up enough money on which to get divorced. We would not be +too hard on those, who, in the spiritual realm, are not able to walk off +with mountains on their shoulders; they may not be endowed with any +special gifts, and yet they may be the Lord's weak children. + +We would not sit in judgment on any of God's children. Christ came to +save all who will put their trust in Him, and if one is naturally +endowed with great and peculiar talents, so much the more responsibility +rests upon him; but if one does not possess the extraordinary, he may be +a trustful follower of the Lamb after all. And yet we have known of some +who certainly did not seem possessed with anything above the ordinary, +yet because of their fidelity to Christ and their abandonment to the +Holy Ghost, were really blessed in usefulness beyond the ordinary. There +is no telling what the Lord will do with the weak ones if they will only +let Him put over against them His strength. So, as in the palm tree +realm, there is such a variety in size and form, so in the Christian +world we have the babe and the man, the weak and the strong, the tiny, +trusting heart who is scarcely known around the corner, and the giant of +God who wields his influence throughout the nation. So, whether we are +little or big, weak or strong, if we have the assurance that we belong +to God's kingdom, let us look up and rejoice evermore. We may be tempted +to discouragement when we see the stupendous accomplishments of some of +the palm tree saints, but we must remember that God requires from us +only that which we are able to perform. So while we may not do what some +others do, yet we can all, without an exception, measure up in our +individual sphere and prove that the Word of God is true, that "The +righteous shall flourish like the palm tree." + +Reader, in closing this little message to you, let me entreat you, by +the aid of the Holy Spirit, to introspect your heart and life and see if +you possess a spiritual life which would warrant you in believing that +you are flourishing like the palm tree. Amen! + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Palm Tree Blessing, by W. E. 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