in their place and in their way。
（4） Some in the Lord's garden are like those hardy flowers which flower
even in winter。
These are those rough Christians who never seem to feel any trials；
whom nothing； either of opposition or affliction； appears to move。
Doubtless there is not that softness and sweetness about them that we
admire in others。 We miss that lovable delicacy which in some people is
such an unexplainable charm。 They chill us sometimes by their rudeness
and want of sympathy when pared to many we know。 And yet let no man
despise them。 They are the crocuses in the garden of the Lord；
beautiful in their place and way； and valuable in their own season。
（5） Some in the Lord's garden are never so sweet as after rain。
These are the Christians who show most grace under trial and
affliction。 In the day of sunshine and prosperity they bee careless：
they need the shower 〃of some sorrow to e down on them to make their
full excellency appear。 There is more beauty of holiness about their
tears than about their smiles： they are more like Jesus when they weep
than when they laugh。 These are the roses of the Lord's garden： lovely
and sweet and beautiful at all times； but never so much so as after
rain。
（6） Some in the Lord's garden are never so sweet as at night。
These are the believers who need constant trial to keep them close to
the throne of grace。 They cannot bear the sunshine of prosperity： they
bee careless in prayer； sleepy about the Word； listless about
heaven； too fond of nestling with some Benjamin in the corner of this
world。 Such persons the Lord Jesus often keeps under a cloud； to
preserve them in a right frame。 He sends wave after wave； trouble after
trouble； to make them sit like Mary at His feet； and be near the cross。
It is the very darkness they are obliged to walk in which makes them so
sweet。
（7） Some in the Lord's garden are never so sweet as when crushed。
These are the Christians whose reality es out most under some
tremendous and unmon judgment。 The winds and storms of heavy
affliction roll over them； and then； to the astonishment of the world；
the spices flow out。 I once saw a young woman who had lain on a bed six
years in a garret； with a spinal plaint； helpless； motionless； cut
off from everything that could make this world enjoyable。 But she
belonged to the garden of Jesus： she was not alone； for He was with
her。 You would have thought she would have been gloomy； she was all
brightness。 You would have expected her to be sorrowful； she was ever
rejoicing。 You would suppose she was weak and needed fort； she was
strong and able to fort others。 You would fancy she must have felt
dark； she seemed to me all light。 You would imagine her countenance was
grave； it was full of calm smiles； and the gushing forth of inward
peace。 You would have pardoned her almost if she had murmured； she
breathed of nothing but perfect happiness and content。 The crushed
flowers in the Lord's garden are sometimes exceeding sweet！
（8） Some of the flowers in the Lord's garden are never fully valued
till they are dead。
These are those humble believers who； like Dorcas； are full of good
works and active love towards others。 These are those unostentatious
ones who dislike profession and publicity； and love to go about； like
their Lord and Master； doing good to souls； visiting the fatherless
and the widows； pouring in balm on wounds which this heartless world
neither knows nor cares for； ministering to the friendless； helping the
destitute； preaching the gospel not to silk and velvet； but to the
poor。
These are not noticed by this generation： but the Lord Jesus knows
them； and His Father also。 When they are dead and gone； their work and
labour of love all es out。 It is written with a diamond on the
hearts of those they have assisted： it cannot be hid。 They speak being
dead； though they were silent when living。 We know their worth when
gone； if we did not while we had them with us。 The tears of those who
have been fed in soul or body by their hand tell forth to the wondering
world that some have gone home whose place cannot easily be supplied；
and that a gap is made which it will be hard to fill up。 These shall
never have that wretched epitaph； 〃Departed without being desired。〃
These are the lavender in the Lord's garden； never so much appreciated
and admired as when cut off and dead。
And now let me wind up with a few words of practical application。
There is one thing about the Lord's garden； which I see nothing like in
this world。
The flowers of this world all die； and wither and lose their sweetness；
and decay； and e to nothing at last。 The fairest flowers are not
really everlasting。 The oldest and strongest of nature's children es
to an end。
It is not so with the Lord's flowers。 The children of grace can never
die。 They may sleep for a season； they may be taken away when they have
served their generation； and done their work。 The Lord is continually
ing down to His garden and〃 gathering lilies；〃 laying flowers in His
bosom one after the other； but the Lord's flowers shall all rise again。
When the Lord es again the second time； He shall bring His people
with Him。 His flowers shall live once more； more bright； more sweet；
more lovely； more beautiful； more glorious； more pure； more shining；
more fair。 They shall have a glorious body like their Lord's； and shall
flourish for ever in the courts of our God。
（1） Reader； are you in the Lord's garden； or are you in the wilderness
of this world？
You must be in one or the other。 You must take your choice。 Which have
you chosen； and which do you choose now？ The Lord Jesus would fain
transplant you。
He strives with you by His Spirit。 He would fain add you to the number
of His beloved ones。 He knocks at the door of your heart by word and by
providence。 He whispers to your conscience； 〃Awake； arise； repent； be
converted； and e away！〃
Oh； turn not away from Him that speaketh！ Resist not the Holy Ghost。
Choose not your place in the wilderness； but in the garden。 Awake；
arise； and turn away from the world。
（2） Reader！ the wilderness or the garden！ Which will you have？
If the wilderness； you will have your own way； run wild； grow to waste；
bring forth fruit and flowers to yourself； bee a barren；
unprofitable； useless plant； live unloved and unlovable to yourself；
and at last be gathered in the bundle with the tares； and burned！
If the garden；you will not have your own way。 But you will have what
is far better； you will have God and Christ for your own。 You will be
cultivated； watered； tended； moved； pruned； trained by the Lord Jesus
Himself； and at last your name shall be found in the bundle of life。
__________________________________________________________________
CHAPTER XVI
Prov。 22：6。
THE DUTIES OF PARENTS
〃Train up a child in the way he should go； and when he is old； he will
not depart from it。〃Prov。 22：6。
I SUPPOSE that most professing Christians are acquainted with the text
at the head of this page。 The sound of it is probably familiar to your
ears； like an old tune。 It is likely you have heard it； or read it；
talked of it； or quoted it； many a time。 Is it not so？
But； after all； how little is the substance of this text regarded！ The
doctrine it contains appears scarcely known； the duty it puts before us
seems fearfully seldom practised。 Reader； do I not speak the truth？
It cannot be said that the subject is a new one。 The world is old； and
we have the experience of nearly six thousand years to help us。 We live
in days when there is a mighty zeal for education in every quarter。 We
hear of new schools rising on all sides。 We are told of new systems；
and 〃new books for the young； of every sort and description。 And still
for all this； the vast majority of children are manifestly not trained
in the way they should go； for when they grow up to man's estate； they
do not walk with God。
Now how shall we account for this state of things？ The plain truth is；
the Lord's mandment in our text is not regarded； and therefore the
Lord's promise in our text is not fulfilled。
Reader； these things may well give rise to great searchings of heart。
Suffer then a word of exhortation from a minister； about the right
training of children。 Believe me； the subject is one that should e
home to every conscience； and make every one ask himself the question；
〃 Am I in this matter doing what I can？〃
It is a subject that concerns almost all。 There is hardly a household
that it does not touch。 Parents； nurses； teachers； godfathers；
godmothers； uncles； aunts； brothers； sisters；all have an interest in
it。 Few can be found； I think； who might not influence some parent in
the management of his family； or affect the training of some child by
suggestion or advice。 All of us； I suspect； can do something here；
either directly or indirectly； and I wish to stir up all to bear this
in remembrance。
It is a subject； too； on which all concerned are in great danger of
ing short of their duty。 This is pre…eminently a point in which men
can see the faults of their neighbours more clearly than their own。
They will often bring up their children in the very path which they
have denounced to their friends as unsafe。 They will see motes in other
men's families； and overlook beams in their own。 They will be quick
sighted as eagles in detecting mistakes abroad； and yet blind as bats
to fatal errors which are daily going on at home。 They will be wise
about their brother's house； but foolish about their own flesh and
blood。 Here； if anywhere； we have need to suspect our own judgment。
This； too； you will do well to bear in mind。
＇14＇
e now； and let me place before you a few hints about right tra