莱尔主教upper_room-第62章
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brilliant and showy in colour； but not sweet。 You see them afar off；
and they attract the world's eye； and their tints are beautiful； but
you can say no more。
These are frequently the public Christians；… the popular
preachers；the speakers on platforms；…the lions of listening
panies；the people talked of； and pointed at； and run after。 Such
persons are the tulips； and sunflowers； and peonies； and dahlias of the
Lord's garden； wonderful； gaudy； bright and glorious in their way； but
not sweet。
（2） Some are like those flowers which make no show at all； and yet are
the sweetest。
These are the Christians whom the world never hears of； they rather
shrink from public observation。 They hold on the even tenor of their
way； and pass silently on towards home； but they sweeten all around
them。
These are they that are rare and hard to find： but the better they are
known； the more they are loved。 Ask their true character in their own
homes； and in their families；ask husbands； wives； children； servants；
their character； and you will soon discover that not a tenth part of
their beauty and excellence is known by the world。 The nearer you go；
the more perfume will these dwellers in the Lord's garden give out。
These are the Lord's violets；valued by only few； but to those who
know them； oh； how sweet！
（3） Some in the Lord's garden are like those flowers which cannot live
in cold weather。
These are the Christians who have but a little strength； who faint in
the day of adversity； who only flourish when everything around them is
smooth and warm。 A cold wind of trial； and unexpected frost of
affliction； nips them and cuts them down。 But the Lord Jesus is very
merciful； He will not suffer them to be tempted above what they can
endure。 He plants them in sheltered and sunny places of His garden。 He
protects them and hedges them round by strong plants； to break the
cold。 Let no man despise them。 They are the Lord's flowers； beautiful
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 whisper
