against every temptation, we shall never willingly do anything to
grieve Him. A life ruled by this power may grow to be so truly in
harmony with the spirit of the Master that even though the waves of
trouble dash wildly against it, it will continue to stand firmly,
because it knows that 'Jehovah will give grace and glory and no good
thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly.'

"We shall turn to Nature for our object lesson today. We might select
the mighty oak, 'the king of the trees,' to represent the stalwart
Christian life which not only withstands the storms, but which, as it
strives against the winds, sends its mighty roots ever deeper into the
earth; and we might choose as the type of the weak and sinful life the
bay tree which does not send its roots deep into the earth and which
is in danger of being torn away by every passing storm. But we shall
look not at these but at two other trees which are described by Julia
Ellen Rogers in her beautiful book, 'Among the Trees.' Says this
author, 'There is something almost sublime in the patience and courage
of plants!' Doesn't that sound strange? The idea of claiming that
plants are courageous and patient! But the writer goes on to prove her
words. One tree of which she writes was thrown prostrate upon the
ground, crushed down by another tree which fell upon it. There it lay,
with some of its roots torn loose from the earth and drying in the
heat of the sun. It was left there in the forest to die. [As you
speak, draw Step A of Fig. 33.] The writer tells also of a small
poplar tree which grew on the sloping side of a mountain. One day,
when there was a heavy landslide, the rush of boulders and earth tore
the tree from its place and carried it a considerable distance down
the side of the mountain. When it stopped sliding, it was left with
its top downward, while its roots were lifted toward the sky. [Draw
Step B of Fig. 33.] In the rush of the earth, a quantity of soil was
spread over a part of the roots. If anyone had seen the tree then, he
would have declared that it must surely die.

[Illustration: Fig. 33]

"But let us turn again to the book. The writer says, 'A tree thrown
down may die of its wounds, but if it does not die it seeks to assume
an erect position. As long as there is life, there is inspiration,'
and, we might add, a reaching upward! Do you get the idea? Even if a
tree is thrown down, wounded near to its death, _it tries its best
to rise, t