We have been able to say very little about the "green earth," and the wonders of the work of God on the THIRD DAY of Creation, but perhaps you will understand something of what a student of nature meant when he wrote, "The earth may be looked at as a vast seed-plot of life, seen from the point of view of the Great Sower."
I think you will like these verses which were repeated to me by an old friend who remembered having learnt them from his mother's lips, long ago. They seem just fit to close our chapter about the earth in its verdure and beauty.
"All the world's a garden,
God hath made it fair;
Living trees and flowers
He hath planted there.
Rain and sunshine giving,
All His goodness prove;
There is nothing living
But has felt His love.
"Every home's a garden,
Clustering side by side,
Each to others yielding,
Flow'rets should abide.
Word or thought of anger
Ne'er should enter there;
Buds of loving kindness
Opening everywhere.
"Every school's a garden,
Hedged and fenced around;
Nothing vile or useless
Should within, be found.
Teachers are the gardeners,
Sowing precious seed,
Training up the tender plants,
Plucking every weed.
"Every heart's a garden;
It should bring forth fruit;
But foul weeds and briars
In its soil have root.
Envy, wrath, and hatred,
Malice, strife, and pride,
Lies and disobedience,
And many more beside.
"Cast them out, I pray, Lord,
And supply in place
Gentleness and goodness,
Lovely plants and grace;
Patience and longsuffering,
Faith and hope and love—
These will bear transplanting
To the world above."
THE FOURTH DAY.
SUN, MOON, AND STARS.
"When I consider Thy heavens, the work of Thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which Thou hast ordained: what is man, that Thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that Thou visitest him?"—PSALM viii. 3, 4.