THE SEASONS.

A Discourse Delivered by Rev. E.K. Love, Thomasville, Ga.

“And pray that your flight be not in the winter” (Mark xiii.18.)

The Saviour is here speaking of the destruction of Jerusalem, which Josephus tells us, took place, according to the awful prediction of Jesus, A.D. 72. Just forty years after the prediction, Titus enters Jerusalem, and a more fearful calamity the world has never witnessed. That once happy and prosperous people ceased to be a nation. They passed out of history as a people. Eighteen centuries have passed by, and they have not recovered their loss. The Holy Temple was consumed in the flame, and thousands of Jews perished in the ruins. They vainly looked for their Messiah to come and intervene, that they might be saved from the slaughter of their enemies. They looked, and waited in the Temple for Him, until that wonderful superstructive crumbled on them in a general conflagration. Alas! that beautiful city, and happy people passed into a melancholy catastrophe, the dirge of which, eighteen centuries have not obliterated. By the time Titus set fire to Jerusalem, the death-knell to Jewish prosperity seemed to have knelled from the everlasting hills. Their Messiah had come, and had told them of this fearful calamity, which tended only to enrage them and made them cry the more vehemently “Crucify Him.” They look now in vain for His interposition. He will come no more, until in raptured grandeur, to judge the world. Heaven's choir will announce His second advent to the world, and with Him will be the heavenly host, with hosannas as the voice of many waters, and all nature shall conspire to raise the song in salutation to the decending King and Judge of all the earth. The mountains 0004 4shall break forth in singing, and the everlasting hills will clap their hands to greet Him.

Dear friends, it shall be my aim to-night, to draw a useful lesson from the text, for our benefit, and trust that the Lord will bless it to our good. I shall notice the four seasons of the year, and apply them to man, and draw from them, I trust, a lasting lesson; especially for those of my congregation who are spurning heaven's invitation to be saved to night, for some future time, they know not when. Some of my congregation have lived a long time, and that without hope in Jesus. I want such to know, to-night, that a fearful storm approaches. “And pray that your flight be not in the Winter.”

I. SPRING.

With gentle showers, and pleasant rays, and aromatized and balmy breezes, comes upon us at no uncertain time; nay, we have looked for it with profound gratitude, and sweetest anticipation. Its loving and heavenly dews are distilled upon the earth, mellowing it, and preparing it to impart vitality to vegetation. The sun no longer peeps from over the mountains of everlasting snows, but has now crossed the equinoctial line, and now sends forth his benignant rays from a milder and more pleasant region. Spring approaches us, speaking in silent and most majestic grandeur, of the goodness of our benign Father. Spring comes to us laden with the blessings of the year in their incipiency. The fruits of the year depend upon the action of Spring. The birds in the greenwood are singing with glee as they dart amid the forest, now clothed with its green and beautiful garment, from the hands of its benificent restorer, brought by delightful Spring, which tells us that Spring has come. Our sun has ceased to shine through his frozen white crystal vapor, but looks upon us in all the glee and beauty of Spring. The milky curtains of winter having been removed, the air is impregnated with the fragrance of the flowers of Spring, the trees put forth their leaves, and the waters having been emancipated from their icy thraldom, go laughing along their channels, winding their ways along their silvery crevices, to the mighty ocean; and all nature joins the along their silvery crevices, to the mighty ocean; and all nature joins the universal chorus, 0005 5to sing “mild Spring is at the door.” Many seed that have lain in the bowels of the earth, begin to germinate; the sap rising in the trees and herbs, inform the most casual observer that now is the time to plant. “The five months sleeper,” that have crowded into some warm secreted place to escape the wintry blast, now return prepared to lie in ambush to stick their poisonous fangs into the children of men. Indeed, all things put on another costume. The cities are elated with new fashions, and all are endeavoring to get the Spring style. In the distant forest, the moaning of the doves can be heard. Their plaintive notes vibrating the morning zephyrs, fills the hearts of many with sadness. The mocking-birds are spontaneous in their sportful music; when all of heaven join in with their delectable songs. They tell us in an equivocal language that mild Spring has again come. To be attentive to these signs, is but to walk in wisdom's way, to be obstinate is to be criminal. Spring is not unmeaning. It is the time that God has appointed for man to prepare for the necessities of life. In Spring, a benevolent providence impregnates nature with its prolific powers that it might fecundate to the sustenance of man and beast. All men should make preparation for the year in Spring. In Spring most planting is done. All industrious persons prepare for a harvest in Spring. If there is no preparation made in Spring; there will be no harvesting. Spring may be thought of as the morning of man's life; the first part of life is Spring, in that he is commanded to make preparation and sow seed for his future harvest. In the morning of his life, his character is moulded and his moral life shaped. If the Spring passes him by and nothing is done, his whole life may be and often is, a tantalized turmoil. We should give ourselves to the Lord in the morning of our lives, and thus grow up with the Lord as calves to the stall. The wise man, Solomon, tells us, “In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thy hand .” As the first of the day should be devoted to God, so should the first of our lives be. We should not wear out ourselves serving Satan all the morning, and then give ourselves to the Lord worn out in the evening. He says, “I love them that love me, and those that seek 0006 6me early shall find me.” We should early seek the Saviour's face and early learn His commandments. Nothing is more dangerous than the sin of putting off our salvation. We may not put off eternal things without incurring eternal loss. “Procrastination is the thief of time.” We should make use of the Spring showers while our plants are just peeping above the earth and are tender. Let us open our little petals by the time we have powers of discernment, to receive the dews of heaven that are distilled upon them from the sky, when we are more likely to be benefited by them. Let us try to catch the first season. If we would reap a harvest in eternity, it is safest to sow our seed in the Spring of our lives. “But seek ye first the kingdom of heaven and its righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.” We should spend Spring in storing our minds with the precious truths of God. “Cast thy bread upon the waters, for thou shalt find it after many days.” We should go to Sabbath School where the Bible is studied, and wholesome knowledge imparted. By doing this, we lay up a fountain of precious wisdom which will carry us through the Summer's heat and Wintry blast. When hoary hairs our heads will adorn, We may still in his bosom like lands be borne.

Those who acquire an education, must do so in the morning of their lives. Then their minds are more susceptible of instruction. Then the mind may be shaped and put in its proper attitude, in which it may grow, and become as the giant oak, perfectly erect in the Lord. It is our duty to commence in the morning, if we would go a day's journey. Our life is one day, and if we would go a day's journey with Jesus, we must start in the morning of our lives. The Apostles went up into the temple to pray in the morning. The morning is the first of the day. Man is in his best frame of mind in the morning. He is stronger, best prepared to reason on any subject. Let not the morning therefore be spent in idleness, when so much is dependent upon it. It is said, the morning air is the most healthy, let us, therefore inhale this precious atmosphere in delightful excercise for our God. After the morning hours are over, men feel less like working. It is needless 0007 7to undertake to make a crop, after the Spring is over. I would beg you, young man and woman, make good use of your spring life. Do not let the summer come upon you with the fallow grounds of your heart unbroken, and your seed for a glorious harvest not sworn. Make haste and prepare for eternity. Make haste and sow your seed and prepare for harvest, for a terrible famine approaches. Sow your seed in the Spring, for that is the time for sowing. Do not hold your hand till the evil days come, when you will say, “I have no pleasure in them.” Young men, leave off lewd comrades, and dissipated places. Leave off the bar-room associates, and go into the vineyard of the Lord in the Spring of your lives, and prepare for the reaping bye-and-bye. Young men, be persuaded by a loving friend and minister of the Lord Jesus Christ, keep no longer late hours with Satan's company. Seek mercy and pursue righteousness in the Spring of your lives. The voice of free grace calls you in the Spring zephyr to come to Jesus, and be saved. Now your hearts are not so hard as they will be bye-and-bye. “Wisdom, if you still despise, harder is it to be won.” The Saviour calls now. He would initiate you into His blessed army now. Oh! come, young men, and be saved now.

II. SUMMER.

With its vegetables and beautiful flowers, and intense heat, is only interspered with refreshing showers and delightful breezes, enhance our sensation and charm our veneration. The sun has now passed the equator, and we are brought nearer the torrid zone. His heat now falls potently upon us. Our produce continues, however, to grow. At times, in consequence of its parched heat, vegetables droop their head as though they groaned under the heavy burden; but, at nights, the dews are distilled upon them, and, in the morning, everything looks green and gay. Summer is the time for hard work. To be prosperous tillers of the soil, we must rise up early and work late. Those things that tend to obstruct the growth of our plants, grow most rapidly in Summer, hence hard work is inevitable. Those who plant in Spring, must work in the Summer. We see, therefore, that it does not suffice to plant only in the 0008 8Spring, but work must follow our planting. The summer, though the season of very hard work, is not without its reward. Many of our most delicious fruits ripen in the Summer. Hence, amid hardships, we may rejoice. Those fruits that ripen in the Summer are not generally of the most substantial nature. They are more like luxurious knick-knacks than substantial food. They are but enticement to the great harvest bye-and-bye. Let not the Summer be spent, therefore, in idleness, or all the work of Spring will be lost. Man's Summer of life, in many respects, is similar. It is the hardest time of his life. Whatever has been the character of his Spring his Summer will be sure to resemble it, for his character is matured and his purposes are fixed. If he has neglected to sow and prepare for Summer, he will have hard work to do so when Summer comes upon him. In middle life, Satan blends all of his powers to keep him under his tyrannical chains. He suggests that he might put off now, since it is quite late, to commence so momentous a task. He who has accepted Christ as his portion, finds it not a light job to ward off those unholy inclinations that are endeavoring the preponderancy, and crowd down his noblest aspirations. Therefore, he has no time to be idle in Summer. He has planted, and he must work that which he has sown. He can, however, glory in his tribulations. As he found the light, he knows he must walk in it. “Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.”

III. AUTUMN.

With its ripe fruits, and delightful and bounteous harvest, together with a milder atmosphere, and the balmy breezes, now approaches. The sun is making his journey back toward the cold regions. He crosses the equinoctial line, and threatens Winter. They have completed their development, and the most casual observer is informed that it is time for harvesting. Nature now tells whether we have been diligent or not. If we have not planted and cultivated, we may not expect to reap. Those who sow nothing, must reap nothing. “Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” The Autumn brings no joy to the indolent. It must be a source of deepest regret to them. But, to the 0009 9active and thrifty, it must be exceeding great joy to see his fields burdened with plenteous consummated fruitage. He reaps now the toils of Spring and Summer. For joy, he forgets the toils, and rejoices in a munificent harvest. My dear friends, your harvest approaches. You must reap something. Oh! let me ask you in the name of God, Oh! what shall your harvest be? Examine your case this very hour. What will be the harvest of the midnight plunderer? What kind of harvest will the bar-room visitors reap? What will be the harvest of the gamblers, and other vicious persons? What, oh what, will be the harvest of the profligate? You, quarrelsome and mischiefmaking church members, what will your harvest be? Hypocrites and back-sliders, what will your harvest be? Your Autumn approaches. Count up your cost, and answer this stupendous question tonight. Oh! what will the harvest be? Are your works abounding unto holiness, and the end an everlasting life? “Are your garments spotless? Are they white as snow? Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?”

IV. WINTER,

With its furious winds, and its pinching cold, now approaches us. The sun has quite gone behind the mountains of perpetual snows, and, we are brought nearer the frigid zone. The winds whistle over the mountains that are always covered with bleaching snows, impregnated with piercing cold, falls bleakly upon us, which warn us that Winter is at the door. Winter with its voracious winds, comes riding in its tempestuous chariot, over forest, stripping it of its foliage beauty, leaving bare its limbs, which blazes the fact that Winter has fully come. The skies look hard, and the frosts against visit us, leaving dead the remnant of our flowers; by which we know that the harvest is past and the Winter has come. Those who have nothing, would till earth in vain now. She will not yield her strength now to the laborer. The waters that have been going laughingly along the crevices, making their way to the mighty ocean, are now obstructed and enslaved by ice. The earth is hard, and planting defied. The Winter, indeed, at times seems to quarantine the 0010 10earth. The waters that have been falling freely upon the earth in their liquified form seem to be met by this officer, and forbidden to fall in said form. They sometimes fall in lumps which we call sleet or hail. Then, again, they fall in gentle snowflakes. These signs tell us in unmistakable language, that the harvest is over, and the Winter is come. Travelling is greatly hindered in Winter. It is hard and unpleasant to travel in Winter. This is what our Saviour meant when He admonished them to pray that their flight be not in the Winter. Dear friend, a terrible Winter approaches. You have a flight to make or perish in the terrific storm of winter. “And pray that your flight be not in the Winter.” Winter comes in the last of the year. The Jewish Winter was the last of the year. Your Winter is the last of your life. When you have lived through Spring, Summer and Autumn, without having given your heart to Jesus, your case is fearful. You are burdened with all the sins of youth, middle age and old age—your case is awful. The longer you have withstood the wooings of the Holy Spirit, the better prepared you are to withstand them. Observation shows that the most of persons are converted between twelve and thirty-five years. If you stay until after thirty-five, Winter may overtake you, when your flight to the bleeding cross will be obstructed. Some are saved in old age, but not very often. You have been hearing the blessed Gospel of the Son of God all of your life, and you are no better off to-night than you were years ago. Your aereal sky is tottering with a tremendously dark and fearful cloud of Winter. You have not made your flight. The dreadful thunders of Jehovah's wrath are roaring and trembling the western skies, the formidable lightnings of His anger are rending the vaulted skies. Death is on your track. Your Winter is nigh. Your soul is to be saved or damned. “And pray that your flight” to Jesus “be not in the Winter.” Now, my friends, the Saviour stands with out-stretched arms of bleeding mercy, while the Spirit whispers to your soul, heavy laden sinner, to the Saviour flee. Young men and women, do you mean to make a flight? if so pray that your flight be not in the Winter. Jehovah's wrath is being kindled, and your flight is not made. The 0011 11angels are preparing to sound the last trumpet, and your flight is not made. The angels are preparing to sound the last trumpet, and you are not yet saved. The blood of atonement flows divinely full and free, and you are not healed. Pray that your flight be not in the Winter. I know you mean to be saved, but Satan tells you to put it off. And Jesus tells you, that “now is the day of grace, now to the Saviour come.” Winter is too late to make a crop. Winter finds you bending over the grave. Winter finds your heart as hard as flint. Winter finds you a long way from Jesus. Winter finds you not washed in the precious blood of the atonement, and not saved. Winter finds you in your sins, and well-nigh hell. Oh! my friends, you are not redeemed. “And pray that your flight be not in the Winter.” Oh! come to the bleeding cross, before the angels tune their plaintive notes to sing, too late, too late, and your insulted Jesus will say, the closed, and the Summer is ended and you are not saved. May God help you pray that your flight to Jesus be not in Winter.