FRUIT FROM THE TREE OF LIFE; OR, MEAT AND MEDICINE FOR THE SOUL. BY JAMES SMITH, CHELTENHAM; AUTHOR OF BREAD FROM HEAVEN," "EARLY DAYS," HALIFAX: MILNER AND SOWERBY; SIMPKIN, MARSHALL, AND CO., LONDON. PREFACE. IN the midst of the garden, which the Lord God planted for man's residence at first, was the tree of life; and in the midst of the holy city, intended for the residence of ransomed man at last, is to be the tree of life. What the tree of life was to Eden, and what the tree of life will be to the New Jerusalem, is the word of God to the Church of Christ now. It is laden with pleasant fruits, and its fruit is for the food and healing of the soul. There is life in its glorious doctrines, and sublime predictions; in its precious promises, and holy precepts; in its instructive histories, and sacred mysteries; in its dark figures, and in its plain facts. Every part of God's word is precious, and if not palatable, it is profitable; it is intended to instruct, correct, refresh, and strengthen; and to make the man of God perfect, being thoroughly furnished to every good work. Precious Bible, there is no book like the Bible! Having sat under the shadow of this tree, and having found its fruit sweet to my taste, I have collected a small basket of it, which I now present to the reader; and if it is as sweet to you, as some portions have been to me, you will thank me for collecting it, and praise God for providing it. Some portions are suited to man as a sinner, some are more suited to the seeker, some for the confirmed believer, and some for the poor unhappy backslider. Like others that have gone before it, this little book contains a variety; and is intended to lead the reader to the Tree from which the fruit was gathered, where a greater variety, and almost infinite plenty, may be found. Some of this fruit is sharp, and some is sweet, some is solid, and some is full of refreshing juice; the grapes from Eschol were not finer, nor the dates from Canaan sweeter. "At our gates," said the spouse, 66 'are all manner of pleasant fruits, new and old, which I have laid up for thee, O my beloved." What the spouse laid up, I have endeavoured to lay out, and may the Lord give the reader a keen appetite for them, that he may relish them, be refreshed by them, and go on in the way to the kingdom rejoicing. I now dedicate my work to my good and gracious God; praying, that the Holy Spirit may use it to honour Jesus, to save souls, to confound Satan, to cheer the sorrowful, to rescue the ensnared, to deliver the tempted, and to make diligent Christians gloriously joyful. Reader, if you derive benefit from my book, remember me at a throne of grace, and ask the Lord to make the book a blessing to many others. Cheltenham. JAMES SMITH. |