Poor Little Flowers

“Like the blossoming of the hyacinth and tulip – which seems to take place spontaneously, but really is the result of organization which had been going on through the Fall and Winter months – the emergencies of virtue, attainments, mastery over the weaknesses of the flesh and conquests over evil inclinations, will be represented in the moment of general resurrection…The plant of righteousness in many may not have seemed to grow or flourish; but as the poor little flower was exposed to the inclemencies of the weather, yet bloomed upon the mountain side, had accomplished more and was worthier of being prized than the magnificent plants nurtured in the green or hot house, so all who emerged from the terrible difficulties attending gross animal nature and lack of opportunities would be found of greater value in the sight of God than more favored Christians…He likened this process of spiritual resurrection to that which goes on in the development of the plant from the seed. Every time a truth is established either in taste, love gentleness, neatness, or kindness in a Christian he has emerged from the flesh and was getting toward resurrection.”

The New York Times describing a sermon by Rev. Henry Ward Beecher on the Resurrection Applied To Daily Life, published April 6, 1874