This little Story (reprinted from the pages of "The Young Believer") is written mainly for one object, and that is, to point out to the Christian the inestimable importance of reading the Word of God and of Prayer, in that they bring the soul into direct communion with Christ, the fountain and source of all our strength. It is the outcome of many addresses to the young, where the simile of a plant or tree taken from Ps. 1, Jer. 17, and Matt. 13 has been found of great use. An endeavor has further been made to expose the folly of the practice, not alas at all uncommon, of feeding the young soul on doctrines and dogmas instead of on the Living and the written Word. It is not for a moment denied that the Word contains both dogmas and doctrines, but it is one thing to feed a soul on the Word which contains so much of Christ personally as well, and quite another to foster self-conceit by a rapid and easy growth in head knowledge, which too often ends in developing the worst symptoms of spiritual pride.
The fact that the story was written for young Christians will help older readers to overlook the simplicity of the language used. One word in conclusion; part of which, at any rate, is sought to be enforced by this allegory:-"True spirituality must spring from communion with Christ, maintained by the Word of God and prayer, and does not consist in an acquaintance, however perfect, with spiritual phrases, things, or people, but in a humble Christ like walk ‘bearing much fruit,' because ‘abiding in Him.’"