The story is told of a Christian who was discussing with an infidel, the teaching of the young. The latter claimed that it was not fair to influence a child before he reached an age when he could choose for himself. The Christian took him to part of his garden and told the infidel that this was a botanic garden.
“How so?” he was asked and the remark was added, “It is covered with weeds.”
“Or” was the reply, “that is because it has not yet come to the age of discretion and choice. The weeds you see have taken the liberty to grow and I thought it unfair to prejudice the soil in favor of roses and strawberries.”
Store the garden of your mind and that of others with the truth. Occupy yourself and them with good, with good always, with evil never.
We have to watch our thoughts, for as in the garden, weeds sprang unbidden, and covered and exhausted the ground to no profit, so, if we do not till the ground of our soul, and engage it with what is pure and edifying, there will be but a crop of injurious evil, harmful to ourselves and others. So we find the Apostle Paul saying. “Finally brethren” this a word of the greatest importance to us, “whatsoever things are true... just... pure... lovely... of good report; if there be any virtue, if there be any praise, think on these things.” Phil. 4:88Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. (Philippians 4:8).
In whom are these attributes more fully manifested than in our Lord Jesus Christ?