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How does the cedar grow?

I. BY THE UNFOLDING OF ITS INNER LIFE. The cedar of a thousand years once slept in a little germ. Thus holy souls grow by putting forth the germinant powers within them.

II. BY THE APPROPRIATION OF THE OUTWARD. The cedar assimilates to its own substance things that are unlike itself. The dews of heaven, the salts of the earth, the gases of the air, it turns all into its own essence. Thus the godly soul turns everything into its own character.

III. BY THE INFLUENCES OF THE TRYING. Whence comes the strength of the cedar? Not merely from the dew that sprinkles its branches nor the sunbeam that warms its heart, nor the soil that feeds its roots; but from the tempests also. Even so trials help the growth of the true soul: it makes hostile elements do it service.

IV. BY ITS OWN CONSTANT ACTIVITY. The sap may be regarded as the very spirit of the tree, and that is ever active; it runs up the roots through all the pores of the trunk into every branch and leaf. From the leaves it runs back again, feeding and strengthening every part as it goes down to the very roots. Thus circulation goes on; it is incessant. The cedar grows so long as it lives; when it ceases to grow it ceases to live. So is it with the soul. There is no end to its growth. It passes from strength to strength, from glory to glory, through all ages.

(Homilist.)

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KJV: The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.

WEB: The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree. He will grow like a cedar in Lebanon.