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 species; as  the  spectators  in  the  Roman  circus  outdid in  ferocity  the  lions  that  licked  the  feet  of  the martyrs. Men, too,  like  Dantesque  trees,  deeply rooted in  the  soil,  thorny  to  prick  the  passer-by,  and fruitless as  the  fig-tree  cursed  of  God. According to God's  original  design  man  is  an  inverted  tree,  his branches directed  earthward,  his  roots — the  head — turned to  God. But sinners  reverse  in  themselves God's  design:  their  inner  man  turns  from God and  buries  himself — his  head,  his  heart,  his soul, firmly  and  deeply  in  the  earth. Oh, if  God would grant  us  to  see  men  as  God  sees  them,  what a desert  wilderness,  what  a  preposterous  spectacle the world  would  afford! The blind  man,  when  Jesus touched his  eyes,  exclaimed :  "  Lord,  I  see  men  like trees,  walking." Touch our  eyes,  O  Lord,  and  grant us to  see  and  correct  the  woeful  aspect  of  Thy  fair creation, ere  John's  threat  be  fulfilled  and  the  axe of Thy  wrath  be  laid  to  the  root  of  the  tree. No wonder the  god  of  day,  that  rises  so  bright  and cheery of  mornings,  sets  at  eve  blushing  rosy  red  at the  enormities  he  beholds;  no  wonder  Nature  at even-time  rains  down  her  dewy  tears,  and  dons  the mourning garb  of  night,  sending  the  indulgent moon to  shade  away  monstrosities  or  else  to  gild and beautify. In this  vale  of  woe  it  was,  our  Nature fell and  lay  half  dead,  but  hope  revived  at  the  voice of John  proclaiming  the  advent  of  the  good  Samaritan— the  Saviour. O blessed  desert  of  solitude — a wilderness  to  the  wicked,  but  virtue  fills  up  the  valley and straightens  the  crooked  ways,  calls  down  the