Therefore as the fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth the chaff, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their _blossom_ shall go up as dust: because they have cast away the law of the Lord of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.--Isaiah, v. 24. The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and _blossom_ as the rose. It shall _blossom_ abundantly.--Isaiah, xxxv. 1, 2. Fair pledges of a fruitful tree, Why do you fall so fast? Your date is not so past But you may stay yet here awhile, To blush and gently smile, And go at last. What! were ye born to be An hour and half’s delight And so to bid good-night? ’Twas pity nature brought ye forth Merely to show your worth, And lose you quite. But you are lovely leaves, where we May read how soon things have Their end, though ne’er so brave, And after they have shown their pride Like you awhile, they glide Into the grave. _Herrick._ Our life hath many a wintry scene, Deciduous are our sweetest joys; And _blossoms_ that have loveliest been, Some withering demon oft destroys. But there are germs that inly lie, Waiting the touch of some kind hand, Germs that destruction’s power defy, And soon in _bloom_ of hope expand. _W. J. Brock._ Lo, the arid desert Shall _blossom_ as the rose, Wheresoe’er the messenger Of the Saviour goes. _Egone._ BOLDNESS. I speak as concerning reproach, as though we had been weak. Howbeit whereinsoever any is _bold_, (I speak foolishly,) I am _bold_ also.--II. Corinthians, xi. 21. Great is my _boldness_ of speech towards you.--II. Corinthians, vii. 4. Christ Jesus our Lord: In whom we have _boldness_ and access with confidence by the faith of him.--Ephesians, iii. 11, 12. Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have _boldness_ in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.--I. John, iv. 17. We were _bold_ in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention.--I. Thessalonians, ii. 2. The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are _bold_ as a lion.--Proverbs, xxviii. 1. Where high the heavenly temple stands, The house of God not made with hands, A great High Priest our nature wears, The guardian of mankind appears. He who for men their surety stood, And poured on earth His precious blood, Pursues in heaven His mighty plan, The Saviour and the friend of man. With _boldness_, therefore, at the throne Let us make all our sorrows known, And ask the aid of heavenly power To help us in the evil hour. _Logan._