Lincoln telegraph. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1836-1846, 1841-11-11
ntoroI onN RELIGIOUS.
CHRIST THE BEST OF FRIENDS.

Does not our Friend as far excel all other friends,
as heaven exceeds earth, as eternity exceeds time,
the Creator surpasses his creatures? If you
doubt this. bring together all the glory, pomp and
beauty of the world; nay, assemble every thing that
is great aud excellent in all the worlds that ever
were created ; collect all the creatures which the
breath of Omnipotence ever summoned into being,
and we, on our parts, will place beside them
Savior and Friend, that you may whether they
will bear a comparison with him. Look, then, first
at your idols behold the vast assemblage which
you have collected, and then turn and contemplate
our Be loved. See all the lullness Of the Godhead
dwelling in one who is meek and lowly child
See his countcnance beaming with nenabIe glories,
full of mingled majesty, condescenson and love,
and hear the soul-revvng invitations which proceed
from his lips. See that hand in which dwes ever
lasting strength, swaying the sceptre of universal
empire over all creatures and all worlds, his
arms expanded to receive and embrace returning
Sinners while his heart bottomess, shoreess ocean
ofbenevolence, overhows with tenderness, COM
passion, and love. In word see in him all natural
and moral excellence, personi6ed. and imbodied in
a respendent form, compared with whose e(TuIgent
dazzling glories the spendors of the meridian sun
are dark. He speaks, and world emerges from
nothing. He frowns, and it sinks TO nothing again
He waves his hand, and all the creatures which
you have collected to rival him, sink and disappear
Such, o sinner is our Beloved, and such is our
Friend. Will you not then embrace him as your
Friend ; you be persuaded to do this you
will find that the half, nay, that the tbousandth
part has not been told you,
All the exceency, glory and beauty viii is
found in men angels flows from Christ, as a
drop of water from the ocean, or ray of light from
the sun. If, then, you supremely love the crea,
ture, can you wonder that Christians should love the
Creator! lfyou admire an image in glass, is it
strange that they should admire the sun by which it
painted. Can you wonder that those who be-
hold the g ory of God, in the face of Jesus Christ,
should be sweety drawn 10 him by the cords OF
love, and lose their fondness for created gores =
All that you love and admire, and wish for in crea-
lures, and, indeed infinitely more, they find in him
Do you wish for friend possessed of power to pro-
tectyou' Our Friend possesses nil power in heaven
most Do you wish for wise and experienced
friend? In Christ hid all the treasures Of wisdom
and knowledge. Do YOU wish for a tender, compass
eionae friend Christ is tenderness and compassion
ITSELF Do you wish for faithful, Interchangeable
friend With Christ there is no yariabeness nor
shadow of turning but he is the yesterday to-
day. and forever. His unchang cable love will ever
prompt him to make his people happy; his uncrring
wisdom will point out the best means to promote
their happiness and his infinite power viii enable
him TO employ those means. 10 all these respects,
our beloved is than another beloved, for Great.
ures are not always disposed to render us happy
when they are disposed to do it, they do not always
know how: and when they knowing how, they are
often unable. Better is 1t, therefore, to trust il
Christ, than to put confidence in princes.