The New York herald., 1872-12-02
ST. PAUL's METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
Christ's Friendship-scrmon by the Rev.
q. ID. EOss.

u Ia EOSSs
AT ST. Paul's Methodist Episcopal church,
Twenty-second street and Fourth avenue, the Rev.
c. d. Foss took the following text for his sermon
yesterday morning :-s'Henceforth call you not
servants but call you friends" fifteenth verse Of
the fifteenth chapter Of st. john. He said:-
Christ would have His own not walk behind Him
but walk with Him. He does not want to see any
spirit OF serviity, but a spirit OF love. I would
that every child OF God in this assembly would be
rid of this feeling OF dire bondage, but rejoice to
serve the Lord be 1t even with trembling In this
land we do not understand the need of this en-
franchisemcnt because we do not understand the
absolute degree OF servitude which prevailed at
that time and stin prevails In some measure In
those Eastern countries. Friendship just as 1t is
perfect and warm gives friends perfectly free
access to one another. There are few who are
always perfectly weicome-for whom you always
have o kind, pleasant smile. In ancient times God
held the world or at arms length. Moses talked
to God face to face. but before the masses there
was distance The priesthood stood between the
Lord and the masses-there was the high priest
and all the subordinate priests But now we may
draw near Ia the full CONSCIOUSNESS OF true
friendship
''The huge easiness of God to pardon"-I must
use this quaint quotati0n-is another reason why
we can draw near him. You know that,
BETWEEN FRIEND AND FRIEND,
one whom you love, how Immediately you are
ready to contradict the rumor. even II you have not
was always ready to leap forth in an instant. One
OF the most touching records In the Bible is Jesus
chosen disciples, who would have been SO glad to
help Him, "Could ye not watch with me for one
, h9irs" But, But, as 4 even this was too much, He
added, The spirit Is willing, but the esh Is weak.
Jesus is intimate, delightful conversation Moses Is
VIII VIII HIM 6sty wa days s0 and y aes @ s hSa h
face was shining God said, sThis Is stitf-necked
and rebellious people, and will destroy them !;
your name out" And Goa did not blot out His
name and did not destroy the nation. The brain is
fns seat bu q feeling Nothing te 9an r my little
brain OF the world In all our affllctlons he is Of.
nictcd-so the Scripture says. The enthroned
! Jesus feels our every sorrow and our every Joy.
How glorious Is the friendship he has for us!
Touched-He is touched Himself with the innrmity
There are three characteristics OF His friendship
which distinguish 1t above any other friendship.
One is HS2 perfect frankness, another His exalted
rank another His unchanglng COnStancy This
perfect frankness-this Is the highest test OF friend
ship. When we have friend who loves our souls
better than our smiles. who will reprove US, we
ought indeed be happy, and such friend we have
in Jesus Oh, wondrous friendship, which can
s " hs and hea "a with the same And
THE PRIME MINISTER OF THE LORD JEHOVAH;
He is one with Him. And then His constancy-a
rs here on earthl Your Your dear friends they become
cold. They get up little In the world, and they
iorsake you. You become poor or disgraced, and
they turn their backs upon Ou. There IS no union
ofhearts ON this earth which is not destroyed BY
all this anguish which has touched you all, 1
beseech you to cling TO that sublime friendship
which shall have no end.
have but one word and that shall be word OF
sound admonition to His friends. The very highest
proof OF friendship which lie asks is that you re.
oice in Him and serve Him with true love, but not
with feeling OF servitude Belisarius became one
OF the mightiest generals Of the Roman Empire
principally because he cherished an unf1inchtng
feeling OF true devotion towards his Emperor.
You cannot read the history Of that general with
out becoming convinced that he was thoroughly
devoted to Rome. When the enthusiastic soldiers
wanted to proclaim HIM Emperor he went back
anu a,u ms aure,s AT tne IeeL OF MS imperial chieL
Jesus. ion will then nestle by the very heart OF
God and come near to that radiant halo Of glory.