St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1875-10-29
-,.l Christ our Friend.
In such a world as this,


intimate friend. His face would he too
bright at times when we needed him to
pity Ms: there would he no minor key
i'm his feelings. for what has he ever
known of sorrow He would tell us
how well he >uppo>cs he could heaI
pain if he were i'll our place: he would
rejoice " hen it was Il time to weep. t"I
he would look too exclusively "n the
bright side of events. and that would
not correspond with our disciplinary
state. But after all. he who has had
experience of great and sore TRIALS. and
has borne them we'll. l. hN fan the most
cheerful, companion to Il >nrIoWIng
heart. Having sounded the depths nt
affection. he can best guide his friend
in them. Dcspundimg Christian i'll the
River of Death said Ia Hopeful. BE OF
good cheer. my brother: | feel the
bottom. and it L. good. Having been
partakcr of the affilction and of the
consolation. such Il one can bring Il
smile of peace, and even of JOY. upon
care worn face. when prosperous friends
only deepen the gloom and the signs 10y
their inexperienced songs I" heavy
hearts Let the angel of the Lord en-
camp around NE to deliver me. hut give
me the man of SoIroWs Tor my friend.
| want Il friend who has been stricken.
smittcm of God. and afflicted Then
can tell him each rising gIict. knowing
that he has felt it. \ dying man looks
upon kind friends about his bed. and
thinks, How little do Nnu know 10y cN
perience about this, But his heavenly
Friend ..bccamc obcdi-nt unto death.
even the death of the cross" We watch
the faces of our children. and dear
companions, and friends, as death APP
proachrs. and i'll THEN agony of death
we feel helpless ~ they hut Jesus died.
and needs no he p from u> III his per
feet ~ mpathy with the departing spirit.
Dear. diving Friend what would Ger
tain death beds have been to u.s.. and to
the dN ing. without thee
In all points tempted like IT. We are.
and as captain of "nr salvation made
perfect through >utfcring>. he has been
wherever it must he our lot to 90.
Whatever new and strange emotions of
SORROW swell within H. like the great
deep, Christ has felt all this. and knows
how to help Us. Even if You 90 down
ont of the ship to walk on the waves.
Jesus is walking there. even to the
fourth watch of the night.
In cur temptations. how poorly quail
flied an angel would he t." >ynIpathize
with us The fiery darts of the devil
do not fly at hun. Those evil passions,
that torgctfulmc>> and contempt of God.
those dreadful thoughts which make
you >luddcr. H. they are thrust into
your heart. he. with his un>ullicd viz
tue and its impIrgnahlc dcfcnccs. never
knew. Christ was led up of the Spirit
into the wilderness to hc tempted of
the devil. We find only Il hIief MARIA
tive of thn>, days and nights: hut we
can somewhat imagine the anguish of
soul occaSioned 10y the solicitations of
hell. what distress the thought OF wick
edncSS awakened in that Lamb of Cod
what intolerahlc disgust and pain i'll
hearing and seeing the prince of dark
ness. AZ he piled his diaholical arts to
impugn the divine character. and with
hyp"cri>y, cunning craitimess, and lies.
aided by the couIi>cl> of the pit. wrought
desperately to effect his purpose. If
the arch enemy seeks with such skill
and perseverance To ruin u>. he must
have exhausted the ingenuity of his
counSeiors and his own experience Ia
ruin Christ 10y temptation. Blessed
Redcemcr, what had becomc of lis if
thou had>t tiltercd Seeing us >trng-
GIN" with great temptations. what
memories and what sNmpathic> stir
within thee ,-Rer v. idamS