The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-05-03
For the Central Presbyterian.
" With a Holy Kiss"

One of Paul peculiarities was the ten
der drawing Of his attachment to any
body and everybody who became
member of the church, without apparent
thought of any of the outward circum-
stances of this promiscuous multitude of
his brethren.
say popularity, not because there
have not always been and are now many
persons of similar elevated way of think
ing and Of feeling, but because when l
wrote it down it seemed to me, for the
moment, hardly visible enough through
out our Protestant Churches as trait of
character, except perhaps in heather
mission fields, to be considered popular
custom. At any rate it stands out plain
Iy in all the letters he has left us-this
all-embracing love to all the saints which
burned and melted in his very bowels
like fire. This was no mere partizan
6Gdgsgf 81 sttb9Psahtt o cRRedIfaG Y6e' 1T
was that wondrous nearness and sympa-
thy and oneness which every sanity per
son feels for every struggling Christian
brother of every Church or cline or
tongue. 1t panied him to rebuke them.
He warned them with all long-sufering.
He loved to be with them to hear of
them; to pray with them, any of them,
all of them. The humble and the weak
appealed the more to his affection. They
were all of consequence in his eyes.
There was no difference: spiritual things
OUsr8hado1Oed the TEMPORAL
There was that slave, that runaway
slave Oneslmus, converted under Paul.
preaching at Rome, whom he then sends
back to his owner Philemon. How del
lcateiy he brings to the view of Philemon
the new brotherhood now subsisting and
the dignity of this poor slave in the Cos
pei. i beseech thee, he writes, fear
ing the man should receive punishment
at the hand of his master for his deser-
ton, beseech thee for my son Onesi-
mus, whom L have begotten in my bonds.
Thou therefore receive him, that
Is mine own bowels. 4 If thou count
me as partner companion receive him
as myself. Not now as servant,
but above a servant, a brother beloved
specially to me.
What This servant Onesimus specially
beloved to Paul Verify Paul makes
much of Christian relationship. Some
might feel half inclined indeed to think
this little peculiar-put rather strong
perhaps. Think again: will tell you
secret. A half way sort of Christian does
not do that, for fear it will be set down
to vulgar taste. A Pauline Christian
can. Society sees and understands per-
tectly well that he measures his conduct
to far higher standard than its own.
His stand is positive and his religion
known.
Prayer, and love, and tenderness, calm
dignity, and tears-this was Paul's habit
ual frame and these he had for all alike.
imagine he never met and looked upon
a Christian brother he did not wish to
touch, to bless, to breathe his love upon.
How natural in the parent to smooth the
poor, pale brow of his suffering boy. How
often you and | have felt an inezpressi-
bic drawing to some poor orphan child
OF sorrow and could not keep from reach
ing forth and gently pressing the little
head while thinking of its future with
the tenderest solicitude. What is that
telt mysterious softening at the heart
which shows itself even in such gentle
pressures of the hand2 O mysterious
nearness feltl That is holy kiss. Greet
We one another so, The outward mode
Of its expression is not so much. Go
greet all the brethren" Of every place,
and order, and tribe or tongue through
out the world So felt paul the aged, &"
and "a prisoner Of Jesus Christ"
0 the beauty Of Christian fellowship