The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-06-17

happy who had been taken away before
the storm gathered and poured its
fury--hsppy In the quiet grave ana
safely housed in Heaven, forever smell
tered from darkening skies and falling
rains. Yet how different sthe conduct
OF our Lord, forcsceing and foreteliing
all their severe trials. lie prays that
thcse-his beloved disciples-might not
be SHARED them, bat rather spared TO
meet them.
Outside the fold he hears the howling
pack OF wolves, ready with open
mouths 10 devour the helpless hock'
aud yet he sends it forth. lie secs the
tempest blowing and hears the ocean
moaning. aud yet he bids his friends 10
hoist the sail AID push out on the open
dangerous sea, dashed by the storm into
wild fury.
PICTURE or THE CROSS.
We naturally ask, war this klnd'
Wa. this what we might justly have
expected Of the love and care Of JesUs'
When ship, suddenly striking on a
hidden reef, begins to sink, II would
seem that his children would be the
first object OF father care. we
would expect to see him hurryipg
wildly from deck 10 deck. loudly call
ing their names. seeking 10 save those
dear ones aud bear them to the boats.
But not g. did our Lord act.
HIS regards first turned on a dying
thief. the worst man on board the
whole vessel. and all others of the pas.
,s.aIA IN lfnn0
back and let him step fir,t into the HE
boat. Carrying this malefactor WIN
himself 70 glory, he left the mother who
bore him aud the disciples who had lett
all To follow him to remain behind "a
struggle sgsinst sea OF troubles and
hattie with a host Of fierce and strong
enemies.
Surely there must have been good
roa.on. for cause 40 strange. What
eysr reasons our Lord had for praying
that his disciples should not be taken
out Ct tho world. II certainly was not
that thsy we're not IN every sense pre-
pared 10 leave the world.
Would God that our salvation was a.
secure 40 theirs
Our Saviour, in the same prayer. I'M
rnediately before utteriDg the petItlon
OF the text, bad declared those that
thou gavest me have kept and none OF
them 10 lost but the son of perditioD.
With crowns and mansions waiting
them above the skies, it could not have
been an evil nor loss, but an inex-
prcs,ibIe gain for them 70 have been
tskeu out OF the world.
THE SAIL or SALVATION.
The conversion Of the world turned
upon this very point, the remaining OF
tho disciples upon earth after the as
csnsion Of our crucifed, but risen Sa-
viour This was the pail upon which
God hung the salvation OF our race.
Had they been taken away unless other
means had been ordained. thore would
have been left no living voice to preach
the glorious gospel of tue blessed God
no arm to hold up and bear onward the
banner of tho cross; 10 foot 10 carry
the glad tidiugs TO our distant shores
and TO the uttermost eudsOf the earth.
The world would have been left 10
perish. Satan would have trlumphed
aud the angels wept that now rejoice
over repeutxnt sinners. With the
wreck on the reef and the llfe-bOat on
the beach there would have been 10
strong and willing hands 10 launch and
pull the boat through the roaring break
srs, and the ship-wIccked world might
hsve persisted miserably within sight OF
the heavenly home and within cry OF
the shore Of safety.
IL was the Office OF the disciples tC
proclaim salvation, and, in conjunction
with the Holy Spirit, TO convert III q
world our Lord had redeemed.
They had in this great work to &C.
c0mplish, therefore, whcl the Master
removed, it was needf'-i for them tc
remain. When he went up TO his
crown they had to 20 down to the hard
fought battle. lie had finished hi:
work, theirs was yet to begin: and
therefore, he said: II pray not thai
thou eh0uldest take them out of the
world, but that thou shOuldest keel
them from the evil
now TO KEEP FROM EVIL.
Yet If We would be kept from The
evil we must not be satisfied " IT'D pray
ing, nor passively rest upon the Sa-
viOur prayer. God works for us and
in us now; not by miracles, but by
means.
Faith and works must be connected.
Pains and prayers must 60 together
Neither If these can be dispensed with.
They are tho wings of the bird, and
without either the dove Of piety will
be unable 20 soar 80 It's native heaven.
They are the two rails Of the road. and
il either be lacking the spiritual loco
motive will fail to draw Zion s cars to
their destination.
We are 10 watch unto prayer. We
are to eight the good dSht OF faith, MOI
going naked into the battle, but PIANO.
piled with the whole armOr Of God.
Thus fighting. we shall never bo de-
feated by our hosts Of enemies. BY
the help Of the Holy Spirit We shall be
conqueror. and more than conqueror
through him that loved us. Jesus has
not prayed for us in vain. Trusting III
him, aud initiating his life Of useful
ness, we shalt be kept from the evil.
Thus living we shall see the salvation
Of our God and finally be with him
beholding the glory which he hath
givon to the Son and sharing III the
happiness which he holds IN reserva
ton for them that love him.
May he keep us as the apple of his
~ e and hide us under the shadow of
his wings until we
"-behold His hlissful face
Ana stand complete In righteousness