Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-03-15

from you, with all malice. And be u
kind one to another. tender-hearted, for.
giving one another, even as God :or CHRIST
sake hath forgiven you."
Has that word no meaning which we
need? Has that word no warning and plead
ing voice which troubles the heart of any
penitent believer? "Lord, is 1t I?''-
Difference Between the MaIefactors.
On either side hang the two malefactors.
We divide people into classes, and set
a word of description against them, and so
group them together and affirm a general
liken between them. But we are all the
time making mistakes in our judgment
For everybody is different from everybody
else. There are bad among the good, and
good among the bad.
Here are the two malefactors. Each has
been an evil-doer, and each, very likely
after life of violence, is suffering a merited
punishment "We receive the due rewards
of our deeds. one of them confesses. The
lookers-on make cut no difference between
them. But there is difference. There is
the difference of differences.
Zone of the malefactors which was
hanged rallied on Him, saying: II Thou be
Christ save Thyself and u.s." hoping, per-
haps, to carry favor with the mob. But the
other rebuked him. To him Christ is no
common criminal. Perhaps he has some
time before, in some company OF publicans
and sinners heard that blessed voice, and
looked upon that divine face. Perhaps, he
has known somebody whom Christ had
helped, healed, uplifted. And some memory
Of words about Him. Some half-efdced
crarr nj inv Tnta n
mind, aud he turned to Christ. Or perhaps
it was only what that Good Friday morning
had revealed to him. That long walk out
of the city to the place of execution,
that word to the weeping women, that prayer
for the forgiveness of His enemies, and our
Lords hole bearing and being have touched
this rough mans heart.
He Was Filled With Awe.
In his agony, as the malefactor hangs
beside the Master. in the awful conscious
ness which moment by moment grew more
emphatic and intense that in a few hours
all would be over with him, and his soul
would 60 to Him who gave it, the male
factor looks and listens. Somehow, at any
rate, his thought about this strange comrade
of his dying by his side, rises with awe and
with faith, This man hath done nothing
smiss," he cries. And he turns to Jesus,
Lord, he asks, remember me when Thou
comest into Thy kingdom"
Instantly Christ welcomes this penitent
malefactor. To-day" He answers, "shalt
thou be with Me in Paradise"
Christ is ever waiting to be gracious. The
faintest purpose TO seek Him, Christ sees
and blesses. He quenches not the smoking
fax, nor breaks the bruised reed. All this
weary way, with the cross at the end of it,
has the Good Shepherd come, seeking
the lost sheep. How gladly will He
take into His blessed protection the sheep
which turns to Him! The penitent male
factor had but an imperfect faith. OF
Christian doctrine he knew nothing. Of
the divinity of Christ he had but the very
faintest glimmer, probably no sight at all.
Of the atonement, Of which that cross was
the symbol, he was completely ignorant.
The malefactor knew no theology at all.
But here was Christ. And here was a man
who chose to stand on CHI lists side. He
turned to Christ, and gave Him his allie
glance, such as it was. Everybody else was
against Him. Church and State were united
in His condemnation. His disciples had
forsaken Him. But this malefactor would
be His friend. That is what Christ wants.
He wants US to be His friends. He asks
our love.
AN OF oelI-r
But not all about the cross are enemies.
"NoV there stood by the cross OF Jesus His
mother, and His mothers sister, Mary the
wife of Cleopas, and Mary Magdalene.
And with them John, the disciple whom
Jesus loved.
"When Jesus therefore saw His mother
and the disciple standing by whom He
loved, He said unto His mother, Behold
thy son! Then saith He to the disciple,
Behold thy mother! And from that hour
that disciple took her unto his own house"
What an example Of seifforge tfulness |
md care for othersl Christ's first thoughts |
amidst the pain of crucifxion are all for |
hose about Him; for His enemies that they |
nay be forgiven, for the penitent that his |
heart may be assured, for His mother that |
she may be tenderly provided for. No |
thought about Himself!
Pain so often makes US selfish. And even |
when there is no pain to vex and distract |
Is, we are so forgetful. About us, every |
hour, are opportunities of helpfulness. Es-
oecially at home, how much depends upon !
And how continually is our
put to a test!
But to be unselfsh, and to think of others,
s to be a Christian. 1t is to be like Christ. |
All selfshness is against Christ. What a
ermon the cross preachesl "Not to be min
stored unto, but to minister"-how far can
hat be said OF US? GEORGE HODGES.