The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-02-10
LOWEST THOU ME-?

Was the touching question put by the d.
vine, the risen, the about to be glorified
Saviour to disciple who had once denied
him, but was now penitent and devoutly at
tached to his Redeemer. Lord, thou know
est all things. thou knowest that love thee,
was the reply that sprang from sincere
heart.
Lowest thou me?' are words which are
often b. eathed into the Christians ear. In
draws nigh and clothed in all bis heavenly
glories, asks, Lowest thou me? and sometimes
the question wakes up the holy fame and the
suppliant lies blessed at the Saviour's feet,
and in tears of mingled penitence and graft
tude answers, Yea, Lord. Lowest thou me
inquiries the Saviour, as the disciple leans
upon the bosom at the sacramental board.
Behold my wounded body. look upon
my flowing blood. these speak my love to
thee, and lowest thou me? Love thee? Oh
my Saviour, thou art the chief among ten
when Gods Spirlt dwells in the heart and q
grateful sense Of his love and perfections
are there cherished. But the heavenly visi-
tor comes again to that closet. He waits
there, but long waits In vain the visit of his
friend. At length with tardy, reluctant step.
with worldly stupid heart and brow Of
care, he comes, offers heartless prayer and
bastes away. Lowest thou me, asks the
Holy One with n voice full of compassion
and crieved vet tender love, but the false
worshiper hears not the heavenly voice, he
and the neglected Saviour, saying. l will 20
md return to my place till he acknowledge
his iniouity and seek re early,-departs.
The King comes again to his table, the dis
ciples have gathered round the sacred spot
He comes to one and another saying, Eat, oh
friend, drink, yea drink, abundantly, oh be-.
loved; but with cold averted look, they turn
away unaffected with his kindness. 1t is no
place ofloy to them. Thus wounded in the
house Of his friends, he inquiries in accents
like those which rose from Calvary when he
prayed Father forgive them, Lowest thou me?
What answer would many be compelled to
give, Lord thou knowest ali things, thou
knowest the sins in which I have INDUCED.
Thou knowest how earnestly have pur-
sued the riches, pleasures and honors Of
this world. while | have served thee with
cold and divided heart. l have
sought eagerly the society Of earthly friends
and prolonged my visits to them while
have shortened my visits to thee, and have
been little grieved when wholly absent from
thee. have been prodigal in my expendi-
lures for self, niggardly in giving to thy
cause. have taken little delight in read
ing thy word while | have willingly spent
much time in reading other works. I have
not warned my fellow sinners of danger and
pointed them TO thee. have seldom taken
sweet counsel with my children, have spent
little time in ;self-examinaticn. have cher
ished but feeble affections of love to thy
children, have scarcely though of thee for
days-have felt no longings for heaven
where thy face is seen. Lord, thou knowest
all things, thou knowest that I-love thee?
Oh, II cannot be. The Christian, il Chris.
tian in such state can be, cannot in it say,
thou knowest that love thee. At most be
can only say. hope notwithstanding my
yileness, my base ingratitude, my perfidioas
dealing: my sinful 6aekslidings, my griev.
thee, my best, my only friend-I hope
there is spark of true love to thee. And
better, perhaps, it might be that even this
finquished and the backsliding professor of
religion should fall at the feet of Christ, and
with the conviction that his guilt is crimson
colored, cry, God be merciful to me sinner.
mirror.