The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-04-16
TALK FROM PULPITS.
Rev. S. Dell Johnston breaches
on The True Friend"
4 REST FROM WORLDLY CARES.
esasetasos 1Psa Dssmsos Delivered Yes-
sess'' = SsaAay Obssrvsness.

As kn8 Efy18 U0fto0 Hp00oYteSfaa CLUTCH
last svsnins the pastor. Rev. 8. Dell john
sson. took for HE subject. The True
Friend" using - the text the words
found In Proverbs. xviii -: There IL
friend that stsckesh closer than brother"
He intrcduesd his subject by referring TO
the demands Of the human heart for
friendship. and said that there probably
has never lived the person who has had no
h1snd. The tramp fed at ones door has
some one Who thinks Of him. perhaps .
mother whose undying love asks. Where
II my wandering boy tonight" Or . sis
ter whose evening prayer never rises 20
the ear Of God unburdened with his name.
The severity Of Gains punishment Was
that he vas driven from men. No one
would b his friend. We hear Of undying
friendship, and the love Of David and
Jonathan 10 referred to ~ an example OF
true friendship. We would naturally ex-
psct the friendship Of brother to be the
fruest. bat in the text We are told that
there 10 friend that sticketh closer even
than brother. This great friend IS none
other than Jesus Christ, the true friend to
mankind. Let rs notice. first, the charac-
teristics Of Chsist's friendship.
We find that il 10 very valuable friend
ship. We estimate the value Of our friends
by what they are in themselves. or by
what they can do for rs, or BE- to Us.
Chr,st 10 the best Of beings, holy. harm
less, indebted and separate from sinners.
lie 10 good and kind. A friend Who show
cred blessings on every hand. Who while
upon the earth went about continually
doing good. He 10 . friend near at hand
and ready to help in every time Of need.
We sometimes have very true friends who
are too far away 60 b of any benefit.
Christ said, an with thee always, even
unto the end Of the world. Christ under
stands our natures and our needs. How
often our very warmest friends fail to
understand Us, and wound and hurt when
they wish to comfort and assist II 10 the
weakness OF humanity to misunderstood.
Christ suffered from this same cause. He
said to Philip: Have been so long time
with you aud yet hast thou not known
Ne, Philip" But Christ knows full well
every one OF His own. And then He is
able TO help and relieve Us. No lack Of
power there. All power and authority is
given unto Him both in heaven and in
earth. Legions Of angels walt to do HIS
bidding. The laws ana forces of nature are
subser Went to His will. What could be
more valuable or more 10 be desired than
tn. friendship of such an one7 But again,
this friendship Ia Interchangeable. Man Is
mutabIe. Friends come and go. Those
We considered our boon companions year
ago are scattered and gone. But this
friend never 'orsakss Is, for having loved
His own He loved them to the end. Thisis
the ground of the believers confidence.
Not that he loves Christ and has laid hold
of the Savior, but that Christ loves him
and has laid hold upon him. And the
apostle issues his challenge. "Who shall
separate Us from the love of Christi" No
human love Is greater than that of q
mother for her child. but Christ says.
Yea. she may forget, yet will not forget
thee" lie Is friend that sticketh closer
than brother.
The friendship of Christ is one that con-
fers dignity and honors. Men like to
cultivate the friendship of the wealthy.
Some who are 10th to speak to the hum
BILE poor are very fond OF the society of the
rich. In Christ We have one who Is the
possessor of all things.
The earth and the fuincss with which It Il
stored,
The world and the jewellers belong to the Lord
Men like to number among their friends
the men who hold positions of honor.
Here il one who has on his vesture and on
his thigh written king of kings and Lord
of Lords" His kingdom is an everlasting
kingdom, and his scep,er extends from
the river to the ends of the earth. And
he imparts his wealth and dignity to his
friends. Because Of his blessings
Tho little that the just mai, hath
u more and better far.
Than Is the wealth of many such
As iewd and wicked are.
Through him We are made heirs of God,
aud Joint heirs with him to an inheritance
incorruptibIe. indebted and that fadeth
not away. In this world the promise is,
the meek shall inherit the earth. and in
the world to come they shall be crowned
with glory and with honor.
Notice in the second place how this
friendship has been manifested. Ii was
manifested by paying His peoples debts
when they were insolvent Many Of your
friends are willing TO pay your debt if you
are able TO reimburse them. Few will go
security IL there is any doubt Of the prin-
cipai. But Christ went our security when
our whole estate was mortgaged to satan,
and when We were unable to redeem our
selves He redeemed Us, paying the price
with the living gold OF HIS own blood
lie was wounded for our transgressons
lie gave His life for His own. Again, IL
was manifested bv fulfilling the agreement
OF His people. We are under obligations
e. keep the law perfectly. We have failed
We can't fulfill our obligations because of
our corrupt nature. Christ has come. He
has taken upon Him our nature. Was
hone of our bone and flesh of our flesh
lie lived perfect life. lie has kept the
law There is therefore now no condem-
nation 10 them that are in Christ Jesus.
For lie vas made under the Law TO redeem
then, that we're under the Law Again
Christ manifests His friendship by
avenging His peoples wrongs. We
are commanded to forgive our
enemies for God takes vengeance.
Vengeance Is mine. | will rspsv. saith the
Lord. lie IS the Law giver and the Judge
To Him alone belongs the right 10 mete
ont punishment. And though He may
tA.ry long He will not defeat the ends of
Justice. Shall not the Judge of all the
earth do rishts He viii svengs Us speed
ily Satan shall be pat down. He has
gone forth conquerng and TO con quer, and
lie all oyer.aFn. overturn aad oyertarn
until He come whose right IL is 10 rule.
And then the souls OF them beneath His
throne shall cease to cry, "How long. q
I.crd, holy ard true. dost Thou not Judge
and aysnge our blood on them that dwell
on the earth" Again lie shoxs His love
sad friendship by preparing hone aud
ngiom for His friends. In Ny Fathers
house are many mansions / go To pre-
pare place for you. And He will come
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