The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-02-18

attentive His apostles seem TO nave oeen
TO His teaching. They seem at tunes 70
have hardly understood word lie sara
to them-sccmed not 10 care 10 unde'-
stand. His life they failed TO grasp,
His words and actions they mistooh az"
misinterprctcd to the very close OF IT'S
life they knew not what manner OF man
lie was, yet He never weariec teachihs
them. lie taught them clearly ana falih-
fully. lie appealed TO their reason not
I'm one way. but I'm many. lie told them
the parallels, partly To excite them 10
ask Him questions. lie Himself asked
1her questions. lie saddcned AT
their lack OF interest in the deepest
truths. but He never falterd in that duty
towards them which lie had imposed on
himself. And this patient seeking OF
the Lord mirrored the seeking OF Coo
for the soul. The Master saw the Father
ceaselessly following the wandering soul
until He found unrcsting. persistent,
never falter.ng or relaxing his steady
search.
THE GREAT JOY.
Christ dwells with delight on the ex-
ceeding JOY manifested by the friends
and nelghbors OF the shepherd when he
had found the sheep that was lost.
Who are these friends and ndghborsI
the friends and neghbOrs OF Cod
The good Samaritan was a neighbor OF
God. because he was a true nelghbor 10
the man that fell among thieves. Ine
Apostles were friends of God. for they
were friends Of Christ. "fe are my
friends" lie said, III ye do the thirgs
which I command you" These friends
and neighbors of God, then, that JOY
with Him over every sinner that re-
penteth. they are the angels, the splii's
OF lust men made perfect. the great ciou"
of witnesses with which even now we
are surrounded. they arc the angels ana
the archangels, and all the company OF
Heaven. with whom We join az every
communion in singing the praises OF
Him who is Holy Holy, Holy. the LORD
God of hosts" What a Joy that must
be, Think of the Joy OF those who nave
departed this life In Gods fear ana love
when a soul that they knew Oh earth
only ass an instrument OF sin is brought
I'm redeemed and sanctihed, into the
everlasting kingdom. Think or Your JOY
al once more meeting those whom you
have loved and lost awhile, amidst the
company of Heaven.
Who would not have that JOY VINO
would not, for love OF lost ones, seek 10
do and act as they would Wish II! ne
holy dead. they are sun VNiH, SNf-'
from us by the veil Of the flesh put
ours. They are part of the Church OF
God stili-we the Church militant. they
the Church triumphant. That lana OF inc
holy departed Ill,
where everlasting spring ADDE'S
And nevcr-fading flowers
Death, like a narrow sea, DIVIDES
This heavenly land from ours
Como uuto mo. saws the Master - the
. sinner that the blessed ones-your oiessed
onee-mav welcome you, with everlasting
iov. TO the citizenship Of the New Jeiu-
salem. ~
These are the Incentives that the Master
laws before MS TO come TO God. But above
ali lie calls ms 20 remember the Fam
er's persevering love-the love tnat oIaS-
tises the son that lie receiveth; the love
that is a consuming FIRE: a fire that CON
snnes the dross of character, that the
gold may remain: the wrath NAT Il az
,ine love i'm action-that desireth roo ire
tsotb of a sinner. but, rather. that he
should turn from his sin and be saVe-'