Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1904-04-27

they were in the presence of the Di.
vine Lord and Master when they came
in contact with Him. and in fear cried
out: What have We TO do with Thee?"
and besought Him not to torment
them. The poor and the needy, the
sick and diseased came to Him in
their distress, confident that they
would be graclously received. And the
publicans and sinners, those who had
yielded their lives to extortion and
lust. and yet who had an underlined
yearning for a better. purer life. were
drawn TO Jesus like the steel is drawn
TO the magnet. for they instinctively
felt that here was One Who could un-
derstand, One Who would have com.
| passion on them, One Who would help
, them.
THAT cannot be. for Jesus last mes
1 sage TO His disciples was: 10,
am with you always" And He told them
plainly: And l. if | be lifted up. will
draw all men unto Me-" No. Jesus is
present in the world to-day through His
Holy Spirit more fully and completely
than ever before. He is everywhere. and
the influence of His Presence is felt. He
is known to-day, as rever before, as the
Friend OF sinners Our text gives us the
picture OF Jesus dining in the home OF
a publican at Capernaum. Imagine
President Roosevelt or some other dis
tinSuished parsonage coming to your
town and becoming the willing guest OF
the most despised man in town. Jesus,
the guest of honor at the house of Mat
thew. the publican. How the news must
/ Mt ha oil
Of despised tax gatherer, But there
He was. and. praise God, there He is
to-day. in myriads of homes where He
is needed to cleanse and save. Jesus was
in the few homes then. but now in every
land and among every people there are
the multitudes OF homes where Jesus
is still the honored guest Homes of
the despised, OF the hayward and the
sinful. who turn to Him and invite Him
to come. Jesus was at Matthew's house
because he had been invited.
THE story OF this publican's CONVEX
L sion is interesting and helpful. He
was busy gathering taxes at the time
Following the business that in that day
was dishonoring. and almost without ex-
ception dishonest. The Roman govern
ment levied the tax. deciding just how
much each province and city and village
should pour into the Golfers OF the Caes-
ars. The privilege OF gathering these
taxes was rented out to certain individ-
uals. The Roman government cared
nothing as to how much was collected
or in what manner the work was done.
just so long as the tax collector turned
over the stipulated sum. The tax gath
erer could have as his own profit all that
was collected above the amount the Ro-
mans demanded Ii can be readily seen
what corruption would prevail. and now
great temptation would come to the tax
collector to make all he could Matthew
was one OF these tax gatherers. called
publicans. The probabilities are that
he was more honest than the rest but
however that may be he was publican.
and Identified with that despised class
But he met Jesus. and il wrought rev.
olution in his life. II always changes
man TO meet Jesus in heart to heart con-
tact. From the first meeting with Jesus
until he was called from his tax receipts
and money drawer forever. he realized
that Jesus was his Friend II made him
III
10 be near the Friend who had spoken
kindly and helpfully 20 him And during
those days in which he continued to serve
as tax collector. I am sure he handled
the business on higher and more hon
est basis | am satisfied that no was
anxious TO show how fairly such distaste-
full work could be administered And
after all 1t is not generally the business
but the man behind the business that is
dishonest. The vast majority ~ tho
commercial enterprises and businesses
| or the world are honorable and neces-
! sary. But the men behind the business
determine whether honest or dishonest
methods shall be followed. Before meet
ing Jesus. imagine Matthew found n m
easy thing to follow the tricks NJ tho
trade" and got all the tax he could
/ Others did It, why should not he? Rut
when he met the Friend of publicans and
sinners and his conscience was awsk-
ened. he felt differently about H. Dav
/ AFTER day az he sat there at his post tho
influence Of that new Friend drew him In
/ thought and purpose He wanted IN no
with Him. and when the call camo.
Follow Me" he was ready to respond
W/HAT a friendship that was, Jesus
" fellowshiping with Matthew,
Sinner. think of It! Jesus your friend,
Jesus willing to be in your .cornnanv ~
be guest at your home. or your com
panion upon the street, Jesus mo,
ashamed OF you because you are a sim
ner-perhaps the worst man I'm town
but jesus loving YOU and eager 10 put
MS arm around you and longing 10 helm
you! He Is not your Friend because Of
what He selishly hopes to receive from
you. but He is your Friend because Of
what lie longs to do for you. One Of Chi
Cages aldermen seeks to be known as
the friend of the workingman. He re-.