The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1904-11-12

iii |
N !: i; !: :; &: Z:
1 essential to q cor
rect understanding
of His relations to man and mans reia-
tions to Him. One brings before us the
picture Of man dwelling apartfrom God.
He is occupied with his own affairs and
doings, with the world and the things Of
the world. The house of his own desires
shelters him, and his friends Ambition,
and Wealth, and Pleasure, and Business,
and Society, and hosts of other children
Of the world find cordial welcome there.
Their knock Is scarcely heard before the
door swings open to admit them, and
hospitality and good cheer are graciously
extended to them. And in our picture we
see One making long, long journey. He
leaves the Fathers house above. He lays
aside the glory and honor and majesty
and power which have been His through
out the ages from the beginning of time,
and steps down among men. He travels
the dreary road OF suffering. He endures
all the conditions and trials and tempta-
lions of human life. The cross over
shadows His pathway. The crushing
weight Of human sin falls upon His sin
less shoulders, and thus burdened He is
lifted up upon the cross that lies at the
end Of the pathway of His human life.
He becomes the willing sacrifice for
sin. He goes down into the grave Of
death. He drinks the bitter dregs Of sin.
He pays the penalty Of mans transgres-
sions. He triumphs over death and the
grave. He breaks the letters Of the tomb.
He lays aside the grave cloths forever.
and issues forth the risen and living
Lord, the Saviour of men. He has
reached the abode OF man. He knocks
for admittapce.
1.-THE Saviour standing at the door.
| Is knocking knocking DER and DER.
He seeks thy guest to be-"
NTHERS are given ready and cor
~ dia. welcome. The door opens
wide to admit the friends Of the world.
but the Friend and Saviour from
Heaven is kept standing without.
Notwithstanding the long journey He
has made, Notwithstanding all that He
has suffered and wrought for sinful
man, the Son of God is kept waiting
without. l remember some years ago
of reading the pathetic, sad story in
the newspapers of an aged father COM
ing frcm his home in Europe seeking
| the son who years before had come to
% III he
son lad prospered in the new land.
Ambition had come with wealth. He
had married an American girl, and as
the family grew up about them the
glamour of social distinction fascinat-
ed them, and they coveted place in
the fashionable world. The humble
origin Of the father was one of the
buried things Of the past. Every effort
was made to cover up and forget the
poor home and surroundings in the old
country. The old mother died. and then
came yearning in the heart Of the aged
father to make the long journey to Amer
lea to seek his son.
w mans long, tedious, hard search,
of the great yearning in his heart that
kept him steadily pressing on from point
| to point, of the privations through which
he passed, but at last he found him, and
with heart beating with hope and Joy he
went with tottering, feeble steps up the
walk which led to the door of the man
sion where lived his son. With trembling
hand he knocked upon the door. But
| there was no welcome there for him. In
his broken English, for during the
months OF his wanderings he had
learned enough to make himself under
stood, he told his story. The son was
summoned. But II was with anger and
wounded pride that he greeted his
| aged parent. It would never do to
have 1t known that this poor, old, igno-
rant foreigner was hfs father. And so
the father was refused admittance. He
was bundled on to the poor house as q
homeless vagrant. The long. hard jour-
hey was all In vain. How inexpressi-
bly, sad, and yet the spectacle OF Jesus
coming from Heaven to earth, and
knocking at the hearts door and be-
Ing refused recognition or admittance.
is infinitely sadder. It is the tragedy
of the ages.
"Arisel take down the bars Of sin.
! And let the loving Saviour in.
| Make Him thy welcome guest
He'll give thee Of His richest grace,
He'll make thy home His dwelling place.
And with thee ever rest"
!
<.DUT as many as received Him. to
ID them gave He." Jesus does
not come empty-handed. The Divine
guest comes laden with gifts of eternal
richness and worth. To as many AZ
receive Him He gives. It II the pretty
custom In the oriental countries for the
guest to bring his gift, his treasure
and bestow 1t upon the gracious host
Constant reference is made to this Gus
! tom in the Scriptures, q notable instance
being the visit of the queen Of SHEDS
to King Solomon. And It Is beautiful
figure which our text brings before 10