The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-05-12

CONNEcTIoN-Our last lesson (John
xv:1-12) was a part of the farewell dis
course OF Jesus to his disciples. It was de-
livered in the upper room at Jerusalem af-
ter the institution OF the supper. In the ear
Her part Of the evening on which ne was
betrayed. That sermon should be read
entire, beginning with chapter fourteen
and ending with chapter sixteen, nearly
TIE teu ord,aason Of III The Twelve. The latter
part of this discourse was very tender, in
that would befall his followers. AS might
have been expected his solicitude Tor them
soon took the form Of supplica ton to the
tlierer ore, came his prayer, recorded In
the seventeenth chapter. the closing half
Of which we.are 8now.to study y y aa,,,,
man In an eyil5world is always in peril.
Jesus recognized this fact and felt that!
the men whom he had called into ms ser
gss W1sd Se EreaS sxSssa ms
creased by the circumstance tha: they
mo longer belonged TO the wor ID
had been seperated from y ana nsssaea
consequence all would oppose them VINO
lacked sympathy with the great !, business rs
committed to them This mad been the,
from lives OF worldiness. Matt. y:E).
VIVA, shall be the dominant desire OF the
LOVING Master for those whom ne has
enlisted In such a perlous underta lltinI
Shall they be removed from the world,
becoming hermits and SO escaping me
malicious intent? Shall they be translated
they should remain and be protected
I !s;ANcTiFlCATIoN NJ Verses ll7-1s,.5
er az ainst evil, a power to keep him in the
right way. There is another great need
in order to steadfastness, an interior
q Thess. v:23.) II thereds evil in a man
1t is vastly worse than any evil on the
outside, as an enemy within fort may
more easily a,sl the garrison .ia
means more than purifying.-it IS conse-
Grafton winch must precede the cleansing;
Jesus prayed that the men whom ne nag nag
and be delivered from sin, and he asked
that this might be done, not by any direct t,t
and forceful operation Of the spirit
alone but by that more gradual and ar
tfective method that uses the truth which
is the sword Of the spirit, (Eph. W;lD.
And he declared that for. their sakes. that
SO consecrated himself to the service Of
'CoNlMIss1oN.-(verse 49,. Now comes
explanation. designed to give force>to the
preceding utterances, to show that what
lad been asked was important. Jesus de-
clared that he had sent these apostles IN
to the world, the commission being after
ward delivered in more formal manner.
(Matt xxvli:l9). They had not gone ~
their own pleasure and for their own pro-
fit, If they had they might meet alone
the hazard OF the enterprise. But as they
went as the representatives of Jesus they
were very dear to him, entitled to MS
care, heading protection and every posi-
BILE preparation, 1t was because or their
relation to Jesus that he prayed for them.
Moreover, they went Just as the Master
himself came. the latter at the Fa IN. g
direction. the disciples at the directi,on o o.
(John ii:i6}, which was in the heart o
God when he sent the Son.
UNITY Oversees 2O-2D. The thought OF
our Lord then swept on beyond me llle-
time of the twelve. They would be .l IN ser
vice but a few years, The longest llved
passed away before the century closed:
But other ministers won by the words OF
the apostles, would appear to take up
their work and cnrrylit into all lands, LOT
these later servants Jesus praYed as ZOE
the first. desiring their protection ana
sanctificaton, Nay more.-he would nave
the post apostolic men like the apostles
in spirit and In usefulness, ne, would nave
some som now are pleased to call the cleITIgsy}
IN UNITY vi in Christ. This spiritual unity, IS
oppressed In mystic way-the Father
in Christ, Christ In the Father, .l5y
this unity Jesus expected and had rignt
to expect that the world would believe
he had been sent, How gould any one one
doubt in the presence OF such g stupendous
Spiritual condition displayed through the the
4 PERFECTION, Verses 1929, y ne de-