Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1905-08-19
THE FRIEND OF GOD
OUR REGULAR SUNDAY SERMON
A Scholarly and Polished Sermon by
Rev. j. D. Burrel.

"He WAS called the Friend OF God"
Mr. Burrell said:
The figure OF Abraham is one OF the
most majestic spared TO us 10y the past.
He stands before Us I'm singular dig
nifty: serenity and power. and his SUI
preme quality was that he was the
friend OF God
The phrase ia peculiar. II is not said
that God was his friend. but that he I
was Gods friend. There is n differ
ence. We accept the Friendship OF !
God rs a matter of course Ike the air \
we breathe. But the thought that man /
may be a friend 20 God scarcely comes /
q us at all.
There IS something deeply touching |
about that thought. For we usually
look upon God as sufficient unto Him
self. Yet I'm this other respect we see
Him longing for friends. That desire
is common among men. for there are
many lonesome. misunderstood. hungry
| for n friendly word OF appreciation.
I Now think OF God also as mlsundcr-
stood. grieved by neglect ycarning 20
/ be- loved. Then think OF Abraham as
giving God his heart. You see how
much IL meant % God that Abraham
was his friend.
one IS led 10 be the friend OF another
by liking him. The reason why we
like him may he inexpncable 20 our
/ selves. for there is no accounting for
/ tastes. All fruits are the gifts OF God
/ 20 men. vet some we enjoy and others
we reject. All people are children OF
God. ana We can love every one OF
them in a dLsinterested and fraternol
way But this does not Interfere with
orr liking some better than others
Even our Saviour felt this human ten
dency and was drawn 10y 1t 20 spc-
cial intimacy with the apostle John.
/ suppose there never was person
about whom people differed more than
Charles Lamb Some could not endure
his perpetual raiilery. his bad puns.
his stammer. OTHERS knew him 60 DE
one Of the rarest spirits. subtle 600 lu-
teuect. exquisite In taste and grandly
unscldsh.
Now that liking which makes friend
ship between man and man makes 20
between main and God. We can pie
ture Abraham az the close OF the day
when the tents had been pitched aud
the evening meal eaten. going apart
from the camp for a little space that
he might Open his soul 20 God. We
can imagine David at night time while
the city slept mounting 20 the roof o
the palace and beneath the canopy of
stars communing with the Most High
N a can SUI AlA tNA ~ IN i'At- AAHAAA tA''
crowds that thrOnCed His steps 0n'
eagerly hiding FOR a brief time I'm th
se-clusiom OF some mountain top tina
lie might be alone with His Father
II was because an three OF these like
God.
Il Is question worth asking wheth
or we like Cod. I do not say reverence
and honor. DO not say submit 90 an
obey. DO we like God? IL is pect
Liar question. Perhaps asking IL make
Us wonder whether our appreciation O
God does not lack something or th
warm throb OF life.
% Friendship also involves Simiart
Of tastes 10 fact. most OF our frien,
ships come about through our bein
brought together in the pursuit OF som
- common interest. 10y an ocean voyag
\ a golf club a board OF directors.
Sunday school class. FOR example. Pc
. pie whose chief interests differ are n'
likely 10 become friends. Emerson an
Boss Tweed for example.
There is no better field Tor studyir
the laws 0f friendship than colleg
\ Young men or~women who have know
. each other pleasantly enter in the san
: class. 20 together FOR a time. th'
gradually. without any I'll feeling wha
ever draw apart In order 60 form 9th
q combinations This shifting IS gene
e ally due 10 the dominating power
,r some common intcreSt-French. DO,
" ing. editing q paper together. memb'
% ship in the same fraternity and q
n like
- The same principle holds true IN Z
friendship between man and God.
=. Is brought about by similarity of t0St
p. and interests. Supreme in God is
III sense of order, whose moral side
G. Righteousness. How can He have a
friendship with n man who lacks q
sense of order? Who does not mi
being n gluttOn or a drunkard or ]
pure. or telling lie or taking what
not his? AS Pau, says. what fello
ship hath righteousness with unrig
ot eOusnesST" And another character
Ut / tic OF God is His spirit OF charity. ]
suppose a man is indifferent hard q
Is selfish. prone 10 cherish grudges and
DO do unkindneSses. how is friends
bo possible between him and God? &c
= that loveth not his brother whom
hath seen, how can he love God VIII
Al he hath not seenT'
1t is important. then. for us to asl
we like what God likes. IL we Va
for highly. as He does. the soul, the spi
the ual life. a character OF purity and &c
be- ness. These are the foundations
mo friendship between heaven and ear
mi Again. part OF friendship is loya
~ But loyalty how farg Through bad
port as well as through good rep'
AsSuredly. The friendship that
my not endure strain Is of little worth.
Twenty years aGo young man
DIV swept away by the excitement OF <
the bling in Wall Street. and misused
ing funds Of the bank OF which he
&C. president The deficit OF millions
art Hiaue soou' nH'' ~ - a.. ', ~,
hat steS,,,, - = ce-,oin sron socIoI