Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1906-08-25

help us 10 be like John MAY we
learn how Ia dcnounce evil, rs we'll as
~ preach tin. pardoulng love of Jesus
Christ.
But as we come into the banquet hall
aud lind the twelve apostles gathered
around Jesus for the last supper there
IL another characteristic to which
want 10 call your attention about this
same 81 John. He was not only dis
.iple who saw visions aud dreamed
dreams but he was one Of the most
practical Of men All his castles were
hot air castles. All his Utopias were
hot anchored la the cloudlands. All his
telescopes We're not focused upon the
| dinI future. lie could see the grass
growing a, his feet as well as the stars
gliticring above his head. While he
thought about heaven he always had
his feet planted upon the soil OF earth.
The echoing sounds OF the celestial
chorus did not drown out the roaring
waves beating themselves Into foam
upon the rocky heights Of old Patmos:
neither did the Bread of Heaven" en-.
t!rcly shut his eyes 10 tile necessity OF
working IN the harvest fields near his
own home In other words. when John
prayed lie prayed like the common
sense Christian Mr.. Sturgeon once told
about. \ poor lsborer with "a large
family broke his leg. Then the good
mans friends decided 10 hold "a prayer
meeting TO ask God TO care for his help
less servant. The meeting was con-
Quoted by Il Deacon Brown. Hardly
had the meeting got under way when
there was a knocking ut the sick
mans door. rs Deacon Brown int"
asked n husky. growing youth. We'll.
father wanted me 10 tell him he did
not have time TO attend the meeting
today He had 10 work But he has
sent his prayers and they are out Ia the
cart" The prayers that We're sent We're
piled In an old farm wagon These
prayers consisted OF big bags Of pota-
toes and beef and flour. So when st.
John prayed he prayed with bis hands
aud feet as we'll as with his lips. He
did not worship God as did the devo-
tees In the temple of lno, who always
worshiped their deity by going to sleep;
but he was ready to toll and labor for
his daily bread, az every other man
ought 10 be.
~. John Was Practical.
well" you ask how do you make
81. John out 10 he such a practical
man: How do ron know he was care
full about his money matters and care
ful 10 provide clothing and home?
Does the Bible teach us that? never
careful about his money matters"
Yes. my friends. think the Bible tells
us that ST John was very prudent aud
careful about the probabilities Of life.
Here is the picture: Christ IL dying.
the great drops Of agony are wrung
from his brow: groan after groan es-
capes his lips, lac has only u few hours
more OF life To whom Is he going IL
intrust the care OF his mothert All the
poets and the painters and the theo-
| logians love 10 describe the helpless
ness OF Mary the Virgin when Jesus
WIS ABOUT ~ pc uoIh, Zen uIct Whn
she as helpless then, with the big
brawny Joseph by her side, as she WAS
ON iii. day ot the crucihxion. when. rs
Il broken down, helpless widow, she
knelt M the foot of the cross TO see
her divine Son die! Tell Inc, where
can you find IN all history a picture so
pathetic as that erucifxion scene OF
Mary IN her desolntion and helpless
ness? All. yes; the most pathetic scene
In all the Bible TO me Is that broken
hearted widow watching the dying
agony OF her divine Son, Agony of
Christ finds its echo In agony OF ma
ternal heart; dying gasp Of Jesus is
answered by the moaning cry OF this
mother, who swOons away. Now,
Christ was God, but Christ was also
man. ana Christ did for his mother
just what you and | would do for ours
II we Lad been IN his place. He want
ed To put her in the care OF one who
would never neglect her and never let
her want. He did not give her TO
Peter he was not sure of Peter; Peter
was not steady enough. Hut he gave
her to the faithful John. lie practical
~ said: John. | know you will never
neglect her: | know you will clothe
her and feed her and give her home
10 shelter her weary head Look after
her for my sake"
Let US learn To be like the practical
John \ man cannot be- a true Chris
tian and be simply II theoretical Chris
tian: he must be a practical Christian.
He must know that Il is his duty TO
work for his daily bread. He must
make an honest struggle 20 pay his
butcher. his grocer and his clothier's
bin and 10 care for those OF his own
household or else lac Is no Christian at
all What does james writer He says
your faith must 20 hand In hand with
your works Yonr faith can no more
live without works than your hand can
live after il has been amputated from
the arteries OF the arm Faith, IL II
hath not works. Is dead" ST John
was Il practical worker as well as \
PatmoS seet
But there are still two more thoughts
10 which | would call your attention.