The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-10-24
ENSNARED.:

weakness comes their dependence upon others, but from the intensity of their affections. And the trial is one Of ed upon to perform duty at which the world looks askance.
 The deep humanity of the soul of Christ stood in special need of sym, for it, from others. The words of the text tell of struggle; an inward reasoning; a sense of soiitude-'1 shall be alone"-but an immediate correcz tion of that-"yet not alone, the Father Is with Me" ess gsJs..
 There is no thought connected with the life of Christ more touching. more penetrating and characteristic. of His spirit than the loneliness in which He lived. He was but half understood by those nearest to Him. Even those who knew Him best could not beasaid really to know Him. He was in the world alone"
 The ioneiiness of Christ was caused by the divine elevation of his char- acter. His infinite superiority severed Him from sympathy. and His exquisite sensibility. made, that want, of sym. pathy a keen trial. The Pharisees sssessf sSSss S d asFssa9S sst Eis BaSSHcas ea ans sinners. HIS sdwff brethren could not reconcile Misa teachings. slxnd so He lived tossee all fiat acceptanceH which career melt away, First the, Phari-c sees took the alarm; then the Sad .ducees; then the political party of the own @ ~ apostles. One betrayed one one @ de-. nied. all deserted. They -.,.were scat. tered each to. his own," and the truth Himself was left ."alone" in Pilates
 Now learn from fhis very i'm portant distinction. To feel solitary is no uncommon thing. To complain of being alone and misunderstood is think that there may be parallel be- tween your feeling and those of the Master. But before you do that be the elevation of your character which sewers you from your species. The world has small sympathy for divine goodness: because it cannot attain to other qualities which are only dis agreeahle torfts iYowsi meet vsifff n0e fe-. sponse. you are passed by, find your
 s nnnien We:i? 9'd Is it G Because s yoS GG are devising and executing grand plans which they cannot comprehend? Vim dicating the wronged. proclaiming and living on great principles: offending it by the true saintliness of your par ty and unworldliness of your ,aspira- tions? Then yours iss the loneliness ped up in self. cold. disobiising. sen timental. indifferent about the welfare of others2 Then you must not use these words of Christ. They have
 
 Contemplate the spirit and, temper of His Solitude Observe dts gran deur. T am alone. and yet, not alone" There is a feeble and sentitnental way rows. We turn to the cross and it's agony to arouse compassion. You de- grade that loneliness by your com Him! Adore if you will. respect and reverence that sublime solitude into which none but the Father could en- ter-.but no pityi Let it draw, out the even tender sympathy >seemr out Of place.
 The strength that is in a man can only be shown when he is thrown iup- on his own resources. Tell me what he can do alone. It is .one thing to rush on to danger with the shouts and sympathy of numbers;S 1t Is quite am other when the brave captain of "the sinking ship sees the last hoatfu1 de- part, and, folding his arms. goes down into, the majesty of darkness crushed. but not subdued.
 Such, ana far greater, was tic soIi- tude in crowd. In that single human bosom dwelt the thought in which was the germ of the worlds .lfe-but a thought unshared' misunderstood and
 Learn from these words His self reliance. It is not difficult to go into retirement. and there live ont your mix with men and follow their con- victions but to enter the world, and there live out firmly and fearlessly according to your own conscience. that is Christian greatness.
 Notice the humility of this loneli- ness. Had the Son of Man simply said. q can be alone" He would have said no more than any proud. self relying man can say. But when He added, "because the Father is with Me-" that independence assumed an- other character and became only an other form of reliance upon God. There Is genuine and spurious hu- militY. ,.
 The practical result of all this is very simple. but very deep. It touches the depths of our existence. Let your life be life of faith. Do not go think. what others believe, what oth- CTS say. It seems the easiest, but in reality 1t is the most difficult thing in life to do. Believe in God. God is near you. Throw yourself fearlessly upon Him. The day will come when all that is human will fall from you, as 1t did from your Saviour. Let His strength be yours now. He indepen- dent Of the world. of all save Him for Him, for He will never fail them that put their trust in Him. - t "The soul that to Jesus hath fled for I will not. I will not desert to His That soul, though all hell shall en-
 deavor to shake. I'll never. no never, no never rorsake.
 But we are not left in uncertainty