The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1909-07-06
to depict the simple, homely, domes-

to depict the simple, homely. domes-
tic and everyday seen in which Je-
sus figured. It is John who, above
all others. limns the individual por-
traits Of the New Testament. Through
him we have Nicodemus and Lazarus
and the calling Of the disciples, the
Wo1nan Of Samaria, the blind man at
the Pool of Sloan. the woman at the
cross and sepulchre, the denial of Pc
ter and the doubling of Thomas. As
a literary craftsman, Luke probably
was Johns superior. but John had a
| genius for the clear delineaticn Of hu-
man personalities, and of profound
spiritual philosophy, which has given
him a foremost place in the hall Of
immortal authors.
One Of the favorite traditions of the
early Church we'll typities the charac-
ter Of this bosom friend Of Jesus. Al
| ter he had become John the aged, and
| was living in EpheSuS. he was regular
~ borne on a chair into the assembly
OF Christians. Feebly lifting his hand
in benediction, he would say, Little
children. love one another After a
time, feeling that this eNhortation was
rather mOnotOnOus, some or the cid
| ers ventured to suggest, Father, hast
thou no ether message for u.s."
There is no other message Came
the calm reply; and again the eXhorta-
ton. Little children. love one an
other
John in youth was q son of thun-
der" but such is the power Of the
influence Of Jesus that this fiery, i'm
petuOus. militant spirit, became the
mellowed apostle of love. He Is a
high example Of the truth OF the mod
arn saying, If religion has done no
| thing for your temper it has done
nothing four your soul
The most familiar and the most po-
tent text in the whole Bible is found
only in John's Gospel: For God SO
loved the world that he gave his only
begotten Son. that whosoever belleEeth
in Him should not perish, but nave
everlasting life"
The character of an author IS re
vealed even by the passages he quotes.
Thus it is significant that !, was john
who recorded the utteranccs OF Jesus
upon the Good Shepherd, and upon
Himself as the Light # the Worla-
The prologue to the Gospel Of John
is one of the rare passages of litera-
ture which should be memOrized bN
everybody. for its dignity. simplicity.
literary beauty and y~astness Of con
tent:
In the beginning was the Word.
and the Word was with God, and the
Word was God. The same was in the
beginning With God. All things were
made through him: and without him
was not anything made that hath been
made. In Him was life: and the life
was the light of men. And the light
shineth in the darkness: and the dark
ness unprecedented it not. There came
a man, sent from God, whose name
was John. The same came for wit
ness. that he might bear witness OF
the light, that all might believe him.
He was not the light. but came that
he might bear witness Of the light,
There was the true light, even the
light which lighteth every man coming
into the world. He was in the world.
and the world was made through him,
and the world kneW him not. He
came unto his own. and they that were
his own received him not. But as
many as received him. to them gave
he the right to become children Of
God. even to them that believe on his
name; who were born. not of blood.
nor Of the Will Of the flesh. nor OF
the Will of man. but of God. And
the Word became flesh, and dWelt
among us (and We beheld his glory,
glory as of the only begotten from the
Father). full of grace and truth.
John beareth witness of him, and
crieth, saying: This was he of whom
| said. He that cometh after me is
become before me: for he was before
me. For of his fullneSs we all re
ceived. and grace for grace. For the
law was given through Moses; grace
and truth came through Jesus Christ
No man hath seen God at any time:
the only begOtten Son. who is in the
BOSOM of the Father, he hath declared
him"
The wonderful farewell ~discourseS
of Jesus, wherein he barred his heart
to the inner circle of his friends, and