The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1909-12-25

needed and the wal
IN which 1t was sent SHOW
that there was no clear un
Outstanding and definite arrange
ment between the Master and THU
friendly citizen. And yet the man wa,
not taken unawares; when the two
disciples delivered the request, h
showed them "large upper room fur
nished and ready" II he did not fee
sure. he was expectant, he was hopeful
OF being privileged to entertain the
Master and his disciples that Pascha
eve.
His guest arrived. He and the II
passed into the guest chamber. But
the man himself did not join them al
table. He had the pure yet half-anx
ious Joy Of knowing that they were in
his house; he might hear their voices
occasionally in conversation, and the
singing of the last hymn. Yet he was
In his house, an outsider. He did not
himself partake of that eucharistic
feast of perfect love. Did he feel q
wish to be with them and OF them, or
was he content? Was It enough for
him that Jesus should be In his house ?
The question suggests the relation
OF many to Christ. They provide him
with the guest-chamber, and no more.
They do not ignore him, or treat him
with scorn; he is to them, If not al.
together lovely, the chiefest among
the thousand. at least admirable. He
is more than an interesting stranger,
seen passing the door and all but for
gotten. He is in the guest-chamber-
within closed doors. His presence
gives distinction to the house. There
Is admiration, but It does not lead to
Fellowship. He holds the Imagination,
but does not exercise sovereign au-
thorfty In the realm Of conscience. He
Is the Christ of history, but not of ex-
perience.
Receiving His Grace.
We reach this second stage in such
an experience as this: IT will come in
to him, and will sup with him, and he
with me-" He who entered as guest,
has now become host, and the host
who welcomed him has become his
guest. The door was opened as though
we were showing him grace, but we
soon discover that the grace is all on
MS side. He does not despise our pro-
vfsions-our penitence, our faith, our
better thoughts. But after the journey
and the storm they are scanty fare.
So he brings forth the rich provisions
OF his grace, and we are called to SUP
with him. We no longer move about
the house. somewhat subdued by the
sense OF Divine Guest in the upper
room. catching. as we pass the door
whispers Of holy conversation, OF deep
revelations; we have been invited to
the place Of banquet and of song
This Is the Christ of experience.
And yet there Is an inmost depth of
experience. which Paul had reached
when he wrote: Christ liveth in me-"
The host owns the house. Not merely
the guest chamber Is his, but the &C.
cret key Of every room. Every feast
ls q sacrament Of obedience. To SUD
with him is to rise after supper. and
g1rd ourselves with the towel. and
wash his disciples feet. He is not only
the Christ Of the convention and con-
terence, but Of the city slum and the
tar-on lonely field in heather twiliGhts.
To grant him the guest chamber
may. after all, denote little more than
religious good nature, which may be
inherited through pious family trsdi-
lions. There ID prophets chamber.
u the lives Of all who have been
brought up In Christian homes. When
he comes to say: II keep the passove-
It thy house." the mere courtesy of de- !
votion may constrain many to let him |,
pass into the upper room They honor
lis name. they are interested in the
literary documents of his life, they
ling his hymns. But he is little more
% them than q marginal Christ.
Sacrifice 10 Demanded.
In the living experience Of Christ
here must be moral passion. One
lever sits down to sup with Christ
Without giving up much. There is q
fellowship Of his sufferings, as well as
! power of his resurrection. Other en-
Iagements may have to be cancelled.
'ther visitors dismissed, before the
east Of his pardon and peace can be
partaken. It Is this that to-
lay stops many who admire Christ
rom becoming Christians. In the In
tted guest they begin to recognise
he signs Of supreme lordship; and
hey are afraid. Were It only matter
4 sitting down with him at endless
east, there would stu be misgivings:
or his presence creates moral en-
Tironment But what other claim n
hisf-T am crucffied with Christ.
'hrist liveth In me. HE IL more than
silent guest In q private room, more
ven than desirable companion AZ
able; he 10 the Lord Of life, OF every
art Of life Whatsoever he saith un- ,
. you, do It." He may command one
D d1mcult Journey, promising no cal
ulable success: he may bid another
stay IN humble privacy. promising | !
o earthly consolation. For the conso-
ltion, the success ~ IN obeying him:
be task itself b his boon. II the aim.
nit journey - hia Why complain? n
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