The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1910-05-31
The Friends Need.

but thee. . mans best man. = loves
best love,
. perfect life in perfect la Dor writ,
priest,
What If or vet What mole or aou
what lapse,
" nat least defect or shadow of de-
feet
What run1or, tattled by an enemy.
Of inference loose, what lack Of grace
Even IN tortures grasp or sleeps or
Oh. what anliss may forgive in
thee
Jesus, good Paragon, thou crystal
Christ
This faultless Gentleman never
! lacked in that fine consideration for
others which is the essence of cour-
tesy. He held that no personal en-
grossTnent could excuse a failure to
remember others. He was at this
time struggling in prayer: for the
temptation had again been thrust upon
easy way of an earthly kingdom. Once
he had downed that temptation in
the wilderness; but temptation is a
hydra that must be slain often. This
b~esetment of popularity. which has
been the undoing of SO many public
characters did not allow Jesus to es-
cape unassailed.
Into the SacredneSS Of this critical
hour came the of the disci-
pies out on the lake; the sky was
pierced with lightnings, and shaker
with thunder, while the wind roared
through the gullies of the mountain
side. Down from this place of prayer
the Teacher hastened-how. the rev.
erent-irnag ination hesitates to suggest
to his friends in distress from the
lashing, rending, angry waters. A
miracle vas necessary in order to
reach them since he had to walk the
water: but all the powers of the
Omnipotent are at the service of his
loving heart. The highest law of
God is his love for man.
over and over it comes to me,
The thought of Christ or the stormy
sea"
What a picture: The boat full of
hardy fishermen, whose trained skill
and accumulated sea wisdom is futile
in the ACE of this storm On Galiiee.
The sudden teInpests that sweep down
upon it are like those which have
made Lake George, in New York
State, the grave Of SO many persons.
The morning was nigh, but the boat
was distressed by the cruel waters.
Those of US who have been in the
clutch of q furious sea know the feel
ing of helplessness which possessed
these G~aliIeans. Their faces told the
fear which thcIr ups were lodth "
express. "If the Master We're only
here" they whispered one TO another.
Then upon the water they beheId,
as thew thought, an apparition. They
were not yet wholly delivered from
the superstitions which were a part OF
their peasant inheritance. Inc seeming
ghost struck terror to their hearts
Thus do faint hearts Ommon ms
take Gods good p~rovidences. BUT
there was no m~istaking the voice
which straightway fell upon thelr
ears. BE Of good cheer: it is !; be
nat afraid." In whatever guise God
comes to a life, His coming should
drive out fear and bring in cheer. And
the greatest blessing of trouble IS that
then Christ appears
Faith vs.. FOrWardneSS.
Peter. the impetuous, more eager
than doubtful, at once cfaVed peTHils-
Con to eo to his Lord on the water.
Tba mission was needless, for Jesus
vas hound for the boat rms Mas
tor however, is as patient as q wise
father who seeks only tne ciuiu
training. and he accepted Peter Tor
for what faltn 'nele W va
# For a time, the disciple "alkgn
he waves, even as did his Master. Inc
toek was not too great TOR 1alth' W.
can never have too much lal.h- W
nav unwisely direct our faltn' as uIu
Peter: but even so ne sol loHS aa,,
he looked away from Jesus LILY 49,
- consider the waves. The man VINO
looks at difficulties is done 1or. real.
which always humans; sleZeu pJ hjs
Da+ar.s heart with paralysis: ana ms
fetei not keep up when his heart
w 1ees down, 80 he began to sink: fa;,,
h1u,ays alert for evidences ol 'a:u
.u9hen fhe son of man comes. VIII
he find faith on the earth?,2 }eSus
80 haa rfened Peter. Now stlll paueh.'
he stretched forth his hand ana 'o ~
l no'd xi et nl%' r% SeortS him: 10 20 t thou
so so little faith. wherefore dds, shep
99onbt?" It always hurts the m ssort
when any of his fr1enas .rent things
in faith: He plans sneh s !