St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1910-01-01

the message being
= needed and the way
winch 1t was sent show
.nat there was no clear un-
outstanding and definite arrange
,hent between the Master and this
friendly citizen. And yet the man was
liot taken unawares: when the two
uisclples delivered the request, he
showed them large upper room fur
lished and ready" If he did not feel
sure. ne was expectant, he was hopeful
VI Delng privileged to entertain the
master and his disciples that Paschal
eve.
his guest arrived He and the IL
passed into the guest chamber. But
the man himself did not join them at
.apie. He had the pure yet half-anx-
.ous JOY OF knowing that they were in
MS house; he might hear their voices
occasionally in conversation, and the
singing of the last hymn. Yet he was,
IN MS house, an outsider. He did not
himself partake of that eucharistic
feast OF perfect love. Did he feel a
wish to be with them and of them, or
was he content? Was it enough for
nim 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.
Ihey 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-
thority 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: II 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
his side. He does not despise our pro-
vtsions-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 a 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 Hveth in me. "
The host owns the hoase Not merely
the guest chamber is his, but the Sc
cret key Of every room. Every feast
Is sacrament of obedience. To sup
grid ourselves with the towel and
wash his disciples feet. He is not only
the Christ of the convention and con-
ference, but of the city slum and the
far-off lonely field in heather twilights.
To grant him the guest chamber
may, Gfter all, denote little more than
religious good nature, which may be
inherited through pious family tradi-
lions. There is prophets chamber
| in the lives of all who have been
brought up in Christian homes. When
he comes to say: II keep the passover
| at thy house." the mere courtesy of de.
| yotion may constrain many to let him
pass into the upper room. They honor
his name, they are interested in the
literary documents of his life, they
sing his hymns. But he is little more
to them than marginal Christ.
Sacrifice Is Demanded.
In the living experience of Christ
there must be moral passion. One
never sits down to sup with Christ
without giving up much. There is a
| fellowship of his sufferings, as we'll as
a power of his resurrection. Other en-
gagements may have to be Cancelled
other visitors dismissed, before the
feast of his pardon and peace can be
worthily partaken. 1t is this that to
Gay stops many who admire Christ
| from becoming Christians. In the in
vited guest they begin to recognize
the signs of supreme lordship; and
they are afraid. Were it only matter
OF sitting down with him at endless
| least, there would still be misgivings
for his presence creates mora! en-
| vironment. But what other claim is
| this?-'T am crucified with Christ
I Christ liveth in me. "He is more than