The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-02-14


Jesus treatment OF sinful woman Is
one OF the proofs OF His compassion
This - a sample. \ young woman who
served out sentence OF five years In
the Maine state prison, found means
or education, and, becoming thorough-
~ reformed. left the prison In appear
Ence a lady. She was employed by a
dry goods firm In Portland as sales
woman. and abe gave perfect satlsfac-
ton 10 her employers until one day,
wealthy patron OF tho place entered tho
store and recognized her. Calling the
proprietor aside, she told him that the
girl had been In the state prison. lie
bad done her duty faithfully, and that
they were well satisfied with her.
Well" said he woman, Ut you Keep
her In your store ] VIII neither trade
friends TO. II can help H." Therefore
the proprietor. rather than lose his
customer. called In the poor girl ana
peciaily those who Imagine themselves
at the top or society. are ever ready 10
cast a stone at those who have done
wrong, and few cases are onrecord OF
a fallen woman who has been aided IN
her attempts 10 rise.
In a modern story occurs this strit-
Ing question, why should We coddle
ish fhe spiritually me" We do this and
worse We kick and punish them. es-
pocially women. when they are onl.'
spiritually weak. But not Jesus Read
the we'll she was sap,arltan, but
he Jew. talked with her. She WAS
sinner. even now living in the bonds ,
iniqnity, but He, a saint, told her OF
the better way in words which elicit
ed her attention. interest and Adher-
ence. EVIL possessed Mary Magds-
lene. also, when she met Jesus but
lie drove out the demons and among
he snf.t lat INF i'm
Iva allowed her TO be one who had
needed this cleansing.
But. of course, the surprising Illus
tration OF the compa ssion of Jesus for
sinners Is that connected with the cru
cihxion. The compassion OF Jesus. Il
may here be said. was no mere senti-
mentality; IL cost him price, Some
persons have little pity. They weep.
They give what they happen TO have
the mids. '' OF Kis s asony ssn ..e looked
about upon a staring crowd of perse-
face. that was on the cross. He who
hung there looked to heaven and
prayed. Father. forgive them" Height
OF compassion! Depth OF love! And And
ner. Would that such love might draw
us 10. itself. and TO Him who taught II
TO the world.
for the necessary failure to adequately
present so great a matter. the whole
life or Jesus In this world IL such a
supreme illustration OF compassion as
should NIL every heart with amazement
and with love.
'.was Ever Such Condescensions"
In Bishop simpsons Yale lectures on
preaching. he tells or all exhibition ne
once attended. the most marvellous,
he says, In his life.
When schools for imbeciies began to
be opened In Europe, a young man,
moved with benevolence and possess
ing wealth and leisure, went abroad 10
finding that they were feasible. he
came back TO open a like Institution
I'm his own land. He advertised for
the most weak minded child he could
possibly get, and the worst one that
came was a little fellow fiye years old.
who never had stood, or taken step,
or chewed a hard substance. He had
no power OF movement, and could only
lie a helpless mass Of flesh on the fioor.
And that was the child this man was
somehow to cure, whose latent ability
he was TO bring forth. He tried In
last he determined TO have the boy
brought TO him every noon for nalf
hour, and laid on the carpet In his
room; and he would lie down beside
sight some sort OF suggestion In the
helpless lump Of flesh. That he might
not waste his time while lying beside
the child, he was accustomed to READ
IL went on this way. for six
months, and no sign OF recognition
came until. one day. utterly wearied.
he ceased reading, when he noticed a
OF humanity at his side. lie detected \
trembling movement GA the hand, and
he put his head down the the little
hand. and, at last. after great effort
the child managed to lay his fingers
on his lips, as though he said, 81 miss
that noise. please make IT," Then he
knew that he had control OF the boy,
and by careful manipulation OF his
muscles he taught him to walk. Five
years after that, Bishop Simpson says
he saw the boy stand on n platfor
and read, and repeat the names OF the
presidents or the United states. and
answer accurately many questions con-
corning our national history. Said
the bishop. with reference to the deeds
by which this victory was won. Was
there ever such condescensionT'
Then he thought again. Yes. there
was one other such condescension. that
greater one which inspired this act,
when He who was God, lowered Him
self to my capacity in the inca rnation,
and laid down beside me. and watched
me and helped me. and / waited 20
YEARS yea until at last put my a nser 81, on
Thy servant heareth." This transaction
is the wonder OF the ages. Stricken
and made lmbecile by sin, We should
not know God or find ourselves had not
Jesus Christ come and lowered Him
us, that He might wake up into life II
IL through His ministry that at last
comes the fash OF intelligence, the con-
sciousness OF other than self. the dawn
OF reason and OF faith. and, at last, the
flame Of God in a new and lasting light
and life.
Next week-The Rev. william A. At
kinson, St Matthias Episcopal.