The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1917-11-10


ter to them. 1t is just as we are with
out any claim or good deeds to recon-
mend us-with no friendship towards
God in our hearts and indeed, even
with enmity towards him, that he mani
tests his friendship towards us In his
son.
His Constancy.
(2) Consider the constancy of this
friendship which is as Interchangeable
as the nature of God who is 'the same
yesterday, today and forever" We can
not trust in any earthly friend like
this or put confidence in any earthly
guide, for as the Bible says, "even O
son will dishonor his father and q
daughter rise up against her mother,
and a mans enemies are the men Of
his own house." Job complains that
in his adversely his friends scorned
him, and few of us have not known
desertion under similar circumstances.
But Christ is "a friend who loveth at
all times and a brother born for adj
versity." Some time ago heard of
youth who had been driven out Of his
mothers home because of idleness, but
there IL promise even for such as he,
since 1t is written In the 9th Psalm:
"When my father and my mother for
sake me, then the Lord will take me
up" The great Doctor Johnson used
to say that If mans friendship In
this world is to amount to anything he
must keep 1t in good repair. He meant
that we must make new friends as life
advances or else by and by we shall
be left without any. There Is much
truth in this. Where are the friends
Of our budding youth, to whom we
told more secrets than our parents
knew? How many Of them are forgot
ten and have forgotten us? But 1t Is
not so with the divine friendship.
His Helpfulness.
60 Then this divine friendship is so
practical in its helpfulness. In the
first place, 1t helped us out of the death
of sin into the life Of righteousness.
1t has redeemed us through the cross
from the guilt and power of sin. Again.
as the Psalmist says, "God is q very
present help in time Of trouble" We
may come boldly to the throne Of
grace to find grace to help In time Of
need. "The Holy Spirit helpeth our In
trinity for we know not what to pray
for as we ought" Then God hath set
some in the church as "helps," as we
learn in Pauls first epistle to the
Corinthians. What help do we find in
faithful pastor or Sunday school
teacher, or some other Christian lead
err who has really within him the Word
Of God and who Is consistent In his
daily life? How we should thank God
for all these means of grace which he
has given us in our earthly journey
And yet we have not spoken Of that
constant help we find in the reading
and study of his holy Word.
His Loyalty.
az Finally Jesus Is q friend Of ours
who is not ashamed to acknowledge us
as friends of his. Addressing his dis
ciples he said: "Henceforth call you
not servants, for the servant knoweth
not what his lord doeth, but / have
called you friends, for all things that
I have heard Of my Father have
made known to you" The rich are
ready to patronize the poor, and the
learned to patronize the ignorant. For
example, late philanthropist is said
to have bestowed $1,000 day In
benevolences. There were many who
were pleased to call him their friend,
and doubtless he was gratified to be sc
designated. But In how many cases
would he have been prepared to return
the compliment? What proportion OF
those whom he helped would heshave
been disposed to introduce to his &c
quaintaneeship as his friends? They
were the objects of his charity. He was
interested In them, to be sure: but that
was all. oh, there is great differ
ence between your calling me your
friend and my calling you my friend
But Of Jesus 1t IL written, But he
that sanctifieth and they who are sane
titled are all of one for which cause
he Is not ashamed tn call them breth
rem" Surely this Is friend to know
] and to love and servel