Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-10-16
The Times-Dispatch Sunday
Sermon
a Friend OF Sinners.
BY J. a. lSubank.

IA friend of publicans and sinners."-Lukc VIII ~.
1t has been well said that mother" is the
| hottest word In tho English language. Mex,
TO mother. tho term friend" should carry with
| IT like hallowed Significance. And II does
| where tho obligations OF friendship are rightly
appreciated. But as indiscriminately used the
term conveys no definite meaning. as most OF
us. rich and poor alike. sooner or later find
out. Az ordinarily used. the term Friend" Is
synonymous with Recognized acqua lance "
and recognized" Is used advisedIy for when
fortune proves tickle and is forced into
the down-and-ou club" even that faint sem
pahce OF once valued Friendship" ceases in
most instances to operate to the maintenance
OF the familiar relationships OF the past Hence
IL is no wonder that the Disguised poet de-
fined friendship but n name n charm that
luils to sleep. shade that follows wealth or
lame. but leaves the wretch to weep"
But happily. we may turn aside from this
"'scourasihg picture and find writ In I'm
mortal history many examples of where men
nave measured UP to the true and full mean
ING OIL the term friend. These have come to
'"ose whom they professed to love when mis-
fortunes heavy hand fell upon them and lift-
ing them from the dust OF their humiliation,
nave hiied their lives again with hope and
cheer. Nor are these examples of true friend
snip confined to the pages of history-,hey
are occurring every day In our own midst
ihey are the deeds that the angel is inscrib-
Ing In the Book OF Life. In the mad rush
after the things (which pcrishcth with the
using these instances which prove that a
touch of the Divine nature still exists I'm hui
'hahltSs breast. too frequently pass unnoticed
possibly because they occur oftcncst i'm the
number walks Of life, but they arc the deeds
which tend to cement humanity together in
hope and faith.
throughout the Scriptures the sacred rcla :
tionship Of the term friend" is magniiicd "a
friend lovcth at all times" and There is a
iriehu that sticketh closer than n brother"
"ro'e the wise Man SO when Christ Himself
alhFmed that He was called "a friend of pub
licans and sinners" He revealed to the world
depth OF love that must grow more and more
INTO the hearts Of the people as the ages roll
on. IL Is the compelling love that the Fa Their
mas SAID snail bring all the nations of the
e"rth INTO reconcilemcnt with His will We
all know who the "publcans and sinners"
were. Thcy were the dcspised classes of the
age and country In which Christ performed
His mission on Garth They may have ven
tured into the temple occasionally hut we can
rest assured that they did not sit in the news
lhcF perhaps found standing room near the
"oor wherc they could make a hasty exit when
some naughty Pharisee. sitting in the "amcn
corner. CHANGED to glance In that direction
No. they had no standing In religious or social
circles. Yet Christ Jesus walked Familiarity
among them and was called their friend
What precious thought. then. is contained
In the text He was called "a friend of nuh
iicahS and sinners" Think what il means to
Iossess the friendship of One. OF whom ST.
i'ui wrote: Wherefore God also hath highly
cNaitcd Hin, and given Him 4 name which is
above every name: that at the name of Jesus
every knee should bow, OF things In heaven
ana things in earth, and things under the
earth: and that every tongue should confess
'hat Jesus Christ Is Lord, to the glory Of Cod
the Father"