above
the world, prodigal of present possessions, because sure of the future,
waiting securely in the hope of the great salvation. He walked with
God in sweet unaffected piety, and serene faith, letting his character
ripen in the sunshine, and living out his life as unto God not unto
men. To know the love of God does not mean the impoverishing of our
lives, by robbing them of their other sweet relations. Rather, it
means the enriching of these, by revealing their true beauty and
purpose. Sometimes we are brought nearer God through our friends, if
not through their influence or the joy of their love, then through the
discipline which comes from their very limitations and from their loss.
But oftener the experience has been that, through our union with the
Friend of friends, we are led into richer and fuller intercourse with
our fellows. The nearer we get to the centre of the circle, the nearer
we get to each other. To be joined together in Christ is the only
permanent union, deeper than the tie of blood, higher than the bond of
kin, closer than the most sacred earthly relationship. Spiritual
kinship is the great nexus to unite men. "Who are My brethren?" asked
Jesus, and for answer pointed to His disciples, and added, "Whosoever
shall do the will of My Father in heaven the same is My mother and
sister and brother."

We ought to make more of our Christian friendships, the communion of
the saints, the fellowship of believers. "They that feared God spake
often one with another," said the prophet Malachi in one of the darkest
hours of the church. What mutual comfort, and renewed hope, they would
get from, and give to, each other! Faith can be increased, and love
stimulated, and enthusiasm revived by intercourse. The supreme
friendship with Christ therefore will not take from us any of our
treasured intimacies, unless they are evil. It will increase the
number of them, and the true force of them. It will link us on to all
who love the same Lord in sincerity and truth. It will open our heart
to the world of men that Jesus loved and gave His life to save.

This friendship with the Lord knows no fear of loss; neither life, nor
death, nor things present, nor things to come can separate us. It is
joy and strength in the present, and it lights up the future with a
great hope. We are not much concerned about speculations regarding the
future; for we know that we are in the hands of our Lover. All that we
care to