ly Christian
life made him the butt of many a joke, and a laughing-stock. They
began to hunger for companionship and spiritual fellowship with those
of like mind and hope. The gradual separation taking place, which was
throwing over their neighbors a coldness toward them, accentuated the
question of which church they were going to join. Their hearts were
hungry for soul-food, for spiritual nurture; there was a longing
within which was acutely felt, but which was unsatisfied. The
intensity of this desire for the fellowship of saints increased as
Robert and Mary studied the Scriptures and beheld glimpses of the path
which was being so clearly marked out from therein. They were willing
to be martyrs for the truth, but how their souls did long for someone
to whom they could unburden their hearts and in whom they could
confide!

There is inherent in the human heart a desire for fellowship and
companionship. God has recognized this desire. Jesus Christ soon
gathered around him chosen men, who were one with Him in heart and
soul, one with Him in His grand purpose to lift a world out of
sin. The story of Christ's and the apostles' lives reveals a most
remarkable affinity of spirit between Christ and them. They became so
much at one with Him that they gladly forsook every earthly prospect,
and became willing to die for Him, even as He died for them. Jesus
made a class called his "disciples," which was an inevitable result
of His salvation work. They were the members of the spiritual kingdom
which He founded. They were the members of the church which He built.
With His infinite love He had sought them, and with His atoning blood
He had bought them. He found them dying, and He gave them life; He
found them sinning and doomed to a devil's hell, and He redeemed them.
Having received so richly of Christ's blessing, all these saved ones
were drawn into a unity of soul and heart unknown in any organization
of man.

It was exactly for this that Robert and Mary Davis were longing,
at the time of our narrative. They had expected soon after their
conversion, to join some denomination. They had purposely set out
to see which church was right. They had supposed that it would be a
matter of a few weeks only, and then they would be safely housed in
their church home. But the more they searched, and the more of the
Bible they read, the less inclined they were to join any of the
churches about them. God was leading them, but it was some time