f Christ through all the centuries? It is the holy
of holies of Christian history. The Lord's Supper, instituted that
night, and which has never ceased to be observed as a memorial of the
Master's wonderful love and great sacrifice, has sweetened the world
with its fragrant memories. The words spoken by the Master at the
table have been repeated from lip to heart wherever the story of the
gospel has gone, and have given unspeakable comfort to millions of
hearts. The petitions of the great intercessory prayer have been
rising continually, like holy incense, ever since they were first
uttered, taking into their clasp each new generation of believers.
This farewell has kept the Christian hearts of all the centuries warm
and tender with love toward him who is the unchanging Friend the same
yesterday and to-day and forever.

CHAPTER XIV

JESUS' FRIENDSHIPS AFTER HE AROSE.

"Our own are our own forever--God taketh not back his gift;
They may pass beyond our vision, but our soul shall find them out
When the waiting is all accomplished, and the deathly shadows lift,
And the glory is given for grieving, and the surety of God for doubt."

We cannot but ask questions about the after life. What is its
character? What shall be the relations there of those who in the
present life have been united in friendship? What effect has dying on
the human affections? Does it dissolve the bonds which here have been
so strong? Or do friendships go on through death, interrupted for a
little time only, to be taken up again in the life beyond? Surely God
will not blame us for our eagerness to know all we can learn about the
world to which we are going.

True, we cannot learn much about this blessed life while we stay in
this world. Human eyes cannot penetrate into the deep mystery. We are
like men standing on the shore of a great sea, wondering what lies on
the other side. No one has come back to tell us what he found in that
far country. We bring our questions to the word of God, but it avails
little; even inspiration does not give us explicit revealings
concerning the life of the blessed. We know that the Son of God had
dwelt forever in heaven before his incarnation, and we expect that he
will shed light upon the subject of life within the gates of heaven.
But he is almost silent to our questions. Indeed, he seems to tell us
really nothing. He gives us no description of the place from which he
came, to w