beautiful fern grew in a deep vale, nodding in
the breeze. One day it fell, complaining as it sank away that no one
would remember its grace and beauty. The other day a geologist went
out with his hammer in the interest of his science. He struck a rock;
and there in the seam lay the form of a fern--every leaf, every fibre,
the most delicate traceries of the leaves. It was the fern which ages
since grew and dropped into the indistinguishable mass of vegetation.
It perished; but its memorial was preserved, and to-day is made
manifest.

So it is with the stories of the obscure apostles, and of all beautiful
lives which have wrought for God and for man and have vanished from
earth. Nothing is lost, nothing is forgotten. The memorials are in
other lives, and some day every touch and trace and influence and
impression will be revealed. In the book of The Revelation we are told
that in the foundations of the heavenly city are the names of the
twelve apostles of the Lamb. The New Testament does not tell the story
of their worthy lives, but it is cut deep in the eternal rock, where
all eyes shall see it forever.

On the lives of these chosen friends Jesus impressed his own image.
His blessed divine-human friendship transformed them into men who went
to the ends of the world for him, carrying his name. It was a new and
strange influence on the earth--this holy friendship of Jesus Christ
started in the hearts and lives of the apostles. At once it began to
make this old world new. Those who believed received the same
wonderful friendship into their own hearts. They loved each other in a
way men had never loved before. Christians lived together as one
family.

Ever since the day of Pentecost this wonderful friendship of Jesus has
been spreading wherever the gospel has gone. It has given to the world
its Christian homes with their tender affections; it has built
hospitals and asylums, and established charitable institutions of all
kinds in every place where its story has been told. From the cross of
Jesus a wave of tenderness, like the warmth of summer, has rolled over
all lands. The friendship of Jesus, left in the hearts of his
apostles, as his legacy to the world, has wrought marvellously; and its
ministry and influence will extend until everything unlovely shall
cease from earth, and the love of God shall pervade all life.

CHAPTER VI.

JESUS AND THE BELOVED DISCIPLE.

My Lord, my Love! in pleasan