THE LOVING DISCIPLE.

MORNING beamed over the plains of Palestine ;Jesus was walking by the quiet shore of Tiberias, the sea whose angry waves he once calmed; reflected in its mirrored depths were the verdure crowned banks, and beyond them, in the blue distance, arose the lofty heights of Mount Hermon, mantled with eternal snow; to the south, the eye saw the graceful form of Mount Tabor, clothed with the beauty of an oriental landscape. The waters of the Jordan moved silently, yet steadily onward, through the sea of Tiberias, yet not commingling with it-emphatic emblem of the way of the upright. Over the land of Gennesaret the ruddy tints of sunrise shone brightly, and along "the coast of Magdala" the Saviour saw the cities "where most of his mighty works were done," and, doubtless, remembered scenes in Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum, with the tenderest emotions. The agonies of the garden and the cross were over, and as he recalled those sufferings, he saw also "the glory that was to be revealed."

Behold! a fisher's boat draws near, returning from a toilsome, unsuccessful voyage. The wearied mariners have labored all night, yet have caught nothing. They draw near to the shore-they know not Jesus; he speaks, "Children, have ye any meat?" They reply,

"No." Having miraculously supplied their wants, the Son of God sits down to eat with the humble band of fishermen on the sea-shore.

Let us picture to our minds the group. There, nearest to the Saviour, was the beloved John, “the disciple whom Jesus loved;" there, too, was James, and Nathaniel of Cana in Galilee, with the doubting Thomas, who, a few days before, was suffered to feel the wounds on the Saviour's hands and side,-so gracious was the Redeemer to his feeble faith.

The ardent, impetuous Peter, was there also; to him the Master turns, and, full of emotion, says, "Lovest thou me, Simon, more than these?" Alas! there had been a time, Peter, when you boldly declared that though all men should forsake Christ, you never would leave him; how is it now? Again and again does the Saviour press his inquiry, and with what a keen sense of sorrow does Peter recall his ingratitude. But he is inwardly assured that he is forgiven, and humbly he replies, "Thou knowest all things, thou knowest that I love thee."

What then are the characteristics of a loving disciple? I shall illustrate this subject by a familiar comparison of them with the objects of our earthly affection.

First. We delight in the society of those whom we truly love. We are not content to remain isolated from the world, for the affections will instinctively cling to some object;—if it finds not a worthy object, it will be very likely to seek an unworthy one. But when two hearts mutually fitted for each other, and

bound by the sweet unity of common hopes and joys become cemented, there is realized the highest happiness, the purest gratification. Together, hours fly apace, but apart, time passes tediously, and perfect satisfaction is not felt till a reunion takes place.

"To them that believe, Christ is PRECIOUS." To the Apostle Paul, his society seemed so dear, that he desired to be "absent from the body" that he might be "present with the Lord." Yes, to the loving disciple Jesus appears the chief among ten thousand, and altogether lovely; in Him he believes, and though he sees Him not, "he rejoices with joy unspeakable and full of glory." In communion with Him, he finds a foretaste of heaven in his soul, and experiences a joy in His smile, that the wealth of the Indies could not confer!

Again, we think often of those we love; we recall their pleasant ways, their words of kindness, and their sweet glances of affection are pictured on the tablet of our hearts, with traces of indelible distinctness. Every memento of love is sacredly cherished, and their memory is forever enshrined the heart's warmest affections.

"There is a thread, a golden thread, which winds
Through all the world, and tethers heart to heart;
For kindred spirits are but one in heart,

Their souls are knit in closest sympathies.
And we would fain be near to those we love,
And listen to the ever welcome voice,

Be joyful in the sunshine of their smile,

And mingle tears with those our dear ones shed.

The name most dear, most precious to the heart,
Clings to us night and day; in every scene,
The well-remembered image rises up;

The very sea-waves murmur low that name,
The zephyr wafts it on the troubled ear.
'The lily withers when the rose is dead,

The ring dove droops, because her mate has fled.'”

These exquisite lines, taken from "Looking unto Jesus," very touchingly exhibit the tender sensibilities of the human heart. The writer is now in heaven, enjoying the society of Him whom having not seen she loved, and whose image, while she earnestly was "Looking unto Jesus," became stamped on her young heart.

Christ said when leaving this world, "I go to prepare a place for you; I will come again; " meantime we have precious remembrances of his faithfulness. If the letters of an absent friend are read and re-read with delight, with what satisfaction should we peruse the last will and testament of our Saviour; those exceeding great and precious promises of his, meditating thereon day and night. Soon he will return to take his disciples home, and introduce them to the citizens of the New Jerusalem, where they may behold the glory he had with the Father before the world was.

Thirdly. We show in our endeavors to please those we love, an important element of true affection. We wait not the commands of a friend, but anticipate every wish, and study ways to promote his gratification. If perchance we unwittingly offend a bosom companion, and bring sadness to the heart of one we love, we experience real sorrow, and without delay seek forgive

ness. And if one we ardently and sincerely love, should inquire, "Do you really love me?" the very doubt would give us pain, and we might exclaim, "how else could I do? thou knowest I love thee."

How often have I heard persons affirm that they loved God, while even then, they were in the very act of disobedience. What then is the test? Simply this: "If ye love me, keep my commandments."

A fourth characteristic of the loving disciple, is love to Christ's friends. Said a fond sister, "my brother's friends are welcome, for his friends are my friends." We are confident that a sincere friend of ours will not admire and associate with those whom he knows to be our enemies; just so the friends of the world are enemies to God, for we cannot serve God and Mammon. The fashions of the world, the conversation and maxims of the world, are in direct opposition to the religion of Jesus. "If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him; for all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world." Jesus also said to his disciples, "I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you." If then Christians are a distinct community, "a chosen generation, a royal priest-hood, a peculiar people," how earnestly should they strive to show forth the praises of Him who redeemed them, and also show to the world that they have "passed from death to life," by their love to their brethren.

The last characteristic of the Loving Disciple that I will mention, is sympathy with Christ, in feeling, and