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 shower of  prayers  and  blessings  in  return  for  the shower of  stones  and  similiar  persecutions  our  enemies pour  upon  us. As Christians  we  should  never lose sight  of  the  Saviour's  loving  gentleness  to  all, nor ever  cease  to  hear  the  echo  of  His  dying  words: " Father,  forgive  them,  for  they  know  not  what  they do."

Brethren, it  were  little  to  live  soberly  and  justly  in this  world,  loving  one's  neighbors  and  oneself,  did one neglect  the  first  and  greatest  command  of  all, " to  live  a  godly  life,  to  love  the  Lord  our  God  with our  whole  heart,  and  our  whole  soul,  and  our  whole mind." All our  other  affections  must  be  so  in  line with our  love  of  God,  that  while  loving  Him  for  His own sake  we  may  love  whatever  else  we  love  for  the love of  Him. Our entire  being,  too,  with  all  its  powers, our  heart,  our  soul,  our  mind,  should  be  intent  on God,  "  looking,"  as  says  St.  Paul,  "  for  the  blessed hope  and  coming  of  the  glory  of  the  great  God  and our  Saviour  Jesus  Christ." Between youth  and  age there is  this  difference,  that  the  old  live  in  the  memories of  the  past,  but  the  young  in  the  hopes  of  the future, and  whosoever  dearly  loves  his  God  is  ever young, for  he  is  ever  looking  for  the  blessed  hope  of the  glory  to  come. Probably this  was  part  of  the Saviour's meaning  when  He  placed  that  little  boy  in the  midst  of  His  Apostles  and  said  to  them:  "  Unless you  become  as  one  of  these,  you  cannot  be  My true  disciple,  nor  enter  the  kingdom  of  heaven." For lovers  of  God  and  those  who  do  not  love  Him differ as  do  the  children  and  the  servants  of  a  house-