December 2

1 Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him.

2 And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and exeth with them

3 ¶ And he spake this parable unto them, saying,

4 What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?

5 And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.

6 And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.

7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.

8 ¶ Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it?

9 And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost.

10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.

"God is as incapable of being indifferent towards His lost mankind, as is a mother towards her lost child. Lost mankind are not only His lost, but His lost children. His piece of money is Money indeed, for originally it came out of the mine of His Eternal Nature. Heathen poets, Christian Apostles, and modern philosophy are agreed that mankind 'are His offspring.' And does not the Source of all hearts feel? And is He not concerned for His lost? In the Divinity of indifference I cannot believe. I could far more easily believe, that the Divine Heart carries a huge grief, and that 'the Man of Sorrows' only partially represents the tenderness of Infinite Love. In human hearts, in mother's love, in angelic love, and in the Person of Jesus, the affections of God have a wide and wonderful revelation, but what the Divine Affections are in their Fountain-head must be beyond all revealing and conceiving. And yet I am strongly inclined to think that, to many, one great offence of the Gospel is, that it is too gracious, too tender, too womanly. They can believe in a God afar off, but they cannot believe in God 'nigh at hand.' They can conceive God to have Almighty Power, Infinite Wisdom and Justice, but they cannot give Him credit for Infinite Affection. They know that a woman will light a candle and go into every hole and corner, stooping and searching, until she find that which she has missed; but they have no idea that this can be a true parable of God's concern for His lost children."—Pulsford.

Closet Promise.—As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you.—Isa. lxvi. 13.

Like a cradle rocking, rocking, Silent, peaceful, to and fro, Like a mother's sweet looks dropping On the little face below, Hangs the green earth, swinging, turning, Jarless, noiseless, safe, and slow; Falls the light of God's face bending Down and watching us below.

And as feeble babes that suffer, Toss and cry and will not rest, Are the ones the tender mother Holds the closest, loves the best;

So when we are weak and wretched, By our sins weighed down, distressed, Then it is that God's great patience Holds us closest, loves us best.

O great heart of God! whose loving Cannot hindered be or crossed, Will not weary, will not even In our death itself be lost— Love divine! of such great loving, Only mothers know the cost— Cost of love, which all love passing, Gave a Son to save the lost.

—Saxt Helm.