THE KING'S BUSINESS
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manLpale and emaciated, hanging on the arms of the nurses,.was more beautiful than before—not vigorous life showing itself in strength, but sac rificial life giving itself for others. That is the beauty of patriotic life, philanthropic life, Christian life, that gives itself for others. I would like to paint it if I could, and put it on my study wall. . Two little girls in a Western state, overtaken in a blizzard and blinded, lost their way. Father and mother looked for them all day and all night, and next evening at four o’clock they were found, frozen to death. The eld er child, about eleven years of age, had taken off her outer coat and wrapped it round her little sister, and then had taken off the undercoat and wrapped it round her, and .then put her arms round her and tried to’keep her warm, forgetful of herself. Oh, the beauty of it; first, the repulsion of it, and then the beauty of it. And Jesus Christ on the Cross is the most beautiful picture in the most repulsive frame that this world ever saw. In its tragedy it is repulsive; in its deeper meaning it is attractive. That brings us to light on three or four Scriptures. We can just barely mention them. “I, if I be lifted up, will draw all men unto Me.” There is the magnetism of Sacrificial Love, and Light, and Truth and Holiness, and all the attributes of God and per fect man. “I, if I be lifted up, will draw,” draw for forgiveness, draw for cleansing, draw for transformation. There is something in one, when he begins to feel himself guilty, that draws Him toward the One that can pardon. There is something in one who feels himself defiled that draws him toward the Fountain that can cleanse. There is something in one who feels himself weak, that draws him towards protecting power. “I, if I be lifted up, will draw.”
guilty, Judge Kerr pronounced sent ence upon him. He was either to go to prison or pay a fine. 1 think it was of 20 pounds. When the sentence had been pronounced, Judge Kerr looked into his face and said, ‘'My friend, you may not recognize me, but I recognize you. I am John Kerr that played with you on the village green, and I am go ing to pay your fine for you.” He took out his check and wrote the amount, 20 pounds, and let his friend go free, and the man went out wiping his eyes, with a broken heart. Judge Kerr was just, and yet the justifier of that man by keeping the law. He could be merciful because he was just. Tf God begins to be merciful without the satisfaction of his justice, He loses the throne of His righteousness. The glory of the Cross is that there is Sac rificial Mercy linked with justice, so that it can be “just, and the justifier of him that believeth.” Then there is the glory of Sacrificial Life and Beauty Stand with me at the door of the hos pital in Brooklyn, New' York. There comes a workingman in his Sunday clothes, red-cheeked, vigorous, athlet ic. With a quick step he enters the hospital, to spend a day with his only boy, sick in the hospital. You admire that man’s vigor, the beauty of his life. After three or four hours you see him come out of the hospital, .supported on each side by a nurse. He looks as pale, almost, as if he were dead. Why ? The doctor said, “There is just one thing that can cure your boy, and that is fresh blood in his veins. If you are willing to give some of the blood out of your healthy body, I will assure you that the boy will get well.” That rugged workingman bared his arm, and said, “Take it all, if need be, that the boy may go home to his mother !” He gave up thè blood of his body for the life of his child. I say that that
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