save." His favorite place was among sinners. If He ascended the mount for a moment to teach His Apostles, He was back directly by the poor leper's side, touching him and curing him. Consider His love for Magdalen; see how lovingly He bids for the soul of the Samaritan woman at the well; behold Him in that most touching scene of all, when He boldly steps between the adulterous woman and her would-be murderers — and tell me, if you dare, that Christ's great love for sinners will be disappointed — that He will suffer the majority of them to be lost. Hear Him tell you that He yearns after the sinner as did his father after the prodigal; goes after him as the shepherd after the lost sheep in the desert; searches after him as perseveringly as did the woman for the lost groat — hear all this and be assured that only a minority, even of the sinful, are lost — that a majority of mankind is saved.
Brethren, in the ups and downs of life we sometimes get discouraged. Let me say to you to-day in the words of Christ: "Why fear ye, O ye of little faith? " Again, many of us serve God through fear rather than love. Look on Him, I pray you, not as a Master but a Father, and the thought of His superabundant goodness to all will inspire you to do your day's work for Him more cheerfully and better. Finally, many of us are inclined to look askance at, and shun, our wayward brethren. Do not so, but mingle with them as Christ did, becoming all things to all that you may save all. In your own interior life and in your dealing with your fellow men, do all
