in you. Grow up into Me in all things,
which am the Head, rooted and built up in Me, and stablished by your
faith, even as ye were taught."

_There are many analogies to this appeal._--The sun says to the little
earth-planet, _Abide in me_. Resist the temptation to fly into space,
remain in the solar sphere, and I will abide in the formation of thy
rocks, the verdure of thy vegetation, and all living things, baptizing
them in my fire.

Abide in me, says the ocean to the alcove, that shows symptoms of
division from its waves. Keep thy channel unsilted and open, and I
will pour my fullness up to thy farthest shore, twice in every
twenty-four hours.

_Abide in me_: the vine says it to the branch, that it may impart
supplies of life and fruit; the air says it to the lung, that it may
minister ozone and oxygen to its cells; the magnet says it to the
needle, that it may communicate its own specific quality, and fit it to
guide across the ocean the mighty steamer, laden with the freight of
human life.

_Abide in me_: the artist says it to the novice; Edison would say it to
some young Faraday; the preacher to the student. Any man who is eager
to impart his ideas to coming time is glad when some young life, eager,
quick to receive formative impressions, presents itself. Here, says
he, is my opportunity of incarnating myself afresh, and still living,
speaking, painting, when my life is done. "Stay with me, young soul,
share my home, saturate yourself with my ideas and methods of
expression, go to no other fields to glean, and I will give my best
self in return."

So, also, the mother speaks to the child. If she is wise she will be
chary of handing it over to the nurse, or sending it away to the care
of strangers, except for the hours necessary for education. Companions
and games, books and studies, shall be within the influences of her
mother's love; and she, in return, will gladly bestow herself to the
eager life that waits on her every movement, look, and word.

In all these cases, it is always the stronger that pleads with the
weaker to abide, promising the communication to fuller life. Each, in
measure, says, in the words of the glorious Christ, "I am stronger,
wiser, fuller, better than you; all is mine that it may be yours,
therefore, abide in Me, and I will abide in you."

_Notice Christ's consciousness of sufficiency for the needs of
men._--It were blasphemous audacity to speak thus, if He were not more