ESUS' CONDITIONS OF FRIENDSHIP.

But if himself he come to thee, and stand
* * *
And reach to thee himself the Holy Cup,
* * *
Pallid and royal, saying, "Drink with me,"
Wilt thou refuse? Nay, not for paradise!
The pale brow will compel thee, the pure hands
Will minister unto thee; thou shalt take
Of that communion through the solemn depths
Of the dark waters of thine agony,
With heart that praises him, that yearns to him
The closer through that hour.
_Ugo Bassi's Sermon._

Every thoughtful reader of the Gospels notes two seemingly opposing
characteristics of Christ's invitations,--their wideness and their
narrowness. They were broad enough to include all men; yet by their
conditions they were so narrowed down that only a few seemed able to
accept them.

The gospel was for the world. It was as broad as the love of God, and
that is absolutely without limit. God loved the world. When Jesus
went forth among men his heart was open to all. He was the patron of
no particular class. For him there were no outcasts whom he might not
touch, with whom he might not speak in public, or privately, or who
were excluded from the privileges of friendship with him. He spoke of
himself as the Son of man--not the son of a man, but the Son of man,
and therefore the brother of every man. Whoever bore the image of
humanity had a place in his heart. Wherever he found a human need it
had an instant claim on his sympathy, and he was eager to impart a
blessing. No man had fallen so low in sin that Jesus passed him by
without love and compassion. To be a man was the passport to his heart.

The invitations which Jesus gave all bear the stamp of this exceeding
broadness. "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I
will give you rest." "Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast
out." "If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink." Such
words as these were ever falling from his lips. No man or woman,
hearing these invitations, could ever say, "There is nothing there for
me." There was no hint of possible exclusion for any one. Not a word
was ever said about any particular class of persons who might
come,--the righteous, the respectable, the cultured, the unsoiled, the
well-born, the well-to-do. Jesus had no such words in his vocabulary.
Whoever labored and was heavy laden was invited. Whoever would come
should be rece