Christian Acquaintance

In order to this Christian fellowship and duty, what we greatly need is a more earnest attempt at mutual acquaintance. How can we help, or even love those whom we do not know? Yet how many sit at the same sacramental table, who elsewhere show no sign of recognition? Plainly, the elder members of a church should give the hand of invitation and welcome to the younger. The rich should abhor the thought of being ashamed of the poor. We may expect the curse of God upon our churches if this spirit prevail. And if advances are made, it must obviously be from the side of the more prosperous. Some of Christ’s most favoured people, and some who might do you the most good, are among the poor of this world, who are ‘* rich in faith.” Study with dihgence that passage of the Apostle James, in which he says,

94 THE yoi;ng communicant.

“My brethren, have not the faith of oui Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.”*