The more we s'and afar off and beat
our breasts and, like the poor publican,
say, "God be merciful to me, a sinner,"
the more joyous will be the Saviour's
words which will welcome us into our
Father's house when he says, "Son,
daughter, thy sins nre forgiven thee;
go in peace." Then the burden of the
cross will not be n burden, ns you nnd
I may have anticipated. It will be
such n burden as Rutherford, the evan?
gelist, described lt when he said: "The
burden of the cross Is the sweett. t bur?
den I ever bore. It ls such a burden as
wings are to a bird or sails are to a
ship, to carry me forward to the har?
ben of peace."
Deep repentance for sin naturally
implies a corresponding gratitude to?
ward Christ, who has redeemed us
from the evil results of sin. The great?
er the danger the greater the love we
have for our rescuer. I was never
more Impressed with this truth than
last year, when the Chicago presbytery
banqueted Its most houored member,
Rev. Herrick Johnsou, D. D., on his
seventieth birthday. Without doubt
Dr. Johnson is one of our most influ?
ential living ministers of the Presbyte?
rian church. He is not only a great
ecclesiastical statesman and famous
professor, but he has bound to him
with golden cords of love all who know
him and who have lived close to him.
After the different Chicago ministers
had spoken and expressed their deep
respect for their honored guest Dr.
