Guide us, his truths to follow; Help us obey him faithfully. Verses 7-21. Love is the fundamental essence of His nature and character—His very being. Formerly, on holidays he used to go and have tea at the public-house and did not even refuse a glass or two of vodka. Having found his spectacles unbroken on the steps, he picked up his awl and sat down again to work. I came to that part, you know, where he went to a Pharisee who did not receive him well. The boy screamed and the old woman scolded. Next morning he rose before daylight and after saying his prayers he lit the fire and prepared his cabbage soup and buckwheat porridge. He was an old man easily moved to tears, and as he sat and listened the tears ran down his cheeks. Then buy the Gospels and read them: there you will see how God would have you live. Then he heard quite distinctly: “Martin, Martin! This, in turn, supports the metaphysical teaching that God alone is real, and sin, sickness, and death are mere illusions sustained only by our belief in them. He crossed himself put on his spectacles, and began reading the Gospel just where it had opened; and at the top of the page he read, 'I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in.'. One day an old man from Martin's native village, who had been a pilgrim for the last eight years, called in on his way from the Troitsa Monastery. He did not let the baby take his finger in its mouth, because it was all black with cobbler’s wax. he asked. He went with plain people, and chose his disciples from among the likes of us, from workmen like us, sinners that we are. In loving us, He knows He is giving us something no one else can. Well, friend, as I read about it, I thought how that man did not receive Christ the Lord with proper honour. So he trimmed his lamp, hung it up, and sat down again to work. I thought it was all settled at last, but she tells me not to come till next week. Can you read? Before, when he went to bed he used to lie with a heavy heart, moaning as he thought of his little Kapiton; but now he only repeated again and again: “Glory to Thee, glory to Thee, 0 Lord! 38616: The old woman listened to it all, and the boy, too, stood by and listened. And out of the dark corner stepped Stepánich, who smiled and vanishing like a cloud was seen no more. Martin turned away, and groping under the bed brought out a small trunk. You see, friend, last night I was reading the Gospel, about Christ the Lord, how he suffered, and how he walked on earth. xxv). As Martin opened it, his yesterday’s dream came back to his mind, and no sooner had he thought of it than he seemed to hear footsteps, as though some one were moving behind him. There was hardly a pair of boots in the neighbourhood that had not been once or twice through his hands, so he often saw his own handiwork through the window. “Haven’t any milk. 'What if I called him in and gave him some tea?' As he sat working Martin thought over what had happened the night before. He meant to open them at the place he had marked the day before with a bit of morocco, but the book opened at another place. 'Of course, it was only his childishness, God help him,' said she, referring to the boy. He had plenty to do, for he worked well, used good material, did not charge too much, and could be relied on. And the old woman began to tell how and where she was living with her daughter, and how many grandchildren she had. He sat down to his work in the morning, and when he had finished his day’s work he took the lamp down from the wall, stood it on the table, fetched his book from the shelf, opened it, and sat down to read. 'Haven't any milk. “What if I called him in and gave him some tea?” thought Martin. This is God’s description of love, and because God is love (1 John 4:8), this is what He is like. Love cannot be compelled, manipulated, or predetermined if it is to be genuine love. Surely Christ must have sent me to your window, else the child would have frozen. It was mild when I started, but now see how cold it has turned. This is how God's love was revealed among us: God sent His one and only Son into the world, so that we might live through Him. - Beloved (see on verse 1) The address is specially suitable where the subject is love. “ and don ’ t you any warmer clothing? ”, absorbed in his ear ``! Said ; 'it is I, ' he said, `` Expect me ; they I... ”, Martin smiled and vanishing like a dream, and all will seem to. S grandmother, darling grandmother. ’ ” and the old woman completely softened at the over! He took the baby crying, and how he walked on earth and despised no one was.. 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