I do not wish to reflect particularly here upon the lack of evidences of this kind among professing Christians generally, nor do I wish to reflect censure upon the teachers under whose auspices these professions have been made; but I do say, and am sorry, that from the conduct and life of many professors of religion it would be hard to tell certainly that they were not Mohammedans or disciples of Confucius.  But banishing all fancy and superstition, and ignoring all religious forms and ceremonies, there is a way of making the truth known that one has been with Jesus.  The key that opens to this knowledge is wrapped up in these words of our Lord:  “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, IF YE HAVE LOVE ONE FOR ANOTHER.”

Let us notice how this love was shown by Peter and John.  I name them here, because they are connected with my text.  There lay a poor beggar, lame from his mother’s womb.  He was but little noticed, save as he was looked down upon with contempt.  He asked an alms of Peter and John as they were about entering the temple.  Peter might justly have said:  “I have nothing in the way of silver or gold to give you,” and have thus excused himself from all further trouble about the man.  But he did not treat the poor and impotent beggar in this way.  He said to him:  “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.”  But this was not all.  “He took him by the right hand, and LIFTED him up.”  He was not only ready to instruct, but he was ready to HELP, and that with his own hands.

But I have not told all.  The two disciples took to themselves no touch of credit for the lame man’s being made to walk.  Their love for the Lord, and their desire to do good by publishing the news of his healing and saving power, had so filled their hearts that there was no room in them for any of the love of self and the world.  Had they been so disposed they might have taken to themselves great credit for what they had done.  They might have indirectly favored the impression that if the Lord was at the bottom of the miracle they were at the top, and very important factors in it.  But the conduct and temper of the two disciples was far from anything like this.  When the people ran together, greatly wondering, Peter said:  “Why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk?” He then directed the attention of the people to the crucified, risen and glorified Lord, to whose power and love they ascribed all the honor.

It is known without telling that such humility of heart and exaltation of the Lord is not natural with man.  People of all grades, even the enemies of the Lord, take knowledge from such as manifest this spirit of love and meekness, that they have been and are with Jesus.  In his last conversation with his disciples he lifted his eyes to heaven and said:  “Father, I will, that they whom thou hast given me be with me where I am, that they may behold my