The King is near of kin to us. 2 Sam. xix. 42.

THERE are two derivations for the word king: one from the word can — the king is the man that can do things; the other from the word kin — the king is closely related to us, of our kith and kin. In either case, there is a beautiful meaning, as touching our Lord and Saviour. He is King, because He has overcome our enemies, and can overcome. He is King, because He has taken on Himself our flesh and blood, and has for ever made us one with Himself. The King is our kinsman. Our kinsman is King.

It is very comforting to know how really our Lord has identified Himself with us. The Gospels are full of the wonderful story. His kinship was manifested in —

His Prayers. — He bade us speak to God as our Father; in that marvellous possessive pronoun, not only Iinking us all to one another, but including Himself in our petitions, save when we ask for forgiveness.

His Infirmities. — "We have not a high priest who cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities." His hunger and thirst; his weariness and exhaustion; his suffering unto death — all accentuate the closeness of the tie between us.

His Temptation. — "In all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin." The avenues through which the tempter could approach Him were those by which He assails us also. No temptation took Him, but such as is common to man. So to every lonely soldier of his He draws near, saying, "Be of good cheer; I have passed through it all. I am your brother in the fight; I feel for you with a quick sympathy; the glories of my throne do not alter my true-hearted love."