The Unwelcomed Stranger Welcomed.

"I WAS A STRANGER AND YE TOOK ME IN"-"BUT AS MANY AS RECIEVED HIM, TO THEM GAVE HE POWER TO BECOME THE SONS OF GOD, EVEN TO THEM THAT BELIEVE ON HIS NAME."MATT:25.23-JN:1.12
The connection suggested between the two inspired words is really existent and by no means strained or fanciful as you will see by reading the context of the passage in John's gospel. "He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not." So He was a stranger in the world which He Himself had made. "He came unto His own, and His own recieved Him not" So He was a stranger among the people whom He had set apart for His own by many deeds of mercy. "But as many as recieved Him-that is to say, gave entertainment to this blessed Stranger-to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe in His name." some among our friends will think it well to say to the Lord Jesus "come in thou blessed of The Lord; wherefore standest Thou without?" This divine Stranger has knocked at many doors, till His head is wet with dew, and His locks with the drops of the night. I trust there are some who will now rise up and open unto Him so that they may say with Job ," The stranger did not lodge in the street, but I opened my doors to the traveller." Verily in so doing you will not only entertain angels unawares, but you will be recieving the Lord of angels. The day in which you recieve Him shall be to you the beginning of years.