They all the ills to which flesh has hitherto been heir, but from which it may be conceivably relieved. This should be as much the recognised duty of the Church to-day, as was that "relief of widows in the daily ministrations which is mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles. Those for whom Christianity means the acceptance of a creed, will of course deny this, in spite of the plainness of Christ's teaching. have never fully admitted that the religious man must be distinguished by benevolence and beneficence. They do not trouble themselves much about the performance of direct acts of kindness; and as for indirect kindness, as for scientific efforts to prevent distress, they would consider them quite outside the sphere of Christianity a sort of foible with which those who are sure of heaven need not in the least concern themselves. Lastly, and in a word, let me call your attention to the want of progress in character which is too often apparent among modern Christians. As time passes by, it should be evident that we are becoming better men and women, as well as wiser. Otherwise, it is but a mockery for us to pray the prayer, "Thy kingdom come." If we are in a lethargic and stagnant state, we are ourselves insuperable obstacles to the prayer being answered. Christ's kingdom can never come in its full glory while a single unperfected member remains. But how many there are who make no serious effort after moral perfection! Not to speak of those who, as they grow older, distinctly deteriorate-who become more grossly selfish, more fussily thoughtful for their own comforts and more rudely neglectful of other people's, more troublesome and exasperating to all who have the misfortune to live in the same house with them, not to speak of such as these, who have no right to the name of Christian, how many there are who have really felt an affection for Christ, and who endeavour, fitfully and feebly, to serve Him, who are yet quite contented to remain, year after year and decade after decade, in the same spiritual state -in Christ indeed, but merely babes in Christ! Let us see to it that this be not our condition. Let us see to it that we grow in grace. Let us remember, in regard to moral as in regard to mental acquirements, that we have not already attained, neither are already perfect. "Let us forget the things that are behind, and reach forth unto those that are before; let us run with patience the race set before us in the The Gospel; let us press toward the mark, for the prize of our high calling"-for that perfected character which should eventually be ours. attainment of such a character is the great object of existence. But we shall not attain it and patient, unceasing effort. without steady No one ever did. In the words of the poet who has just passed away : “The heights by great men reached and kept Were not attained by sudden flight; But they, while their companions slept, Were toiling upward in the night." Such toil, however, is far sweeter than ignoble rest. There is no higher joy than the consciousness that all the capabilities of our nature are being steadily developed. You who are living thoughtful, serious, progressive lives, have often, I daresay, been shocked at meeting again, after a few years' interval, some friend of your boyhood or girlhood. He was then your equal in attainments, if not your superior. But now you seem to be separated from him by an infinite gulf. He has the old thoughts, and aims, and sympathies, and conversation, which were once yours also, but which now you have com1 Longfellow. pletely outgrown. The contrast between your present self and him is so great, that you can hardly believe you ever lived on so low a level. How sorry you feel for him! And truly he deserves your pity. He has but one use, and that is to serve as a warning. If ever you are tempted to relax in your efforts for personal progress and for the progress of the world; if ever you are wearily inclined to let the world take its chance, and not to trouble yourself any more about your own development,-think of your poor stagnant friend, and your flagging energies will be revived. You will feel that you would rather do anything, and bear anything, than allow yourself, even for a moment, to play such a contemptible part. 57 Defects of Modern Christianity. VI. WANT OF DEVOTION TO CHRIST. 66 Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink His blood, ye have no life in you."-JOHN vi. 53. HE Saviour intended that affection, passionate THE affection for Himself, should be the motive power in His followers' lives.1 He knew that no other influence would be strong enough to conform them to His own perfection. He repeatedly insisted upon it as being absolutely essential to the true disciple. And yet in the present day personal devotion to Christ is conspicuous, in the majority of professing Christians, either by its absence, or at any rate by its extreme feebleness. There are many who pride themselves on their orthodoxy, who talk glibly 1 See sermon on Redemption, p. 223. |