Читать книгу The Gospel Day; Or, the Light of Christianity - Charles Ebert Orr - Страница 8

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Not only does the Lord dwell in the midst of his people to perform deeds and signs of wonder, but he dwells in them in all the beauty of his holiness. In their hearts he rules a “King of peace” and purity. Those in whom he dwells “walk even as he walked,” and “as he is, so are they in this world.”

A certain writer speaks thus of the beauties of Christian character: “Live as we may, age dims the luster of the eye, and pales the flush of the cheek, while infirmity mars the human form divine. But while this is true, dim as the eye is, pallid and sunken as may be the face of beauty, frail and feeble that once strong, erect and symmetrical form, the immortal soul, just fledging its wings for heaven, may look out through those faded windows, as beautiful as a dewdrop on a summer's morning, as melting as the tears that glisten in affection's eye, by growing kindly, by cultivating sympathy with all mankind, by cherishing forbearance toward the follies and fribbles of our race, and feeding day by day on that love of God and man which lifts us from the brute and makes us akin to angels.”

Christian character is the same whether it be in Christians or in Christ. The character of the Savior is [pg 040] also the character of those in whom he dwells. Their nature is the same, and their outward life is the same. This is what is meant when it is said: “We should walk even as he walked.” For the clear proof of these few assertions we will arrange in parallel columns a few texts of Scripture describing the character of Jesus and a few describing the character of Christians, and we will find that not anything more is said of the Savior with respect to a holy life than is said of his devoted followers.

Character Of Christ.	Character Of Christians.
Lovely.
“His mouth is most sweet: yea, he is altogether lovely.” S. of Sol. 5:16.	“Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair; … thou art all fair, my love; there is no spot in thee.” S. of Sol. 4:1, 7.
Lowly.
“Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart.” Mat. 11:29.	“Better it is to be of a humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.” Prov. 16:19.
Obedient.
“For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.” Rom. 5:19.	“Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children.” 1 Pet 1:13, 14.
Compassionate.
“But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted and were scattered abroad as sheep having no shepherd.” Mat. 9:36.	“Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous.” 1 Pet. 3:8.
Faithfulness.
“Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.” 1 Thes. 5:24.	“And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.” 2 Tim. 2:2.
Forbearance.
“Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God.” Rom. 3:25.	“Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another.” Col. 3:13.
Meekness.
“Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart.” Mat. 11:29.	“But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.” 1 Pet. 3:4.
Long-Suffering.
“And account that the long-suffering of our Lord is salvation.” 2 Pet. 3:15.	“With all lowliness and meekness, with long-suffering, forbearing one another in love.” Eph. 4:2.
Humbleness.
“And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” Phil 2:8.	“Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.” 1 Pet. 5:5.
Spotlessness.
“But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.” 1 Pet. 1:19.	“Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.” Jas. 1:27.
Mercifulness.
“The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.” Psa. 103:8.	“Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.” Mat. 5:7.
Harmlessness.
“For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens.” Heb. 7:26.	“That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world.” Phil. 2:15.
Guilelessness.
“Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth.” 1 Pet. 2:22.	“Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!” John 1:47.
Sinlessness.
“For we have not an high priest which can not be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” Heb. 4:15.	“Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he can not sin, because he is born of God.” 1 John 3:9.

Thus we could go on to a much greater length, showing by the Scriptures that the character of a Christian, or his nature or life is the same as the life or character of Christ. Christianity is Christ in us. The life of a true Christian is one of great beauty. It is a light in this world. It is far above the ways of sin and worldliness. It is the Christ-life in man. The self-life of man has ceased, is crucified; nevertheless he lives, yet not he, but it is Christ that liveth in him. The Christian life is inspiring, ennobling, clothed in humility. It points the way to Christ and heaven. It is a brilliant ornament, which in the sight of God is of great price. God places great value upon a Christian life. It is worth more than ten thousand worlds. Is it not a shame that it is trifled with as it is? Thousands are taking the name of Christian, when it is impossible to distinguish them from the world; they emit not one ray of light.

Esthetics is the science of the beautiful, and treats of the feelings produced through the senses by objects of beauty. The most vile and dishonest admire honesty in others; thus gentleness, kindness, meekness, [pg 044] produce pleasant feelings and are called beautiful. God is the source of meekness, gentleness, and love. He is the source of the beautiful. Christianity is God in man, exhibiting his beauty. “Lord, let thy beauty be upon us.” The dewdrop sparkles like a diamond as the sun's rays fall upon it. The life of man sparkles with an unsurpassed beauty as the rays of light and salvation fall upon it from the throne. As we behold the beauty of God assimilated into the life of man and thus revealed we think what a pity that all in the world are not Christians.

Christian, oh, may thy tribe increase,

Thy light and glory ne'er decrease;

Shine on and magnify the Word,

And point the world to Christ and God.