CHAPTER XVI.

THE CHRISTIAN LIFE.

'Without were fightings, within were fears.'-2 Cor. vii. 5.

N the first dawn of Christianity, to confess to being a disciple of Christ, and to follow in His footsteps, was to court persecution, if not martyrdom, of one kind or another. And yet this open and bitter opposition of the Evil One did not stay the spread of divine truth. The blood of the martyrs became but the seed of the Church. Whole nationalities became entirely Christian, and now, far from shrinking, through fear of martyrdom, from becoming a Christian, the exception is to meet a man who does not in some way associate himself with the sacred name of Christianity. But we must not be deceived by this change of tactics on the part of the Evil One, who adapts his plans according to circumstances. It is one thing to profess to be a Christian, and quite another thing to be one in heart.

The outward seal of baptism is not enough, any more than the old seal of circumcision was sufficient to change the heart. 'For he is not a Jew which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh. But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter.'*For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel.' This is a truth which in theory every Sunday is recognised when true believers pray that all who pro† Rom. ix. 6.

*Rom. ii. 28.

fess and call themselves Christians, may be led into the way of truth.' It is evident, therefore, that it is quite possible to profess and call ourselves Christians, without being in the way of truth. Whilst most fully admitting the importance of liberality, and avoiding a hasty or harsh judgment in discerning who are and who are not real Christians, we must never forget on the other hand our Saviour's words: 'Wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.** However liberal-minded a Christian man seeks to be, there will always be a limit beyond which he cannot go if he is loyal to the Bible.

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As long as the young believer only professes and calls himself a Christian, he need fear nothing. But once let him show that he desires to be something more than a nominal Christian, a mere professor, and he will find that the offence of the cross' has not ceased. Though this age of civilization has abolished the contest with wild beasts in the amphitheatre, and the burning stake, yet the ill-concealed sneer or the open taunt will be quite sufficient to show him that he who would wear the crown hereafter, must bear the cross below. Once let the world detect the change in their old associates, and they evince surprise. This surprise is succeeded by a feeling of derision and scorn-this exhibition of feeling will show itself in different ways, according to circumstances. In refined

society, it is generally shown by a disdainful though silent toleration, a thing more hard to bear by people of a sensitive disposition than open opposition. In coarser society, and among schoolboys where feelings are not so confined by social restraints, opponents give vent to their feelings in ridicule. Unkind and opprobrious epithets are freely applied, till one almost wonders if those who apply these epithets are aware that Matt. vii. 13.

the objects of their contempt are only carrying on the work inaugurated by saints and martyrs of old, and that the lives of many of our greatest reformers were sacrificed in defence of the very truth which these disregard.

Some young Christians, however, think to avoid opposition by not acting with decision at first. By a certain amount of worldly conformity, they endeavour to avoid being noticed. They excuse themselves on the plea that by degrees they will grow stronger, and better able to stand opposition than they are at the commencement of their changed life. Further, they reason that if they come out very decidedly at first, and afterwards fall away, they will bring a great reproach on the name of Christ. This is a favourite suggestion of Satan's, and, indeed, in both these excuses there is much plausibility; but we must not forget that at times the Evil One can disguise himself as an angel of light, and profess great zeal for the cause of divine truth, if it suits his purpose. While most fully recognising the advisability of not making any ostentatious parade of a new-born faith, it is nevertheless impossible to think that this hiding of one's colours is anything but a delusion and a snare. Not only is it tampering with a young and tender conscience, and a policy the very reverse of what we understand by manly, honest, and straightforward; but that very compromise which at first is only used as a screen becomes a sort of second nature, and the consequence is that such Christians, as a rule, become temporizing, worldly, and time-serving.

Our Heavenly Father does not lead us by crooked paths. He knows our frailties and our weakness, and He alone can temper the wind to the shorn lamb. He can restrain the wrath of man just when He sees fit, and will not permit one more wave of persecution, or of affliction, than is necessary to roll over the head of the believer. A certain amount of persecution is undoubtedly a good thing for the individual, as for

the Church at large, which has always flourished in spirituality when suffering most opposition.

'It is by blows that iron grows

Of greater strength possessed.'

It has been compared to the acid with which the goldsmith. tests the quality of his precious metal. In the words of Lord Macaulay, 'The most rigid discipline that can be enforced within a religious society is a very feeble instrument of purification, when compared with a little sharp persecution from without. We may be certain that very few persons, not seriously impressed by religious convictions, applied for baptism while Diocletian was vexing the Church, or joined themselves to Protestant congregations at the risk of being burned by Bonner. But when a sect becomes powerful, when its favour is the road to riches and dignities, worldly and ambitious men crowd into it, talk its language, conform strictly to its ritual, mimic its peculiarities, and frequently go beyond its honest members in all the outward indications of zeal. No discernment, no watchfulness on the part of ecclesiastical rulers can prevent the intrusion of such false brethren.' . . . . 'Thus it was with the English Puritans. Oppression kept them pure, but when their favour became a channel of advancement in the State, the sincere Puritans soon found themselves lost in a multitude of base imitators, who, with the language of Scripture on their lips, lived in the practice of fraud and secret licentiousness.'

The young believer had better, if only for his own sake, come out decidedly at first, without giving any unnecessary offence, though not shrinking from the offence of the cross, and, in the full flood-tide of his 'first love,' overcome difficulties and opposition. Come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.'* 'Be not

* 2 Cor. vi. 17.

afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, fear him.”*

He

Not only does the Evil One assault us from without, but he does so from within as well. Many a young Christian thinks, after his conversion, that all is ended, the conflict over. has great joy and peace' in believing, and this, he thinks, will continue with him unto the end. In one sense he is right. He has enlisted under the Captain of his salvation, who is pledged to present him 'faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy.' But, on the other hand, he must remember the conflict before him. He has enlisted in Christ's army, 'manfully to fight under His banner against sin, the world, and the devil.' Christ has now become the 'Captain of his salvation,' and will make him 'more than conqueror ;' but none the less will the conflict be a very real one, as all experienced Christians have found out. The Evil One does not cease to assault the soul. On the contrary, he sees that he has lost a victim, who may become an active agent to contend against his power, and may possibly be the means of leading souls to Christ. He therefore puts forth all his powers of temptation, with the view of extinguishing the testimony of such a one; hence within are fears.'

The young believer need not despair because he finds that his old corrupt nature asserts itself very strongly. The conflict going on between right and wrong is, after all, but a sign of life. §

§ Our minds may be rendered uncomfortable by temptations, or, as the Apostle Peter phrases it, we may be "in heaviness through manifold temptations." There have been moderate Christians, there have been shallow Christians, without very much temptation; but there never yet was a saintly Christian, never yet one who pressed to the higher summits of the spiritual life, never one whose banner bore the strange device "Excelsior," who was not made the victim of manifold temptations. My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.'-DEAN GOULBURN. † Jude 24. Baptismal Service.

Luke xii. 4.