IMAGE EVALUATION 
 TEST TARGET (MT-3) 
 
 // 
 
 
 fe 
 
 
 /. 
 
 ^^ 
 
 
 
 1.0 
 
 I.I 
 
 1.25 
 
 '- IIIIIM 
 
 j50 
 
 1 5? 
 
 131 
 
 12.5 
 2,2 
 
 1^ lillM 
 
 U 111.6 
 
 vj 
 
 
 '^. 
 
 <P^ 
 
 
 7 
 
 y 
 
 ;p^ 
 
 >^ 
 
 Photographic 
 
 Sciences 
 Corporation 
 
 23 WEST MAIN STREET 
 
 WEBSTL^,N.Y. 14580 
 
 (716) 872-4503 
 
CIHM/ICMH 
 
 Microfiche 
 
 Series. 
 
 CIHM/ICMH 
 Collection de 
 microfiches. 
 
 Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions / institut Canadian de microreproductions historiques 
 
Technical and Bibliographic Notas/Notaa techniques et bibliographiquee 
 
 The Institute has attempted to obtain the best 
 original copy available for filming. Features of this 
 copy which may be bibliographically unique, 
 which may alter any of the images in the 
 reproduction, or which may significantly charge 
 the usual method of filming, are checked below. 
 
 L'Institut a microfilm* le meilleur exemplaire 
 qu'il lui a At* possible de se procurer. Les details 
 de cet exemplaire qui sont peut-Atre uniques du 
 point de vue bibliographique. qui peuvent modifier 
 une image reproduite. ou qui peuvent exiger une 
 modification dans la methods normale de filmage 
 sont indiquis ci-dessous. 
 
 □ 
 
 Coloured covers/ 
 Couverture de couleur 
 
 I I Covers damaged/ 
 
 D 
 
 D 
 
 D 
 
 D 
 
 Couverture endommag^e 
 
 Covers restored and/or laminated/ 
 Couverture restaurde et/ou pelliculie 
 
 □ Cover title missing/ 
 Le titre de couverture manque 
 
 □ Coloured maps/ 
 Cartes gdographiques en couleur 
 
 Coloured ink (i.e. other than blue or black)/ 
 Encre de couleur (i.e. autre que bleue ou noire) 
 
 I I Coloured plates and/or illustrations/ 
 
 Planches et/ou illustrations en couleur 
 
 Bound with other material/ 
 Reli6 avec d'autres documents 
 
 r~7| Tight binding may cause shadows or distortion 
 
 along interior margin/ 
 
 La reliure serr6e peut causer de I'ombre ou de la 
 
 distortion le long de la marge int6rieure 
 
 Blank leaves added during restoration may 
 appear within the text. Whenever possible, these 
 have been omitted from filming/ 
 II se peut que certaines pages blanches ajoutdes 
 lors d'une restauration apparaissent dans le texte, 
 mais, iorsque cela dtait possible, ces pages n'ont 
 pas 6t6 filmdes. 
 
 □ Coloured peges/ 
 Pages de couleur 
 
 Q Pages dama^o^d/ 
 Pages endommag6es 
 
 □ Pages restored and/or laminated/ 
 Pages restauries et/ou pelliculdes 
 
 I — y Pages discoloured, stained or foxed/ 
 i J Pages d6color6es, tachetdes ou piqu^es 
 
 r~~j Pages detached/ 
 ' I Pages d6tach6es 
 
 r~jy Showthrough/ 
 I I Transparence 
 
 □ Quality of print varies/ 
 Quality indgaie de I'impression 
 
 □ Includes supplementary material/ 
 Comprend du materiel suppldmentaire 
 
 □ Only edition available/ 
 Seule Edition disponible 
 
 D 
 
 Pages wholly or partially obscured by errata 
 slips, tissues, etc.. have been ref limed to 
 ensure the best possible image/ 
 Les pages totalement ou partiellement 
 obscurcies par un feuillet d'errata, une pelure, 
 etc., ont 6t6 film6es A nouveau de fapon d 
 obtenir la meilieure image possible. 
 
 n 
 
 Additional comments:/ 
 Commentaireu suppldmentaires: 
 
 This item is filmed at the reduction ratio checked below/ 
 
 Ce document est film* au taux de rMuction indiqud ci-dessous. 
 
 10X 
 
 14X 
 
 18X 
 
 [Tf 
 
 22X 
 
 26X 
 
 30X 
 
 12X 
 
 16X 
 
 20X 
 
 24X 
 
 28X 
 
 32X 
 
The copy filmed here has been reproduced thanks 
 to the generosity of: 
 
 National Library of Canada 
 
 L'exemplaire fllmt fut reproduit grAce A la 
 gAnArositi de: 
 
 BibliothAque nationaie du Canada 
 
 The images appearing here are the best quality 
 possible considering the condition and legibility 
 of the original copy and in keeping with the 
 filming contract specifications. 
 
 Las images suivantes ont 6t6 reproduites avec le 
 plus grand soin, compte tenu de la condition at 
 de la nettett de l'exemplaire filmi, et en 
 conformity avec les conditions du contrat de 
 filmage. 
 
 Original copies in printed paper covers are filmed 
 beginning with the front cover and ending on 
 the last page with a printed or illustrated impres- 
 sion, or the back cover when appropriate. All 
 other original copies are filmed beginning on the 
 first page with a printed or illustrateu impres- 
 sion, and ending on the last page with a printed 
 or illustrated impression. 
 
 Les exemplairtis originaux dont la couverture en 
 papier est imprlmte sont fiimis en commen^ant 
 par le premier plat et en terminant soit par la 
 dernidre page qui comporte une empreinte 
 d'impression ou d'illustration, soit par le second 
 plat, salon le cas. Tous les autres oxemplaires 
 originaux sont film6s en commenp ant par la 
 premiere page qui comporte une empreinte 
 d'impression ou d'illustration et en terminant par 
 la dernlAre page qui comporte une telle 
 empreinte. 
 
 The last recorded frame on each microfiche 
 shall contain the symbol -^> (meaning "CON- 
 TINUED"), or the symbol y (meaning "END"), 
 whichever applies. 
 
 Un des symboles sulvants apparaltra sur la 
 derniire image de cheque microfiche, selon le 
 cas: le symbole — ► signifie "A SUIVRE ", le 
 symbols y signifie "FIN ". 
 
 IVIaps, plates, charts, etc., may be filmed at 
 different reduction ratios. Those too large to be 
 entirely included in one exposure are filmed 
 beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to 
 right and top to bottom, as many frames as 
 required. The following diagrams illustrate the 
 method: 
 
 Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent 6tre 
 filmfo k des taux de reduction diffdrents. 
 Lorsque le document est trop grand pour dtre 
 reproduit en un seul clichi, 11 est film6 d partir 
 de Tangle sup^rieur gauche, de gauche A droite, 
 et de haut en has, en prenant le nombre 
 d'images nicessaire. Les diagrammes suivants 
 illustrent la mithode. 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 % 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 5 
 
 6 
 
■tt»,. 1.* 
 
 In 
 
/ 
 
 LIKE CHRIST 
 
 
BY THE SAME AUTHOR. 
 
 ^th «iditlon« from the "Ho^T. «^'>*cted 
 
 •xtr^ PotfcSvo .7. ^°"«8t of AU.-^ Cloth 
 
 Th* Holiest of All a'",!.' "* M 
 
 Grown 8vo "°**- <»th thousand, SmaU 
 
 j;«« ««. Perttet. oiott.;;.' M 
 
 "V. CrowB, 8TO., gilt top ..„.^y- ■*■">«« mS: 
 
 MJ 
 
LIKE CHRIST 
 
 THOUGHTS 
 
 ON THE BLESSED LIFE OF CONFORMIiy 
 TO THE SON OF GOD. 
 
 .75 
 
 A Sequel to 'ABIDE IJf CHRIST.' 
 
 .75 
 
 
 iWMflfWtDREW MURRAY, 
 
 WILLUfOTOM, CAPS OV OOOD BOV& 
 
 *Even at I, ye aUo,* 
 
 Ortiittgifouct^ CilouMnll* 
 
 FLEMING H. REVELL COMPANY, 
 
 CHICAGO, NEW YORK, TORONTO, 
 
 ^itblii)jevi of (Kbangelual |titerature. 
 
 Sr^r.^fr. - 
 
Entered aooordlnR to Act of the 
 in the year 1886^ by Thb Mm 
 Department of Agriculture. 
 
 Canada, 
 
 at the 
 
 ^*i/U4l^f 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 In sending forth this little book on the Image of 
 our blessed Lord, and the likeness to Him to which 
 we are called, I have only two remarks by way of 
 preface. 
 
 The oriie is that no one can be more conscious 
 than myself of the difficulty of the task I have 
 undertaken, and its very defective execution. There 
 were two things I had to do. The one was to draw 
 such a portrait of the Son of God, as ' in all things 
 made like unto His brethren,' as to show how, in 
 the reality of His human life, we have indeed an 
 exact Pattern of what the Father wants us to be. 
 What was wanted was such a portrait as should 
 make likeness to Him infinitely and mightily 
 attractive, should rouse desire, awaken love, inspire 
 hope, and strengthen faith in all who are seeking 
 to imitate Jesus Christ. And then I had to sketch 
 another portrait, — that of the believer as he really, 
 with some degree of spiritual exactness, reflects 
 
PHEFACE. 
 
 this Iinaj^e, and amirl the trials and duties of daily 
 life proves that lil<eness to Christ is no mere ideal, 
 but tlirough the power of the Holy Ghost a most 
 blessed reality. 
 
 How often and how deeply I have felt, after hav- 
 ing sought to delineate some one trait of the blessed 
 Life, how utterly insuflicient human thoughts are to 
 grasp, or human words to express, that spiritual 
 beauty of which one at best only has seen faint 
 glimpses ! And how often our very thoughts de- 
 ceive us, as they give us some human conception in 
 the mind of what the Word reveals, while we lack 
 that true vision of the spiritual glory of Him who 
 is the brightness of the Father's glory ! 
 
 The second remark I wish to make is a sug- 
 gestion as to what I think is needed really to 
 behold the glory of the blessed Image into which 
 we are to be changed. I was very much struck 
 some time ago, in au infant school examination, 
 with the practice a little class in object-lessons was 
 put through. A picture was shown tliem, which 
 they were told to look at carefully. They then 
 had to shut their eyes, and take time to think and 
 remember everything they had seen. The picture 
 was now removed, and the little ones had to tell all 
 they could. Again the picture was shown, and 
 they had to try and notice what they had not ob- 
 
PKRFACE. 
 
 served before ; again to shut their eyes and think, 
 and again to tell what more they had noticed. 
 And so once more, until every line of the picture 
 had been taken in. As I looked at the keen 
 interest witli which the little eyes now gazed on the 
 picture, and then were pressed so tightly shut as 
 th<»y tried to realize, nnd take in, and keep what 
 tliey had been looking at, I felt that if our Bible 
 reading were more of such an object-lesson, the 
 unseen spiritual realities pictured to us in the 
 Word would take much deeper hold of our inner 
 life. We are too easily content with the thoughts 
 suggested by tlie words of the Bible, though these 
 are but forms of trutli, without giving time for the 
 substantial spiritual reality, which the Word as the 
 truth of God contains, to get lodged and rooted in 
 tlie heart. Let us, in meditating on the Image of 
 God in Christ, to which we are to be conformed, 
 remomher tills. When some special tniit has oc- 
 cupied our thoui^hts, let us shut our eyes, and open 
 our hearts ; let us think, and pray, and believe in 
 tlie working of the Holy Spirit, until we really see 
 the blessed Master in that special light in which 
 the Word has been setting Him before us, and can 
 carry away for that day the deep and abiding im- 
 pre.ssion of that'heavenly beauty in Him which we 
 know is to be reproduced in us. Let us gaze, and 
 
 r 
 
8 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 gaze again, let us worship and adore ; the more we 
 see Him as He is, the liker Him we must become. 
 To study the image of God iu the man Christ 
 Jesus, to yield and set open our inmost being for 
 that image to take possession and live in us, and 
 then to go forth and let the heavenly likeness 
 reflect itself and shine out in our life among our 
 fellow-men, — this is what we have been redeemed 
 for, let this be what we live for. 
 
 And now I entrust the little book to the gracious 
 care of the blessed Lord of wliose glory it seeks 
 to tell. May He give us to see that there is no 
 beauty or blessedness like that of a Christ-like life. 
 May He teach us to believe that in union with 
 Him the Christ-like life is indeed for us. And as 
 each day we listen to what His Word tells us of 
 His image, may each one of us have grace to say, 
 ' my Father ! even us Thy beloved Son lived in 
 Thee, with Thee, for Thee on earth, even so would 
 I also live.' 
 
 A. M. 
 
 "Wellington, Cape of Good Hopk. 
 
 P.S. — As the tone of the meditations is mostly 
 personal, I have, at the close of the volume, added 
 some more general thoughts. * On Preaching Christ 
 as our Example.' 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 jre IS no 
 
 LIKE CH 
 
 DAY 
 
 HIST: 
 
 
 
 rAoi 
 
 1. Bt'CiUiso we abide in Him, . . 
 
 11 
 
 2. He Hiinaeircalls us to it, . 
 
 
 
 
 Id 
 
 3. As one that senreth, . 
 
 
 
 
 25 
 
 4. '^'jr Head, . , 
 
 
 
 
 82 
 
 5. Ill suttt'iiHg Wrong, , 
 
 
 
 
 io 
 
 6. Crucitiod with Him, 
 
 
 
 
 4,7 
 
 7. Ill Mis Self- Denial, 
 
 
 
 
 66 
 
 8. In his Self-.saciilice, . 
 
 
 
 
 62 
 
 9. Not of the World, 
 
 
 
 
 ^0 
 
 10. In His Heavenly Mission, 
 
 
 
 
 . 77 
 
 11. As the Klect of God, 
 
 
 
 
 88 
 
 12. In doing God's Will, . 
 
 
 
 
 90 
 
 13. In His Compassion, 
 
 
 
 
 97 
 
 14. In His Oneness with the Father, 
 
 
 
 105 
 
 15. In His Dependence on the Father, 
 
 
 
 111 
 
 16. In His Love, 
 
 
 
 118 
 
 17. In His Praying, 
 
 
 
 
 124 
 
 18. In His Use of Scripture, 
 
 
 
 
 132 
 
 19. In forgiving, 
 
 
 
 
 140 
 
 20. In beholding Him, 
 
 
 . 
 
 
 146 
 
 21. In His Humility, 
 
 
 
 
 154 
 
'ft 
 
 1 1 
 
 10 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 I 
 
 DAT 
 
 22. In the Likeness of His Death, 
 
 23. In the Likeness of His Resurrection, 
 
 24. Being made conformable to His Death 
 
 25. Giving His Life for Hen, 
 
 26. In His Meekness, . . 
 
 27. Abiding in the Love of God, . 
 
 28. Led by the Spirit, 
 
 29. In His Life through the Father, 
 
 30. In glorifying the Father, . 
 
 31. In His Glory, . . . 
 
 PAOB 
 
 161 
 
 171 
 
 181 
 
 188 
 
 195 
 
 201 
 
 209 
 
 216 
 
 225 
 
 234 
 
 On preaching Christ our Example, . 
 
 241 
 
LIKE CURIST; BECAUSE WE ABIDE IN HIM. 11 
 
 First Day. 
 
 LIKE CHHIST:. 
 
 Brraitsc Iwe abitie in J^im. 
 
 *He that saith he abfdeth in Him, ought himself also 80 to 
 walk, even as He walked.' —1 John ii. 6. 
 
 ABIDING in Christ and icalkiug like Christ: these 
 are the two blessings of the new life which are 
 here set before us in their essential unity. The 
 fruit of a life in Christ is a life like Christ. 
 
 To the first of these expressions, abiding in Christ, 
 we are no strangers. The wondrous paralde of the 
 Vine and the branches, with the accompanying 
 commanrl, 'Abide in nie, and I in you,' has often 
 been to us a source of ricli instruction and comfort. 
 And though we feel as if we. had but very imj)er- 
 fectly learned the lesson of abiding in Him, yet we 
 have tasted something of the joy tliat comes when the 
 soul can say : Lord, Thou knowest all things, Thou 
 knowest that I do abide in Thee. And He knows 
 too how often the fervent prayer still arises : Blessed 
 Lord, do grant me the com))lete unbroken abiding. 
 
 The second expression, walking like Christ, is not 
 less significant than the first. It is the promise of 
 the wonderful power which the abiding in Him will 
 exert, 4-S the fruit of our surreuL^r to live wholly 
 
 .toi^ii 
 
ffF 
 
 
 12 
 
 LIKE CHRIST: 
 
 in Him, ITis life works so mightily in us, that 
 our walk, the outward expression of the inner life, 
 becomes like His. The two are inseparably con- 
 nected. The abiding in always precedes the walk- 
 ing like Him. And yet the aim to walk like Him 
 must equally precede any large measure of abiding. 
 Only then is the need for a close union fully realized, 
 or is the Heaveidy Giver free to bestow the fulness 
 of His grace, because He sees that the soul is pre- 
 pared to use it according to His design. When the 
 Saviour said, 'If ye keep my commandments, ye 
 shall abide in my love,' He meant just this : the 
 surrender to walk like me is the path to the full 
 abiding in me. Many a one will discover that just 
 here is the secret of his failure in abiding in Christ ; 
 he did not seek it with the view of walking like 
 Christ. The words of St. John invite us to look at 
 the two truths in their vital connection and depend- 
 ence on each other. 
 
 The first lesson they teach io : He that seeks 
 to abide in Christ must imlk even as He walked. 
 We all know that it is a matter of course that a 
 branch bears fruit of the same sort as the vine to 
 which it belongs. The life of the vine and the 
 branch is so completely identical, that the manifesta- 
 tion of that life must be identical too. When the 
 Lord Jesus redeemed us with His blood, and pre- 
 sented us to the Father in His righteousness. He 
 did not leave us in our old nature to serve God as 
 best we could. No ; in Him dwelt the eternal life, 
 tlie holy divine life of heaven, and every one who 
 is in Him receives from Him that same eternal life 
 
BECAUiiE WE ABIDE IN HIM. 
 
 13 
 
 us, that { 
 nner life, ; 
 ibly con- 
 the walk- 
 like Him 
 F abiding. 
 y realized, 
 lie fulness 
 ul is pre- 
 When the 
 ments, ye 
 this: the 
 to the full 
 : that just 
 in Christ ; 
 king like 
 to look at 
 d depend- 
 
 lat seeks 
 (e walked. 
 [se that a 
 le vine to 
 
 and the 
 nanifesta- 
 IVhen the 
 
 and pre- 
 Isness, He 
 le God as 
 
 )rnal life, 
 
 one who 
 lernal life 
 
 in its holy heavenly power. Hence nothing can be 
 I more natural than the claim that he that abides in 
 Ilim, continually receiving life from Him, must also 
 Uo walk even as He walked. 
 
 This mighty life of God in the soul does not, 
 lowever, work as a blind force, compelling us 
 Hgnorautly or involuntarily to act like Christ. On 
 the contrary, the walking like Him must come as 
 j^he result of a deliberate choice, sought in strong 
 ^esire, accepted of a living will. With this view, 
 |he Father in heaven showed us in Jesus' earthly life 
 what the life of heaven would be when it came 
 down into the conditions and circumstances of our 
 human life. And with the same object the Lord 
 Jesus, wlien we receive the new life from Him, and 
 when He calls us to abide in Him, that we may 
 receive that life more abundantly, ever points w.ii to 
 His own life on earth, and tells us that it is to 
 walk even as He walked that the new life has been 
 liestowed. 'Even as I, so ye also:' that word of 
 the Master takes His whole earthly life, and very 
 i simply makes it the rule and guide of all our con- 
 duct. If we abide in Jesus, we may not act other- 
 [wise than He did. 'Like Ch 1st' gives in one 
 aliort all - inclusive word the blessed law of tlie 
 ^'hristian life. He is to think, to speak, to act as 
 Tesus did ; as Jesus was, even so is he to be. 
 
 The second lesson is the complement of the first : 
 [le that seeks to walk like Christ, must abide in Him. 
 
 There is a twofold need of this lesson. With 
 some there is the earnest desire and efibrt to follow 
 
14 
 
 LIKE GlIUIST: 
 
 Christ's example, without any sense of the impossi- 
 bility of doing so, except by deep, real abiding in 
 Him. They fail because they seek to obey the 
 high command to live like Christ, without the only 
 power tliat can do so — the living in Christ. With 
 others tliere is the opposite error ; they know their 
 own weakness, and count the walking like Christ an 
 impossibility. As much as those who seek to do it 
 and who fail, do those who do not seek because they 
 expect to fail, need the lesson we are enforcing. 
 To walk like Christ one must abide in Him; he 
 that abides in Him has the power to walk like 
 Him ; not indeed in himself or his own efforts, but 
 in Jesus, who perfects His strength in our weakness. 
 It is just when I feel my utter impotence most 
 deeply, and fully accept Jesus in His wondrous 
 union to myself as my life, that His power works 
 in me, and I am able to lead a life completely 
 beyond wliat my power could obtain. I begin to see 
 that abiding in Him is not a matter of moments or 
 special seasons, but the deep life process in which, 
 by His keeping grace, I continue without a moment's 
 intermission, and from which I act out all my 
 Christian life. And I feel emboldened really to 
 take Him in everything as my example, because I 
 am sure that the hidden inner union and likeness 
 must work itself out into a visible likeness in 
 walk and conduct. 
 
 Dear reader ! if God give us grace, in the course 
 of our meditations, truly to enter into the meaning of 
 these His words, and what they teach of a life in very 
 
BECAUSE WB ABIDE IN IIIM. 
 
 15 
 
 31- 
 
 in 
 
 [ily 
 
 ith 
 leir 
 , an 
 .0 it 
 
 iing. 
 
 ; he 
 
 like 
 
 , but 
 
 ness. 
 
 most 
 
 irous 
 
 vorks 
 
 letely 
 
 to see 
 
 its or 
 
 vhicb, 
 
 iieut's 
 ray 
 
 Ily to 
 i\se I 
 euesa 
 ss in 
 
 I course 
 nng of 
 in very 
 
 1 
 
 m 
 
 deed like Christ's, we shall more than once come 
 into the presence of heights and depths that will 
 make us cry out, How can these things be ? If 
 the Holy Spirit reveal to us the heavenly perfec- 
 tion of the humanity of our Lord as the image of 
 the unseen God, and speaks to us, ' so, even so ought 
 ye also to walk,' the first effect will be that we 
 shall begin to feel at what a distance we are from 
 Him. We shall be ready to give up hope, and to 
 say with so many, It avails not to attempt it: I 
 never can walk like Jesus. At such moments we 
 shall find our strength in the message. He thcit 
 ahideth in Him, he must, he can, also so walk even 
 as He walked. The word of the Master will come 
 with new meaning as the assurance of strength 
 sutlicient : He that abideth in me beareth much fruit. 
 Therefore, brother, abide in Him ! Every 
 believer is in Christ ; but not every one abides in 
 Him, in the consciously joyful and trustful surrender 
 of the whole being to His influence. You know 
 what abiding in Him is. It is to consent 
 with our whole soul to His being our life, to 
 reckon upon Him to inspire us in all that goes to 
 make up life, and then to give up everything most 
 al)solutely for Him to rule and work in us. It is 
 the rest of the full assurance that He does, each 
 moment, work in us what we are to be, and so 
 Himself enables us to maintain that perfect 
 surrender, in whicli He is free to do all His will. 
 Let all who do indeed long to walk like Christ 
 take courage at the thouglit of what He is and 
 
16 
 
 LIKE GHBIST: 
 
 will prove Himself to be if they trust Him. He 
 is the Tnie Vine; no vine ever dicl so fully for 
 its branches what He will do for us. We have 
 only to consent to be branches. Honour Him by a 
 joyful trust that He is, beyond all conception, the 
 True Vine, holding you by His almighty strength, 
 supplying you from His infinite fulness. And as 
 your faith thus looks to Him, instead of sighing 
 and failure,, the voice of praise will be heard 
 repeating the language of faith : Thanks be to God ! 
 he that abideth in Him does walk even as He 
 walked. Thanks be to God ! I abide in Him, and 
 I walk as He walked. Yes, thanks be to God in 
 the blessed life of God's redeemed these two are 
 inseparably one: abiding in Christ and walking 
 like Christ. 
 
 Blessed Saviour! Thou knowest how often I 
 have said to Thee, Lord, I do abide in Thee I 
 And yet I sometimes feel that the full joy and 
 power of life in Thee is wanting. Thy word this 
 day has reminded me of what may be the reason 
 of failure. I sought to abide in Thee more for my 
 own comfort and growth than Thy glory. I did 
 not apprehend fully how the hidden union with 
 Thee had for its object perfect conformity to Thee, 
 and how only he who wholly yields himself to 
 serve and obey the Father as completely as Thou 
 didst, can fully receive all that the heavenly love 
 can do for him. I now see something of it : the 
 entire surrender to live and work like Thee must 
 
BECAUSE WE ABIDE IN HIM. 
 
 l*t 
 
 precede the full experience of the wondrous power 
 of Thy life. 
 
 Lord, I thank Thee for the discovery. With my 
 whole heart I would accept Thy calling, and yield 
 myself in everything to walk even as Thou didst 
 walk. To be Thy faithful follower in all Thou wert 
 and didst on earth, be the one desire of my heart. 
 
 Blessed Lord! he that truly yields himself to 
 walk as Thou didst walk, will receive grace wholly 
 to abide in Thee. my Lord ! here I am. To 
 walk like Christ ! for this I do indeed consecrate 
 myself to Thee. To abide in Christ ! for this I 
 trust in Thee with full assurance of faith. Perfect 
 in me Thine own work. 
 
 And let Thy Holy Spirit help me, my Lord » 
 each time I meditate on what it is to walk like 
 Thee, to hold fast the blessed truth : as one who 
 abides in Christ, I have the strength to walk like 
 Chiist. Amen. 
 
18 
 
 LIKE cuRisr : 
 
 Second Day. 
 
 LIKE CHRIST: 
 
 ^t f^imself calls n» to it 
 
 * I have given yoa an example, that ye also should do euen aa 
 I have done to you.* — John xiii. 15. 
 
 IT is Jesus Christ, the beloved Redeemer of our 
 souls, who speaks thus. He had just, 
 huniMing Himself to do the work of the slave, 
 washed His disciples' feet. In doing so His love 
 had rendered to the body the service of which it 
 stood in need at the supper table. At the same 
 time He had shown, in a striking symbol, what 
 He had done for their souls in cleansing them from 
 sin. In this twofold work of love He had thus set 
 before them, just before parting, in one significant 
 act, the whole work of His life as a ministry of 
 blessing to body and to souL And as He sits 
 down He says : * 7 have given you an eocample, that 
 YE ALSO shmild do, evkn as I have done to you.' All 
 that they had seen in Him, and experienced from 
 Him, is thus made the rule of their life : * Even 
 AS I have done, do ye also.' 
 
 The word of the blessed Saviour is for us too. 
 To each one who knows that the Lord has washed 
 
 s u 
 
HE HIMSELF CALLS US TO IT. 
 
 19 
 
 lo even aa 
 
 away his sin the command comes with all the 
 touching force of one of the last words of Him who 
 is going out to die for us : ' Even as I have done 
 to you, so DO YE ALSO.' Jesus Christ does indeed 
 ask every one of us in everything to act just as we 
 have seen Him do. Wliat He lias done to ourselves, 
 and still does each day, we are to do over again to 
 others. In His condescending, paidoning, saving 
 love, He is our example ; each of us is to be the 
 copy and image of the Master. 
 
 The thought comes at once : Alas ! how little 
 have I lived thus ; how little have I even known 
 that I was expected thus to live ! And yet, He is 
 my lord ; He loves me, and I love Him ; I dare 
 not entertain the thought of living otherwise than 
 He would have me. What can I do but open my 
 heart to His word, and fix my gaze on His example, 
 until it exercises its divine power upon me, and 
 draws me with irresistible force to cry : Lord, even 
 as Thou hast done, so will I do also. 
 
 The power of an example depends chiefly on two 
 things. The one is the attractiveness of what it 
 gives us to see, the other the personal relation 
 and influence of him in whom it is seen. In 
 both aspects, what power there is in our Lord's 
 example ! 
 
 Or, is there really anything very attractive in 
 our Lord's example ? I ask it in all earnest, 
 because, to judge by the conduct of many of His 
 disciples, it would really seem as if it were not so. 
 that the Spirit of God would open our eyes to 
 
 F|:: 
 
 L'-t 
 
 ^"1 
 
20 
 
 LIKE CHRIST : 
 
 see the heavenly beauty of the likeness of the 
 only-begotten Son! 
 
 We know who the Lord Jesus is. He is the 
 Son of the all-glorious God, one with the Father 
 in nature and glory and perfection. When He had 
 been on earth it could be said of Him, * We show 
 you that eternal life which was with the Father, 
 and was manifested unto us.* In Him we see God. 
 In Him we see how God would act were He here 
 in our place on earth. In Him all that is beautiful 
 and lovely and perfect in the heavenly world is 
 revealed to us in the form of an earthly life. If 
 we want to see what is really counted noble and 
 glorious in the heavenly world, if we would see 
 what is really Divine, we have only to look at 
 Jesus ; in all He does the glory of God is shown 
 forth. 
 
 But oh, the blindness of God's children : this 
 heavenly beauty has to many of them no attraction ; 
 there is no form or comeliness that they should 
 desire it. 
 
 The manners and the way of living in the court 
 of an earthly king exercise influence throughout 
 the empire. The example it gives is imitated by 
 all who belong to the nobility or the higher classes. 
 But the example of the King of heaven, who came 
 and dwelt in the flesh, that we might see how we 
 might here on earth live a God-lik<^ life, alas ! 
 with how few of His followers does it really find 
 imitation. When we look upon Jesus, His 
 obedience to the will of the Father, His humilia- 
 
 M 
 
UE HIMSELF CALLS US TO IT. 
 
 21 
 
 tion to be a servant of the most unworthy, His 
 love as manifested in the entire ^'i^ing up and 
 sacrifice of Himself, we see the most wondrous 
 and glorious thing heaven has to show ; in heaven 
 it«elf we shall see nothing greater or brighter. 
 Surely such an example, given of God on very 
 purpose to make the imitatio!i attractive and 
 possible, ought to win us. Is it not enough to stir 
 all that is within us with a holy jealousy and with 
 joy unutterable as we hear the message, ' I have 
 given you an example, that even as I have done, ye 
 should also do * ? 
 
 This is not all. The power of an example 
 consists not only in its own intrinsic excellence, 
 but also in tlie personal relation to him who gives 
 it. Jesus had not washed the feet of others in 
 presence of His disciples ; it was when He had 
 washed their feet that He said : ' Even as I have 
 done to you, ye should also do.' It is the conscious- 
 ness of a personal relatiousliip to Christ that 
 enforces the command : Do as I have done. It is 
 the experience of what Jesus has done to me that 
 is the strength in which I can go and do the same 
 to others. He does not ask that I shall do more 
 than has been done to me. But not less either : 
 Even as I have done to you. He does not ask that 
 I sliall humble n»yself as servant deeper than He 
 has done. It would not have been strange if He 
 had asked this of such a worm. But this is not 
 His wish : He only demands that I shall just do 
 and be what He, the King, has done and been. He 
 
 i 
 
22 
 
 LIKK CHRIST : 
 
 humbled Himself as low as Immiliation could go, 
 to love and to l)less me. He counted this Hk 
 highest honour and hkssedncss. And now He invites 
 me to partake of the same honour and blessedness, 
 in loving and serving as He did. Truly, if I 
 indeed know the love that rests on me, and the 
 humiliation through which alone that love could 
 reach me, and the power of the cleansing which 
 has washed me, nothing can keep me back from 
 saying : ' Yes, blessed Lord, even as Thou hast done 
 to me, I will also do.* Tho heavenly loveliness of 
 the great Example, and the Divine lovingness of 
 the great Exemplar, combine to make the example 
 above everything attractive. 
 
 Only there is one thing I must not forget. It is 
 not the remembrance of what Jesus has once done 
 to me, but the living experience of what He is now 
 to me, that will give me the power to act like Him. 
 His love must be a present reality, the inflowing of 
 a life and a power in which I can love like Him. 
 It is only as by the Holy Spirit I realize what Jesus 
 is doing for me, and how He does it, and that it is 
 He who does it, that it is possible for me to do to 
 others what He is doing to me. 
 
 'Even as I have done to you, do ye also!' 
 "What a j^ecious word ! What a glorious prospect ! 
 Jesus is going to show forth in me the Divine 
 power of His love, that I may show it forth to 
 others. He blesses me, that I may bless others. 
 He loves me that I may love others. He becomes 
 servant to me that I may become a servant to 
 
HE HIMSELF. CALLS US TO IT. 
 
 2;^ 
 
 others. ITe saves and cleanses mo that I may save 
 and cleanse others. He gives Himself wholly for 
 and to me, that I may wholly give myself for and 
 to otliers. I have only to be doing over to others 
 
 wliut He is doing to me- 
 
 -nothing more. 
 
 I can do 
 
 it, just because He is doing it to me. What I do 
 is notliing but the repeating, the showing forth of 
 wliat I am receiving from Him.* 
 
 Wondrous gir ^3! which thus calls us to be like 
 our Lord in th . which constitutes His highest 
 glory. Wondrous grace ! which fits us for this 
 tailing by Himself first being to us and in us 
 what we are to be to others. Shall not our whole 
 heart joyously respond to Hia command ? Yes, 
 blessed Lord ! even as Thou doest to me will I also 
 do to others. 
 
 Gracious Lord ! what can I now do but praise 
 and pray ? My heart feels overwhelmed with this 
 wondrous offer, tliat Thou wilt reveal all Thy love 
 and power in me, if I will yield myself to let it 
 flow through me to others. Though with fear and 
 trembling, yet in deep and grateful adoration, with 
 joy and confidence, I would accept the offer and 
 say : Here I am ; show me how much Thou lovest 
 me, and I will show it to others by loving them 
 even so. 
 
 1 S- J 
 
 If 
 
 * How beautifully the principle is expressed in the words of 
 Moses to Hobab (Num. x. 32), 'And it shall be, if thou go with 
 us, yea, if thou go with us, that what goodne«« tlie Lord shall do 
 uitto us, the same will we do uuto thee ' 1 
 
ar"^««>i 
 
 24 
 
 LIKE CliRIST: 
 
 |lf 
 
 And that I may be able to do tliis, blessed Loid, 
 grant me these two things. Grant me, by Thy 
 Holy Spirit, a clear insight into Thy love to me, 
 that I may know how Thou lovest me, how Thy 
 love to me is Thy delight and blessedness, how in 
 that love Thou givest Thyself so eompleloly to me, 
 that Thou art indeed mine to do for me all I need. 
 Grant this. Lord, and I shall know how to love 
 and how to live for others, even as Thou lovest and 
 livest for me. 
 
 And then grant me to see, as often as I feel how 
 little love I have, that it is not with the love of 
 my little heart, but with Thy love shed abroad in 
 me, that I have to fulfil the command of loving like 
 Thee. Am I not Thy branch, my heavenly 
 Vine ? it is the fulness of Thy life and love that 
 ilows through me in love and blessing to those 
 around. It is Thy Spirit that, at the same moment, 
 reveals what Thou art to me, and strengthens me 
 for what I am to be to others in Thy name. In 
 this faith I dare to sny, Amen, Lord, even as Thou 
 doest to me, I also do. Yea, Amen. 
 
 I 
 
AS 0N£ THAT SEKVETH. 
 
 25 
 
 Third Day. 
 
 LIKE CHRIST: 
 
 eel how 
 love of 
 )road in 
 ring like 
 leaveuly 
 ve that 
 io those 
 loment, 
 iiens me 
 ne. In 
 as Thou 
 
 Ss one t!)at seibetlj. 
 
 *Tf I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet, ye 
 also ought to wash one another's I'eet.* — John xiii. 14. 
 * I am among you as he that servuth.' — Luke xxii. 27. 
 
 YESTERDAY we thought of the right that the 
 Lord has to demand and expect that His 
 redeemed ones should follow His example. To- 
 day we will more specially consider in what it is 
 we have to follow Him. 
 
 * Ye also ought to wash one another's feet,' is the 
 word of which we want to understand the full 
 meaning. The form of a servant in which we see 
 Him, the ckansiufj which was the oV)ject of that 
 service, the love which was its motive power, — these 
 are the three chief thoughts. 
 
 First, the form of a servant. All was ready for 
 the last supper, to the very water to wash the feet 
 of the guests, according to custom. But there was 
 no slave to do the work. Each one waits for the 
 other : none of the twelve thinks of hmnblin" him- 
 self to do the work. P^ven at the table they were 
 full of the thought, who should be greatest in the 
 
 Ml 
 
26 
 
 LIKK ciinisT : 
 
 kingdom they were expecting (Luke xxii. 26, 27). 
 All at once Jesus rises (they were still reclining 
 at the table), lays aside Ilis garments, girds Himself 
 with a towel, and begins to wash their feet. 
 wondrous spectacle ! on which angels gazed with 
 adoring wonder. Cliiist, the Creator and King 
 of the universe, at whose beck legions of angels 
 are ready to serve Him, who might with one word 
 of love have said which one of the twcdve must do 
 the work, — Christ chooses the slave's place for His 
 own, takes the soiled feet in His own holy hands, 
 and washes them. He does it in full con.^ciousness 
 of His divine glory, for John says, ' Jesus knowing 
 that the Father had given all things into His hands, 
 and that He was come from God and went to God, 
 rose.' For the hands into which God had given 
 all things, nothing is common or unclean. The 
 meanness of a work never lowers the person ; the 
 person honours and elevates the work, and imparts 
 his own worth even to the meanest service. In 
 such deep humiliation, as we men call it, our Lord 
 finds divine glory, and is in this the Leader of His 
 Church in the path of true blessedness. It is as 
 the Son tliat He is the servant. Just because He 
 is the beloved of His Father, in whose hands all 
 things are given, it is not difficult for Him to stoop 
 so low. In thus taking the form of a seiAant, Jesus 
 proclaims the law of rank in the Church of Christ. 
 The higher one wishes to stand in grace, the more 
 it must be his joy to be servant of all. ' Whosoever 
 will be chief among you, let him be your servant * 
 
AS ONE THAT SEKVKTII. 
 
 27 
 
 26, 21). I 
 reclining f 
 s Himself 
 feet. 
 ized with 
 md King 
 of angels 
 one word 
 e must do 
 ,ce for His 
 loly hands, 
 iS'cioMsness 
 IS knowing 
 His hands, 
 nt to God, 
 had given 
 lean. The 
 erson ; the 
 id imparts 
 srvice. In 
 ,, our Lord 
 ider of His 
 It is as 
 lecause He 
 hands all 
 ni to stoop 
 \'ant, Jesus 
 of Christ. 
 i, the more 
 IWhosoever 
 r servant * 
 
 (Matt. XX. 27); 'He that is greatest among you 
 shall be your servant' (Matt, xxiii. 11). The 
 higher I rise in the consciousness of being like 
 Christ, God's beloved child, the deeper shall I stoop 
 to serve all around me. 
 
 A servant is one who is always caring for the work 
 
 and interest of his master, is ever ready to let his 
 
 master see that he only seeks to do what will please or 
 
 profit him. Thus Jesus lived : ' Foi- even the Son of 
 
 man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, 
 
 and to give His life a ransom for many ' (Mark x. 45) ; 
 
 I * I am among you as he that serveth.' Thus I 
 
 must live, moving about among God's children as 
 
 jthe servant of all. If I seek to bless others, it 
 
 [must be in the humble, loving readiness with which 
 
 1 1 serve them, not caring for my own honour or 
 
 [interest, if I can but be a blessing to them. I 
 
 [must follow Christ's example in washing the dis- 
 
 ;ciples' feet. A servant counts it no humiliation, 
 
 land is not ashamed of being counted an inferior; 
 
 |it is his place and work to serve others. The 
 
 reason why we so often do not bless others is that 
 
 Jwe wish to address them as their superiors in grace 
 
 ?or gifts, or at least their equals. If we first learnt 
 
 from our Lord to associate with others in the 
 
 .blessed spirit of a servant, what a blessing we should 
 
 I become to the world ! When once this example is 
 
 1 admitted to the place it ought to have in the Church 
 
 [of Christ, the power of His presence would soon 
 
 Imake itself felt. 
 
 And what is now the work the disciple has to 
 
 m 
 
 r 1 
 
 
 a 
 
 i .xiii 
 
 ii 
 
ma 
 
 i 
 
 28 
 
 LIKE ciirasT : 
 
 ; trform in this spirit of lowly service ? The foot- 
 washing speaks of a double work — the one, for the 
 cleansing and refreshing of the body ; the other, the 
 cleansing and saving of the soul. During the whole 
 of our Lord's life upon earth these two things were 
 ever united : ' The sick were healed, to the poor 
 the gospel was preacheil.' As with the paralytic, 
 so with many others, blessing to the body was the 
 type and promise of life to the spirit. 
 
 The follower of Jesus may not lose sight of this 
 when he receives the command, ' Ye ought also to 
 wash one another's feet.' liemembering that the 
 external and bodily is the gate to the inner and 
 spiritual life, he makes the salvation of tlie soul the 
 first object in his holy ministry of love, at the same 
 time, however, seeking the way to the hearts by the 
 ready service of love in the little and common things 
 of daily life. It is not by reproof and censure that 
 he shows that he is a servant ; no, but by the 
 friendliness and kindliness with which he proves 
 in daily intercour.-e that he always thinks how he 
 can Iielp or serve, he becomes the living witness 
 of what it is to be a follower of Jesus. From such 
 a one the word when spoken comes with power, 
 suid finds easy entrance. And then, when he 
 comes into contact with the sin and perverseness 
 and contradiction of men, instead of being dis- 
 couraged, he perseveres as he thinks with how 
 much patience Jesus has borne with him, and still 
 daily cleanses him ; he realizes himself to be one 
 of God's appointed servants, to stoop to the lowest 
 
 ii 
 
 • • ULUL 
 
n 
 
 AS ONE THAT SERVETH. 
 
 29 
 
 The foot- 
 e, for the 
 other, the 
 the whole 
 ings were 
 the poor 
 paralytic, 
 y was the 
 
 ;ht of this 
 ;ht also to 
 ; that the 
 inner and 
 le soul the 
 b the same 
 irts by the 
 non things 
 nsure that 
 it by the 
 he proves 
 s how he 
 witness 
 rom such 
 th power, 
 when he 
 Irverseness 
 l dis- 
 Iwith how 
 and still 
 I to be one 
 the lowest 
 
 }S 
 
 depth to serve and save men, even to bow at the 
 feet of others if this be needed. 
 
 The spirit which will enable one to live such a 
 life of loving service, ca^i be learned from Jesus 
 jal'ino. Jolin writes, ' Having loved His own which 
 were in the world, He loved them to the end' 
 (John xiii. 1). For love nothing is too hard. Love 
 [never speaks of sacrifice. To bless the loved one, 
 [however unworthy, it willingly gives up all. It was 
 flove made Jesus a servant. It is love alone will 
 [make the servant's place an^^ vork such blessedness 
 
 us, that we "hall persevere in it at all costs. We 
 |may perhaps, like Jesus, have to wash the feet of 
 Isome Judas who rewards us with ingratitude and 
 [betrayal. We shall probably meet many a Peter, 
 [who first, with his ' Never my feet ' refuses, and 
 [then is dissatisfied when we do not comply with 
 [his impatient ' Not only the feet, but also the head 
 fand the hands.' Only love, a heavenly unquench- 
 iable love, gives the patience, the courage, and the 
 [wisdom for this great work the Lord has set before us 
 [in His holy example : ' Wash ye one another's feet' 
 
 Try above all to understand that it is only as a 
 
 [son you can be truly a servant. It was as the Son 
 
 [Christ took the form of a servant : in this you will 
 
 [find the secret of willing, happy service. Walk 
 
 among men as a Son of the Most High God. A Son 
 
 of God is only in the world to show forth His 
 
 [Father's glory, to prove how God-like and how 
 
 blessed it is to live only and at any cost to find a 
 
 wav for love to the hearts of the lost. 
 
 . i; tVfl 
 
30 
 
 LIKE CHRIST : 
 
 my soul, thy love cannot attain to this ; 
 therefore listen to Him who says, ' Abide in my 
 love* Our one desire must be that He may show 
 us how He loves us, and that He Himself may 
 keep us abiding in * His love! Live every day, 
 as the beloved of the Lord, in the experience that 
 His love washes and cleanses, bears and blesses you 
 all the day long. This love of His flowing into 
 you, will flow out again from you, and make it 
 your greatest joy to follow His example in washing 
 the feet of others. Do not complain much of the 
 want of love and humility in others, but pray 
 much that the Lord would awaken His people to 
 their calling, truly so to follow in His footsteps 
 that the world may see that they have taken Him 
 for their example. And if you do not see it as 
 soon as you wish in those around you, let it only 
 urge you to more earnest prayer, that in you at 
 least the Lord may have one who understands and 
 proves that to love and serve like Jesus is the 
 highest blessedness and joy, as well as the way, 
 like Jesus, to be a blessing and a joy to others. 
 
 My Lord, I give myself to Thee, to live thisi 
 blessed life of service. In Thee I have seen it, 
 the spirit of a servant is a kingly spirit, come from 
 heaven and lifting up to heaven, yea, the Spirit of 
 God's own Son. Thou everlasting Love, dwell inj 
 me, and my life shall be like Thine, and the lan- 
 guage of my life to others as Thine, * I am in the j 
 midst of you as he that serveth.' 
 
AS ONE THAT SERVETH. 
 
 01 
 oL 
 
 a to this ; 
 bide ill my 
 i may show 
 imself may 
 
 every day, 
 erience that 
 
 blesses you 
 lowing into 
 id make it 
 
 in washing 
 Quch of the 
 }, but pray 
 s people to 
 is footsteps 
 
 taken Hi in 
 jt see it as 
 
 let it only 
 
 in you at 
 
 srstands and 
 
 esus is the 
 IS the way, 
 
 others. 
 
 to live this 
 ave seen it, 
 , come from, 
 he Spirit of 
 ve, dwell in] 
 nd the Ian- 
 am in the! 
 
 Tliou glorified Son of God, Thou knowest how 
 ittle of Thy Spirit dwells in us, how this life of a 
 
 rvant is opposed to all that the world reckons 
 onourable or proper. But Thou hast come to 
 each us new lessons of what is right, to show us 
 ,vhat is thouglit in heaven of tlie glory of being the 
 east, of the blessedness of serving. O Thou, who 
 lost not only give new thoughts but implant new 
 eeiings, give me a heart like Thine, a heart full of 
 he Holy Spirit, a heart that can love as Thou dost. 
 Lore\ Thy Holy Spirit dwells within me ; Thy 
 ulness is my inheritance ; in the joy of the Holy 
 pirit I can be as Thou art. I do yield myself to 
 
 life of service like Thine. Let the same mind be 
 Ml me which was also in Thee, when Thou didst 
 
 ake Thyself of no reputation, and didst take upon 
 
 hee the form of a servant, and being found in 
 
 ashion as a man, didst humble Thyself. Yea, 
 
 ord, that very same mind be in me too by Thy 
 
 race. As a son of God let me be the servant of 
 
 en. Ameu. 
 
 i!;;- 
 
 \ .J 
 
1*1 i 
 
 32 
 
 LIKE CHRIST 
 
 Fourth Day. 
 
 LIKE CHKIST: 
 
 *For even hereunto were ye called; 1)ecanBe Christ also 
 suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His 
 steps : who His own self hare our sins in His own body on the 
 tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteous* 
 neas.— 1 Pbt. ii. 21. 
 
 rpHE call to follow Christ's example, and to walk 
 •^ in His footsteps, is so high that there is every 
 reason to ask with wonder, How can it be expected 
 of sinful men that they should walk like the Son 
 of God ? The answer that most people give is 
 practically, that it cannot really be expected : the 
 command sets before us an ideal, beautiful but 
 unattainable/ 
 
 The answer Scripture gives is different. It points 
 us to the wonderful relationship in which we stand 
 to Christ. Because our union to Him sets in opera- 
 tion within us a heavenly life with all its powers, 
 therefore the claim may be made in downright 
 earnest that we should live as Christ did. The 
 realization of this relationship between Christ and 
 
 i See note. 
 
OUR HEAD. 
 
 ds 
 
 [is people is necessary for every one who is in 
 jarnest in following Christ's example. 
 
 And what is now this relationship ? It is three- 
 [fold. Peter speaks in this passage of Christ as 
 [our Surety, our Example, and our Head. 
 
 Christ is our Surety. ' Christ suffered for us,' — 
 
 Who His own self bare our sins in His own body 
 
 [on the tree.' As Surety, Christ suffered and died 
 
 [in our stead. He bore our sin, and broke at once 
 
 its curse and power. As Surety, He did what we 
 
 [could not do, what we now need not do. 
 
 Christ is also our Example too. In one sense 
 |His work is unique ; in another we have to follow 
 [im in it ; we must do as He did, live and suffer 
 like Him. ' Christ suffered for us, leaving us an 
 Example * that we should follow in His footsteps. 
 [is suffering as my Surety calls me to a suffering 
 like His as my Example. But is this reasonable ? 
 pn His suffering as Surety He had the power of 
 the Divine nature, and how can I be expected in 
 the weakness of the flesh to suffer as He did ? Is 
 there not an impassable gulf between these two 
 things which Peter unites so closely, the suffering 
 as Surety and the suffering as Example ? No, there 
 is a blessed third aspect of Christ's work, which 
 bridges that gulf, which is the connecting link 
 between Christ as Surety and Christ as Example, 
 which makes it possible for us in very deed to take 
 the Surety as Example, and live and suffer and 
 die like Him. 
 
 Christ is also our ffeud. In this His Suretyship 
 
 
 
 
 n 
 
H 
 
 LIKE CHRIST : 
 
 II 
 
 and His Example have their root and unity. 
 Christ is the second Adam. As a believer I am 
 spiritually one with Him. In this union He lives 
 in me, and imparts to me the power of His finished 
 work, the power of His sufferings and death and 
 resurrection. It is on this ground we are taught 
 in Eomans vi. and elsewhere that the Christian is 
 indeed dead to sin and alive to God. The very life 
 that Christ lives, the life that passed through death, 
 and the power of that death, work in the believer, 
 so that he is dead, and has risen again with Christ. 
 It is this thought Peter gives utterance to when he 
 says : 'Who His own self bore our sins upon the tree,' 
 not alone that we through His death might receive 
 forgiveness, but * that we, being dead to sins, should 
 live unto righteousness.' As we have part in the 
 spiritual death of the first Adam, having really died 
 to God in him, so wc have part in the second 
 Adam, having really died to sin in Him, and in 
 Him being made alive again to God. Christ is not 
 only our Surety who lived and died for us, our 
 Example who showed us how to live and die, but 
 also our Head, with whom we are one, in whose 
 death we have died, with whose life we now live. 
 This gives us the power to follow our Surety as 
 our Example : Christ being our Head is the bond 
 that makes the believing on the Surety and the 
 following of the Exnmple inseparably one. 
 
 These three are one. The three truths may not 
 be separated from each other. And yet this 
 happens but too often. There are some who wish 
 
OUR HEAD. 
 
 follow Christ's Example without faith in His 
 itonement. They seek within themselves the power 
 live like Him: their efforts must be vain, 
 lere are others who hold fast to the Suretyship 
 )ut neglect the Example. They believe in redemp- 
 tion through the blood of the cross, but neglect the 
 footsteps of Him who bore it. Faith in the atone- 
 lent is indeed the foundation of the building, but it 
 not all. Theirs too is a deficient Christianity, 
 [with no true view of sanctification, because they 
 [do not see how, along with faith on Christ's atone- 
 Iment, following His Example is indispensably 
 [necessary. 
 
 There are still others who have received these two 
 truths, — Christ as Surety and Christ as Example, — 
 lud yet want something. They feel constrained to 
 j^oliow Christ as Example in what He did as Surety, 
 iut want the power. They do not rightly under- 
 itand how this following His Example can really be 
 [attained. "What they need is, the clear insight 
 (as to what Scripture teaches of Christ as Head. 
 Because the Surety is not some one outside of me, 
 but One in whom I am, and who is in me, therefore 
 it is that I can become like Him. His very life 
 lives in me. He lives Himself in me, whom He 
 bought with His blood. To follow His footsteps is 
 a duty, because it is a possibility, the natural result 
 of the wonderful union between Head and members. 
 It is only when this is understood aright that the 
 blessed truth of Christ's Example will take its right 
 place. If Jesus Himself through His life union 
 
 n 
 
86 
 
 LIKE CilUIST: 
 
 will work in me the life likeness, then my duty 
 becomes plain, but glorious. I have, on the one 
 side, to gaze on His Example so as to know and 
 follow it. On the other, to abide in Him, and open 
 my heart to the blessed workings of His life in me. 
 As siirely as He conquered sin and its curse for me, 
 will He conquer it in its power in me. Wiiat He 
 began by His death for me. He will perfect by His 
 life in me. Because my Surety is also my Head, 
 His Example must and will be the rule of my life. 
 There is a saying of Augustine that is often 
 quoted : ' Lord ! give what Thou commandest, and 
 command what Thou wilt.' This holds good here. 
 If the Lord, who lives in me, gives what He requires 
 of me, then no requirement can be too high. Then 
 I have the courage to gaze upon His holy Example 
 in all its height and breadth, and to accept of it as 
 the law of my conduct. It is no longer merely a 
 command telling what I must be, but a promise of 
 what I shall be. There is nothing that weakens 
 the power of Christ's Example so much as the 
 thought that we cannot really walk like Him. Do 
 not listen to such thoughts. The perfect likeness 
 in heaven is begun on eurtli, cm grow with each 
 day, and become more visilne as life goes on. As 
 certain and mighty as the work of surety which 
 Uhrist, your Head, completed once for all, is the 
 renewal after His own • Image, which He is still 
 working out. Let this double blessing make the 
 cross doubly precious : Our Head suffered as a 
 Surety, that in union with us He might bear sin for 
 
 ,y■ft! ^^^ „jiijt{ t m u mmn 
 
 •Wg? 
 
OUR HEAD. 
 
 87 
 
 IS. Our ITcad suffered as an Example, that He 
 liii<,'ht show us what the path h in which, in union 
 [with Himself, He would lead Uo to victory and to 
 rlory. The suffering Christ is our Head, our Surety, 
 md our Example. 
 
 And so tlie great lesson I have to learn is the 
 wonderful truth that it is just in tha^ mysterious 
 )ath of suli'ering, in which He wrought out our 
 [atonement and redemption, tliat we are to follow 
 'His footsteps, and that the full experience of that 
 [redemption depends upon the personal fellowship in 
 [that suffering. 'Christ suH'ered/or ws, leaving us 
 I an Example.' May the Holy Spirit reveal to me 
 iwhat this means. 
 
 Precious Saviour ! how shall I thank Thee for 
 .the work tliat Thou hast done as Surety ? Standing 
 in .he place of me a guilty sinner, Thou hast borne 
 my sins in Thy body on the cross. That cross was 
 my due. Tliou didst take it, and wast made like 
 unto me, that thus the cross might be changed into 
 a place of blessing and life. 
 
 And now Thou callest me to the place of cruci- 
 fixion as the place of blessing and life, where I 
 may be made like Tliee, and may find in Thee 
 power to suffer and to cease from sin. As njy 
 Head, Thou wert my Surety to suffer and die with 
 me; as my Head, Thou art my Example that I 
 might suffer and die with Thee. 
 
 Precious Saviour ! I confess that I have too little 
 understood this. Thy Suretyship was more to me 
 
 I 
 
 m 
 
 '■ '■ i; 
 
 ;;;,# 
 
r 
 
 I 
 
 H'' 
 
 86 
 
 LIKE CHRIST: 
 
 than Thy Example. I rejoiced much that Thou 
 hadst borne the cross for me, but too little that I 
 like Thee and with Thee might also bear the cross. 
 The atonement of the cross was more precious to 
 me than the fellowship of the cross ; the hope in 
 Thy redemption more precious than the personal 
 fellowship with Thyself. 
 
 Forgive me this, dear Lord, and teach me to find 
 my happiness in union with Thee, my Head, not 
 more in Thy Suretyship than in thine Example. 
 And grant, that in my meditations as to how I am 
 to follow Thee, my faith may become stronger and 
 brighter : Jesus is my Example because He is my 
 life. I must and can be like Him, because I am 
 one with Him. Grant this, my blessed Lord, for 
 Thy love's sake. Amen. 
 
 NOTE. 
 
 'Thomas k Kempis has said, ''All men wish to be 
 with Christ, and to belong to His people ; but few are 
 really willing to lollow the life of Christ." There are 
 many who imagine that to imitate Jesus Christ is a 
 specially advanced state in the Christian life, to which 
 c y a few elect can attain ; they think that one can be 
 a ^"eal Christian if he only confesses his weakness and 
 sin, and holdn fast to the Word and Sacrament, mthmt 
 attaining any real conformity to the life of Christ; they even 
 count it pride and fanaticism if one venture to say that 
 conformity to the likeness of Jesus Christ is an indispensable 
 sign of the true Christian. And yet our Lord says to all 
 without exception : " He that doth not take his cross, 
 
OUR HEAD. 
 
 39 
 
 and follow after me, is not worthy of me ; " He mentions 
 expressly the most difficult thing in His life---the cross, 
 that which includes all else. And Peter writes not to 
 Sfjme, but to the whole Church : Christ hath left us an 
 Example that ye should follow His ft^otsteps. It is a 
 sad sign that these unmistakeable commands have been 
 so darkened in our modem Christianity, that our lead- 
 ing ministers and church members have quietly, as by 
 common consent, agreed to rob these words of their 
 st»ng. A false dogmatic must bear no small share of 
 the blame. To defend the Divinity of our Saviour 
 against unbelief, men have presented and defended His 
 Divine nature with such exclusiveness, that it became 
 impossible to form any real living conception of His 
 humanity. It is not enough that we admit that Christ 
 was a true man ; no one can form any true idea of this 
 humanity who is ever afraid to lose the true Christ, 
 if he does not every moment ascribe to Him Divine 
 power and omniscience. For, of a truth, if Christ's 
 suffering and cross be only and altogether something 
 supernatural, we must cease to speak of the imitation of 
 Christ in any true or real sense of the word. Oh, the 
 gulf of separation which comes between the life of Christ 
 and the life of Cliristians, when the i elation between 
 them is only an external one ! And how slow and sloth- 
 ful the Church of our days is to apply the great and 
 d'stinct rule so clearly laid down in the life of Christ, 
 to the filling of these gulfs and the correcting of the 
 disorders of our modern life. The Church of Christ will 
 not be brought again out of its confusions until the faith- 
 ful actual imitation of her Lord and Head again become 
 the banner round which she rallies His disciples.' ^ 
 
 ' From M. Diemer, Een nieuw boek over de tiavolging van Jf.sit$ 
 Chriatus (A new book ou the imitation of Jesus Chml), 
 
 1 
 
 f 
 
 t 
 
 't 
 
 . 'I 
 
40 
 
 LIKE CHKIbT 
 
 Fifth Day. 
 
 LIKE CHEIST: 
 
 In suffering ©Srong* 
 
 *For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God 
 endure grief, suffering wrongfully. For what glory is it, if, when 
 ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently ? but if, 
 when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is 
 acceptable with God.'— 1 Pet. ii. 19, 20. 
 
 TT is in connection with a very everyday matter 
 -^ that Peter gave utterance to those weighty 
 words concerning Christ as our Surety and Example. 
 He is writing to servants, who at that time were 
 mostly slaves. He teaches them *to be subject 
 with all fear,' not only to the good and gentle, but 
 also to the fro ward. For, so he whites, if any one 
 do wrong and be punisiied for ii, to bear it 
 patiently is no special grace. No; but if one do 
 well, and suffer for it, and take it patiently, this is 
 acceptable with God ; such bearing of wrong is 
 Christ-like. In bearing our sins as Surety, Christ 
 suffered wrong from man ; after His example wo 
 must be ready to suffer wrongfully too. 
 
 There is almost nothing harder to bear than 
 injustice from our fellow-men. It is not only the 
 
IN SUFFERING WRONG. 
 
 41 
 
 ibss of pain ; there is the feeling of humiliation 
 Itfid injustice, and the consciousness of our rights 
 Bserts itself. In what our fellow-creatures do to 
 i, it is not easy at once to recognise the will of 
 )d, who thus allows us to be tried, to see if we 
 !ive truly taken Christ as our example. Let us 
 idy that example. From Him we may learn 
 lat it was that gave Him the power to bear 
 Ijuries patiently. 
 Christ believed in svffering as the will of God. 
 had found it in Scripture that the servant of 
 xl should suffer. He had made Himself familiar 
 ith the thought, so that when sufl'ering came, it 
 |id not take Him by surprise. He expected it. 
 [e knew that thus He must be perfected ; and so 
 lis tirst thought was not how to be delivered from 
 b, but how to glorify God in it. This enabled 
 [im to bear the greatest injustice quietly. He 
 iw (Jod's hand in it. 
 
 Christian ! would you have strength to suffer 
 ,Tong in the spirit in which Christ did ? Accustom 
 yourself in everything that happens, to recognise 
 [the hand and will of God. This lesson is of more 
 consequence than you think. Whether it be some 
 great wrong that is done you, or some little offence 
 that you meet in daily life, before you fix your 
 tlioughts on the person who did it, first be still, and 
 remember, God allows me to co7iie into this trouble to 
 see if I shall glorify Him in it. This trial, be it 
 the greatest or least, is allowed by God, and is His 
 will concerning me. Let me first recognise and 
 
 I ■?„ 
 
 rm 
 
 m 
 
il 
 
 IM 
 
 Hi! 
 
 4i2 
 
 LIKE CHitisr : 
 
 submit to GocPs wUl in it. Then in the rest of 
 soul which this gives, I shall receive wisdom to 
 know how to behave in it. With my eye turned 
 from man to God, suffering wrong is not so hard as 
 it seems. 
 
 Christ also believed that God would care for Hii 
 rights and honour. There is an innate sense of 
 right within us that comes from God. But he who 
 lives in the visible, wants his honour to be vindicated 
 at once here below. He who lives in the eternal, 
 and as seeing the Invisible, is satisfied to leave the 
 vindication of his rights and honour in God's hands ; 
 he knows that they are safe with Him. It was 
 thus with the Lord Jesus. Peter writes, * He com- 
 mitted Himself to Him that judgeth righteously.' 
 It was a settled thing between the Father and the 
 Son, that the Son was not to care for His own 
 honour, but only for the Father's. The Father 
 would care for the Son's honour. Let the Christian 
 just follow Christ's example in this, it will give 
 him such rest and peace. Give your right and 
 your honour into God's keeping. Meet every 
 offence that man commits against you with the firm 
 trust that God will watch over and care for you. 
 Commit it to Him who judgeth righteously. 
 
 Further, Christ believed in the power of buffering love. 
 We all admit that there is no power like that of 
 love. Through it Christ overcomes the enmity of 
 the world. Every other victory gives only a forced 
 submission ; love alone gives the true victory over 
 an enemy, by converting him into a friend. We 
 
 
 
 
IN SUFFEKING WRONG. 
 
 43 
 
 in the rest of 
 ive wisdom toj 
 ny eye turned 
 not so hard as 
 
 d care for Hii 
 
 mate sense of 
 
 But he who 
 
 » be vindicated 
 
 in the eternal, 
 
 sd to leave the 
 
 1 God's hands; 
 
 Him. It was 
 
 ites, * He com- 
 
 i righteously.' 
 
 ather and the 
 
 for His own 
 
 The Father 
 
 the Christian 
 
 it will give 
 
 ur right and 
 
 Meet every 
 
 with the firm 
 
 care for you. 
 
 ►usly. 
 
 buffering love. 
 like that of 
 tie enmity of 
 only a forced 
 victory over 
 friend. We 
 
 acknowledge the truth of this as a principle, 
 It we shrink from the application. Christ believed 
 and acted accordingly. He said too, I shall have 
 ty revenge ; but His revenge was that of love, 
 inging enemies as friends to His feet. He believed 
 lat by silence and submission, and suflfering and 
 jlearing wrong, He would win the cause, because 
 4|lus love would have its triumph. 
 
 And this is what He desires of us too. In 
 
 sinful nature there is more faith in might and 
 
 fght than in the heavenly power of love. But he 
 
 rho would be like Christ must follow Him in this 
 
 Iso, that He seeks to conquer evil with good. The 
 
 ore another does him wrong, tite more he feels called 
 
 love him. Even if it be needful for the public 
 
 welfare that justice should punish the 00'ender, he 
 
 ikes care that there be in it nothing of personal 
 
 }ling ; as far as he is concerned, he forgives and 
 
 )ves. 
 
 Ah, what a difference it would make in Christen- 
 lom and in our churches, if Christ's example were 
 followed ! If each one who was i«viled, ' reviled 
 lot again ; ' if each one who suffered, * threatened 
 [not, but committed himself to Him that judgeth 
 [righteously.' Fellow- Christians, this is literally 
 what the Father would have us do. Let us read 
 and read again the words of Peter, until our soul 
 be filled with the thought, ' If, when ye do well, and 
 suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable 
 with God,' * 
 
 * 3ce note, 
 
 
 nj 
 
 m 
 
1 
 
 i ]' ! 
 
 I 1 
 
 ' 
 
 1 1 
 
 11! 
 
 44 
 
 LIKE CHRIST : 
 
 111 ordinary Christian life, where we mostly seel 
 to fulfil our calling as redeemed ones in our owi - 
 strength, such a conformity to the Lord's image i 
 an impossibility. But in a life of full surrender, 1' 
 where we have given all into His hands, in the ; 
 faith that He will work all in us, there the glorious ,J 
 expectation is awakened, that the imitation of Christ *f 
 in this is indeed within our reach. For the command 
 to suffer like Christ has come in connection with 
 the teaching, * Christ also suffered for us, so that we, 
 being dead to sins, might live unto righteousness.' 
 
 Beloved fellow- Christian ! wouldst thou not -love 
 to le )i . Jesus, and in bearing injuries act as He 
 Himself would have acted in thy place ? Is it not 
 a ■.';ior''>us •""o'^pect in everything, even in this too 
 to be confoimed to Him ? For our strength it is 
 too high ; in His strength it is possible. Only 
 surrender thyself day by day to Him to be in all 
 things just what He would have thee to be. Believe 
 that He lives in heaven to be the life and th( 
 strength of each one who seeks to walk in Hi 
 footsteps. Yield thyself to be one with the suffer 
 ing, crucified Christ, that thou mayest understaiu 
 what it is to be dead to sins, and to live unt( 
 righteousness. And it will be tliy joyful experi- 
 ence what wonderful power there is in Jesus' death.||| 
 not only to atone for sin, but to break its power; 
 and in His resurrection, to make thee live unto 
 righteousness. Thou shalt find it equally blessed to 
 follow fully the footsteps of the suffering Saviour, as 
 it has been to trust fully and only in that sufferiug 
 
IN SUFFEHING WRONG, 
 
 45 
 
 atonement and redemption. Christ will be as 
 Bcious as thy Example as He has ever been as 
 
 Surety. Because He took thy sufferings upon 
 
 pmself, thou wilt lovingly take His sufferings upon 
 
 irself. And bearing wrong will become a glorious 
 
 rt of the fellowship with His holy sufferings ; a 
 
 prions mark of being conformed to His most holy 
 
 jness ; a most blessed fruit of the true life of faith. 
 
 ^vJ 
 
 ..O Lord my God, I have heard Thy precious word: 
 Ili any man endure grief, suffering wrongfully, and 
 igjkc it patiently, this is acceptable with God. This 
 jl-indeed a sacrifice that is well-pleasing to Thee, a 
 »rk that Thine own grace alone hath wrought, 
 fruit of the suffering of Thy beloved Son, of the 
 pmple He left, and the power He gives in virtue 
 |His having destroyed the power of sin. 
 |0 my Father, teach me and all Thy children to 
 at nothing less than complete conformity to 
 iy dear Son in this trait of His blessed image. 
 >rd my God, I would now, once for all, give up 
 ie keeping of my honour and my rights into Thy 
 mds, never more again myself to take charge of 
 liiui. Thou wilt care for them most perfectly, 
 lay my only care be the honour and the rights of 
 iy Lord ! 
 
 I specially beseech Thee to fill me with faith in 
 Ihc conquering power of suffering love. Give me 
 apprehend fully how the suffering Lamb of God 
 |eaches us that patience and silence and sufferincr 
 ivail more with God, and therefore with man too, 
 
 n\ 
 
46 
 
 LIKE CHRIST : 
 
 than might or right. O my Father, I must, I would 
 walk in the footsteps of my Lord Jesus. Let Thy 
 Holy Spirit, and the light of Thy love and presence, 
 he my guide and strength. Amen. 
 
 NOTE. 
 
 * What is it thou sayest, my son ? Cease from com- 
 plaining, when thou considerest my passion, and the 
 sufferings of my other saints. Do not say, " To suffer 
 this from such a one, it is more than I can or may do. 
 He has done me great wrong, and accused me of things 
 I never thought of. Of another I might bear it, if I 
 thought I deserved it, but not from him!" Such 
 thoughts are very I'oolish ; instead of thinking of 
 patience in suffering, or of Him by whom it will be 
 crowned, we only are occupied with the injury done to 
 us, and the person who has done it. No, he deserves 
 not the name of pitient who is only willing to suffer as 
 much as he thinks pi'oper, and from whom he pleases. The 
 truly patient man asks not from whom ^ he suffers, his 
 superior, his equal, or his inferior; whether from a 
 good and holy man, or one who is perverse and un- 
 worthy. But from whomsoever, how much soever, or 
 how often soever wrong is done him, he accepts it all as 
 from the band of God, and counts it gain. For with 
 God it is impossible that anything suffered for His sake 
 should pass without its reward. 
 
 * O Lord, let tl-at become possible to me by Thy grace, 
 which by nature seems impossible. Grant that the 
 suffering wrong may by Thy love be made pleasant to 
 me. To suffer for Thy sake is most healthful to my 
 souL'i 
 
 * From Thomas k Er-mpis, 0/ the Imitation of Christ, uL 19. 
 That the tt^ffermg qftorong ia the proqf of true patience. 
 
 '■| 
 
CRUCIFIED WITH HIM. 
 
 4T 
 
 ■ >-f< ! 
 
 
 Sixth Day. 
 
 oever, or 
 
 LIKE CHRIST: 
 
 Cructfie)! Inai) J^im. 
 
 • I am orncified with Christ : nevertheleM I live ; yet not I, bnt 
 Christ liveth in me. God forbid that I should glory save in th* 
 cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified 
 unto me, and I unto the world.*— Gal. ii. 20, vi. 14. 
 
 TAKING up the cross was always spoken of by 
 Christ as the test of discipleship. On three 
 different occasions (Matt. x. 38, xvi. 24 ; Luke 
 xiv. 27) we find the words repeated, ' If any man 
 will come after me, let him take up his cross and 
 follow me.' While the Lord was still on His way 
 to the cross, this expression — taking up the cross- 
 was the most appropriate to indicate that conformity 
 to Him to which the disciple is called.* But now that 
 He has been crucified, the Holy Spirit gives another 
 expression, in which our entire conformity to Christ 
 
 * See note. Christians entirely miss the point of the Lord's 
 command when they refer the taking up of the cross only to the 
 crosses or trials of life. It means much more. The cross means 
 death. Taking up the cross means going out to die. It is just in 
 the time of prosperity that we most need to bear the cross. 
 Taking up the cross and following Him is nothing less than living 
 every day with our own life and will given up to death. 
 
 tnW: 
 
 t 
 
 i4jf 
 
 ii 
 
 ■i i! 
 
 M 
 
1 1 
 
 ! 
 
 ! ill! 
 
 .Ilin.-ill 
 
 m 
 
 
 48 
 
 LIKE ciruisT : 
 
 is still more powerfully set forth, — the believing 
 disciple is himself crucified with Christ. The cross 
 is the chief mark of the Christian as of Christ ; the 
 crucified Christ and the crucified Christian belong to 
 each other. One of the chief elements of likeness to 
 Christ consists in being crucified with Him. Wlio- 
 ever wishes to be like Him must seek to understand 
 the secret of fellowship with His cross. 
 
 At first sight the Christian who seeks conformity 
 to Jesus is afraid of this truth ; he shrinks from 
 the painful suffering and death with which the 
 thought of the cross is connected. As His spiritual 
 discernment becomes clearer, however, this word 
 becomes all his hope and joy, and he glories in the 
 cross, because it makes him a partner in a death and 
 victory that has already been accomplished, and in 
 which the deliverance from the powers of the flesh 
 and of the world has been secured to him. To 
 understand this we must notice carefully the 
 language of Scripture. 
 
 * I am crucified with Christ,* Paul says ; * never- 
 theless I live ; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me.' 
 Through faith in Christ we become partakers of 
 Clirist's life. That life is a life that has passed 
 through the death of the cross, and in which the 
 power of that death is alvmys ivorJcing. "When I 
 receive that life, I receive at the same time the 
 full power of the death on the cross working in 
 me in its never-ceasing energy. * I have been 
 crucified with Christ ; yet I live ; and yet no 
 longer I, but Christ liveth in me * (R V.) ; the 
 
 'JUL 
 
CRUCIFIED WITH HIM. 
 
 4t 
 
 life I now live i. not my own life, but the life of 
 the Crucified One, is the life of the cross. The 
 being crucified is a thing past and done : ' Knowing- 
 thir), that our old man was (K. V.) crucified with 
 Him;' 'They that are Christ's have crucified the 
 tlfsh ; ' * I glory' in the cross of our Lord Jesus 
 Christ, by whom the world hath been (R. V.) crucified 
 unto me, and I unto the world.' These texts all 
 speak of scmething that has been done in Christ, 
 and into which I am admitted by faith. 
 
 It is of great consequence to understand this, 
 and to give bold utterance to the truth: I have 
 been crucified with Christ ; I have crucified the 
 flesh. I thus learn how perfectly I share in the 
 finished work of Christ. If I am crucified and 
 dead with Him, then I am a partner in His life 
 and victory. I learn to understand the position 
 \ I must take to allow the power of that cross and 
 that death to manifest itself in mortifying or (R. V.) 
 making dead the old man and the flesh, in destroying 
 the body of sin (Rom. vi. 6). 
 
 For there is still a great work for me to do. 
 But that work is not to crucify myself: I have 
 been crucified ; the old man was crucified, so the 
 Scripture speaks. But what I have to do is 
 always to regard and treat it as crucified, and not 
 to suffer it to come down from the cross. I must 
 maintain my crucifixion position ; I must keep the 
 flesh in the place of crucifixion. To realize the 
 force of this I must notice an important distinction. 
 I have been crucified and am dead : the old Adam 
 
 D 
 
 
 i! 
 
 *i.| 
 
 M 
 
 P.K 
 
 ¥■■ 
 
 
 ■il 
 
it II 
 
 i I 
 
 50 
 
 LIKE GIIUIST : 
 
 was crucified, but is not yet dead. When I gav( 
 myself to my crucified Saviour, sin and fiesh pmi^ 
 all, He took me wholly ; I with my evil nat 
 was taken up with Him in His crucifixion. But 
 here a separation took place. In fellowship with 
 Him I was freed from the life of the flesh ; I 
 myself died witli Him ; in the inmost centre of 
 my being I received new life : Christ lives in mc. 
 But the flesh, in which I yet am, the old man that 
 was crucified with Him, remain:^' condenmed to an 
 accursed death, but is not yet dead. And now it is 
 my calling, in fellowship with and in the strengtli 
 of my Lord, to see that the old nature be kep*^ 
 nailed to the cross, until the time comes that it 
 entirely destroyed. All its desires and affectiono 
 cry out, * Come down from the cross, save thyself 
 and us.' It is my duty to glory in the cross, and 
 with my whole heart to maintain the dominion ^ 
 of the cross, and to set my seal to the sentence g 
 that has been pronounced, to make dead every 
 uprising of sin, as already crucified, and so not 
 to suffer it to have dominion. This is what Scrip- 
 ture means when it says, ' If ye through the spirit 
 do make to die (R. V.) the deeds of the body, 
 ye shall live ' (Kom. viii. 1 3). * Make dead there- 
 fore your members which are upon the earth.* Thus 
 I continually and voluntarily acknowledge that in 
 my flesh dwells no good thing; that my Lord is Christ 
 the Crucified One ; that I have teen crucified and am 
 dead in Him ; that the flesh has been crucified and, 
 though not yet dead, has been for ever given over 
 
CKUCIFIED WITH HIM. 
 
 61 
 
 the death of the cross. And so I live like Christ, 
 III very deed crucified with Him. 
 
 In order to enter fully into the meaning and the 
 )ower of this fellowship of the crucifixion of our 
 .ord, two things are specially necessary to those 
 dio are Christ's followers. The first is the clear 
 ;ons('iousness of this their fellowship with the 
 Drucilied One through faith. At conversion they 
 )ecame partakers of it without fully understanding 
 
 It. Many remam m 
 
 Ignorance 
 
 all their life lonjr 
 
 ^hrough a want of spiritual knowledge. Brother, 
 )ray that the Holy Spirit may reveal to you your 
 inion to the Crucified One. * I have been crucified 
 ^ith Christ;' * I glory in the cross of Christ, through 
 rhich I have been crucified to the world.' Take 
 iiucV words of Holy Scripture.and by prayer and medi- 
 j;ation make them your own, with a heart that expects 
 md asks the Holy Spirit to make them living and 
 jffectual within you. Look upon yourself in the light 
 )f God as what you really are, * crucified with Christ.' 
 Then you will find the grace for the second 
 Ithing you need to enable you to live as a crucified 
 one, in whom Christ lives. You will be able 
 always to look upon and to treat the flesh and the 
 world as nailed to the cross. The old nature seeks 
 continually to assert itself, and to make you feel as 
 if it is expecting too much that you should always 
 live this crucifixion life. Your only safety is in 
 fellowship with Christ. * Through Him and His 
 cross,' says Paul, 'I have been crucified to the 
 world.' In Him the crucifixion is an accomplished 
 
 
 m 
 
 1i):jI 
 
 '• i 
 
 iiil 
 'li' 
 
 t 
 
 
1 1 .1 
 
 I.! 
 
 II 
 
 '2 
 
 LIKE CHRIST : 
 
 reality ; in Him you have died, but also have beer 
 made alive : Christ lives in you. With this fellow- 
 ship of His cross let it be with you, the deeper thevf 
 better : it brings you into deeper communion with 
 His life and His love. To be crucified with Christ : 
 means freed from the power of sin : a redeemed 5 
 one, a conqueror. Remember that the Holy Spirit 
 has been specially provided to glorify Christ in you, 
 to reveal within you, and make your very own ali 
 that is in Christ for you. Do not be satisfied, with 
 so many others, only to know the cross in its power 
 to atone : the glory of the cross is, that it was not 
 only to Jesus, but is to us too, the path to life, but 
 that each moment it c?.n become to us the powei 
 that destroys sin and death, and keeps us in the 
 power of the eternal life. Learn from your Saviour 
 the holy art of using it for this. Faith in the power 
 of the cross and its victory will day by day make 
 dead the deeds of the body, the lusts of the flesh. 
 This faith will teach you to count the cross, with its 
 continual death to self, all your glory. Because 
 you regard the cross, not as one who is still on the 
 way to crucifixion, with the prospect of a painful 
 death, but as one to whom the crucifixion is past, 
 who already lives in Christ, and now only bears the 
 cross as the blessed instrument through which the 
 body of sin is done away (Rom. vi. 6, R. V.). The 
 banner under which complete victory over sin and 
 the world is to be won is the cross. 
 
 Above all, remember what still remains the chief 
 thing. It is Jesus, the living loving Saviour, who 
 
CRUCIFIED WITH HIM. 
 
 53 
 
 limself enables you to be like Him in all things. 
 
 [is sweet fellowship, His tender love, His heavenly 
 )ower, make it a blessedness and joy to be like 
 
 [im, the Crucified One, make the crucifixion life a 
 life of resurrection-joy and power. In Him the two 
 ire inseparably connected. In Him you have the 
 
 trength to be always singing the triumphant song : 
 
 rod forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of 
 >ur Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world 
 lath been crucified unto me, and I unto the world. 
 
 Precious Saviour, I humbly ask Thee to show me 
 be hidden glory of the fellowship of Thy cross. 
 ?he cross was my place, the place of death and 
 mrse. Thou didst become like us, and hast been 
 jrucified with us. And now the cross is Thy place, 
 |the place of blessing and life. And Thou callest 
 le to become like Thee, and as one who is crucified 
 rith Thee, to experience how entirely the cross has 
 lade me free from sin. 
 
 Lord, give me to know its full power. It is long 
 since I knew the power of the cross to redeem from 
 the curse. ]3ut how long I strove in vain as a 
 redeemed one to overcome the power of sin, and to 
 ijuey the Father as Thou hast done! I could not 
 break the power of sin. But now I see, this comes 
 only when Thy disciple yields himself entirely to 
 be led by Thy Holy Spirit into the fellowship of 
 Thy cross. There Thou dost give him to see how 
 the cross has broken for ever the power of sin, and 
 has made him free. There Thou, the Crucified One, 
 
 
 ^p 
 
 11 
 
 ;![■• 
 
 
 
 
 ■\k 
 
 fa 
 
 i I ' 
 
 ^ la 
 
 
 ^''4}\ 
 
54 
 
 LIKE CUUIST : 
 
 I ! 
 
 Mi){ 
 
 Hilllilil! 
 
 IIP 
 
 III 
 
 dost live in him and impart to him Thine own 
 Spirit of whole-hearted self-sacrifice, in casting out 
 and conquering sin. Oh, my Lord, teach me to 
 understand this better. In this faith I say, * I have 
 been crucified with Christ.' Oh, Thou who lovedst 
 me to the death, not Thy cross, but Thyself the 
 Crucified One, Thou art He whom I seek, and in 
 whom I hope. Take me. Thou Crucified One, and 
 hold me fast, and teach me from moment to moment 
 to look upon all that is of self as condemned, and only 
 worthy to be crucified. Take me, and hold me, and 
 teach me, from moment to moment, that in Thee I 
 have all I need for a life of holiness and blessing. 
 Amen. 
 
 NOTE. 
 
 ' Jesus hath now many lovers of His heavenly king- 
 dom, but few bearers of His cross. He hath many who 
 desire His consolation, few His tribulation ; many who 
 are willing to share His table, few His fasting. All are 
 Avilling to rejoice with Him, few will endure anything 
 for Him. Many follow Jesus into the breaking of bread, 
 but few to drink of the cup whereof He drank. Many 
 glory in His miracles, few in the shame of His cross.' ^ 
 
 ' To many it seems a hard speech, " Deny thyself, take 
 up thy cross, and follow Jesus." But it will be much 
 harder to hear that other word, " Depart from me, ye 
 cursed ; " for only they who now hear and follow the 
 word of the cross shall then have no fear of the word of 
 condemnation. For the sign of the cross will be seen in 
 the heaven when the Lord cometh to judgment, and all 
 the servants of the cross, who in their lifetime have been 
 conformed to Christ crucified, will then draw near to 
 
 * From Thomas h Kempis, Of the Imitation of Christ, ii. 11. That 
 the lovers of the Cross of Jcsm are few. 
 
 ::i: 
 
ii 
 
 CRUCIFIED WITH HIM. 
 
 55 
 
 line own 
 
 Christ their judge with great confidence. Why, then, 
 dost thou fear to take up the cross which fitteth thee for 
 the kingdom 1 In the cross is life, in the cross is salva- 
 tion ; tlie cross defends against all enemies ; in the cross 
 there is the infusion of all heavenly sweetness ; in tlie 
 cross is strength of mind, joy of spirit ; the cross h the 
 height of virtue and the perfection of sanctity. There 
 is no happiness for the soul but in the cross. Take up, 
 tlierefore, thy cross and follow Jesus, and diou shalt live 
 for ever. 
 
 ♦ If thou bear the cross cheerfully, it will bear thee. 
 If thou bear it unwillingly, thou makest for thyself a 
 burden which still thou hast to bear. What saint was 
 there ever who did not bear the cross ? Even Christ 
 must needs suffer. How then dost tliou seek any other 
 way tiian this, which is the royal way, the way of the 
 sacred cross ? 
 
 'He that willingly submits to the cross, to him its 
 whole burden is changed into a sweet assurance of 
 divine comfort. And the more the flesh is broken down 
 by the cross, the more the spirit is strengthened by 
 inward grace. It is not in man by nature to bear the 
 cross, to love the cross, to deny self, to bring the body 
 into subjection, and willingly to endure suffering. If 
 thou look to thyself, thou canst accomplish nothing of 
 all this. But if thou trust in the Lord, strength shall 
 be given thee from heaven, and the world and the flesh 
 shall be made subject to thy rule. Set thyself, there- 
 fore, to bear manfully the cross of thy Lord, who out of 
 love was crucified for thee. 
 
 'Know for certain thou oughtest to lead a dying life, 
 for the more any man dieth unto himself, the more he 
 liveth unto God. Surely, if there had been any better 
 thing, and more profitable to man's salvation, than bear- 
 ing the cross, Christ would have showed it us by word 
 and example. But now He calleth all who would follow 
 Him plainly to do this one thing, daily to bear the cross.' ^ 
 
 ^ From Thomas h, Kempis, 0/ the Imitation of Christ, ii 12. 0/ 
 the Royal Way of the Sacred Cross, 
 
 111 
 
 u 
 
 \M 
 
 1 I 
 
 
 \\ 
 
Ill 
 
 
 i > 
 
 II ;:' 
 
 »l 
 
 UKE CHKIST : 
 
 Seventh Day. 
 
 ' 
 
 LIKE CHItlST: 
 
 * We then that are Btrong onght to bear the infirmities of the 
 weak, and not to please ourselves. Let every one of ns please 
 bis neighbour for his good to edification. For even Christ 
 pleased not Himself, as it is written, The reproaches of them 
 that reproached thee fell upon me. Wherefore receive ye one 
 another, even as Christ also received us to the glory of God.*— 
 Rom. XV. 1-3, 7. 
 
 ' If any man will come after me, let him deny himaelf^ and 
 take up his cross, vnA follow me.— Matt. xvi. 24. 
 
 EVEN Christ pleased not Himself: He bore the 
 reproaches, with which men reproached and 
 dishonoured God, so patiently, that He might glorify 
 God and save man. Christ pleased not Himself: with 
 reference both to God and man, this word is the key of 
 His life. In this, too, His life is our rule and example; 
 we who are strong ought not to please ourselves. 
 
 To deny self — this is the opposite of pleasing 
 self. When Peter denied Christ, he said : I know 
 not the man ; with Him and His interests I have 
 nothing to do; I do not wish to be counted His 
 friend. In the same way the true Christian denies 
 himself, the old man : I do not know this old man ; 
 I will have nothing to do with him and his interests. 
 And when shame and dishonour come upon him, or 
 anything be exacted that is not pleasant to the old 
 nature, he simply says : Bo as you like with the old 
 
IN HIS SELF-DENIAL. 
 
 57 
 
 '^1 
 
 in 
 
 nfirmities of the 
 9&e of US please 
 For even Christ 
 'oachea of them 
 ) receive ye one 
 glory of God.*— 
 
 iy himaelff and 
 
 14. 
 
 He bore the 
 
 ►reached and 
 
 might glorify 
 
 [imself: with 
 
 is the key of 
 
 md example; 
 
 Durselves. 
 
 of pleasing 
 
 lid : I know 
 
 rests I have 
 
 jounted His 
 
 istian denies 
 
 is old man ; 
 
 lis interests. 
 
 pon him, or 
 
 to the old 
 
 ^ith the old 
 
 Ldam, I will take no notice of it. Through the 
 jross of Christ I am crucified to the world, and the 
 
 !flcsh, and self ; to the friendship and interest of this 
 old man I am a stranger ; I deny him to be my friend; 
 I deny his every claim and wish ; I know him not. 
 
 ^'1 The Christian who only thinks of his salvation 
 from curse and condemnation cannot understand 
 this ; he finds it impossible to deny self. Although 
 Jbe may sometimes try to do so, his life mainly con- 
 SBists in pleasing himself. The Christian who has 
 Itaken Christ as his pattern cannot be content with 
 this. He has surrendered himself to seek the most 
 complete fellowship with the cross of Christ. The 
 ilHoly Spirit has taught him to say, I have been cruci- 
 fied with Christ, and so am dead to sin and self. In 
 fellowship with Christ he sees the old man crucified, 
 Ja condemned malefactor; he is ashamed to own 
 liim as a friend : it is his fixed purpose, and he has 
 feceived the power for it too, no longer to please 
 his old nature, but to deny it. Because the crucified 
 Christ is his life, self-denial is the lata of his life. 
 
 This self-denial extends itself over the whole 
 ' domain of life. It was so with the Lord Jesus, and 
 is so with every one who longs to follow Him per- 
 fectly. This self-denial has not so much to do with 
 what is sinful, and unlawful, and contrary to the 
 laws of God, as with what is lawful, or apparently 
 indifferent. To the self-denying spirit the will and 
 glory of God and the salvation of man are always 
 more than our own interests or pleasure. 
 
 Before we can know how to please our neighbour, 
 self-denial must first exercise itself in our own 
 
 !H 
 
 !:i 
 
 I '1 
 
 1 
 
 m 
 
 li 
 
 M 
 
 

 i 
 
 I ! 
 
 58 
 
 LIKE CHRIST : 
 
 personal life. It must rule the body. The holy j 
 fasting of Him who said, Man shall not live by bread I 
 alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the f 
 mouth of God ; and who would not eat until His 
 Father gave Him food, and His Father's work was 
 done, teaches the believer a holy temperance in 
 eating and drinking. The holy poverty of Him 
 who had not where to lay His head, teaches him so 
 to regulate the possession, and use, and enjoyment 
 of earthly things, that he may always possess as not 
 possessing. After the example of the holy suffering 
 of Him who bore all our sins in His own body on 
 the tree, he learns to bear all suffering patiently : 
 even in the body as the temple of the Holy Spirit, 
 he desires to bear about the dying of the Lord 
 Jesus; with Paul he keeps under the body and 
 brings it into subjection; all its desires and 
 appetites he would have ruled by the self-denial of 
 Jesus. He does not please himself. 
 
 This self-denial keeps watch over the spirit too. 
 His own wisdom and judgment the believer brings 
 into subjection to God's word ; he gives up his own 
 thoughts to the teaching of the Word and the 
 Spirit. Towards man he manifests the same self- 
 denial of his own wisdom in a readiness to hear and 
 learn, in the meekness and humility with which, 
 even when he knows he is in the right, he gives his 
 opinion, in the desire ever to find and to acknow- 
 ledge what is good in others. 
 
 And then self-denial has special reference to the 
 heart. All the affections and desires are placed under 
 it. The will, the kingly power of the soul, is speci- 
 
IN HIS SELF-DENIAL. 
 
 59 
 
 f. The holy I 
 
 live by bread 
 
 3th out of the 
 
 jat until His 
 
 jr's work was 
 
 mperance in 
 
 3rty of Him 
 
 saches him so 
 
 id enjoyment 
 
 )ossess as not 
 
 boly suffering 
 
 own body on 
 
 ig patiently: 
 
 Holy Spirit, 
 
 of the Lord 
 
 le body and 
 
 desires and 
 
 self-denial of 
 
 le spirit too. 
 iever brings 
 
 up his own 
 
 >rd and the 
 
 same self- 
 
 to hear and 
 with which, 
 he gives his 
 
 to acknow- 
 
 ence to the 
 )laced under 
 ►ul, is speei- 
 
 m 
 
 illy under its control. As little as self-pleasing 
 3ould be a part of Christ's life, may Christ's follower 
 lUow it ever to influence his conduct. * We ought 
 lot to please ourselves. For even Christ pleased 
 lot Himself.' Self-denial is the law of his life. 
 
 Nor does he find it hard when once he has truly 
 Surrendered himself to it. To one who, with a 
 livided heart, seeks to force himself to a life of 
 self-denial, it is hard indeed ; but to one who has 
 rielded himself to it unreservedly, because he has 
 dth his whole heart accepted the cross to destroy 
 ^he power of sin and self, the blessing it brings 
 lore than compensates for apparent sacrifice or 
 loss. He hardly dare any longer speak of self- 
 leiiial, there is such blessedness in becoming 
 jonformed to the image of Jesus. 
 
 Self-denial has not its value with God, as some 
 
 think, from the measure of pain it causes. No, for 
 
 this pain is very much caused by the remaining 
 
 reluctance to practise it. But it has its highest 
 
 rorth in that meek or even joyful acquiscence 
 
 [which counts nothing a sacrifice for Jesus' sake, and 
 
 [feels surprised when others speak of self-denial. 
 
 There have been ages when men thought they must 
 [fly to the wilderness or cloister to deny themselves. 
 ?he Lord Jesus has shown us that the best place to 
 [practise self-denial is in our ordinary intercourse with 
 [men. So Paul also says here, * We ought not to please 
 mrselves, let every one please his nciglihour unto 
 hdification. For even Christ pleased not Himself. 
 [Therefore receive ye one another, even as Christ has 
 [received you.' Nothing less than the self-denial of 
 
 Mt 
 
I 
 
 I 
 
 ll 
 
 I'liH 
 ill 
 
 h ■ 
 
 ii!r 
 
 I' 
 
 60 
 
 LIKE CHRIST : 
 
 our Lord, who pleased not Himself, is our law. What 
 He was we must be. What He did we must do. 
 
 What a glorious life will it be in the Church of 
 Christ when this law prevails ! each one considers 
 it the object of existence to make others happy. 
 Each one denies himself, seeks not his own, esteems 
 others better than himself. All thought of taking 
 offence, of wounded pride, of being slighted or 
 passed by, would pass away. As a follower of 
 Christ, each would seek to bear the weak and to 
 please his neighbour. The true self-denial would 
 be seen in this, that no one would think of himself, 
 but live in and for others. 
 
 * If any man will come after me, let him deny 
 himself, take up his cross, and follow me.' This 
 word not only gives us the will, but also the power 
 for self-denial. He who does not simply wish to 
 reacli heaven through Christ, but comes after Him 
 for His own sake, will follow Him. And in his 
 heart Jesus speedily takes the place that self had. 
 Jesus only becomes the centre and object of such a 
 lifa The undivided surrender to follow Him is 
 crowned with this wonderful blessing, that Christ 
 by His Spirit Himself becomes his life. Christ's 
 spirit of self-denying love is poured out upon him, 
 and to deny self is the greatest joy of his heart, and 
 the means of the deepest communion with God. 
 Self-denial is no longer a work he simply does as a 
 means of attaining perfection for himself. Nor is it 
 merely a negative victory, of which the main feature 
 is the keeping self in check. Christ has taken the 
 place of self, and His love and gentleness and kind- 
 
rlaw. What '^ 
 e must do. 
 le Church of 
 me considers 
 thers happy, 
 own, esteems 
 jht of taking 
 slighted OT 
 follower of 
 weak and to 
 denial would 
 k of himself, 
 
 et him deny 
 
 (f me.' This 
 
 30 the power 
 
 iply wish to 
 
 3s after Him 
 
 And in his 
 
 at self had. 
 
 ct of such a 
 
 ow Him is 
 
 that Christ 
 
 e. Christ's 
 
 upon him, 
 Is heart, and 
 
 with God. 
 [y does as a 
 Nor is it 
 lain feature 
 s taken the 
 B and kind- 
 
 IN ills SELF-DENIAL. 
 
 61 
 
 
 ness flow out to others, now that self is parted with. 
 No command becomes more blessed or more natural 
 than this : * We ouffht not to please ourselves, for even 
 Chi-ist pleased not Himself,* * If any man come 
 after me, let him deny himself, and follow me.' 
 
 Beloved Lord, I thank Thee for this new call to 
 follow Thee, and not to please myself, even as Thou 
 didst not please Thyself. I thank Thee that I 
 have now no longer, as once, to hear it with fear. 
 Thy commandments are no longer grievous to me ; 
 Thy yoke is easy, and Thy burden light. What I 
 see in Thy life on earth as my example, is the 
 certain pledge of what 1 receive from Thy life in 
 heaven. I did not always so understand it. Long 
 after I had known Thee, I dared not think of self- 
 d(^nial. But for him who has learned what it is to 
 take up the cioss, to be crucified with Thee, and to 
 see the old man nailed to the cross, it is no longer 
 terrible to deny it. Oh, my Lord ! who would not 
 be ashamed to be the friend of a crucified and 
 accursed criminal ? Since I have learned that Thou 
 art my life, and that Thou dost wholly take charge 
 of the life that is wholly entrusted to Thee, to work 
 both to will and to do, I do not fear but Thou wilt 
 «4ive mc the love and wisdom in the path of self- 
 denial joyfully to follow Thy footsteps. Blessed 
 Lord, Thy disciples are not worthy of this grace ; 
 but since Thou hast chosen us to it, we will gladly 
 seek not to please ourselves, but every one his 
 neighbour, as Thou hast taught us. And may Thy 
 Holy Spirit work it in us mightily. Amen. 
 
 It 
 
 1 
 
 
 \\i 
 
 \ 
 
 ..«if 
 
62 
 
 LIKE CHRIST: 
 
 Eighth Day. 
 
 LIKE CHRIST: 
 
 *WaIk in love, even as Christ also hath loved us, and hath 
 given Himselt^^ for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a 
 sweet-smelling savour.* — Eph. v. 2. 
 
 * Hereby perceive we the love of God, because He laid down 
 His life for us: &nd we ought to lay down our lives for the 
 brethren.'— 1 John Hi. 16. 
 
 ' II 
 
 WHAT is the connection between self-sacrifice 
 and self-denial ? The former is the root 
 from which the latter springs. In self-denial, self- 
 sacrifice is tested, and thus strengthened and pre- 
 pared each time again to renew its entire surrender. 
 Thus it was with the Lord Jesus. His incarnation 
 was a self-sacrifice ; His life of self-denial was the 
 proof of it ; through this, again, He was prepared 
 for the great act of self-sacrifice in His death on the 
 cross. . Thus it is with the Christian. His conver- 
 sion is to a certain extent the sacrifice of self, 
 though but a very partial one, owing to ignorance 
 and weakness. From that first act of self-surrender 
 arises the obligation to the exercise of daily self- 
 denial. 'The Christian's efforts to do so show him 
 his weakness, and prepare him for that new and 
 
IN HIS SELF-SACRIFICE. 
 
 M 
 
 more entire self-sacrifice in which he first finds 
 strength for more continuous self-denial. 
 
 Self-sacrifice is of the very essence of true love. 
 The very nature and blessedness of love consist in 
 forgetting self, and seeking its happiness in the 
 loved one. Where in the beloved there is a want 
 or need, love is impelled by its very nature to offer 
 up its own happiness for that of the other, to unite 
 itself to the beloved one, and at any sacrifice to 
 make him the sharer of its own blessedness. 
 
 AMio can say whether this is not one of the 
 secrets which eternity will reveal, that sin was per- 
 mitted because otherwise God's love could never 
 80 fully have been revealed ? The highest glory of 
 God's love was manifested in the self-sacrifice of 
 Christ. It is the highest glory of the Christian to 
 be like his Lord in this. Without entire self- 
 sacrifice the new command, the command of love, 
 cannot be fulfilled. Without entire self-sacrifice 
 we cannot love as Jesus loved. * Be ye imitators 
 of God,' says the apostle, 'and walk in love, 
 even as Christ hath loved us, and given Him- 
 self a sacrifice for us.' Let all your walk and 
 conversation be, according to Christ's example, in 
 love. It was this love that made His sacrifice 
 acceptable in God's sight, a sweet-smelling savour. 
 As His love exhibited itself in self-sacrifice, let 
 your love prove itself to be conformable to His in 
 the daily self-sacrifice for the welfare of others, so 
 will it also be acceptable in the sight of God. ' We 
 ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.* 
 
 m.n 
 
 M 
 
 
 i ' I 
 
 •'i 
 
 ■1 i 
 
 
 S 
 
T 
 
 64 
 
 UKE CHRIST: 
 
 I jj 
 
 Down even into the daily aflairs of home life, in 
 the intercourse between husband and wife, in the 
 relation of master and servant, Clurist's self-sacrifice 
 must be the rule of our walk. 'Likewise, ye 
 husbands, love your wives, even as Christ loved the 
 Church, and gave Himself for it.' 
 
 And mark specially the words, ' Hath given 
 Himself for us an ofTering to God.' We see that 
 self-sacrifice has here two sides. Christ's self- 
 sacrifice had a Godward as well as a manward 
 aspect. It was for us, but it was to God that He 
 ofl'ered Himself as a sacrifice. In all our self- 
 sacrifice there must be these two sides in union, 
 though now the one and then again the other may 
 be more prominent. 
 
 It is only when we sacrifice ourselves to God 
 that there will be the power for an entire self- 
 sacrifice. The Holy Spirit reveals to the believer i 
 the right of God's claim on us, how we are not our 
 own, but His. The realization of how absolutely] 
 we are God's property, bought and paid for witli 
 blood, of how we are loved with such a wonderful 
 love, and of what blessedness there is in the full| 
 surrender to Him, leads the believer to yield him- 
 self a whole burnt- offering. He lays himself on thf' 
 altar of consecration, and finds it his highest 
 be a sweet-smelling savour to his God, God-* ^leci 
 and God-accepted. And then it becomes hio first 
 and most earnest desire to know how God would havt 
 him show this entire self-sacrifice in life and walk. 
 
 God points him to Christ's example. He was t\ 
 
 • ' I 
 
IN HIS SKLF-SACRIFICE. 
 
 65 
 
 sweet -smelling savour to God when He gave Him- 
 self a sacrifice for us. For every Christian who 
 <,'ives himself entirely to His service, God has the 
 siune honour as He had for His Son, He uses him 
 as an instrument of blessing to others. Therefore 
 John says, ' He who loveth not his brother whom 
 he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath 
 not seen ? ' The self-sacrifice in which you have 
 devoted yourself to God's service, binds you also to 
 serve your fellow-men ; the same act which makes 
 you entirely God's, makes you entirely theirs.^ 
 
 It is just this surrender to God that gives the 
 
 power for self-sacrifice towards others, and even 
 
 iiiiik(!s it a joy. "When faith has first appropriated 
 
 the promise, ' Inasmuch as ye have done it to the 
 
 least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto 
 
 me,' I understand the glorious harmony between 
 
 sacrifice to God and sacrifice for men. My inter- 
 
 I course with my fellow-men, instead of being, as 
 
 I many complain, a hindrance to unbroken communion 
 
 Iwith God, becomes an opportunity of ofiering myself 
 
 [unceasingly to Him. 
 
 Blessed calling ! to walk in love even as Christ 
 '"v<(i us, and gave Himself for us a sacrifice and 
 iwt L't-smelling savour to God. Only thus can the 
 Jhii'^^h fulfil its destiny, and prove to the world 
 thai she is set apart to continue Christ's work of 
 self-sacrificing love, and fill up that which remaineth 
 )eliind of the afflictions of Christ. 
 
 But does God really expect us to deny ourselves 
 
 * See note. 
 £ 
 
 i f 
 
 1 ;• ■ 
 , 1 
 
 ■:■ !r 
 
 ■i 
 
 HI 
 
' 
 
 ■mi 
 
 i!j I 
 
 ■m: >' 
 
 Ill l!H 
 I { lii 
 
 iii 'H 
 
 I l!^^ 
 
 li > 
 
 Mr 
 
 iiii 
 
 in; 
 
 ee 
 
 LIKE CHRIST : 
 
 SO entirely for others ? Is it not asking too much ? 
 Can any cue really sacrifice himself so entirely ? 
 Christian ! God does expect it. Nothing less than 
 this is the conformity to the image of His Son, toi 
 which He predestinated you from eternity. This is \ 
 the path by which Jesus entered into His glory and ' 
 blessedness, and by no other way can the disciple | 
 enter into the joy of His Lord. It is in very deed^ 
 our calling to become exactly like Jesiis in His love and 
 self-sacrifice. * Walk in love, even as Christ loved.* 
 It is a great thing when a believer sees and 
 acknowledges this. That God's people and evens 
 God's servants understand it so little, is one great | 
 cause of the impotence of the Church. In thisl 
 matter the Church indeed needs a second reforma-j 
 tion. In the great Keformation three centuries j 
 ago, the power of Christ's atoning death and right- 
 eoubiiess were brought to light, to the great comfort] 
 and joy of anxious souls. But we need a second! 
 reformation to lift on high the banner of Christ's 
 example as our law, to re:'x)re the truth of thel 
 power of Christ's resurrection as it makes us par[ 
 takers of the life and the likeness of our LordI 
 Christian? must not only believe in the full unioil 
 with their Sure!,/ for their reconciliation, but witl| 
 their Head as their example and their life. The^^ 
 must really represent Christ upon earth, and /el 
 men see in the members how the Head lived wheii 
 He was in the flesh. Let us earnestly pray thai 
 God's children everywhere may be taught to setj 
 their holy calling. 
 
IN HIS SELF-SACRIFICE, 
 
 67 
 
 And all ye who already long after it, oh, fear not 
 
 to yield yourselves to God in the great act of a 
 
 Christ-like self-sacrifice ! In conversion you gave 
 
 yourself to God. In many an act of self-surrender 
 
 since then you have again given yourselves to Him. 
 
 But experience has taught you how much is still 
 
 wanting. Perhaps you never kr^ew how entire the 
 
 self-sacrifice must be and could be. Come now 
 
 and see in Christ your example, and in His sacrifice 
 
 of Himself on the cross, what your Father expects of 
 
 \you. Come now and see in Christ — for He is your 
 
 'head and life — what He will enable you to he and 
 
 do. Belie\e in Him, that what He accomplished 
 
 ton earth in His life and death as your example, He 
 
 will now accomplish in you from heaven. Offer 
 
 yourself to the Father in Christ, with the desire to 
 
 be, as entirely and completely as He, an offering 
 
 md a sacrifice unto God, given up to God for men, 
 
 )xpect Christ to work this in you and to maintain 
 
 [it. Let your relation to God be clear and distinct ; 
 
 [you, like Christ, wholly given up to Him. Then it 
 
 jwill no longer be impossible to walk in love as 
 
 Christ loved us. Then all your intercou'^se with 
 
 [the brethren and with the world will be the most 
 
 [glorious opportunity of proving before God how 
 
 completely you have given yourself to Him, an 
 
 [ottering and a sacrifice for a sweet-smelling savour. 
 
 my God, who am I that Thou shouldest have 
 chosen me to be conformed to the image of Thy 
 [Son in His self-sacrificing love? In this is His 
 
 "'1 
 
 i ' '1 
 
 1 ! 
 
 ill.-' 'I 
 
 ' I I 
 
 y<\ 
 
1 I : 
 
 III 
 
 m 
 
 I J 
 
 f'\ 
 
 mm, 
 
 Ml 
 
 iilll! 
 
 I (H'l:i! 
 
 ii! 
 
 68 
 
 LIKE CHRIST : 
 
 divine perfection and glory, that He loved not His 
 own life, but freely offered it for us to Thee in 
 death. And in this I may be like Him ; in a walk 
 in love I may prove that I too have ofifered myself 
 wholly to God. 
 
 my Father, Thy purpose is mine ; at this 
 solemn moment I afifirm anew my consecration to 
 Thee. Not in my own strength, but in the strength 
 of Him who gave Himself for me. Because Christ, 
 my example, is also my life, I venture to say it : 
 Father, in Christ, like Christ, I yield myself a 
 sacrifice to Thee for men. 
 
 Fatlier, teach me how Thou wouldest use me to 
 manifest Thy love to the world. Thou wilt do it 
 by filling me full of Thy love. Father, do it, that 
 I may walk in love, even as Christ loved us. May 
 I live every day as one who has the power of Thy 
 Holy Spirit to enable me to love every one with 
 whom I come into contact, under every possible 
 viircumstance, to love with a love which is not of 
 me, but of Thyself. Amen. 
 
 NOTE. 
 
 One of the most earnest and successful labourers in the 
 work of saving the lost writes as follows : ' If I had 
 not been led to a clearer and fuller experience of what 
 salvation is, I never could have gone through the work 
 of the Last few years. But, at the same time, one thing 
 has continually been becoming clearer, that we cannot 
 speak of unbroken fellowship with our Lord unless we 
 give up ourselves, and that without ceasingt to a world 
 
IN HIS SELF-SACRIFICE. 
 
 69 
 
 ! ?! 
 |l_lLi 
 
 lying \u the wicked one, to save in the strength of our 
 Lord wliat He gives us to save. A consecration to the 
 Lord without a consecration to our neighbour becometi an 
 ilhision or leads to fanaticism. It is this giving up of 
 ourselves to the world to be its light and salt, to love it 
 even when it hates us, that constitutes for all really con- 
 secrated souls the true battle of life. To -find in labour 
 our rest, and in fighting the sin around us in the power 
 of Jesus our highest joy, to rejoice more in the ha[)piness 
 of others than our own, and so not to seek anything for 
 ourselves, but everything for others, this, this is our 
 holy calling.' 
 
 May God help us not only to admire such thoughts, 
 but at once to join the litile bands amor^ His children 
 who are really giving up everything, and making their 
 life-work the winning of souls fur JesuH. 
 
 t I 
 
70 
 
 LIKE CHRIST: 
 
 Ninth Day. 
 
 li 
 
 I ' 
 
 - .i;l 
 
 ML 
 
 1! 
 
 LIKE CHRIST: 
 Not OC t\)t MQXlti. 
 
 'These are in the world.' 'The world hath hated them, 
 because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the 
 world/ * They are not of the world, even as I am not of the 
 world.* — Joim xvii, 11, 14, 16. 
 
 ' Even as He is, so are we in this world.* — 1 John iv. 17. 
 
 IF Jesus was not of the world, why was He in 
 the world ? If there was no sympathy between 
 Him and the world, why was it that He lived in it, 
 and did not remain in that high and holy and 
 blessed world to which He belonged ? The answer 
 is, The Father had sent Him into the world. In 
 these two expressions, * In the world,' * Not of the 
 world,' we find the whole secret of His work as 
 Saviour, of His glory as the God-man. 
 
 ' l7i the world ; ' in human nature, because God 
 would show that this nature belonged to Him, and j 
 not to the god of tliis world, that it was most fit tc 
 receive the divine life, and in this divine life tc| 
 reach its highest glory. 
 
 * In tJie world ; ' in fellowship with men, to enter! 
 into loving relationship with them, to be seen and! 
 
 II! 
 
NOT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 71 
 
 hated them, 
 m not of the 
 m not of the 
 
 s iv. 17. 
 
 was He in 
 hy between 
 lived in it, 
 [ holy and 
 riie answer 
 world. In 
 Not of the 
 is work as 
 
 3cause God 
 o Him, and 
 most fit to I 
 nne life to 
 
 en, to enter! 
 )e seen and! 
 
 known of them, and thus to win them back to the 
 Father. 
 
 ' In the world ; * in the struggle with the powers 
 which rule the world, to learn obedience, and so to 
 perfect and sanctify human nature. 
 
 * Not of the world! but of heaven, to manifest and 
 bring nigh the life that is in God, and which man 
 had lost, that men might see and long for it. 
 
 'Not of the world;* witnessing against its sin 
 and departure from God, its impotence to know and 
 please God. 
 
 ' Not of the world ; ' founding a kingdom entirely 
 
 [heavenly in origin and nature, entirely independent 
 
 I of all that the world holds desirable or necessary, 
 
 with principles and laws the very opposite of those 
 
 [that rule in the world. 
 
 ' Not of the ivorld ; ' in order to redeem all who 
 [belong to Him, and bring them into that new and 
 [heavenly kingdom which He had revealed. 
 
 * In the world,' ' Not of the world.' In these two 
 expressions we have revealed to us the great 
 mystery of the person and work of the Saviour. 
 'Not of the world,' in the power of His divine 
 j holiness judging and overcoming it; still in the 
 
 world, and through His humanity and love seeking 
 [and saving all that can be saved. The most entire 
 [separation from the world, with the closest fellow- 
 iship with those in the world ; these two extremes 
 
 meet in Jesus, in His own person He has recon- 
 icilod them. And it is the calling of the Christian 
 
 in his life to prove that these two dispositions, 
 
 luM 
 

 II 
 
 {i 
 
 ■I 
 
 I! 
 
 
 mm 
 
 
 i i: 
 
 .1; !ii!; 
 
 I ! 
 
 
 til 
 
 nil! 
 
 72 
 
 LIKE CHRIST : 
 
 however much they may seem at variance, can in 
 our life too be united in perfect harmony. In each 
 believer there must be seen a heavenly life shining 
 out through earthly forms. 
 
 To take one of these two truths and exclusively 
 cultivate it, is not so difficult. So you have those 
 who have taken ' Not of the world ' as their motto. 
 From the earliest ages, when people thought they 
 must fly to cloisters and deserts to serve God, to 
 our own days, when some seek to sliow the earnest- 
 ness of their piety by severity in judging all that is 
 in the world, there have been those who counted 
 this the only true religion. There was separation 
 from sin, but then there was also no fellowship 
 with sinners. The sinner could not feel that he 
 was surrounded with the atmosphere of a tender 
 heavenly love. It was a one-sided and therefore a 
 defective religion. 
 
 Then there are those who, on the other side, lay 
 stress on ' Ij the world,' and very specially appeal 
 to the words of the apostle, Tor then must ye 
 needs go out of the world.' They think that, by 
 showing that religion does not make us unfriendl} 
 or unfit to enjoy all that there is to enjoy, thev 
 will ind\ice the world to serve God, It has often 
 happened that they have indeed succeeded in 
 making the world very religious, but at too high a 
 price; — religion became very worldly. 
 
 The true follower of Jesus must combine botl 
 If he does not clearly show that he is not of the 
 world, and prove the greater blessedness of a 
 
NOT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 7a 
 
 1 : 
 
 lic.ivenly life, how will he convince the world of 
 sin, or prove to her that there is a higher life, or 
 teach her to desire what she does not yet possess ? 
 Earnestness, and holiness, and separation from the 
 spirit of the world must characterize him. His 
 lieavenly spirit must manifest that he belongs to 
 a kingdom not of this world. An unworldly, an 
 other-worldl} , a heavenly spirit must breathe in 
 him. 
 
 And still he must live as one who is 'in the 
 world.' Expressly placed here of God, among those 
 who are of the world, to win their hearts, to 
 acquire influence over them, and to communicate to 
 them of the Spirit which is in him, it must be the 
 great study of his life how he can fulfil this his 
 mission. Not, as the wisdom of the world would 
 teach, by yielding, and complying, and softening 
 down the solemn realities of religion, will he 
 succeed. No, but only by walking in the footsteps 
 of Him who alone can teach how to be in the world 
 and yet not of it. Only by a life of serving and 
 suffering love, in which the Christian distinctly 
 confesses that the glory of God is the aim of his 
 existence, and in which, full of the Holy Spirit, he 
 brings men into direct contact with the warmth 
 and love of the heavenly life, can he be a blessing 
 to the world. 
 
 Oh, who will teach us the heavenly secret, of 
 uniting every day in our lives what is so difficult 
 to unite, — to be in the world, and not of the world ? 
 He can do it who has said : * They are not of the 
 
 
 ! I 
 
 
I : I 
 
 nil 
 
 nil I ' . ■ 
 
 i! 
 
 ! 
 
 ! I: 
 
 nlili.-, 
 
 Jil!!!': 
 
 „;i!iiilil 
 
 ijii ij: ;!;;J 
 
 mm 
 
 ri[|!:|illiili I il 
 
 74 
 
 LIKE CHRIST : 
 
 world, EVEN AS I am not of the world.' That 
 ' EVEN AS ' has a deeper meaning and power than 
 we know. If we suffer the Holy Spirit to unfold 
 that word to us, we shall understand what it is to 
 be in the world as He was in the world. That 
 ' EVEN A3 ' has its root and strength in a life union. 
 In it we shall discover the divine secret, that the 
 more entirely one is not of the world, the more fit he 
 is to be in the world. The freer the Church is of 
 the spirit and principles of the world, the more 
 influence she will exert in it. 
 
 The life of the world is self-pleasing and self- 
 exaltation The life of heaven is holy, self-denying 
 love. The weakness of the life of many Christians 
 who seek to separate themselves from the world, is 
 that they have too much of the spirit of the world. 
 They seek their own happiness and perfection more 
 than ought else. Jesus Christ was not of the 
 world, and had nothing of its spirit ; this is why j 
 He could love sinners, could win them and save 
 them. The believer is as little of the world as 
 Christ. The Lord says: 'Not of the world, even 
 AS I am not of the world.' In his new nature hel 
 is born from heaven, has the life and love of heavarl 
 in him ; his supernatural heavenly life gives hin:l 
 power to be in the world without being of it. Th(l 
 disciple who believes fully in the Christ-likeness oil 
 his inner life, will experience the truth of it Hef 
 cultivates and gives utterance to the assurance 
 'Even as Christ, so am I not of the world, because! 
 I am in Christ.' He understands that alone ill 
 
NOT OF THE WORLD. 
 
 75 
 
 close union with Christ can his separation from the 
 world be maintained ; in as far as Christ lives in 
 him can he lead a heavenly life. He sees that the 
 only way to answer to his calling is, on the one 
 side, as crucified to the world to withdraw himself 
 from its power ; and, on the other, as living in Christ 
 to go into it and bless it. He lives in heaven and 
 walks on earth. 
 
 Christians ! see here the true imitation of Jesus 
 Christ. 'Wherefore come out from among them, 
 and be ye separate, saith tlie Lord.' Then the 
 promise is fulfilled, ' I will dwell in them and walk 
 
 I in them.' Then Christ sends you, as the Father 
 sent Him, to be in the world as the place ordained 
 
 [of your Father to glorify Him, and to make known 
 His love. Not so much in the desire to leave earth 
 
 [for heaven, as in the willingness to live the life of 
 
 [heaven here on earth, does a truly unworldly, a 
 
 [heavenly spirit, manifest itself. 
 
 * Not of the world ' is not only separation from 
 
 jand testimony against the world, but is the living 
 manifestation of the spirit, and the love, and the 
 )ower of the other world, of the heaven to which 
 we belong, in its divine work of making this world 
 3artaker of its blessedness. 
 
 ■, if 
 fj>. 
 
 1 t 
 
 1 1 
 
 
 i 
 
 ! ! 'fl 
 
 Thou great High Priest ! who in Thy high- 
 )riestly power didst pray for us to the Father, as 
 piose who, no more than Thyself, belong to the world, 
 ind still must remain in it, let Thy all-prevailing 
 ntercessiop »ow be effectual in our behalf. 
 
 ' i' 
 
■"i!;!l 
 
 IB 
 
 "Mil! I 
 
 inliilijlilil 
 
 76 
 
 LIKE CHRIST : 
 
 The world has still entrance to our hearts, iu| 
 selfish spirit is still too much within us. Throiii,')i 
 unbelief the new nature has not always full power | 
 Lord, we beseech of Tliee, as fruit of Thy all 
 powerful intercession, let that word be fully realized I 
 in us: 'Not of the world, evkn as I am not of the 
 world.' In our likeness to Thee is our only power] 
 against the world. 
 
 Lord, we can only be like Thee when we are one! 
 with Thee. We can only walk like Thee when we 
 abide in Thee. Blessed Lord, we surrender our[ 
 selves to abide in Thee alone. A life entirely given 
 to Thee Thou dost take entire possession of. Let 
 Thy Holy Spirit, who dwells in us, unite us sol 
 closely with Thyself that we may always live as not! 
 of the world. And let Thy Spirit so make known tol 
 us Thy work in the world, that it may be our joy inl 
 deep humility and fervent love to exhibit to alll 
 what a blessed life there is in the world for thosel 
 who are not of the world. May the proof that wl 
 are not of the world be the tenderness and fervenrjj 
 with which, like Thee, we sacrifice ourselves toij 
 those who are in the world. Amen. 
 
 !l 
 
IN HIS U£AV£NLY MISSION. 
 
 77 
 
 Tenth Day. 
 
 <• f til 
 
 fl 
 
 if 
 
 t 1 
 
 In 
 
 LIKE CHRIST: 
 
 'Af Thou hMt sent me into the world, even so have I also 
 [sent them into the world.* — John xvii. 18. 
 
 ' As my Father hath sent me, even so send I yon.* — John xx. 21 . 
 
 rpHE Lord Jesus lived here on earth under a 
 
 -L deep consciousness of having a mission 
 
 jfrom His Father to fulfil. He continually used 
 
 tiie expression, ' The Father liath sent me.' ^ He 
 
 knew what this mission was. He knew the Father 
 
 [had chosen Him, and sent Him into the world with 
 
 ilie one ])urpose of fulfilling that mission, and He 
 
 Ik new the Father would give Him all that He 
 
 [nr'<'(Ie(l for it. Faith in the Father having sent 
 
 I Him was the motive and power for all that He did. 
 
 In earthly things it is a great help if an 
 
 Innibassador knows clearly what his mission is; 
 
 It hat he lias nothing to do but to care for its 
 
 laceoinplisluuent ; and that he has given himself 
 
 |un(lividedly to do this one thing. For the 
 
 ^ It will repay the trouble to coniiiare carefully the following 
 
 iissa-es : John v. 24, 30, 37, 38, vi. 38, 39, 40, 44, vii. 16, 28, 
 
 2!t. .'}3, viii. 16. 18, 26, 29, 42, ix. 4, xi. 42, xii. 44, 45, 49, 
 
 fiii. 20, xiv. 24, xv. 21, xvi. 25, xvii. 8, 18, 21, 23, 25, 
 
 (X. 21, Chii«t waiittMl lueu to know that He did not act indepeu- 
 
 ^leiitly, but on behalf of Another who had sent Him. The 
 
 iiiM iousness of a niiiiaion never lefc Him for a moment. 
 
 ! 1!:l 
 
 
ITf' 
 
 I 
 
 f>m 
 
 ^§ 
 
 i in 
 
 HL:: 
 
 78 
 
 LIKE CUfilST : 
 
 Christian it is of no less consequence that 
 should know that he has a mission, what its natu; 
 is, and how he is to accomplish it. 
 
 Our heavenly mission is one of the most glorid 
 parts of our conformity to our Lord. He sa^ 
 it plainly in the most solemn moments of 
 life ; ' that even as the Father sent Him/ so 
 sends His disciples. He says it to the Father 
 His high - priestly prayer, as the ground up 
 which He adks for their keeping and sanctificatioi| 
 He says it to the disciples after His resurrectio!i| 
 as the ground on which they are to receive 
 Holy Spirit. Nothing will help us more to kno 
 and fulfil our mission than to realize how perfecllj 
 it corresponds to the mission of Christ, how thej 
 are, in fact, identical. 
 
 Our mission is like His in its object. Why d^ 
 the Father send His Son ? To make known El'^ 
 love and His will in the salvation of sinners. H 
 was to do this, not alone by word and precept, M 
 in His own person, disposition, and conduct 
 exhibit the Father's holy love. He was so 
 represent the unseen Father in heaven, that mfj 
 on earth might know what like the Father was. 
 
 After the Lord had fulfilled His mission 
 ascended into heaven, and became to the woi 
 like the Father, the Unseen One. And now He h 
 made over His mission to His disciples, after ha> 
 shown them how to fulfil it. They must 
 represent Him, the Invisible One, that from seei 
 them men can judge what He is. Every Christi 
 
IN HIS HEAVENLY MISSION. 
 
 70 
 
 3f sinners. 1! 
 
 bst 80 be the image of Jesus — must so exhibit in 
 bs person and conduct the same love to sinners, 
 id desire for their salvation, as animated Christ, 
 lat from them the world may know what like 
 jrist is. Oh, my soul ! take time to realize these 
 »avenly thoughts : Our mission is like Christ's in 
 object, the showing forth of the holy love of 
 javen in earthly form. 
 
 Like Christ's in Us origin too. It was the 
 itlier's love that chose Christ for this work, and 
 )unted Him worthy of such honour and trust. 
 ^ii also are chosen by Christ for this work. 
 |very redeemed one knows that it was not he who 
 )ug]it the Lord, but the Ix)rd who sought and 
 lose him. lu that seeking and drawing the Lord 
 id expressely this heavenly mission in view. * Ye 
 ive not chosen me, but I have chosen you and 
 lained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit.* 
 Believer ! whoever thou art, and wherever thou 
 idlest, the Lord, who knows thee and thy sur- 
 )undings, has need of thee, and has chosen thee 
 be His representative in the circle in which 
 lou movest. Fix thy heart on this. He has 
 led His heart on thee and saved thee, in order 
 lat thou shouldest bear and exhibit to those who 
 irround thee. the very image of His unseen glory, 
 ^h, think of this origin of thy heavenly mission in 
 [is everlasting love, as His had its origin in the 
 }\e of the Father. Thy mission is in very truth 
 list like His. 
 Like it, too, in the fitting for it. Every 
 
 :\ i:: 
 
 ! 1- 
 
 M. 
 
 i 5; I 
 
 i{\': 
 
80 
 
 LIKE CHEIST : 
 
 i>i /J 
 
 1 
 
 I 
 i 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 ;n 
 
 Hii^: 
 
 III 
 
 ambassador expects to be supplied with all that he 
 needs for his embassy. * He y:lio hath sent me is 
 with me. The Father hath not left me alone ; ' 
 thcit word tells us how, when the Father sent the 
 Son, He was always with Him, His strength and 
 comfort. Even so the Church of Christ in her 
 mission : * Go ye and teach all nations,' has the 
 promise : ' Lo, I am with you alway.' The Christian 
 need never hold back because of unfitness. Tlie 
 Lord does not demand anything which He does not 
 give the power to perform. Every believer may 
 depend on it, that as the Father gave His Holy 
 Spirit to the Son to fit Him for His work, so tlie 
 Lord Jesus will give His people too all the prepara- 
 tion they need. The grace to show forth Christ 
 evermore, to exhibit the lovely light of His example 
 and likeness, and like Christ Himself to be a 
 Fountain of love and life and blessing to all around, 
 is given to every one who only heartily and believ- 
 ingly takes up his heavenly calling. In this too, 
 that the sender cares for all that is needful for the 
 sent ones, is our mission like His. 
 
 And like also in the consecraimi which it demands. 
 The Lord Jesus gave Himself entirely and uii- 
 dividedly over to accomplish His work ; He lived 
 for it alone. ' I must work the work of Him that 
 sent me while it is day ; the night cometh when 
 no man can work.' The Father's mission was the 
 only reason of His being on earth ; for that alone 
 He would live ; to reveal to mankind what a 
 glorious blessed God the Father in heaven was. 
 
IN HIS HEAVENLY MISSION. 
 
 ^1 
 
 As with JesuSj so with us. Christ's mission is the 
 only reason for our being on earth ; were it not lor 
 tliat, He would take us away. Most believers 
 do not believe this. To fulfil Christ's mission is 
 with them at best something to be done along with 
 (itlier ti.ings, for which it is difficult to find time 
 and str(3ngth. And yet it is so certainly true : to 
 accomplish Christ's mission is the only reason of 
 my being upon earth. Then first when I believe 
 this, and like my Lord in His mission consecrate 
 myself undividedly to it, shall I indeed live well- 
 jileasing to Him. This heavenly mission is so 
 great and glorious, that without an entire consecra- 
 tion to it we cannot accomplish it. Without this, 
 the powers which fit us for it cannot take posses- 
 sion of us. V/ibhout this, we have no liberty to 
 exjiect the Lord's wonderful help and the fulfilment 
 of all His blessed promises. Just as with Jesus, 
 our heavenly mission demands nothing less than 
 entire consecration. Am I prepared for this ? 
 Then I have indeed the key through which the 
 holy hidden glories of this word of Jesus will be 
 revealed to my experience : ' As the Father sent me, 
 I even so send I you.' 
 
 brothers ! this heavenly mission is indeed worthy 
 that we devote ourselves entirely to it as the only 
 thing we live for. 
 
 Lord Jesus ! Thou didst descend from heaven 
 
 to earth to show us what the life of heaven is. 
 
 [Thou couldst do this because thou wert of heaven. 
 
 Thou didst bring with Thee the image and Spirit 
 
 1: = ' 
 
82 
 
 LIKE CHlilST 
 
 
 tl 
 
 of the heavenly life to earth. Therefore didst Thoi; 
 so gloriously exhibit what constitutes the very glon 
 of heaven : the will and love of the unseen Father, 
 
 Lord ! Thou art now the Invisible One in heaven 
 and sendest us to represent Thee in Thy heavenly 
 glory as Saviour. Thou dost ask that we should .s 
 love men that from us they may form some idea oi 
 how Thou lovest them in heaven. 
 
 Blessed Lord ! our heart cries out : How canst 
 Thou send us with such a calling? How c-^n-: 
 Thou expect it of us who have so little love ? How 
 can wc, w}.o are of the ea.tl, eartliy.show what ll,<H 
 life Of heaven is ? f^m 
 
 Irecious Saviour ! our souls do bless Thee tlia; 
 we know that Tliou dost not demand more tliiii 
 Thou givest. Tliou who art Thyself the Life k 
 heaven, Thou livest Thyself in Thy disciples. 
 P)lessed be Thy holy name, they have from Tlieej 
 Thy Holy Spirit from heaven as their life-breatkl 
 He is the heavenly life of the soul: whoevej 
 surrenders himself to the leading of the Spirit cai 
 fulfil h'*'^ mission. In the joy and power of tlifl 
 Holy Spirit we can be Thy image-bearers, can sho»| 
 to men in some measure what Thy likeness is. 
 
 Lord, teach me and all Thy people to underl 
 stand tliat we are not of tlie world, as Tlioiil 
 wert not of the world, and therefore are sen! 
 of Thee, even as Thou wert sent of the Fatliei] 
 to prove in our life that v;e are of that world, fiil 
 of love, and purity, and blessing, of which The 
 wert. Auien. 
 
 II 
 
 w 
 tl 
 
 11 
 
 I'< 
 jG 
 
 L 
 
 of 
 
 iitf 
 
 ar 
 
 hi 
 id.' 
 
 il 
 
 ek 
 
 M I III 
 
h\: 
 
 ; didst ThoD 
 e very gloiy 
 een Father, 
 le in he.aven, I 
 hy heavenly 
 kve should so 
 some idea of 
 
 : How canst 
 
 How ci>"^ 
 
 love ? How 
 
 low what tilt 
 
 ■■'■■:.-' I 
 
 3S Thee tliat 
 d more than 
 
 the Life o; 
 hy disciplcj 
 e from TIkv 
 r life-breatl 
 ul : whoevev 
 le Spirit ca[| 
 30wer of tilt 
 ers, can shu«j 
 sness is. 
 )le to under] 
 rid, as Tli( 
 (3re are senil 
 ■ the Fatlifll 
 lat world, fill 
 
 which ThKl 
 
 v li 
 
 '! I 
 
 AS THE ELECT Oi^' GOD. 
 
 .?■»./: 
 
 Eleventh Day. 
 
 83 
 
 lA 
 
 >i-- 
 
 ■^■% 
 
 I' V 
 
 • LIKE CHRIST: 
 
 ^S tlje !£lfct of CKotJ* 
 
 
 'Predc-iinated to be conformed to the image of His Son, that 
 He might be the firstborn among many brethren.'— Rom. viii. 29. 
 
 S^ I! [[TURK teaches us a personal election. It 
 .iocs this not only in single passages; its 
 whole history of the working out here in time of 
 the counsels of eternity proves it. We see continu- 
 ally how the whole future of God's kingdom depends 
 upon the faithful filling of His place by some single 
 person ; the only security for the carrying out of 
 (Jod's purpose is His foreordaining of the individual. 
 [In predestination alone the history of the world and 
 [of (Jod's kingdom, as of the individual believer, has 
 [its sure foundation. , j 
 
 There a:e Christians who cannot see this. They 
 
 [are so afraid of interfering with human responsi- 
 
 Ibility, that they reject the doctrine of divine pre- 
 
 [.dtistination, because it appears to rob man of his 
 
 lilicrty of will and action. Scripture does not share 
 
 [his fear. It speaks in one place of man's free will 
 
 IS though there were no election, in another of 
 
 [election as though there were no free will. Thus 
 
! i '4'i\\ '■ 
 
 ,;; 
 
 I !V 
 
 84 
 
 LIKE CHRIST : 
 
 iiiiii 
 
 ! I 
 
 1 ^ 
 
 
 
 M 
 
 1 ■ . - 
 
 i ' 
 
 
 r, 
 
 li 
 
 i 
 
 i ■; 
 
 i 
 
 t 
 
 !;l 
 
 i 
 
 
 it teaches us that we must hold fast both these 
 truths alongside each other, even when we cannot 
 understand them, or make them perfectly to har- 
 monize. In the light of eternity the solution of 
 the mystery will be given. He who grasps botli in 
 faith will speedily experience how little tliey are in 
 conflict. He will see that the stronger his faith is 
 in God's everlasting purpose, the more his courage 
 for work will be strengthened ; while, on the other 
 side, the more he works and is blessed, the clearer 
 it will become that all is of God. 
 
 For this reason it is of so much consequence for 
 a believer to make his election sure. Tlie Scriptures 
 give the assurance that if we do this, ' we shall 
 never stumble' (It. V.). The more I believe notj 
 only in general that I am elected of God, but see 
 how this election has reference to every part of mj 
 calling, the more shall I be strengthened in thn 
 conviction that God Himself will perfect His work 
 in me, and that therefore it is possible for me to| 
 be all that God really expects. With every duty 
 Scripture lays upon me, with every promise fori 
 whose fulfilment I long, I will go to find in Gods| 
 purposes tlie firm footing upon which my expecta- 
 tions may rest, and the true measure by which thevj 
 are to be guided. I shall understand that my life 
 on earth is to be a copy of the heavenly Mfe-plan 
 that the Father has drawn out, of what I am m 
 bo on earth. Christian ! make your calling anfij 
 election sure ; let it become clear to you that yoi;! 
 are elected, and to what ; ' If ye do these thinp:! 
 
AS THE ELECT OF GOD. 
 
 85 
 
 => 1 
 
 * 
 
 ye shall never stumble.* Quiet communion with 
 God on the ground of His unchangeable purpose 
 imparts to the soul an immoveable firmness that 
 keeps from stumbling. 
 
 One of the most blessed expressions in regard to 
 God's purpose concerning us in Christ is this word : 
 ' I*redestiiiated to be conformed to the image of His 
 Sou.' The man Christ Jesus is the elect of God ; 
 ill Him election has its beginning and ending. * In 
 Him we are chosen ; ' for the sake of our union 
 witli Him and to His glory our election took place. 
 Tlie believer who seeks in election merely the 
 certainty of his own salvation, or relief from fear 
 and doubt, knows very little of its real glory. The 
 purposes of election embrace all the riches that are 
 prepared for us in Christ, and reach to every 
 moment and every need of our lives. * Chosen in 
 Him that we should be holy and blameless before 
 Him in love,' it is only when the connection between 
 election and sanctification is rightly apprehended in 
 the Church that the doctrine of election will bring 
 its full blessing (2 Thess. ii. 13 ; 1 Tet. i 2X It 
 teaches the believer how it is Go<i who must work 
 all in him, who will work all in him, and how he 
 may rely even in the smallest matters upon the un- 
 changeable purpose of God to work out itself in the 
 accomplishment of everything that He expects of 
 His people. In tliis light liie word ' Predestinated to 
 be conformed to the image of His Son ' gives new 
 strength to every one who has begun to take what 
 Christ is as the rule of what lie hinisdf is to he. 
 
iMii 
 
 ilii 
 
 LIKE CHRIST 
 
 Christian ! would you in very deed be like Christ, 
 fix your mind Aipon the thought of how certainly 
 this is God's will concerning you ; how the whole 
 of redemption has been planned with the view of 
 your becoming so ; how God's purpose is the 
 guarantee that your desires must be fulfilled 
 There, where your name is written in the book of 
 life, there stands also, 'Predestinated to be con- 
 formed to the image of His Son.' All the powers 
 of the Dtity which have already wrought together 
 in the accomplishment of the first part of the 
 eternal purpose, tlie revealing of the Father's perfect 
 likeness in the mar Christ Jesus, are equally en-! 
 gaged to accomplish the second part, and work that \ 
 likeness in each of God's children. In the work ot i 
 Christ there is the most perfect provision possible , 
 for the carrying nut of God's purposes in this. Ou> Ju>t'|! 
 union to Christ, iield fast in a living faith, will hSs 
 an all-prevailing power. We can depend upon ii 
 as something ordained with a divine certainty, an 
 that must come if we yield ourselves to it. ]Iii 
 not God elected us to be conformed to the image i 
 His Son ? 
 
 It can easily l>e understood what a powerful ii,^- 
 fluence the living 'consciousness of this truth w 
 have. It teaches u.s to give up ourselves to tK' 
 Eternal Will, that it may, with divine power, ef!tH 
 its purpose in us. It shows us how useless an 
 ini]>otent our own efforts are to accomplish tli 
 work ; all that is of God must nlso be thrmjh Hi! 
 He who is the beginning, must be the nrJddle an 
 
 "idii 
 
AS THE ELECT OF GOD. 
 
 87 
 
 be like Christ,] 
 liow certainly 
 ow the whole I 
 1 the view oil 
 rpose is the! 
 
 be fulfilled 
 n the book of| 
 id to be con- 
 .11 the powers! 
 [)ught togethei] 
 i part of the! 
 'ather's perfect 
 re equally en- 
 and work that 
 In the work ••! 
 vision possililc 
 5 in this. 0\i: 
 
 faith, will lu 
 epend upon i 
 
 certainty, aii' 
 /es to it. Hi 
 ;o the image 
 
 a powerful 
 this truth wuj 
 irselves to i\ 
 le power, efie 
 >w useless ai 
 iccomplish th| 
 )e thrmijh Hii 
 the mMdle ai^ 
 
 bhe end. In a very wonderful manner it strengthens 
 nir faith witli a holy boldness to glory in God alone, 
 uid to expect from God Himself the fulfilment of 
 jvery promise and every command, of every part of 
 ^he purpose of His blessed will. 
 
 And where does this likeness to Christ consist ? 
 
 [n Sonship. It is to the image of His Son we are 
 
 to be conformed. All the different traits of a 
 
 Jhristlike life resolve themselves into this one as 
 
 [heir spring and end. We are ' predestinated unto 
 
 he adoption of children by Jesus Christ.' It was 
 
 ,s the Son Christ lived and served and pleased the 
 
 •"ather. It is only as a son with the spirit of His 
 
 )\vn Son in my heart, that I can live and serve and 
 
 please the Father. I must each day walk in the 
 
 lull and clear consciousness : like Christ, I am a 
 
 )n of the Most High God, born from above, the 
 
 iloved of the Father. As a son the Father is 
 
 igaged to provide my every need. As a son I 
 
 fve in dependence and trust, in love and obedience, 
 
 joy and hope. It is when I live with the Father 
 
 a son, that it becomes possible to make any 
 
 icrifice and to obey every command. 
 
 Believer ! take time and prayer to take in this 
 ruth, and let it exercise its full power in your soul. 
 et the Holy Spirit write it into your inmost being, 
 lut you are predestinated to be conformed to the 
 lage of His Son. The Father's object was the 
 )uour of His Son, ' that He might be the firstborn 
 long many brethren.' Let tliis be your object too 
 all your life, so to show forth the image of your 
 
 
 ■V 
 
 1 
 
 
 !h;i 
 
I 
 
 liiifi 
 
 
 WMl. 
 
 Ilfeiil! 
 
 MB 
 
 'wm 
 
 88 
 
 LIKE CHRIST : 
 
 Elder Brother, that other Christians may be pointed 
 to Him alone, may praise Him alone, and seek to 
 follow Him more closely too. Let it be the fixed 
 and only purpose of your life, the great object of 
 your believing prayer, that ' Christ be magnified in 
 my body.' This will give you new confidence to 
 ask and expect all that is necessary to live like 
 Christ. Your conformity to Christ will be one of 
 the links connecting the eternal purpose of the 
 Father with the eternal fulfilment of it in the 
 glorifying of the Son. Your conformity to Christ 
 becomes then such a holy, heavenly, divine work, 
 that you realize that it can come only from the 
 Father, but that from Him you can and shall most 
 certainly receive it. What God's purpose has de- 
 creed, God's power will perform. What God's love 
 has ordained and commanded, God's love will most 
 certainly accomplish. A living faith in His eternal 
 purpose will become one of the mightiest powers in 
 urging and helping us to live like Christ. 
 
 Thou incomprehensible Being, I bow before 
 Thee in deepest humility. It has been such a 
 strength to know that Thy Son has chosen me, in 
 order to send me into the world as Thou hadst sent 
 Him. But here Thou hast led me still higher, and 
 shown that this mission to be as He was in the 
 world was from eternity decreed by Thyself. 
 my God, my soul bows prostrate in the dust before 
 Thee. 
 
 Lord God, now that Thy child comes to Thee for 
 
AS THE ELECT OF GOD. 
 
 89 
 
 the fulfilment of Thy own purpose, he dares confi- 
 dently look for an answer. Thy will is stronger than 
 every hindrance. The faith that trusts Thee will 
 not be put to shame. Lord, in holy reverence and 
 worship, but with childlike confidence and hope, I 
 utter this prayer : Father, give me the desire of my 
 soul, conformity to the image of Thy Son ; Father, 
 likeness to Jesus, this is what my soul desires of 
 Thee. Let me, like Him, be Thy holy child. 
 
 my Father, write it in Thy book of remem- 
 brance, and write it in my rememorance too, that 
 I have asked it of Thee as what I desire above all 
 things, conformity to the image of Thy Son. 
 
 Father, to this Thou hast chosen me ; Thou wilt 
 give it me, to Thine own and His glory> Amen. 
 
 m 
 
 ■h 
 
' 
 
 llijljjijiill 
 
 
 ii 
 
 90 
 
 LIKK CHRIST: 
 
 Twelfth Day. 
 
 LIKE CHRIST: 
 
 Hn tiotns (!^oti'£( Mill. 
 
 * For I came down from heaven, not to do my own will, but 
 the will of Him that sent me.*— John vi. 38, v. 30. 
 
 IN the will of God we have the highest expression 
 of His divine perfection, and at the same time 
 the highest energy of His divine power. Creation 
 owes its being and its beauty to it ; it is the mani- 
 festation of God's will. In all nature the will of 
 God is done. In heaven the angels find their 
 highest blessedness in doing God's will. For this 
 man was created with a free will, in order that he 
 might have the power to choose, and of his own 
 accord do God's will. And, lo ! deceived by the 
 devil, man committed the great sin of rather doing 
 his own than God's will. Yes, rather' his own than 
 God's will ! in this is the root and the wretchedness 
 of sin. 
 
 Jesus Christ became man to bring us back to 
 the blessedness of doing God'.' will. The great 
 object of redemption was to make us and our will 
 free from the power of sin, and to lead us again to 
 live and do the will of God. In His life on earth 
 
IN DOING GODS WILL. 
 
 91 
 
 He si lowed us wliat it is to live only for the will of 
 (lod; in His death and resurrection He won for us 
 tlie ijower to live and do the will of God as He had 
 (lone. 
 
 'Lo, I come to do Thy will, God/ These 
 words, uttered through the Holy Spirit by the 
 mouth of one of His prophets long ages before 
 Clirist's birth, are the key to His life on earth. At 
 Nazareth in the carpenter's shop, at the Jordan 
 with John the Baptist, in the wilderness with 
 Satan, in public with the multitude, in living 
 and dyinj;, it was this that inspired and guided 
 and gladdened Him ; the glorious will of the 
 Father was to be accomplished in Him and by 
 lliiii. 
 
 Ix't us not think that this cost Him nothing. 
 He says repeatedly, 'Nut my will, but the will of 
 the Father,' to let us understand that there was in 
 very deed a denial of His own will. In Gethsemane 
 the sacrifice of His own will reached its height, but 
 wiiat took place there was only the perfect expres- 
 sion of what had rendered His whole life acceptable 
 to the Father. Not herein is sin, that man has a 
 ereature-will different from the Creator's, but in 
 tliis, that he clings to his own will when it is seen 
 to be contrary to the will of the Creator. As man, 
 Jesus hafl a human will, the natural, though not 
 sinful desires which belong to human nature. As 
 man. He did not always know beforehand what the 
 will of God was. He had to wait, and be taught 
 of God, and learn from time to time what that will 
 
 I w 
 
 i!|l|l 
 
 •M 
 
 \ II 
 
 ^1 
 
IMAGE EVALUATION 
 TEST TARGET (MT-3) 
 
 1.0 
 
 I.I 
 
 •'• m 112.2 
 
 I!: 
 
 1^ "'"^ 
 
 1^ Hi 2.0 
 
 1.8 
 
 
 1.25 1.4 
 
 <> 
 
 
 ^ 6' _ 
 
 
 ► 
 
 Photographic 
 
 Sciences 
 Corporation 
 
 v 
 
 W 
 
 33 WEST MAIN STREET 
 
 WEBSTER, NY. 14580 
 
 (716) 872-4503 
 
 m^' 
 
 L1>' 
 
 \\ 
 
 ^^ 
 
 6^ 
 
 % 
 
 A- 
 
 17 
 

 yA^ 
 
 
 <> 
 
'Jiili 
 
 w 
 
 """1ilil. 
 
 1,11 8 
 
 i 
 
 I: in 
 
 ,1 :. 
 
 92 
 
 LIKE CHRIST : 
 
 was. But when the will of His Father was once 
 known to Him, then He was always ready to give 
 up His own human will, and do the will of the 
 Father. It was this that constituted the perfection 
 and the value of His self-sacrifice. He had once for all 
 surrendered Himself as a man, to live only in and 
 for the will of God, and was always ready, even to 
 the sacrifice of Gethsemane and Calvary, to do that 
 will alone. 
 
 It is this life of obedience, wrought out by the 
 Lord Jesus in the flesh, that is not only imputed to 
 us, but imparted through tlie Holy Spirit. Through 
 His death our Lord Jesus has atoned for our self- 
 will and disobedience. It was by conquering it in 
 His own perfect obedience that He atoned for it. 
 He has thus not only blotted out the guilt of our 
 selfwill before God, but broken its power in us. In 
 His resurrection He brought from the dead a life 
 that had conquered and destroyed all selfwill. And 
 the believer who knows the power of Jesus' death 
 and resurrection, has the power to consecrate him- 
 self entirely to God's will. He knows that the call 
 to follow Christ means nothing less than to take 
 and speak the words of the Master as his own 
 solemn vow, ' I seek not my own will, but the will 
 of the Father.' 
 
 To attain this we must begin by taking the same 
 stand that our Lord did. Take God's will as one 
 great whole, as the only thing for which you live on 
 earth. Look at the sun and moon, the grass and 
 flowerS) see what glory each of them has, only 
 
TI 
 
 IN DOING GOD S WILL. 
 
 93 
 
 because it is just doing God's will Bat they do it 
 without knowing it. Thou canst do it still more 
 gloriously, because knowing and willing to do it. 
 liCt thine heart be filled with the thought of the 
 glory of God's will concerning His children, and 
 concerning thee, and say that it is thy one purpose 
 tliat that will should be done in thee. Yield thy- 
 self to the Father frequently and distinctly, with 
 the declaration that with thee, as with Jesus, it is a 
 settled thing that His beautiful and blessed will 
 must and shall be done. Say it frequently in thy 
 quiet meditations, with a joyful and trusting heart : 
 Praise God ! I may live only to do the will of 
 God. 
 
 Let no fear keep us back from this. Think not 
 that this will be too hard for us to do; God's 
 will only seems hard as long as we look at it from 
 a distance, and are unwilling to submit to it. Just 
 look again how beautiful the will of God makes 
 everything in nature. Ask yourself, now that He 
 loves and blesses you as a child, if it is right to 
 distrust Him. The will of God is the will of His 
 love, how can you fear to surrender yourself to it ? 
 
 Nor let the fear that you will not be aWe to 
 obey that will, keep you back. The Son of God 
 came on earth to show what the life of man must 
 and may become. His resurrection life gives us 
 power to live as He lived. Jesus Christ enables 
 us, through His Spirit, to walk not after the flesh, 
 but according to the will of God. 
 
 'I come to do Thy will, O God:' before ever 
 
 m 
 
 
 il: 
 
 'if 
 
 hi 
 
 ii! I 
 
 il 
 

 If 
 
 
 Il 
 
 
 r -1 
 
 i 
 
 
 i 
 
 i' 
 
 .1 ! 
 
 '!i 
 
 1 
 
 \l 
 
 ■iW . 
 
 
 !!iv/ !■ 
 
 I ha 
 
 I 
 
 ii H 
 
 
 94 
 
 LIKE CHRIST : 
 
 the Lord Jesus was come down to earth, a believer 
 in the Old Testament was able, through the Spirit, 
 to speak that word of himself as well as for Christ. 
 Christ took it up and filled it with new life-power. 
 And now He expects of His redeemed ones that, 
 since He has been on earth, they will even more 
 heartily and entirely make it their choice. Let u.s 
 do so. We must not first try and see whether, in 
 single instances, we succeed in doing God's will, in 
 the hope of afterwards attaining to the entire con- 
 secration that can say : * I come to do Thy will.' 
 No, this is not the right way. Let us first recognise 
 God's will as a whole, and the claims it has upon 
 us, as well as its blessedness and glory. Let us 
 surrender ourselves to it as to God Himself, and 
 consider it as one of the first articles of our creed : 
 I am in the world, like Clirist, only to do the 
 Father's will. This surrender will teach us with 
 joy to accept every command and every providence 
 as part of the will we have already yielded ourselves 
 to. This surrender will give us courage to wait for 
 God's sure guidance and strength, because the man 
 who lives only for God's will may depend upon 
 it that God takes him for his reckoning. This 
 surrender will lead us deeper into the consciousness 
 of our utter impotence, but also deeper into the 
 fellowship and the likeness of the beloved Son, and 
 make us partakers of all the blessedness and love 
 that the Son has prepared for us. There is nothing 
 that will bring us closer to God in union to Christ 
 than loving and keeping and doing the will of God. 
 
IN DOING GOD 8 WILU 
 
 95 
 
 Child of God ! one of the first marks of conformity 
 to Christ is obedience, simple and implicit obedience 
 to all the will of God. Let it be the most marked 
 thing in thy life. Begin by a willing and whole- 
 hearted keeping of every one of the commands of 
 God's holy Word. Go on to a very tender yielding 
 to everything that conscience tells thee to be right, 
 even when the Word does not directly command it. 
 80 shalt thou lise higher ; a hearty obedience to the 
 commandments, as far as thou knowest them, and a 
 ready obedience to conscience wherever it speaks, 
 are the preparation for that divine teaching of the 
 Spirit which will lead thee deeper into the meaning 
 and application of the Word, and into a more direct 
 and spiritual insight into Cod's will with regard to 
 thyself personally. It is to those wlvo obey Him God 
 gives the Holy Spirit, through whom the blessed 
 will of God becomes the light that shines ever more 
 brightly on our path. ' If any man will do His 
 will, he shall know.' Blessed will of God ! blessed 
 obedience to God's will ! oh that we knew to count 
 and keep these as our most precious treasures! 
 
 And if ever it appear too hard to live only for 
 God's will, let us remember wherein Christ found 
 His strength : it was because it was t^ie Father's 
 will that the Son rejoiced to do it. 'This com- 
 mandment have I received of my Father* This 
 made even the laying down of His life possible. 
 Our union to Jesus, and our calling to live like Him, 
 ever point us to Hvi Soiiship as the secret of His 
 life and strength. Let it be our chief desire to say 
 
 
 \\^ 
 
 ' . I 
 
 ■Mi 
 
i!! 
 
 96 
 
 UKB CHRIST: 
 
 each day : I am the Father's beloved child, and to 
 think of each commandment as the Father*8 will ; a 
 Cliristlike sense of sonship will lead to a Christ- 
 like obedience. 
 
 my God, I thank Thee for this wondroug gift, 
 Thy Son become man, to teach us how man may do 
 the will of his God. I thank Thee for the glorious 
 calling to be like Him in this too, with Him to 
 taste the blessedness of a life in perfect harmony 
 with Thy glorious and perfect will. I thank Thee 
 for the power given in Christ to do and to bear 
 all that will. I thank Thee that in this too I may 
 be like the first-begotten Son. 
 
 1 come now, my Father, afresh to take up this 
 my calling in childlike, joyous trust and love. 
 Lord, I would live wholly and only to do Thy will. 
 I would abide in the Word and wait upon the 
 Spirit. I would, like Thy Son, live in fellowship 
 with Thee in prayer, in the firm confidence that 
 Thou wilt day by day make me to know Thy will 
 more clearly. my Father, let this my desire be 
 acceptable in Thy sight. Keep it in the thoughts 
 of my heart for ever. Give me grace with true joy 
 continually to say : Not my will, but the will of my 
 Father must be done : I am here on the earth only 
 to do the will of my God. Amen. 
 
 
 !i 
 
IN HIS COMPASSION. 
 
 97 
 
 Thirteenth Day. 
 
 I » 
 
 !i t 
 
 LIKE CHRIST: 
 
 'Then Jesni iMdd, I have compasBion on the mnltitade.* 
 
 -Matt. xv. 32. 
 
 ' Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellow- 
 servant, euen as I had compassion ou thee ?'— Mxrr. xviii. 32. 
 
 ON three different occasions Matthew tolls ns 
 that our Lort»' was moved with conijiassion on 
 tlie multitude. His whole life was a manifestation 
 of th(i compassion with which He had looked on 
 the sinner from everlasting, and of the tenderness 
 with which He was moved at the sij^ht of misery 
 and sorrow. He was in this the true reflecti<»n of 
 OUT compassionate God, of the father who, moved 
 with compassion towards his prodigal son, fell on 
 his neck and kissed him. 
 
 In this compassion of the Lord Jesus we can see 
 how He did not look upon the will of (lod He 
 (ame to do as a duty or an oblifjfation, but had tiiat 
 divine will dwelling within Him as His own, in- 
 siiiring aud ruling all His sentinumts and motives. 
 After He had said, ' I came from heaven not to do 
 my own will, but the will of Him that sent me,* Hj^ 
 
 G 
 
 J 
 
 i-^l; 
 
 :•"! 
 
 ,; J 
 
 mm 
 
98 
 
 LIKE CllRIBT : 
 
 III ill 
 
 liliiiiiiiili 
 
 at once added, * And this is the mil o! the Father, 
 that of all He hath given me, I should lose nothing, 
 but should raise it up again at the last day.* ' And 
 this is the will of Him that sent me, that every one 
 which believcth on the Son may have everlasting 
 life.' For the Lord Jesus the will of God consisted 
 not in certain things which were forbidden or com- 
 manded. No, He had entered into that which truly 
 forms the very heart of God's will, and that is, that 
 to lost sinners He should give eternal lift Because 
 God Himself is love, His will is that love should 
 have full scope in the salvation of sinners. The 
 Lord Jesus came down to earth in order to manifest 
 and accomplish this will of God. He did not do 
 this as a servant obeying the will of a stranger. In 
 His personal life and all His dispositions He proved 
 that the loving will of His Father to save sinners 
 was His own. Not only His death on Golgotha, 
 but just as much tlie compassion in which Me took 
 and bore the need of all the wretched, and the 
 tenderness of His intercourse with them, was the 
 proof that the Father's will had truly become His 
 own. In every way He showed that life was of no 
 value to Him but as the opportunity of doing the 
 will of His Father. 
 
 Beloved followers of Christ, who have offered 
 yourselves to imitate Him, let the will of the 
 Father be to you what it was to your Lord. The 
 will of the Father in the mission of His Son was 
 the manifestation and the triumph of divine com- 
 passion in the salvation of lost sinners. Jesus 
 
IN HIS COMPASSION. 
 
 99 
 
 could not possibly accomplish this will in any other 
 way than by having and showing this compassion. 
 Glides will is for its what it was for Jesus : the salva- 
 tion of the perishing. It ^is impossible for us to 
 fulfil that will otherwise than by having, and bear- 
 ing about, and showing in our lives, the compassion 
 of our God. The seeking of God's will must not 
 be only denying ourselves certain things which God 
 forbids, and doing certain works which God com- 
 mands, but must consist specially in this, that we 
 surrender ourselves to have the same mind and 
 disposition towards sinners as God has, and that we 
 find our pleasure and joy alone in living for this, 
 I'y the most personal devotion to each poor perish- 
 ing sinner around us, and by our helping them in 
 compassionate love, we can show that the will of God 
 is become our will. With the compassionate God 
 as our Father, with Christ who was so often moved 
 with compassion as our life, nothing can be more 
 just than the command that the life of eveiy 
 Christian should be one of compassionate love. 
 
 Compassion is the spirit of love which is awakened 
 by the sight of need or wretchedness. What abun- 
 dant occasion is there every day for the practice of 
 this heavenly virtue, and what a need of it in a 
 world so full of misery and sin ! Every Christian 
 ought therefore by prayer and practice to cultivate 
 a compassionate heart, as one of the most precious 
 j marks of likeness to the blessed Master. Everlast- 
 ing love longs to give itself to a perishing world, 
 and to find its satisfaction in saving the lost. It 
 
 ! '■ 
 
 
100 
 
 LI KB CIIIIIST: 
 
 seeks for vessels which it may fill with the love of God, 
 and send out amonff the dying that they may drink 
 and live for ever. It asks hearts to fill with its 
 own tender compassion at the sight of all the need 
 in which sinners live, hearts that will reckon it 
 their highest blessedness, as the dispensers of God's 
 compassion, to live entirely to bless and save 
 sinners. my brother, the everlasting compassion 
 which has had mercy on thee calls thee, as one 
 who has obtained mercy, to come and let it fill .thee. 
 It will fit thee, in thy compassion on all around, to 
 be a witness to God's compassionate love. 
 
 The opportunity for showing compassion we have 
 all around us. How much there is of temporal 
 want ! There are the poor and the sick, widows ami 
 orphans, distressed and despondent souls, who need 
 nothing so much as the refreshment a compassionate 
 heart can bring. They live in the midst of 
 Christians, and sometimes complain that it is as if 
 there are children of the world who have more 
 sympathy than those who are only concerned about 
 their own salvation. O brothers, pray earnestly for 
 a compassionate heart, always on the look-out for 
 an o]iportunity of doing some work of love, always 
 ready to be an instrument of the divine compas- 
 sion. It was the compassionate sympathy of Jesus 
 that attracted so many to Him upon earth ; that 
 same compassionate tenderness will still, more 
 than anything, draw souls to you and to your 
 Lord.^ 
 
 ^ See note. 
 
UH HIS OOHFAbiSlOK. 
 
 101 
 
 And how much of spiritual misery surrounds us 
 oil all sides ! Here is a poor rich man. There is 
 a foolish, thoughtless youth. There is again a poor 
 drunkard, or a hopeless unfortunate. Or perhaps 
 none of these, but simply people entirely wrapt 
 \\\) in the follies of the world which surround them. 
 How often are words of unloving indifference, or 
 harsh jud','ment, or slothful hopelessness, heard con- 
 cerning all these ! The compassionate heart is 
 wauling. Compassion looks upon the deepest 
 niistjry as the place prepared for her by God, and is 
 att acted by it. Compassion never wearies, never 
 ^'ivus up hope. Coni])as.sion will not allow itself to 
 be rejected, for it is the self-denying love of Christ 
 which inspires it. 
 
 Tlie Christian does not confine his compassion to 
 liis own circle ; he has a large heart. His Lord 
 lias shown liini the whole heathen world as his field 
 of labour. He seeks to be acquainted with the 
 circumstances of the heathen : he carries their 
 burden on his heart ; he is really moved with com- 
 passion, and means to help them. Whether the 
 hiatlienism is near or far off', whether he witnesses 
 it in all its filth and degradation, or only hears 
 of it, compassionate love lives only to accomplish 
 (lod's will in saving the perishing. 
 
 Like Chiiist in His compassion: let this now be 
 our motto. After uttering the parable of the Com- 
 passionate Samaritan, who, ' moved with compassion,' 
 helped the wounded strangcT, the Lord said, ' Go 
 and do likewise.' He is Himself the compassionate 
 
 '11 
 
102 
 
 LIKE CHRIST: 
 
 Samaritan, who speaks to every one of us whom He 
 has saved, ' Go and do likewise.' Even as I have 
 done to you, do ye likewise. We, who owe every- 
 thing to His compassion, who profess ourselves His 
 followers, who walk in His footsteps and bear His 
 image, oh let us exhibit His compassion to the 
 world. "We can do it. He lives in us ; His Spirit 
 works in us. Let us with much prayer and tiriii 
 faith look to His example as the sure promise of 
 what we can be. It will be to Him an unspeak- 
 able joy, if He finds us prepared for it, not only to 
 show His compassion to us, but through us to the 
 world. And ours will be the unutterable joy of 
 having a Christ-like heart, full of compassion and of 
 great mercy. 
 
 my Lord ! my calling is becoming almost too 
 high. In Thy compassionate love, too, I must follow 
 and imitate and reproduce Thy life. In the com- 
 passion wherewith I see and help every bodily riiid 
 spiritual misery, in the gentle, tender love wherewith 
 every sinner feels that I long to bless men, must tlie 
 world form some idea of Thy compassion. Most 
 merciful One ! forgive me that the world has seen 
 80 little of it in me. Most mighty lledeemer ! let 
 Thy compassion not only save me, but so take hold 
 of me and dwell in me that compassion may be the 
 very breath and joy of my life. May Thy com- 
 passion towards me be within me a living fountain 
 of compassion towards others. 
 
 Tvord Jesus, I know Thou canst only give this on 
 
IN UlS COMI'ASSIUN. 
 
 lua 
 
 one condition, that I let go my own lift and my 
 L'tlbrts to keep and sanctify that life, and suH'er Thee 
 to Hve in me, to be my life. Most merciful One, 
 I yield myself to Th<?e ! Thou hast a right to me, 
 Thou alone. There is nothing move precious to me 
 tliau Thy compassionate countenance ; wliat can bo 
 iiu)re blessed than to be like Thee ? 
 
 Lord, here I am. I have tnith in TImic, that 
 Tliou Thyself wilt teach and fit me to obey Thy 
 word : ' Thou shouldest have had compn ision, even o^^ 
 I hud compassion on thee.* In that luith T go out 
 this x^■.l•y day to find in my intercourse with others 
 Mie opportunity of showing how Thou hast loved 
 lue. In that faith it will become the great object 
 of my life to win men to Thee. Amen. 
 
 NOTE. 
 
 ' Evil can only be overcome by the contact of a most 
 personal self-devotion, never by a love that stands at a 
 distance. " Ye are the salt of the earth," Jesus said ; ye 
 yourselves inst as you are, in the midst of society; in tvory 
 place and every momint a sanctifying power must flow 
 (lUt from you and your presence. Christ IHmaelf is the 
 life and the light. In all that He docs, or says, or suffers, 
 it is always Ilimself; whoever separates ought from Him- 
 self no longer preserves it, it vanishes in his hands. And 
 just this is the radical error of our modern Christianity, 
 ^len separate the words and works of Christ from Himself, 
 and so it comes that many, with all they do as Christians, 
 !i:ive never found Christ Himself. So there are many 
 who truot in His suffering and merit, who cannot 
 show that they have any real fellowship with Him, 
 
 ir^i il« 
 
 51 I. 
 
 M 
 
m 
 
 104 
 
 LIKE CIIKIST 
 
 '!!i:*!'i 
 
 ^ Mi ^ 
 1 ' ■ li i 
 
 1 1 : 
 
 : : '.II ^ 
 ' ; 'ill ■' 
 
 1 1 ' ■ J' 
 
 lliip'i:"" ■:; 
 
 ; 1 . 1 1 
 
 or truly follow Him. Clirist had His abode not only in 
 Cfina of Galilee, but al-o'in Gethsemane and on Calvary. 
 Alas ! are tiiere not many who make their boast of the 
 cross, and yet are more afraid of the real cross than they 
 are of the devil ? They have so wisiiiy arranged their 
 profession of Christ's cross, that no loss to their honour, 
 their goods, or tiieir liberty can ever come from it. 
 Chiist's ttnc and actnal imitation must once again, as 
 in the ojileji times, become the standard of Ciiristcn- 
 dom. Only and alone in this way will faith again conquci- 
 nid)i'lief and superstition. Many are labouring hard at 
 ju'est-nt to prove to a doubting world the inspiration ot 
 Holy Scripture, the truth of the words and the life of the 
 Lord Jesus. It is labour in vain, to try and prove by 
 words and argument that which can alone be made hmivn 
 by its own self-evidencing poivcr and ih actual presence ! ■ Let 
 the proof be given in your deeds, that the spirit of tliu 
 miracles dwells in you ; ynyve above all in ijour life, find 
 Jesus Christ is continuing in you His heavenly eternal life ; 
 and your words will bring many to believe. But if ydu 
 are wanting in this demonstration of the Sjtirit and ot 
 ] lower, be not surprised if the world bestow little atten- 
 tion on your eloquent arguments. The hour is come tliat 
 all Christendom must rise up as one man, and iji Ik 
 power of Ch. ist repeat over again what Christ Himself did (u 
 a perishing world. This is the nued there is for tlio 
 imitation of Jesus Christ ; this is the only valid proof for 
 the truth of Christianity.' ^ 
 
 ^ Finm M. Diemer, Een nieuw boek van de navohjing van Jesm 
 Chnstus, 
 
IN HIS ONENESS WITH THE FATHER. 
 
 105 
 
 r 
 
 Fourteenth Day. 
 
 LIKE CHRIST 
 
 k 
 
 ' Holy Father, keep through Thine own name those whom Thou 
 hast given me, that they may be one, even aa we are. That they 
 all may be one ; even as Thon, Father, art in me, and I in Thee, 
 that they also may be one in us : that the world may believe 
 that Thou hast sent me. And the glory which Thou gavest me 
 I have given them; that they may be one euen aa we are one. 
 I in them, and Thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; 
 and that the world may know that Thou hattt sent me, and 
 hast loved them, euen aa Thou hast loved me.' — Juiin xvii. 11, 
 21, -12. 
 
 WHAT an unspeakable treasure we have in this 
 high-priestly prayer ! There the heart of 
 'Icsus is laid open to our view, and we see what 
 His love desires for us. There tlie heavens are 
 iipeued to us, and we learn what He as our Inter- 
 cessor is continually asking and obtaining for us 
 from the Father. 
 
 In that prayer the mutual union of believers has 
 a larger place than anything else. In His prayer 
 for all who in future shall believe, this is the chief 
 petition, vers. 20-26. Thr^e times He repeats this 
 prayer for their unity. 
 
i .s-,i 
 
 L06 
 
 UKE CUKIST : 
 
 1 l;i 
 
 The Lord tells us plainly why He desires it so 
 strongly. This unity is tlie only convincing proof to 
 the world that the Father had sent Him. With all 
 its blindness, the world knows that selfishness is 
 the curse of sin. It helps but little that God's 
 children tell that they are born again, and that they 
 are happy, that they can do wonders in Jesus' 
 name, or can prove that what the Scriptures teacli 
 is the truth. When the world sees a church from 
 which selfishness is banished, then it will acknow- 
 ledge the divine mission of Christ, because He has 
 wrought such a wonder, a comnmnity of men who 
 truly and heartily love one another. 
 
 The Lord speaks of this unity three times as the 
 reflection of His own oneness with the Father. 
 He knew that this was the perfection of the God- 
 head : the Father and Son, as persons separate, and 
 yet perfectly one in the living fellowship of the 
 Holy Spirit. And He cannot imagine anythinj^ 
 higlier than this, that His believing people should 
 with Him and in Him be one with each other, even 
 AS He and the Father are one. 
 
 The intercession of the Lord Jesus avails much ; 
 it is all-prevailing. What He asks He receives of 
 His Father. But lo ! the blessing which descends 
 finds no entrance in hearts where there is no opeu 
 door, no place prepared, to receive it. How many 
 believers there are who do not even desire to be 
 one even as the Father and the Son are one ! They 
 are so accustomed to a life of selfishness and iui- 
 perfect love, that they do not even long for such 
 
IN HIS ON£N£SS WITH THE FATHEIL 
 
 107 
 
 perfect love: they put off that union until they 
 meet in heaven. And yet the Lord thought of a 
 life on earth when He twice said, ' That the world 
 may know.' 
 
 That 'they may be one, even as we are one.' 
 The Church must be awakened to understand and 
 to value this prayer aright. This union is one of 
 life and love at once. Some explain it as having 
 reference to the hidden life-union wliich binds all 
 believers even under external divisions. But this 
 is not what the Lord means ; He speaks of some- 
 thing that the world can see, something that 
 resembles the union between God the Father and 
 God the Son. The hidden unity of life must be 
 muni test in the visible unity and fellowship of love. 
 Only when it becomes impossible for believers, in 
 the different smaller circles in which they are 
 associated, not to live in the full oneness of love 
 with the children of God around them ; only when 
 they learn that a life in love to each other, such as 
 Christ's to us, and the Father's to Him, is simple 
 duty, and begin to cry to God for His Holy Spirit 
 to work it in them, then only will there be a hope 
 <'f change in this resi^act. The fire will spread 
 from circle to circle and from church to church, 
 until all who truly do the will of God will con- 
 secrate themselves to abide in love, even as God is 
 h)ve. 
 
 And what are we to do now, while we wait for 
 and wish to hasten that day ? Let every one who 
 lakes up earnestly the word of the Master, ' Even 
 
 t0j 
 
 ;tj| 
 
 ;;; ■ ■?■;■ 
 
 m 
 
 a 
 
 J ■' 
 
 ■" ■ ; > i i ■ 
 
 1% 
 
 , A 
 
 i ' 
 

 :; :ii' 
 
 lOS 
 
 LIKK CIIUIST: 
 
 AS I, SO also ye,' let him begin with his own circle. 
 And in that circle with himself first. However 
 weak or sickly, liowever perverse or trying the 
 members of Christ's body may be with whom he is 
 surrounded, let him live with them in close fellow- 
 ship and love. Whether they are willing for it or 
 not, whether they accept or reject, let him love 
 them with a Christ-like love. Yes, to love them as 
 Christ does must be the purpose of liis life. This 
 love will find an echo in some hearts at least, aiul 
 awaken in them the desire, too, to seek after the 
 life of love and perfect oneness. 
 
 But what discoveries such eftbrt will bring of tlu; 
 impotence of the believer, who has been liitherld 
 satisfied with the ordinary Cliristian life, at all to 
 reach this standard ! He will soon find that nothini; 
 will avail but a personal, undivided consecration. 
 To have a love like Christ's, I must truly have a life 
 like Christ's : / must live with His life. The lesson 
 must be learnt anew, that Christ in the fullest sense 
 of the word will be the life of those who dare to 
 trust Him for it. Those who cannot trust with a 
 full trust, cannot love with a full love. 
 
 Believer, listen once more to the simple way to 
 such a life. First of all acknowledge your calling 
 to live and love just like Christ. Confess your 
 inability to fulfil this calling, even in the very least. 
 Listen to the word, that Christ is waiting to fit you 
 to fulfil this calling, if you will give yourself unre- 
 servedly to Him. Make the surrender in this, tliat 
 ponscious of being utterly unable to do anything in 
 
 iiii'i 
 
 \r. .:!! 
 
IN HIS ONENESS WITH THE FATIIER. 
 
 100 
 
 your own strength, you offer yourself to your Lord 
 to work in you Imrli to will and to do. And count 
 then most confidently upon Him, who in the power 
 of His unceasing intercession can save completely, 
 to work in you what He has asked of His Fatlier 
 for you. Yes, count on Him who has said to the 
 Father, * Thou in me and I in them, that they may 
 Ixi.one, EVEN AS we are one,' that He will manifest* 
 His life in you with heavenly power. As you live 
 with His life, you will love with His love. 
 
 1 beloved fellow-Christians, the oneness of Christ 
 witli the Father is our model : even as they, so must 
 we be one. Let us love one aiiother, serve one 
 another, bear with one anf)lher., help one another, 
 Hve for one another. For this our love is too small : 
 l)iit we will earnestly pray that Christ give us His 
 love wherewith to love. With God's love shed 
 abroad in our hearts tlirough the Holy Spirit, we 
 shall be so one tliat tlie world will know that it is 
 indeed the truth, that the Father sent Christ into 
 the world, and that Christ has given in us the very 
 life and love of heaven. 
 
 H 
 
 ;;4 .■•■III- . 
 
 Holy Fatlier, we know now with what petitions 
 He, wlio ever liveth to make intercession, continually 
 !i]ti)ronclic.s Thee. It is for the perfect unity of 
 His disciples. Father, we too would cry to Thee 
 for this blessing. Alas, how divided is Thy Church ! 
 It is not the division of language or country that 
 we deplore, not even the difTerence of doctrine or 
 teaching that so much grieves us. But, Lord 1 the 
 
110 
 
 LIES CHRIST : 
 
 ''■t ■,:■ 
 
 want of that unity of spirit and love whereby Thy 
 Church should convince the world that she is from 
 heaven. 
 
 O Lord ! we desire to confess before Thee with 
 deep shame the coldness, and selfishness, and dis- 
 trust, and bitterness that is still at times to be seen 
 among Thy children. We confess before Thee our 
 •own want of that fervent and perfect love to which 
 Thou hast called us. forgive, and have mercy 
 upon us. 
 
 Lord God ! visit Thy people. It is through the 
 one Spirit that we can know and show our unity 
 in the one Lord. Let Thy Holy Spirit ' Tork power- 
 fully in Thy believing people to mak^ them one. 
 Let it be felt in every circle where God's children 
 meet each other, how indispensable a close union in 
 the love of Jesus is. And let my heart, too, be 
 delivered from self, to realize, in the fellowship with 
 Thy children, how we are one, EVEN as Thou, Father, 
 and Thy Son art one. Amen. 
 
 
 iMi 
 
IN HIS DEPENDENCE ON TUE FATHER. 
 
 in 
 
 Fifteenth Day. 
 
 LIKE CHIilST: 
 
 In ©is ©cjjentience on tftc jfatfjcr^ 
 
 * Verily, verily, I say unto yon, The Son can do nothing of 
 HiniBelf, but what He seeth the Father doing : for what things 
 soever He doeth, these the Son also doeth in like manner. For 
 the Father loveth the Son, and showeth Him all things that 
 Himself doeth : and greater works than these will He show Him, 
 that ye may marvel.' — John v. 19, 20. 
 
 ' I know mine own, and mine own know me, even aa the Father 
 knoweth me and I know the Father.' — John x. 16 (R. V.). 
 
 OUR relation to Jesus is the exact counterpart of 
 His to the Father. And so the words in 
 which He sets forth His intercourse with tlie 
 Father have their truth in us too. And as the 
 words of Jesus in John v. describe the n.itural 
 relation between every father and son, whether 
 on eartli or in heaven, they are applicable not only 
 to the Ouly-bcGfotten, but to every one who in and 
 Hke Jesus is called a son of God. 
 
 We cannot better catcli the simple truth and 
 force of the ilhistration than by thinking of Jesus 
 with His earthly father in the carpenter's shop 
 learning his trade. The first thing you notice is 
 the entire dependence : * The son can do nothing of 
 
 ■ ■ ; (■ j 
 
 11 
 
 r.ai 
 
ill 
 
 112 
 
 UKE ClliUST : 
 
 himself, but what he seeth the father doing/ Then 
 you are struck by the implicit obedience that just 
 seeks to imitate the father : ' for whatsoever things 
 the father doeth, these doeth the son in like manner.' 
 You then notice the loving intimacy to which the 
 father admits him, keeping back none of his secrets : 
 * for the father loveth the son, and showeth him all 
 things that himself doeth.' And in this dependent 
 obedience on his son's part, and the loving teaching 
 on the father's part, you have the pledge of an 
 ever-growing advance to greater works: step by 
 step the son will be led up to all that the father 
 himself can do : ' Greater works than these will he 
 show him, that ye may marvel.' 
 
 In this picture we have the reflection of the 
 relationship between God the Father and the Son 
 in His blessed humanity. If His human nature is 
 to be something real and true, and if we are to 
 understand how Christ is in very deed to be our 
 example, we must believe fully in what our blessed 
 Lord here reveals to us of the secrets of His inner 
 life. The words He speaks are literal truth. His 
 dependence on the Father for each moment of His 
 life was absolutely and intensely real : * The Son 
 can do nothing of Himself, but what He seeth the 
 Father doing.' He counted it no humiliation to 
 wait on Him for His commands : He rather con- 
 sidei^d it His higliest blessedness to let Himself 
 be led and guided of i^he Father as a child. And 
 accordingly He held Himself bound in strictest 
 obedience to say anjjl do only what the Father 
 
IN HIS DEPENDENCE ON TIJE FATHER. 113 
 
 showed Him : * Whatsoever things the Father doeth, 
 these the Son also doeth in like manner.' 
 
 The proof of this is the exceeding carefulness 
 witli which in everything He seeks to keep to Holy 
 Scripture. In His sufl'crings He will endure all iu 
 order that the Scriptures may be fulfilled. For this 
 He remained the whole night in prayer. Iu such 
 continued prayer He presents His thoughts to the 
 Father, and waits for the answer, that He nuiy know 
 tiie Father's will. No child in his ignorance, no 
 slave in his bondage, was ever so anxious to keep to 
 what the father or master had said, as the Lord 
 Jesus was to follow the teaching and guidance of 
 His Heavenly Father. On this account the Father 
 kej)t nothing hid from Him : the entire dependence 
 and willingness always to learn were rewarded with 
 tlie most perfect communication of all the Father's 
 secrets. 'For the Father loveth the Son, and 
 showeth Him all things, and will show Him greater 
 works tlian these, that ye may marvel.' The Father 
 liad foimed a glorious life plan for the Son, that in 
 Him the Divine life might be shown forth in the 
 conditions of human existence : this plan was shown 
 to the Son piece by piece until at last all was 
 gloriously accomplished. 
 
 Child of (Jod, it is not only for the only-begotten 
 Son that a life plan has been arranged, but for each 
 one of His children. Just in proportion as we live 
 in more or less entire dependence on the Father 
 will this life plan be more or less perfectly worked 
 out iu our lives. The nearer the believer comes to 
 
 H 
 

 114 
 
 LIKK C11H18T: 
 
 this entire dependence of the Son, * doing nothing 
 but what He sees the Father do/ and then to His 
 implicit obedience, 'whatsoever He doeth, doing 
 these in like manner/ so much more will the pro- 
 mise be fulfilled to us : * The Father showeth Him 
 all things that He Himself doeth, and will show Him 
 greater works than these/ Like Christ ! that word 
 calls us to a life of conformity to the Son in His 
 blessed dependence on the Father. Each one of us 
 is invited thus to live. 
 
 To sucli a life in dependence on the Father, tiie 
 first thing that is necessary is a firm faith that He 
 will make known His will to us. I think this is 
 s(jmething that keeps many back : they cannot 
 believe that the Lord cares for them so much that 
 He will indeed give Himself the trouble every day 
 to teach them and to make known to them His will, 
 just as He did to Jesus. Christian, thou art of 
 more value to the Father than thou knowest. Thou 
 art as much worth as the price He paid for thee, — 
 that is, the blood of His Son ; He therefore attaches 
 the highest value to the least thing that concerns 
 tliee, and will guide thee even in what is most in- 
 significant. He longs more for close and constant 
 intercourse with thee than thou canst conceive. He 
 can use thee for His glory, and make something 
 of thee, higher than thou canst understand. The 
 Father loves His child, and shows him what He 
 does. That He proved in Jesus ; and He will prove 
 it in us too. There must only be the surrender to 
 expect His teaching. Through His Holy Spirit He 
 
ftothing 
 to His 
 I, doing 
 XiG pro- 
 th lliin 
 ow Him 
 iiat word 
 L in His 
 ane of us 
 
 IN HIS DEi'KNDENCE ON THE PATIIEU. 
 
 115 
 
 jrives this most tenderly. Without removing us 
 from our circle, the Father can so conform us 
 to Christ's image, that we can be a blcssiirj^ and joy 
 to all. Do not let unbelief of God's compassionate 
 love prevent us from expecting the Father's 
 ^Miidance in all things. 
 
 Let the unwillingness to submit yourself as little 
 keep you l){ick. This is the second great hindrance. 
 The desire for independence was the temptation in 
 |)aradise, is the temptation in each human heart 
 It seems hard to be nothing, to know nothing, tt) 
 will nothing. And yet it is so blessed. This 
 (lejiendenue brings us into most blessed communion 
 with God : of us it becomes true as of Jesus, ' The 
 Father loveth the Son, and showeth Him all things 
 whatsoever He doeth.' This dependence takes from 
 us all care and responsibility : we have only to 
 ol)ey orders. It gives real power and strength of 
 will, because we know that He works in us to will 
 and to do. It gives us the blessed assurance that 
 our work will succeed, because we have allowed 
 God alone to take charge of it. 
 
 ]\ly brother, if you have hitherto known but 
 little of this life of conscious dependence and simple 
 ohedience, begin to-day. Let your Saviour be your 
 example in this. It is His blessed will to live in 
 you, and in you to be again what He was here on 
 earth. He only longs for your acquiescence : He 
 will work it in you. Offer yourself to the Father 
 this day, after the example of the First-begotten, to 
 do nothing of yourself but only what the Father 
 
 
 I 
 
 ' i 
 
 m 
 
 ! 
 
 !! 
 
 ■ I f 
 
 ■1 
 
116 
 
 LIKE CHRIST: 
 
 shows you. Fix your gaze on Jesus as also in this 
 the Example and Promise of what you shall be. 
 Adore Him who, for your sake, humbled Himself, 
 and showed how blessed the dependent life can be. 
 
 Blessed dependence ! it is indeed the disposition 
 which becomes us towards such a God. It gives 
 Him the glory which belongs to Him as God. It 
 keeps the soul in peace and rest, for it allows God 
 to care for all. It keeps the mind quiet and 
 prepared to receive and use the Father's teaching. 
 And it is so gloriously rewarded in the deeper 
 experience of holy intercourse, and the continued 
 ever-advancing discoveries of His will and work 
 with which the Father crowns it. Blessed depend- 
 ence ! in wliich the Son lived on earth, thou art 
 the desire of my soul. 
 
 Blessed dependence ! it was because Jesus knew 
 that He was a Son that He thus loved to be dep(;nd- 
 ent on the Father. Of all the teaching in regard 
 to the likeness to Christ this is the centre and sum: 
 I must live as a Son with my Father. If I stand 
 clear in this relationship, as a son realizing that the 
 Father is everything to me, a sonlike life, living 
 through the Father, living for the Father, will be its 
 natural and spontaneous outcome. 
 
 my Father, the longer I fix my gaze upon 
 the image of the Son, the more I discover the fear- 
 ful ruin of my nature, and how far sin has estranged 
 me from Thee. To be dependent upon Thee : there 
 can be no higher blessedness than this j to trust in 
 
IN HIS DEPENDBNCE ON THE FATHER. 
 
 117 
 
 all things in a God such as Thou art, so wise and 
 good, so rich and powerful. And lo ! it has become 
 the most diflicult thing there can be ; we would 
 rather be dependent on our own folly than the God 
 (if all glory. Even Thine own children, most 
 blessed Father ! often think it so hard to give up 
 their own thoughts and will, and to believe that 
 absolute dependence on God, to the very least 
 things, is alone true blessedness. 
 
 Lord! ;>nie to Thee with the humble prayer: 
 teach me this. He who purchased with His own 
 blood for me the everlasting blessedness, hath 
 shown me in His own life wherein that blessedness 
 consists. And I know He will now lead and keep 
 me in it. my Father ! in Thy Son I yield my- 
 self to Thee, to be made like Him, like Him to do 
 notliing of myself, but what I see the Father doing. 
 Fatlier ! Thou wilt take even me too, like the First- 
 born, and for His sake, into Thy training, and show 
 me what Thou doest. my God ! be Thou a Father 
 unto me as uuto Christy and let me be Thy son, as 
 He was. Amen. 
 
118 
 
 LIKE CllltlST: 
 
 Sixteenth Day. 
 
 ,i.'i 
 
 LIKE CHEIST: 
 
 5n ©is l;Obe» 
 
 *A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love cue 
 another ; even a& I have loved you, that ye also love one 
 another.'— John xiii. 34. 
 
 * This is my commandment. That ye love one another, even as 1 
 have loved you.'— John xv. 12. 
 
 EVEN AS : We begin to understand somewhat of 
 the blessedness of tliat little word. It is not 
 the command of a law which only convinces of sin 
 and impotence ; it is a new command under a new 
 covenant, that is established upon better promises. 
 It is the command of Him who asks nothing that 
 He has not provided, and now offers to bestow. 
 It is the assurance that He expects nothing from 
 us, that He does not work in us : even as I have 
 loved you, and every moment am pouring out that 
 love upon you through the Holy Spirit, even so do 
 ye love one another. T\m measure, the strength, 
 and the work of your love you will find in my love 
 to you. 
 
 Even as I have loved you : that word gives us 
 the measure of the love wherewith we must love 
 
IN HIS LOVE. 
 
 119 
 
 each other. True love knows no measure : it gives 
 Itself entirely. It may take into consideration the 
 time and measure of showing it ; but love itself is 
 ever whole and undivided. This is the greatest glory 
 of Divine Love that we have, in the Father and Son, 
 two persons, who in love remain One Being, each 
 losing Himself in the other. This is the glory of 
 the love of Jesus, who is the image of God, that He 
 loves us even as the Father loves Him. And tliis 
 is the glory of brotlierly love, that it will know of 
 no other law, than to love even as God and Christ. 
 He who would be like Christ must unhesitatingly 
 accept this as his rule of life. He knows how 
 difficult, how impossible it often is thus to love 
 brethren, in whom there is so much that is oflFen- 
 sive or unamiable. Before going out to meet them 
 in circumstances where his love may be tried, he 
 goes in secret to the Lord, and with his eye fixed 
 on his own sin and unworthiness asks : How much 
 owest thou thy Lord ? He goes to the cross and 
 seeks there to fathom the love wherewith the Lord 
 has loved hiuL He lets the light of the immeasur- 
 able love of Him who is in heaven, his Head and 
 his Brother, shine in upon his soul, until he learns 
 to feel Divine Love has but one law : love seeks not 
 its own, love gives itself wholly. And he lays 
 himself on the altar before his Lord : even as Thou 
 ' ast loved me, so will I love the brethren. In 
 virtue of mv union with Jesus, and in Jesus with 
 them, there can be no question of anything less : I 
 love them as Christ did. Oh that Christians would 
 
 , 
 
 m 
 
 :] ' Z 
 
 '-. '- '' 
 
 ' " f 
 
 ''if 
 
 M 
 
 li 
 
120 
 
 LIKE CHRIST *. 
 
 close their ears to all the reasonings of their own 
 hearts, and fix their eyes only on the law wliich 
 He who loves them has promulgated in His own 
 example ; they would realize that tliere is nothiiirr 
 for them to do but this, — to accept His commands 
 and to obey them. 
 
 Our love may recognise no other measure than 
 His, because His love is the strength of ours. The 
 love of Christ is no mere idea or sentiment ; it is a 
 real divine life power. As long as the Christian 
 does not understand this, it cannot exert its full 
 power in him. But when his faith rises to realize 
 that Christ's love is nothing less than the imparting 
 of Himself and His love to the beloved, and he 
 becomes rooted in this love as the source whence 
 his life derives its sustenance, then ho sees that his 
 Lord simply asks that he should allow His love to 
 flow through him. He must live in a Christ-given 
 strength: the love of Christ constrains him, and 
 enables him to love as He did. 
 
 From this love of Christ the Christian also learns 
 wliat the work of his love to the brethren must be. 
 We have already had occasion to speak of many 
 manifestations of love : its loving service, its self- 
 denial, its meekness. Love is the root of all tliese. 
 It teaches the disciple to look upon. himself as really 
 called upon to be, in his little circle, just like Jesus, 
 the one who lives solely to love and help others. 
 Paul prays for the Philippians : ' That your love 
 may abound more and more in knowledge, and in 
 all judgment ' (Phil. i. 9). Love does not compre- 
 
IN HIS LOVE. 
 
 121 
 
 hend at once what the work is that it can do. 
 The believer who prays that his love may abound 
 ill knowledge, and really takes Christ's example as 
 liis rule of life, will be taught what a great and 
 <ilorit)us work there is for him to do. The Church 
 of God, and every child of God, as well as the world, 
 lias an unspeakable need of love, of the manifesta- 
 tion of Christ's love. The Christian who really 
 takes the Lord's word, * Love one another, even as I 
 have loved you,* as a command that must be obeyed, 
 carries about a power for blessing and life for all 
 with whom he comes in contact. Love is the 
 explanation of the whole wonderful life of Christ, 
 and of the wonder of His death : Divine Love 
 in God's cliildren will still work its mighty 
 wonders. 
 
 ' Beliold what manner of love ! ' ' Behold how 
 He loved ! ' These words are the superscription 
 over the love of the Father and of the Son. They 
 must yet become the keywords to the life of every 
 Christian. They will be so where in livin<^ faith 
 and true consecration the command of Clirist to 
 love, even as He loved, is accepted as the law of 
 life. As early as the call of Abraham this principle 
 was deposited as a living seed in God's kingdom, 
 that what God is for us, we must l)e for others. * I 
 will bless thee,' ' and thou shalt be a bler,sing.' If 
 ' I have loved you ' is the highest manifestation of 
 what God is for us, then ' Even so love ye ' must be 
 the first and highest expression of what the child 
 of God must be. In preaching, as in the life of the 
 
 Ai i 
 
mmmm 
 
 122 
 
 LIKK CIIKIS r : 
 
 Church, it must be understood : The love wuich lorec 
 like Christ is the sign of true disciplcship. 
 
 Beloved Christians ! Christ Jesus longs for you 
 in order to make you, amid those who surround 
 you, a very fountain of love. The love of Heaven 
 would fain take possession of you, in order that, in and 
 through you, it may work its blessed work on earth. 
 Yield to its rule. Offer yourself unreservedly to ils 
 indwelling. Honour it by the confident assurance! 
 that it can teach you to love as Jesus loved. As 
 conformity to the Lord Jesus must be the chief 
 mark of your Christian walk, so love must be the 
 chief mark of that conformity. Be not disheartened 
 if you do not attain it at once. Only keep fast 
 hold of the command, ' Love, even as I have loved 
 you.' It takes time to grow into it. Take time in 
 secret to gaze on that image of love. Take time in 
 prayer and meditation, to fan the desire for it into 
 a burning flame. Take time to survey all around 
 you, whoever they be, and whatever may happen, 
 with this one thought, * I must love them.' Take 
 time to become conscious of your union with your 
 Lord, that every fear as to the possibility of thus 
 loving, may be met with the word : ' Have not I 
 connnanded you : Love as I have loved ' ? Chris- 
 tian, take time in loving communion with Jesus 
 your loving example, and you will joyfully fulfil 
 this command, too, to love even as He did. 
 
 Lord Jesus, who hast loved me so wonderfully, 
 and now commandest me to love even as Thou, 
 
 Pjip.! 
 
^1^ 
 
 IN HIS LOVE. 
 
 123 
 
 behold me at Thy feet. Joyfully would I accept 
 Thy commands, and now go out in Thy strength to 
 manifest Thy love to all. 
 
 In Thy strength, my Lord ! Be therefore 
 pleased to reveal Thy love to me. Shed abroad 
 Thy love in my heart through Thy Holy Spirit. 
 Let me live each moment in the experience that I 
 am the beloved of God. 
 
 Lord, let me understand that I can love, not with 
 my own, but with Thy love. Tliou livest in me, 
 Thy Spirit dwells and works in me; from Thee 
 tliere streams into me tiie love with which I can 
 love otiiers. Thou dost only ask of me tliat I 
 understand and accept my calling, and that I 
 simender myself to live as Thou didst. Thou 
 wniildest that I look upon my old nature with its 
 sclfisliness and unlovingness as crucified, and in 
 failli prepare to do as Tliou commandest. 
 
 Lord, I do it. In the strength of my Lord, 1 
 would live to love even as Thou hast loved vie. Amen. 
 
 i 
 
 ..?■ 
 
 'ff 
 
 iM 
 
I 
 
 124 
 
 LIKE CHRIST : 
 
 ill! 
 
 I 
 
 11 
 
 !!r 
 
 I:: 
 
 1i|P*^i| 
 
 I III <Lji ktdUf'*'. ^ 
 
 I I 
 
 Seventeenth Day. 
 
 LIKE CimiST: 
 
 In fftis iPraiiing* 
 
 * And in the morning, rising np a great while hefore day. He 
 went out, and departed into a desert place, and there prayed.' 
 — Mahk i. 35. 
 
 * And He eaith unto them, Gome ye yourselves apart into a 
 desert place, and rest awhile.' — Mark vi. 31. 
 
 IN His life of secret prayer, too, my Saviour is my 
 example. He could not maintain the heavenly 
 life in His soul without continually separating 
 Himself from man, and communing with His 
 Father. With the heavenly life in me it is no 
 otherwise : it has the same need of entire separa- 
 tion from man, the need not only of single 
 moments, but of time enough for intercourse with 
 the Fountain of Life, the Father in Heaven. 
 
 It was at the commencement of His public 
 ministry that the event happened which so 
 attracted the attention of His disciples that they 
 wrote it down. After a day full of wonders and 
 of work at Capernaum (vers. 21-32), the press in 
 the evening became still greater. The whole town 
 is before the door ; sick are healed, and devils are 
 
IN HIS PKAYING. 
 
 125 
 
 cast out. It is late before they get to sleep ; in 
 the throng there is little time for quiet or for 
 secret prayer. And lo, as they rise early in the 
 morning, they find Him gone. In the silence of 
 the night He has gone out to seek a place of 
 solitude in the wilderness ; when they find Him 
 there, He is still praying. 
 
 And why did my Saviour need these hours of 
 prayer ? Did He not know the blessedness of 
 silently lifting up His soul to God in the midst 
 of the most pressing business ? Did not the 
 Father dwell in Him ? and did He not in the 
 deptli of His heart enjoy unbroken communion 
 with llim ? Yes, that hidden life was indeed His 
 portion. But that life, as subject to the law of 
 humanity, had need of continual refreshing and 
 renewing from the fountain. It was a life of 
 dei)endence ; just because it was strong and true, 
 it could not bear the loss of direct and constant 
 intercourse with the Father, with whom and in 
 whom it had its being and its blessedness. 
 
 Wliat a lesson for every Christian ! Much 
 intercourse with man is dissipating, and dangerous 
 to our spiritual life : it brings us under the 
 inlhience of the visible and temporal. Nothing 
 can atone for the loss of secret and direct inter- 
 course with God. Even work in the service of 
 God and of love is exhausting : we cannot bless 
 otliers without power going out from us ; this must 
 be renewed from above. The law of the manna, 
 that what is heavenly cannot remain good long 
 
126 
 
 LIKE CHRIST : 
 
 upon oarth, but must day by day be renewed afresli 
 Iroui heaven, still holds yood. Jesus Christ teadu-s 
 it us: I need ev(3ry day time to have communion 
 with my Father in secret. My life is like His, 
 a life hid in heaven, in (Jod; it needs time day liy 
 day to be fed from heaven. It is from hen cat 
 alone that the power to lead a heavenly life on 
 earth can come. 
 
 And what may have been the prayers that 
 occupied our Lord there so long ? If I could hear 
 Him pray, how I might learn how I too must pray ! 
 God be praised ! of His prayers we have more than 
 one recorded, that in them too we might learn to 
 follow His holy example. In the high-priestly 
 prayer (John xvii.) we hear Him speak, as in the 
 deep calm of heaven, to His Father ; in His 
 Gethsemane prayer, a few hours later, we see 
 Him call out of the depths of trouble and darkness 
 unto God. In these two prayers we have all : the 
 highest and the deepest that there is to be found 
 in the communion of prayer between Father and 
 Son. 
 
 In both these prayers we see how He addresses 
 God. Each time it is Father ! my Father ! In 
 that vvoid lies the secret of all prayer. The Lord 
 knew that He was a Son, and that the Father 
 loved Him : \\ ith that word He placed Himself in 
 the full light of the Father's countenance. This 
 was to Him the greatest need and greatest blessing' 
 of prayer, to enter into the full enjoyment of the 
 Father's love. Let it be thus with me too. Let 
 
■^ 
 
 IN HIS PBAYINO. 
 
 127 
 
 the principal part of my prayer be, the holy silence 
 and adoration of faith, in which I wait upon God, 
 until He reveals Himself to me, and gives me, 
 through His Spirit, the loving assurance that He 
 looks down upon me as a Father, that I am well- 
 pleasing to Him. He who in prayer has not 
 time in quietness of soul, and in full consciousness 
 of its meaning, to say Abba Fathtir, has missed 
 the best part of prayer. It is in i)ruyer that the 
 witness of the Spirit, that we are children of God, 
 and that the Father draws nigli and delights in 
 us, must be exercised and strengthened. * If our 
 ht'iirt condemn us not, we have confidence toward 
 God ; and whatsoever we ask, we receive of Him, 
 because we obey Ilis commandments, and do the 
 things that are pleasing in His sight.' 
 
 In both these prayers I also see what He 
 desired: that the Father may he glorified. He 
 speaks : ' I have glorified Thee ; glorify Thy Son, 
 that Thy Son also may glorify Thee.' That will 
 assuredly have been the spirit of every prayer; 
 the entire surrender of Himself only to live for 
 the Father's will and glory. All that He asked 
 had but one object, 'That God might be glorified.' 
 In this too He is my example. I must seek to 
 lii've the spirit of each prayer I offer: Father! 
 bless Thy child, and glorify Thy grace in me, only 
 that Thy child may glorify Thee. Everything in 
 the universe must show forth God's glory. The 
 Christian who is inspired with this thought, and 
 avails himself of prayer to express it, until he is 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 llpl < 
 
 
 1 ' ' ' 
 
 !; 
 
 
 1 
 
 ■i 
 
 
 W- ' ''' 
 
 f 
 
 i 
 
 ' 1 
 
 1 
 
 ■ ! .'1 |;f 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 \4\ 
 
 ;j 
 
 >. lift 
 
128 
 
 LIKE CIIUIbT: 
 
 thoroughly imbued with it, v/ill have power in 
 prayer. Even of His work in heaven our Lord 
 says : ' Whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that 
 will I do, that the Father mcj he glorifial in 
 the So7l' my soul, learn from thy Saviour, 
 ere ever thou pourest out thy desires in prayer, 
 first to yield thyself as a whole burnt-oth'ring, 
 with the one object that God may be gloriiied iii 
 thee. 
 
 Then thou hast sure ground on which to pray. 
 Thou wilt feel the stronj^ desire, as well as the full 
 liberty, to ask the Father that in each part of 
 Christ's example, in each feature of Christ's iniiim;, 
 thou mayest be made like Him, that so God may 
 be glorified. Thou wilt understand how, only in 
 continually renewed prayer, the soul can surrender 
 itself to wait that God may from heaven work in 
 it what will be to His glory. Because Jesus 
 surrendered Himself so entirely to the glory of 
 His Father, He was worthy to be our Mediator, 
 and could in His high-priestly prayer ask such 
 great blessings for His people. Learn like Jesus 
 only to seek God's glory in prayer, and thou shall 
 become a true intercessor, who can not only 
 approach the throne of grace with his own needs, 
 but can also pray for others the etl'ectual fervent 
 prayer of a rigliteous man that availeth nnich. 
 The words which the Saviour put into our mouth 
 in the Lord's Prayer : * Thy will be done,' because 
 He was made like unto His brethren in all things, 
 He took from our lips again and made His own 
 
IN HIS GRAYING. 
 
 129 
 
 in CJethseniano, that from Him we mi^'ht receive 
 them back af,'ain, in tlie power of His atonement and 
 intercession, and so he able to pray thera even as 
 lie liad done. Thou too shalt become Christlike in 
 that i)riestly intercession, on which the unity and 
 |iiosperity of the Church and the salvation of 
 sinners so much depend. 
 
 And he who in every jtrayer makes Cod's j^lory 
 the chief object will also, if Cod calls him to it, 
 have strength for the prayer of Cethsemane. Every 
 j)rayer of Christ was intercession, because He had 
 ;,fiven Himself for us ; all He asked and received 
 was in our interest ; every prayer He prayed was 
 in the spirit of self-sacrifice. Give thyself too 
 wholly to (lod for man, and as with Jesus so witli 
 us, the entire sacrifice of ourselves to (Jod in every 
 prayer of daily life is the only preparation for 
 those sinj^le hours of soul-struggle in which we 
 waxy be called to some special fict of the surrender 
 of tlie will that costs us tears and anguish. J^)Ut 
 he who has learnt the former will surely receive 
 strength for the latter. 
 
 () my brother! if thou and I would be like 
 Jesus, we must esj)ccia]ly coutemiilatc^ Jesus pray- 
 iiiL; alone in the wilderness. T/icrc is iJic scrrct of 
 If is wimderful life. What He did and spoke to 
 man, was first spolxn and lived tlirotiijh iriflt tlie 
 Fcfhcr. In commujiion with Him, the anointing 
 with the Holy Spirit was each (hiy renewed. He 
 who would be like Him in his walk and conversa- 
 tion, must simply begin here, that he follows Jesus 
 
 1 
 
 
 ' f t 
 
 
 ^^R ' 
 
 '0 \ 
 
 
 ^K 
 
 i 
 
 
 
 ' • 'il 
 
 1 i mm 
 
 * '^1 
 
 ■ ■ *i 
 
 im 
 
 
 
 ' :5! 
 
 * ^ 'I il 
 
130 
 
 LIKE CIIKIST: 
 
 into solitude. Even though it cost the sacrifice of 
 nif^lit rest, of business, of intercourse with friends, 
 the time must he found to he alone with the Father. 
 ]>esides the ordinary hour of prayer, lie will feel 
 at times irresistibly drawn to enter into the holy 
 place, and not to come thence until it has anew 
 been revealed to him that God is his portion. In 
 his secret chamber, with closed door, or in the 
 solitude of the wilderness, God must be found 
 every day, and our fellowship with Him renewed. 
 If Christ needed it, how much more we ! What it 
 was to Him it will be for us. 
 
 What it was to Him is apparent from what is 
 written of His baptism : * It came to pass that, 
 Jesus also being baptized and prayiiirj, the heaven 
 was opened, and the Holy Ghost descended in a 
 Ijodily shape like a dove upon Him : and a voice 
 came from heaven which said. Thou art ni} 
 beloved Son, in Thee I am well pleased.' Yes, 
 this will be to us the blessing of prayer : the 
 opened heaven, the ba})tism of the Spirit, the 
 Father's voice, the blessed assurance of His love 
 and good pleasure. Js ivith Jesus, so with vs ; from 
 above, from above, w dst it all come in answer to 
 'prayer. 
 
 Christlike praying in secret will be the secret 
 of Christlike living in public. let us rise 
 and avail ourselves of our wonderful privilege 
 — the Christlike boldness of access into the 
 Father's presence, the Christlike liberty with God 
 in prayer. 
 
IN UIS PRAYINO. 
 
 131 
 
 ifice of 
 
 my blessed Lord, Thou hast called me, and T 
 have followed Thee, that I may bear Thy image in 
 all tliinj^'S. Daily would I seek Thy footsteps, that 
 I may be led of Thee whithersoever Thou goest. 
 This day I have found them, wet with the dew of 
 iiiulit, leading to the wilderness. There I have 
 seen Tliee kneeling for hours before the Father. 
 There I have heard Tliee, too, in prayer. Thou 
 •.'ivest up all to the Father's glory, and from 
 the Father dost ask, and expect, and receive all. 
 liii[)ress, I beseech Thee, this wonderful vision deep 
 in my soul : my Saviour rising up a great while 
 Ijefore day to seek communion with His Father, 
 and to ask and obtain in prayer all that He 
 needed for His life and work. 
 
 my Lord ! who am I that I may thus listen 
 to Thee ? Yea, who am I that Tliou dost call me 
 to )»iay, even as Thou hast done ? Precious Saviour, 
 from the depths of my heart I beseech Thee, 
 awaken in me the same strong need of secret 
 prayer. Convince me more deeply that, as with 
 Thee so with me, the Divine life cannot attain its 
 full growth without much secret communion with 
 my heavenly Father, so that my soul may indeed 
 dwell in the light of His countenance. Let this 
 conviction awaken in me such burning desire that 
 I may not resu until each day utrenh my soul has 
 heen baptized in the streams of heavenly love. 
 Thou, who art my Example and Intercessor ! 
 teach me to pray like Thee. Amen. 
 
 . yi 
 

 V 
 
 JH 
 
 132 
 
 LIKK CHRIST: 
 
 
 Pllf 
 
 iHi 
 
 ii!i 
 
 I ;&: 
 
 Eighteenth Da v. 
 
 LIKE CHEIST: 
 
 In ©is Wi%t of ^cripture^ 
 
 ' That all things must be fulfilled which were written in the 
 law of Moses, and the Prophets, and in the Fsalins, concerning 
 me.' — LuKU xxiv. 44. 
 
 WHAT the Lord Jesus accomplished here on 
 earth as man He owed greatly to His use 
 of the Scriptures. He found in them the way 
 marked in which He had to walk, the food and 
 the strength on which He could work, the weapon 
 by which He could overcome every enemy. Tiie 
 Scriptures were indeed indispensable to Him tlirongli 
 all His life and ])assion : from beginning to en(^ His 
 life was the fulfilment of what had been wriltcn 
 of Him in the volume of the Book. 
 
 It is scarcely necessary to adduce proofs of tliis. 
 In tlie temptation in the wilderness it was by His 
 * It in wriW'n ' Lliat He conquered Satan. In llis 
 conflicts with the Pharisees He continually appealed 
 to the Word: ' Wliat saith the. Scripture/' ' II<n:e 
 yc not read?' 'Is it not written?' In His inter- 
 course with His disciples it was always from the 
 Scriptures that He proved the certainty and 
 
IN HIS USE OF SCUllTUKE. 
 
 l:J3 
 
 necessity of His suflerings and resurrection : ' Hoio 
 ofhrrmsc can tin Scripturea he fulfilled V And in 
 His intercourse witli ICis Father in His last sufler- 
 ings, it is in the words of Scripture that He pours 
 out the complaint of being forsaken, and then 
 a;i;ain commends His spirit into the Father's hands. 
 All this has a very deep meaning. He was Him- 
 self the livhig Word. He had the Spirit without 
 iiuasure. If ever any one, He could have done 
 wiiliout the written Word. And yet we see that it 
 is everything to Him. More than any one else He 
 thus shows us that the life of Gud in Imman fii^h 
 anil the word of God in kuman sparh are inseparably 
 connected. Jesus would not have been what He 
 was, could not have done what He did, had He not 
 yielded Himself step by step to be led and sustained 
 i)y the Word of God. 
 
 Let us try and understand what this teaclies us. 
 The Word of God is more than once called Seed ; 
 it is the seed of the Divine life. We know what 
 seed is. It is that wonderful organism in wliich 
 the life, the invisible essence of a plant or tree, 
 is so concentrated and embodied that it can be 
 taken away and made available to imi)art the life 
 of the tree elsewhere. This use may be twofold. 
 As fruit we eat it, for instance, in the corn that 
 gives us bread ; and the life of the plant becomes 
 our nourishment and our Hfe, Or we sow it, and 
 the life of the plant re;iroduces and multii)lies 
 itself. In both aspects the Word of God is 
 seed, 
 
 rie ■ 
 
 
 i t 
 
 'Jii 
 
 v-'\ 
 
 ^^'\ ,^.li 
 
134 
 
 LIKE CHRIST : 
 
 True life is found only in God. But that life 
 cannot be imparted to us unless set before us in 
 some shape in which we know and apprehend it. 
 It is in the Word of God that the Invisible Divine 
 life takes shape, and brings itself within our reacli, 
 and becomes communicable. The life, the thoughts, 
 the sentiments, the power of God are embodied in His 
 words. And it is only through His Word that the 
 life of God can really enter into us. His Word is 
 the seed of the Heavenly life. 
 
 As the bread of life we eat it, we feed upon it. 
 In eating our daily bread, the body takes in the 
 nourishment wliich visible nature, the sun and 
 the earth, prepared for us in the seed-corn. "We 
 assimilate it, and it becomes our very own, part of 
 ourselves, it is our life. In feeding upon the Word 
 of God, the powers of the Heavenly life enter into 
 us, and become our very own ; we assimilate them, 
 they become a part of ourselves, the life of our 
 life. 
 
 Or we use the seed to plant. The words of God 
 are sown in our heart. They have a Divine power 
 of reproduction and nmltiplication. The very life 
 that is in them, the Divine thought, or disposition, 
 or powers that each of them contains, takes roots in 
 the believing heart and grows up ; and the very 
 thing of which the word was the expression, is 
 produced within us. The words of God are the 
 seeds of the fulness of the Divine life. 
 
 When the Lord Jesus was made man. He became 
 f'Titirely dependent upon the Word of God, He sub- 
 
at life 
 us in 
 3nd it. 
 Divine 
 ■ reach, 
 oughts, 
 I in His 
 hat the 
 ^''ord is 
 
 upon it. 
 in tlie 
 iun and 
 ■n. We 
 , part of 
 he Word 
 [iter into 
 e them, 
 of our 
 
 s of God 
 10 power 
 very life 
 iposition, 
 
 roots in 
 the very 
 3Ssion, is 
 
 are the 
 
 :e became 
 He suh- 
 
 IN HIS USE OF SCRIllUKE. 
 
 135 
 
 niitted Himself wholly to it. His mother taught it 
 Him. The teachers of Nazareth instructed Him in 
 it. In meditation and prayer, in the exercise of 
 obedience and faith, He was led, during His silent 
 years of preparation, to understand and appropriate 
 it. The Word of the Father was to the Son tlic life 
 of His soul. What He said in the wilderness was 
 spoken from His inmost personal exjierience : * Man 
 ■^hull not live by bread alone, but by every word 
 tliat proceedeth out of the mouth of God/ He felt 
 He could not live but as thaW^ord brought Him tlie 
 Hfe of the Father. His whole life was a life of faith, 
 a depending on the Word of the Father. The Word 
 was to Him not instead of the Father, but the 
 veliicle for the living fellowship with the living God. 
 And He had His whole mind and heart so filled 
 with it, that the Holy Spirit could at eacli moment 
 tind within Him, all ready for use, the right word to 
 sugujest just as He needed it. 
 
 CliiUl of God ! would you become a man of God, 
 strong in faith, full of blessing, rich in fruit to tlie 
 ^lory of God, be full of the* Word of God. Like 
 <Jhrist, make the Word your bread. Let it dwell 
 riclily in you. Have your heart full of it. Feed on 
 it, Believe it. Obey it. It is only by believing 
 and obeying that the Word can enter into our inward 
 parts, into our very being. Take it day by day as 
 tlie Word that proceedeth, not lias proceeded, but 
 })roceedeth, is proceeding out of the mouth of God, 
 as the Word of the living God, who in it holds 
 living fellowship with His children, and speaks to 
 
 1 I 
 
 
 
 m 
 
136 
 
 LIKE CHRIST : 
 
 them in living power. Take your thoughts of God's 
 will, and God's work, and God's purpose with you, 
 and the world, not from the Church, not from 
 Cliristians around you, but from the Woixl taught 
 you by the Father, and like Christ, you will be able 
 to fulfil all that is written in the Scripture concerning 
 you. 
 
 In Christ's use of Scripture the most remarkable 
 thi!ig is this : He, found Himself there ; He saiv there 
 His own image and likeness. And lie gave Himself 
 to the fulfilment of what He found wiitten there. 
 It was this that encouraged Him under the bitterest 
 suderings, and strengthened Him for the most 
 difficult work. Everywhere He saw traced by 
 God's own hand the Divine waymark : throwjh. 
 suffering to glory. He had but one thought : to be 
 what the Father had said He should be, to have 
 His life correspond exactly to the image of what He 
 should be as He found it in the Word of God. 
 
 Disciple of Jesus, in the Scriptures thij likeness too 
 is to he found, a picture of wliat the Father means 
 thee to be. Seek to have a dee[) and clear impres- 
 sion of what the Father says in His word that thou 
 shouldest be. If this is once fully understood, it is 
 inconceivable what courage it will give to conquer 
 every difficulty. To know : it is ordained of God ; I 
 have seen what has been written concerning me in 
 God's book ; I liave seen the image of what I am 
 called in God's counsel to be : this thought inspires 
 the soul with a faith that conquers the world. 
 
 The Lord Jesus found His own image not only 
 
IN HIS USE OF RCRIPTUUE. 
 
 1'^ 
 
 o I 
 
 ill the institutions, but specially in the believers of 
 the Old Testament. Moses and Aaron, Joshua, 
 David, and the Prophets, were types. And so lie is 
 Himself again the imaj^e of believers in the New 
 Testament. It is especially in Him and His 
 mimplc that we must find our own image in the 
 Scrii)tures. ' To be changed into the same image, 
 from glory to glory, by the Spirit of the Lord,' we 
 must in the Scripture-glass gaze on that image as 
 uur own. In order to accomplish His work in 
 us, the Spirit teaches us to tuke Christ as in very 
 deed our Example, and to gaze on every feature as 
 the promise of what we can be. 
 
 Blessed the Christian who has truly done this ; 
 who has not only found Jesus in the Scriptures, but 
 also in Ilis image the promise and example of what 
 he is to become. Blessed the Christian who yields 
 liiuiself to be taught by the Holy Spirit not to 
 indulge in human thoughts as to tlie Scriptures and 
 what it says of believers, but in simpliidty to accei>t 
 wliat it reveals of God's thoughts about His 
 tliildren. 
 
 Ciiild of God ! it was ' according to tlie Scriptures' 
 I hat Jesus Christ lived and died; it was 'according 
 to tlie Scriptures' that He was raised again : all that 
 the Scriptures said He must do or suH'er He was 
 ahle to accom[)lish, because He knew and ob.^yed 
 them. All that the Scriptures had promised that 
 the Father should do for Him, the Father did. O 
 ^ivij thyself up with an undi\ided lieart to learn in 
 tlie Scriptures what God says and seeks of thee. 
 
 
 \ I 
 
 ^1' 
 
I 
 
 
 i I 
 
 I'h 
 
 ' ^1 
 
 138 
 
 LIKE CHRIST: 
 
 Let the Scriptures in which Jesus found every day 
 the food of His life, be thy daily food and meditation. 
 Go to God's Word each day with the joyful and con- 
 fident expectation, that through the blessed Spirit, 
 who dwells in us, the Word will indeed accomplish 
 its Divine purpose in thee. Every word of God is 
 full of a Divine life and power. Be assured that 
 when thou dost seek to use the Scriptures as Christ 
 u.scil them, tliey will do for thee what they did for 
 KTiTu God has marked out the plan of thy life in 
 His Word ; each day thou wilt find some portion of 
 it *^ier( Nothing makes a man more strong and 
 courageous than the assurance that he is just living 
 out the will of God. God Himself, who had thy 
 image portrayed in the Scriptures, will see to it that 
 the Scriptures are fulfilled in thee, if like His Son 
 thou wilt but surrender thyself to this as the highest 
 object of thy life. 
 
 Lord, my God ! I thank Thee for Thy precious 
 Word, the Divine glass of all unseen and eternal 
 realities. I thr.nk Thee that I have in it the image 
 of Thy Son, who is Thy image, and also, wonder- 
 ful grace ! my image. I thank Thee that as I gaze 
 on Him I may also see what I can be. 
 
 my Father ! teach me rightly to understand 
 what a blessing Thy Word can bring me. To Thy 
 Son, when here on earth, it was the manifestation 
 of Thy will, the communication of Tliy life and 
 strength, the fellowship with Thyself. In the 
 acceptance and the surrender to Thy Word He was 
 
tril 
 
 ft 
 
 IN HIS USE OF SCRIPTURE. 
 
 139 
 
 ry day 
 tation. 
 id con- 
 Spirit, 
 mpUsh 
 God is 
 ed that 
 J Christ 
 did for 
 f life in 
 )rtion of 
 ong and 
 3t living 
 had thy 
 ;o it that 
 Hi3 Son 
 e highest 
 
 able to fulfil all Thy counsel. May Thy Word be all 
 tliis to me too. Make it to me, each day afresh 
 through the unction of the Holy Spirit, the Word 
 proceeding from the mouth of God, the voice of Thy 
 living presence speaking to me. May I feel with 
 each word of Thine that it is God coming to im- 
 part to me somewhat of His own life. Teach me to 
 keep it hidden in my heart as a Divine seed, which 
 in its own time will spring up and reproduce in me 
 in Divine reality the very life that was hid in it, 
 the very thing which I at first only saw in it as a 
 thought. Teach me above all, my God, to find in 
 it Him who is its centre and substance, Himself the 
 Eternal Word. Finding Him, and myself in Him, 
 as my Head and Exemplar, I shall learn like 
 Him to count Thy Word my food and my life. 
 
 I ask this, O my God, in the name of our blessed 
 Christ Jesus. Amen. 
 
 11 
 
 ■m 
 
 ^ i 
 
 derstand 
 To Thy 
 
 ifestation 
 
 life and 
 
 In the 
 
 dHe was 
 

 
 fciLL 
 
 140 
 
 LIKE ClIKIST. 
 
 Nineteenth Day. 
 
 LIKE CHRIST: 
 
 hi JForfltbing^ 
 
 ' Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any 
 man have a quarrel against any : euen as Christ forgave you, so 
 also do ye.'' — Col. iii. 13. 
 
 IN the life ^f grace forgiveness is one of the first 
 blessings we receive from God. It is also one 
 of the most glorious. It is the transition from the 
 old to the new life ; the sign and pledge of God's love: 
 with it we receive the right to all the spiritual gifts 
 which aie prepared for us in Christ. The redeeiiicd 
 saint can never forget, either here or in eternity, 
 that he is a forgiven sinner. Nothing works mure 
 mightily to inflame his lo\e, to awaken his joy, or to 
 stiengthen his counige, than the experience, continu- 
 ally renewed by the Holy Spirit as a living reality, of 
 God's forgiving love. I'^very day, yes, every thought 
 of God reminds him : I owe all to pardoning grace. 
 This forgiving love is one of the greatest marvels 
 in the manifestation of the Divine nature. In it 
 God finds His glory and blessedness. And it is in 
 this glory and blessedness God wants His redeemed 
 people to share, when He calls upon them, as soon 
 
IN FORGIVING. 
 
 141 
 
 ■ j 
 
 and as much as they have received forgiveness, also 
 to bestow it upon others. 
 
 Have you ever noticed how often and how ex- 
 pressly the Lord Jesus spoke of it? If we read 
 thoughtfully our Lord's words in Matt. vi. 12, 15, 
 xviii. 2-25, Mark xi. 25, we shall understand how 
 insex)arably the two are united : God's forgiveness of 
 us and our forgiveness of others. ' After the Lord was 
 ascended to grant repentance and forgiveness of sins, 
 the Scriptures say of Him just what He had said of 
 the Father, we must forgive like Him. As our text 
 expresses it, even as Christ has f(rgiven you, so also do 
 ye. We must be like God, like Christ, in forgiving. 
 
 It is not difficult to find the reason for this. 
 When forgiving love comes to us, it is not only to 
 deliver us from punishment. No, much more ; it 
 seeks to win us for its own, to take possession of us 
 and to dwell in us. And when thus it has come 
 down to dwell in us, it does not lose its own 
 heavenly character and beauty : it still is forgiving 
 love seeking to do its work not alone towards 
 lis, but in us, and through us, leading and enabling 
 us to forgive those who sin against us. So much 
 s(» is this the case, that we are told that not to 
 forgive is a sure sign that one has himself not been 
 forgiven. He who only seeks forgiveness from 
 seltishness and as freedom from punislnnent, but has 
 not truly accepted forgiving love to rule his heart 
 and life, proves that God's forgiveness has never 
 really reached him. He who, on the other hand, 
 has really accepted forgiveness will have in the joy 
 
 
 n ffl; i 
 
 ■ 
 
 1 
 
 
 iSR i" 
 
 "'■■^ 
 
 
 
 
 
 11 
 
 ■i:- 
 
 
 I^Hi^t'^ 
 
 ^.:,i. 
 
 1 
 
 V 
 
 m 
 
 j 
 
 1' 
 
 
 
 Hi 
 
 n . 1 
 
 ^^^^iH 
 
 i^ 
 
 
142 
 
 LIKE CHRIST : 
 
 with which he forgives others, a continual confirma- 
 tion, that his faith in God's forgiveness of himself 
 is a reality. From Christ to receive forgiveness, and 
 like Christ to bestow it on others : these two are one. 
 
 Thus the Scriptures and the Church teach : but 
 what do the lives and experience of Christians say ? 
 Alas ! how many there are who hardly know that 
 thus it is written, or who, if they know it, think it is 
 more than can be expected from a sinful being ; or 
 who if they agree in general to what has been said, 
 always find a reason, in their own particular case, 
 why it should not be so. Others might l)e 
 strengthened in evil; the offender would never 
 forgive had the injury been done to him ; there are 
 very many eminent Christians who do not act so ; 
 such excuses are never wanting. And yet tlie 
 command is so very simple, and its sanction so very 
 solemn : ' Even as Christ has forgiven you, so also 
 do ye ; ' ' If ye forgive not, neither will your Fatlicr 
 forgive you.* With such human reasonings tlie 
 Word of God is made of none effect. As though it 
 were not just through forgiving love that God seeks 
 to conquer evil, and therefore forgives even unto 
 seventy times seven. As though it were not plain, 
 that not what the offender would do to me, but ichat 
 Christ has done, must be the rule of my cqnduet. 
 As though conformity to the example not of Christ 
 Himself, but of pious Christians, were the sign that 
 I have truly received the forgiveness of sins. 
 
 Alas ! what Church or Christian circle in which 
 the law of forgiving love is not grievously trans- 
 
IN FORGIVING. 
 
 143 
 
 iiressed ? How often in our Church assemblies, in 
 pliilanthropic undertakings as well as in ordinary 
 social intercourse, and even in domestic life, proof is 
 given that to many Christians the nail to forgive, 
 just as Christ did, has never yet become a ruling 
 principle of their conduct. On account of a differ- 
 ence of opinion, or opposition to a course of action 
 that appeared to us right, on the ground of a real 
 or a fancied slight, or the report of some unkind or 
 thoughtless word, feelings of resentment, or contempt, 
 or estrangement, have been harboured, instead of 
 loving, and forgiving, and forgetting like Christ. 
 In such the thought has never yet taken possession 
 of mind and heart, that the law of compassion 
 and love and forgiveness, in which the relation of 
 the liead to the members is rooted, must rule the 
 whole relation of the members to each other. 
 
 Beloved followers of Jesus ! called to manifest 
 His likeness to the world, learn that as forgiveness 
 of your sins was one of the first things Jesus did 
 for you, forgiveness of others is one of the first that 
 you can do for Him. And remember that to the 
 new heart there is a joy even sweeter than that of 
 being forgiven ; even the joy of forgiving otheis. 
 Tlie joy of being forgiven is only that of a sinner txiA 
 of earth : the joy of forgiving is Christ's own joy, 
 tlie joy of heaven. Oh, come and see that it is 
 nothing less than the work that Chiist Himself does, 
 and the joy with which He Himself is satisfied that 
 thou art called to participate in. 
 
 It is thus that thou canst bless the world. It is 
 

 144 
 
 LIKK CIIKIST: 
 
 jis the for^iviiij,' One that Jesus conquers His 
 enemies, and hinds His friends to Himself. It is 
 as the forgivin*^ One tliat Jesus has set \\\ 
 kingdom and continually extends it. It is tliroiigli 
 the same hn'giving love, not only preached hut shown 
 in the life of His (fisr.iplfK, tliat the Churcli will con- 
 vince tlie world of (iod's love. If the world sec; 
 men and women loving and forgiving as Jesus did, 
 it will he compelled to confess that God is with 
 tliem of a truth. 
 
 And if it still ai)pear too hard and too higli, 
 rememher tluit this will only he as long as we 
 consult the natural heart. A sinful nature has no 
 taste for this joy, and never can attain it. P' 'n 
 union with Christ we can do it: lie who • 5 
 in Him walks even as He walked. H' you have 
 surrenderc<l yourself to follow Christ in ever;,' thing, 
 tlien He will by Hi-? Holy Sjtirit enable you to do 
 tliis too. Ere ever you come into temiitation, 
 accustom yourself to fix your gaze on Jesus, in the 
 heaveidy beauty of His forgiving love as your 
 exam])le : ' liehohHng the glory of the Lord, we are 
 changed into the same image, from glory to glory.' 
 P^very lime you pray or thank Cod for forgiveness, 
 nudvc the vow tliat to the glory of His name you 
 will manifest the same forgiving love to all around 
 you. Before ever there is a ([uestion of forgiveness 
 of others, let your heart l>f^ fdled witli love to 
 (.Mirist, love to the brethren, and love to enemies: a 
 lieart full of love finds it blessed to forgive. Let, 
 in each little circumstance of daily life when the 
 
IN FOIUJIVING. 
 
 145 
 
 temptation not to forgive might arise, tlic oppor- 
 tunity be joyfully welcomed to show how truly you 
 live in God's forgiving love, how ulad you are to 
 let its beautiful light shitie through you on others, 
 and how blessed a privilege you feel it to be thus 
 tuo to bear the image of your beloved Lord. 
 
 i ^ M 
 
 To forgive like Thee, blessed Son of God ! I take 
 this as the law of my life. Thou who hast given 
 the command, givest also the power. Thou who 
 hiidst love enough to forgive me, wilt also fill me 
 with love and teach me to forgive "thers. Thou 
 wlio didst give me the first blessing, in the joy of 
 having my sins forgiven, wilt surely give me the 
 second blessing, the deeper joy of forgiving others 
 as Thou hast forgiven me. Oli, lill me to this end 
 with faith in the power of Thy love in me, to make 
 me like Thyself, to enable me to forgive the seventy 
 times seven, and so to love and bless all around me. 
 
 my Jesus ! Thy example is my law : I must 
 be like Thee. And Thy example is my gospel too : 
 I can be as Thou art. Thou art at once my Ljiw 
 and my Life. What Thou demandest of me by Thy 
 example. Thou workest in me by Thy life. 1 shall 
 forgive like Thee. 
 
 Lord, only lead me deeper into my dependence 
 ou Thee, into the all-sufliciency of Thy grace and 
 the blessed keeping which comes from Thy indwell- 
 ing. Then shall I believe and prove the all-pre- 
 vailing power of love. I shall forgive even as 
 Christ has forgiven me. Amen. 
 
 K 
 
 itf^ 
 
146 
 
 UKE OllKLiT : 
 
 Twentieth Day. 
 
 iiP' 
 
 'ti 
 
 LIKE CHKIST: 
 
 In iiefioltimg Jltm. 
 
 'But we all, with open face beholding as in a glaea the glory 
 of the Lord, are changed into the same image, from glory to 
 glory, euen as by the Spirit of the Lord.'— 2 Cou. iii. 18. 
 
 MOSES had been forty days on the mount in 
 communion with God. When he canu; 
 down, his face shone with Divine glory. He did 
 not know it himself, but Aaron and the people saw 
 it (Ex. xxxiv. oO). It was so evidently God's glory 
 that Aaron and the people feared to approach hiin. 
 
 In this we have an image of what takes place In 
 the New Testament. The privilege Moses there 
 alone enjoyed is now the portion of every believer. 
 When we behold the glory of God in Christ, in the 
 glass of the Holy Scriptures, His glory shines upon 
 us, and into us, and fills us, until it si lines out from 
 us again. By gazing on His glory the believer i? 
 changed through the Spirit into the same image. 
 Beholding Jesus makes uh like Him. 
 
 It is a law of nature that the eye exercises a mighty 
 influence on mind and character. The education of 
 a child is carried on greatly through the eye ; he is 
 moulded very nmch by the manners and habits of 
 those he sees continually. To form and mould our 
 
' u 
 
 m 
 
 IN BI'UIOLDING IlIM. 
 
 147 
 
 the glory 
 1 glory to 
 
 18. 
 
 louiit ill 
 le caiiio 
 He did 
 jople saw 
 3d's glory 
 ch l»iin- 
 place in 
 es til ere 
 believer, 
 st, in the 
 lies upon 
 out from 
 eliever i^ 
 e image. 
 
 a mighty 
 
 ication of 
 
 |ye ; lie is 
 
 habits of 
 
 uould our 
 
 clinraotcr the Heavenly Father shows us His Divino 
 nloiT in the face of Jesus. He does it in the expec- 
 tiitioii that it will give us great joy to gaze upon it, 
 and because He knows that, gJ^zing on it, we shall 
 lie conformed to the same image. Let every one who 
 desires to be like Jesus note how he can attain to it. 
 
 Look continually to the Divine glory as seen in 
 riuist. Wliat is the special characteristic of that 
 glury ? It is the manifestation of Divine perfection 
 in human form. The chief marks of the image of 
 tlic Divine glory in Christ are these two : His 
 humiliation a:)d His love. 
 
 Tliere is the glory of His humiliation. Wlien you 
 see how the eternal Son emptied Himself and became 
 man, and how as man He humbled Himself as a 
 servant and was obedient even unto the death of the 
 cross, you have seen the highest glory of God. The 
 }i;loiy of God's omnipotence as Creator, and the glory 
 of (Jod's holiness as King, is not so wonderful as this : 
 tlie glory of grace which humbled itself as a servant 
 to serve God and man. We must learn to look upon 
 this humiliation as really glory. To le humUcd like 
 Christ must he to us the only fhiivj worthy the name of 
 ijhirij on earth. It must become in our eyes the 
 must beautiful, the most wonderful, the most 
 desirable thing that can be imngincd ; a very joy 
 to look upon or to think of. The effect of thus 
 gazing upon it and admiring it will be tlui*; you 
 will not be able to conceive of any glory greater 
 than to be and act like Jesus, and will long to 
 hiunble yourself even as He did. Gazing on Jesus, 
 luhniring and adoring Him, will work in us the 
 
 " . ; , ' i 
 
 i '■■ 
 
 1 1 
 
 
148 
 
 LIKE CHRIST : 
 
 same mind that there was in Him, and so we shiill 
 be changed into His imaj^^e. 
 
 Inseparable from this is the glory of His love. 
 The humiliation leads you back to the love as its 
 origin and power. It is from love tliat the humilia- 
 tion has its beauty. Love is the highest glory of 
 God. But this love was a hidden mystery, until it 
 was manifest in Christ Jesus. It is only in His 
 humanity, in His gentle, compassionate, and loving 
 intercourse with men, with foolish, sinful, hostile 
 men, that the glory of Divine love was first really 
 seen. The soul tluit gets a glimpse of this glory, 
 and that understands that to love like Christ is alum 
 worthy the name of glory, will long to become Hke 
 Christ in this. Beholding this glory of the love of 
 God in Christ, he is changed to the same image. 
 
 You would be like Christ ? Here is the path. 
 Gaze on the glory of God in Him. In Him, that 
 is to say ; do not look only to the words and the 
 thoughts and the graces in which His glory is seen, 
 but look to Himself, the living, loving Christ. Behold 
 Him, look into His very eye, look into His face, as 
 a loving friend, as the living God. 
 
 Look to Him in adoration. Bow before Him as God. 
 His glory has an almighty living power to impart 
 itself to us, to pass over into us and to fill us. 
 
 Look to Him in faith. Exercise the blessed 
 trust that He is yours, that He lias given Himself 
 to you, and that you have a claim to all that is iu 
 Him. It is His purpose to work out His image ni 
 you. Behold Him with the joyful and certaiu 
 expectation: the glory that I behold in Him is 
 
IN BEHOLDING HIM. 
 
 149 
 
 destined for me. He will give it me ; as I gaze 
 and wonder and trust, I become like Christ. 
 
 Look to Him with strong desire. Do not yield 
 to the slothfulness of the flesh that is satisfied with- 
 out the full blessing of conformity to the Lord. 
 Pray God to free you from all carnal resting con- 
 tent with present attainments, and to fill you with 
 the deep unquenchable longing for His glory. 
 Pray most fervently the prayer of Moses, ' Show me 
 Thy glory.* Let nothing discourage you, not even tlie 
 apparently slow progress you make, but press onwards 
 with ever growing desire after the ]»lessed prospect 
 timt God's Word holds out to you : ' We are changed 
 into the same image, from glory to glory.' 
 
 And as you behold Him, above all, let the look of 
 love not be wanting. Tell Him continually how He 
 has won your heart, how you do love Him, how 
 entirely you belong to Him. Tell Him that to please 
 Him, the beloved One, is your highest, your only joy. 
 Let the bond of love between you and Him be drawn 
 continually closer. Love unites and makes like. 
 
 Lihc Christ ! we can be it, we sliall be it, each 
 in our measure. The Holy Sjjirit is the pledge 
 that it shall be. God's Holy Word has said, ' We 
 are changed into the same image, from glory to 
 i;lory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.' This is 
 the Spirit that was in Jesus, and through Whom the 
 Divine glory lived and shone on Him. This Spirit 
 is called ' The Spirit of glory.* This Spirit is in us 
 as in the Lord Jesus, and it is His work, in our 
 silent adoring contemplation, to bring over into us 
 and work within us, what we see in our Lord Jesus. 
 
 |r^"';f 
 
 i ';: 
 
 I 
 
 / ,: :.i\ 
 
 
 t, 
 
 ^ 
 
 Ml 
 
 i.' 
 
 
 li 
 
^*>ai 
 
 < m 
 
 I 
 
 I 
 
 ; « i: 
 ; i I 
 
 '■I 
 
 M 
 
 150 
 
 LIKE ciiiasT : 
 
 Throu.i4h this Spirit we have already Christ's life in 
 us, with all the gifts of His grace. But that life 
 must be stirred up and developed : it must grow 
 up, pass into our whole being, take possession of our 
 entire nature, penetrate and pervade it all. "VVe 
 can count on the Spirit to work this in us, if we 
 but yield ourselves to Him and obey Him. As we 
 gaze on Jesus in the Word, He opens our eyes to 
 see the glory of all tliat Jesus does and is. He 
 makes us willing to be like Him. He strengthens 
 our faith, that what we behold in Jesus can be in 
 us, because Jesus Himself is ours. He works in us 
 unconsingly the life of abiding in Christ, a whole- 
 iiearted union and communion with Him. He does 
 according to the promise : ' The Spirit shall glorify 
 me : for He shall take of mine and shall show it 
 unto you.' We are changed into the image on 
 which we gaze, from glory to glory, as hy the Spirit 
 of the Lord. Let us only understand, that the 
 fulness of the Spirit is given to us, and that lia 
 who believiiigly surrenders himself to be filled with 
 Him, will experience how gloriously He accom- 
 plishes His work of stamping on our souls and 
 lives the image and likeness of Christ. 
 
 Brother ! beholding Jesus and His glory, you can 
 confidently expect to become like Him : only trust 
 yourself in quietness and restfuhiess of soul to the 
 leading of the Spirit. ' The Spirit of glory rests upon 
 vou.* Gaze on and adore the glory of God in Christ ; 
 you will be changed with Divine power from glory 
 to glory; in the power of the Holy Ghost the 
 mighty transformation will be wrought by which 
 
IN BEHOLDING HIM. 
 
 151 
 
 your desires will be fulfilled, and like Christ will be 
 the blessed God-given experience of you life. 
 
 my Lord ! I do thank Thee for the glorious 
 assurance that while I am engaged with Thee, in 
 my work of beholding Thy glory, the Holy Spirit 
 is engnged with me, in His work of chnnging me 
 into that image, and of laying of Tliy glory on me. 
 
 Lord ! grant me to behold Thy glory aright. 
 ]\fo,ses had been forty days with Thee when Thy 
 glory shone upon Him, I ncknowlcdge that my 
 coniniunion with Tliee has been too short and passing, 
 that I have taken too little time to come under the 
 full impression of what Thine image is. Lord ! teach 
 Hie this. Draw me in these my meditations too, to 
 surrender myself to contemplate and adore, until 
 my soul at every line of that image may exclaim : 
 This is glorious ! this is the glory of God ! my 
 God, show me Thy glory. 
 
 And strengthen my faith, blessed Lord ! that, even 
 wlicn I am not conscious of any sjiccial experience, 
 the Holy Spirit will do His woik. IMo.ses knew 
 not that his face shone. Lord ! kee]) me from 
 looking at self : May I be so taken up only with 
 TJK'e as to forget and lose myself in Thee. Lord ! 
 it is he who is dead to self who lives in Thee. 
 
 my Lord, as often as I gaze upon Thine image 
 aiij Thine example, I would do it in the faith, that 
 Tliy Holy Spirit will iill me, will take entire 
 possession of me, and so work Thy likeness in me, 
 tliat the world nuiy see in me somewhat of Thy 
 glory. In this faith I will venture to take Thy 
 
 U ■ 
 
 i 
 
 -m 
 
B' . 
 
 ■ i 
 
 ^m 
 
 I 
 
 152 
 
 LIKK CllHIST: 
 
 precious word, ' From glory to glory,' as my watch- 
 word, to be to me tlie promise of a grace that grows 
 richer every day, of a blessing that is ever ready 
 to surpass itself, and to make what has been given 
 only the pledge of the better that is to come. 
 Precious Saviour ! gazing on Thee it shall indeed be 
 so, ' From glory to glory.' Amen. 
 
 NOTE. 
 
 I have left the preceding piece as it was originally 
 published in Dutch. The English Revised Version 
 translates : ' But we all, with unveiled face reflecting as 
 in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are transforraed into 
 the same image, from glory to glory, even as from tht; 
 Lord the Spirit ; ' and gives in the margin * beholding 
 as in a mirror.' It is difficult to settle which is the 
 better translation,. as the original can bear both meanings. 
 I confess that beholding appears to me better to suit tlie 
 passage : the reflecting the image can only come after 
 we have been, or at least as we are being, * transformed 
 into the same image.' It is only as we are transformed 
 into it we can reflect it : the means of the transformtition 
 appear to be almost better expressed by beholding than 
 reflecting. However this may be, even if we prefer to 
 translate reflecting, what has been said on behohling 
 <loes not lose its force : it is the intent, longing, loving, 
 adoring gaze on the glory of God in the face of the 
 Beloved Son that transforms. 
 
 What rich instruction in regard to the Divine 
 Photography of which the text spenks there is in what 
 we see in the human art ! In the practice of the 
 photographer we see two things : faith in the power 
 and effects of light, and the wise adjustment of every- 
 thing in obedience to its laws. With what care the 
 tenderly sensitive plate is prepared to receive the 
 impression ! with what precision its relative position 
 
IN BEHOLDING HIM. 
 
 153 
 
 UiUiHHSillli 
 
 ■,:,J: 
 
 to tlic object to be portrayed is adjusted I how still and 
 undisturbed it is then held face to face with that object ! 
 Having done this, the photographer leaves the light to 
 do its wonderful work : his work is indeed a work 
 of faith. 
 
 May we learn the precious lessons. Let us believe in 
 the light, in the power of the light of God, to transcribe 
 Christ's image on our heart. 'We are cliangcd into 
 the same image as by the Spirit of the Lord.' Let us 
 not seek to do the work the Spirit must do : let us 
 simply trust Him to do it. Our duty is, to seek the 
 prepared heart, waiting, longing, praying for the like- 
 ness ; to take our place face to face with Jesus, study- 
 ing, gazing, loving, worshipping, and believing that 
 the wonderful vision of that Crucified One is the sure 
 promise of what we can be ; and then, putting aside all 
 that can distract, in stillness of soul, silent unto God, 
 just to allow the Blessed Spirit as the Light of God to 
 do the work. Not less surely or wonderfully than in 
 tlie ligl it printing which is done here on earth, will 
 our souls receive and show the impress of that wonderful 
 likeness. 
 
 I feel tempted to add one thought : what a solemn 
 calling that of ministers as the servants of this Heavenly 
 Photography, 'ministers of the Spirit' in His work 
 (see 2 Cor. iv. 6) : to lead believers on, and point them 
 to Jesus and every trait in that blessed face and life as 
 what they are to be changed to ; to help them to that 
 wistful longing, that deep thirsting for conformity to 
 Jesus, which is the true preparation of soul ; to teach 
 them how, both in public worship and private prayer, 
 they have just to place themselves face to face with their 
 Tiord, and give llim time, as they unbare and expose 
 their whole inner being to the beams of His love and 
 His glory, to come in and take possession, by His Sjurit 
 to transform them into His own likeness. 
 
 * Who is sufficient for these things ? Our sufficiency is 
 of God, who hath made us able ministers of the Spirit.* 
 
 ki^ ■■ 
 
ii; 
 
 
 
 ''li 
 
 
 
 IK- 
 
 i;l: 
 
 liiil 
 
 11 :. : , • 
 
 Hill 
 
 154 
 
 LIKE OiUUSTi 
 
 Twenty- First Day. 
 
 LIKE CHKLST: 
 
 In J&is 38umiUt2. 
 
 • In lowliness of mind each counting other better than himself. 
 Have thiH mind in you, which was also in Clirist Jesus, who, 
 being in the form of God, emptied Him«'^'f, talcing the form of a 
 eervant, being made in the likeness of men ; and being fonnd in 
 fasliion as a man, He humbled Himself, becoming obedient unto 
 death, yea, the death of the cross.'— Phil. ii. 3-8 (R.V.). 
 
 IN this wonderful passage we have a summary of 
 all the most precious truths that cluster round 
 the person of the blessed Son of God. There is 
 first, His adorable Divinity: 'in the form of God,' 
 ' cqnol with God! Then comes the mystery of His 
 incarnation, in that word of deep and inexhaustible 
 meaning: ' //«■ emptied Himself! The atonement 
 follows, witli the humiliation, and obedience, and 
 snfl'ering, and death, whence it derives its worth: 
 * lie humhled Himself, heeomiiuj olcdietit unto death, 
 even tloe death of the cross! And all is crowned by 
 His glorious exaltation : ' God hath highly exalted Him! 
 Christ as God, Christ becoming man, Christ as man 
 iu humiliation working out our redemption, and 
 
IN HIS HUMILITY. 
 
 155 
 
 Christ in glory as Lord of all : such are the treasures 
 of wisdom this passage contains. 
 
 Volumes have been written on the discussion of 
 some of the words the passage contains. And yet 
 siiHicient attention has not always been given to 
 th(i connection in which tlie Holy Spirit gives this 
 wondrous teaching. It is not in the first place as 
 a statement of truth for the refutation of error, or 
 tlu! strengthening of faith. The object is a very 
 (lin'erent one. Among the Philippians there was 
 still pride and want of love: it is with the distinct 
 view of setting Christ's example before them, and 
 U'lU'hing them to humble themselves as lie did, that 
 this portion of inspimtiou was given : ' In lowliness 
 of mind each counting other better than himself. 
 Have this mind in you whicli was also in Christ 
 JesuF,.' He wlio dues not study this portion of 
 God':- Word with the wish to become lowly as 
 Christ was, has never used it for the one great 
 piivi)ose for which God gave it. Christ descending 
 from the throne of CJod, and seeking His way back 
 tliore as man through the humiliation of the cross, 
 reveals the only way by which we ever can reach 
 that throne. The faith which, witli His atonement, 
 accepts His example too, is alone true faith. Each 
 soul that would truly belong to Him must in 
 union with Him have His Spirit, His disposition, 
 and His image. 
 
 ' Have this mind in you which was also in Christ 
 Jesus, who being in the form of God emjitied 
 Himself, and as a man humbled Himself.' We 
 
 i 
 
 ^fmi 
 

 i 
 
 m 
 
 i 
 
 II 
 
 
 156 
 
 LIKK CHRIST : 
 
 must be like Christ in His self-emptying and self- 
 humiliation. The first great act of self-abnegation, 
 in which as God He emptied Himself of His Divine 
 glory and power and laid it aside, was followed up 
 by the no less wondrous humbling of Himself as 
 man, to the death of the cross. And in tliis 
 amazing twofold humiliation, the astonishment of 
 the universe and the delight of the Father, Holy 
 Scripture with the utmost simplicity tells us we 
 must, as a matter of course, be like Christ. 
 
 And does Paul, and do the Scriptures, and does 
 God really expect this of us ? Why not ? or rather, 
 how can they expect anything else ? They know 
 indeed the fearful power of pride and the old 
 Adam in our nature. But they know also tliat 
 Christ has redeemed us not only from the curse but 
 from the power of sin, and tliat He gives us His 
 resurrection life and power to enable us to live 
 as He did on earth. They say that He is not only 
 our Surety, but our Example also ; so that we not 
 only live through Him, but like Him. And 
 further, not only our Example but also our Head, 
 who lives in us, and continues in us the life lie 
 once led on earth. With such a Christ, and such 
 a plan of redemption, can it be otherwise ? The 
 follower of Christ must have the same mind as was 
 in Clirist ; he must especially be like Him in His 
 humility. 
 
 Christ's example teaches us that it is not sin 
 that must humble us. This is what many Christians 
 think. They consider daily falls are necessary to 
 
IN HIS HUMILITY. 
 
 157 
 
 
 keep us humble. This is not so. There is indeed 
 a humility that is very lovely, and so of great 
 worth, as the begiiniing of something more, con- 
 sisting in the acknowledgment of transgression and 
 shortcomings. But there is a humility which is 
 more heavenly still, even like Christ, which consists, 
 even when grace keeps us from sinning, in the self- 
 iihasement that can only wonder that God should 
 l)l(jss us, and delights to be as nothing before Him 
 to whom we owe all. It is grace we need, and 
 not sin, to make and keep us humble. The heaviest- 
 laileu branches always bow the lowest. The greatest 
 How of water makes the deepest river-bed. The 
 nearer the soul comes to God, the more His majestic 
 I'resence makes it feel its littleness. It is this alone 
 tliat makes it possible for each to count others 
 better than himself. Jesus Christ, the Holy One of 
 God, is our example of humility : it was, knowing 
 tliat the Father had given all things into His hands, 
 and that He was come from God and went to God, 
 that He washed the disciples' feet. It is the Divine 
 presence, the consciousness of the Divine life and the 
 Divine love in us, that will make us humble. 
 
 It appean^ to many Christians an impossibility to 
 say : I will not think of self, I will esteem others 
 better than myself. They ask grace to overcome 
 the worst .-huUitions of pride and vainglory, but 
 an entire self-renunciation, such as Christ's, is too 
 difficult and too high for them. If they only 
 understood the deep truth and blessedness of the 
 word, ' He who humbles himself shall be exalted,' 
 
 i 
 
 m 
 
 i! i 1; 
 
 ■'hi! 
 
 i 
 
 i 
 
 1 t 
 
 I i 
 
158 
 
 UKE CilKIST : 
 
 ii :.i 
 
 :fe 
 
 * He who loses his life shall find it/ they would not 
 be sati.sliud with anything less than entire con- 
 formity to their Lord in this. And they would find 
 that there is a way to overcome self and self- 
 exaltation : to see it nailed to Christ's cross, and 
 there kciop it crucified continually through tht- 
 Spirit (Gal. v. 24; Kom. viii. 13). He only can 
 grow to such humility, who heartily yields hinisull 
 to live in the fellowship of Christ's death. 
 
 To attain this, two things are necessary. The 
 first is a fixed purpose and surrender henceforth to 
 be nothing and seek nothing for oneself; but to 
 live only for God and our neighbour. The other 
 is the faith that appropriates the power of Christ's 
 death in this also, as our death to sin and our deliver- 
 ance from its power. This fellowship of Christ's 
 death brings an end to the life, where sin is too stroiuj 
 for us ; it is the commencement of a life in us where 
 Christ is too strong for sin. 
 
 It is only under the teaching and powerful working 
 of the Holy Spirit that one can realize, accept, 
 and keep hold of this truth. But God be thanked, 
 we have the Holy Spirit. Oh that we may trust 
 ourselves fully to His guidance. He m// gm" e us, .> 
 is His work ; He will glorify Christ i' He will 
 
 teach us to understand tliat we are t i to sin and 
 the old self, that Christ's life and huniUily a7 ■ ours. 
 
 Thus Christ's humility is appropriated iu faith. 
 This may take place at once. But the appropriation 
 in experience is gradual. Our thoughts and feelings, 
 our very manners and conversation, have been so long 
 
IN ma HUMILITY". 
 
 159 
 
 midcr the doiuiiiioii of the old self, tliat it takes 
 tiiiH! to imbue and ])ernK'ale and transliji^ure tlieni 
 wilii the heavenly li,L,'iit of ( 'hrist's humility. At first 
 llie conseienee is not perfectly enli<^htened, the 
 sjiiritual taste and the jiovver of discernment have mtt 
 yet heen exerciscMl. l»ut with each believinj^ renewal 
 of the consecration in the depth of the soul: 'I 
 have surrendertrd myself to bo humble like Jesus,' 
 [lower will go out from lIim,to till the whole being, 
 until in face, and voice, and action the sanctilicatiou 
 of the S[)irit will be observable, and the Christian 
 will truly be clothed with humility. 
 
 The blessedness of a Christlike humility is un- 
 speakable. It is of great worth in the sight of (lod : 
 ' JFe giveth grace to the humble.' In the sjtiritufd 
 life it is the source of rest and joy. To thi; humble 
 all God does is right and good. Humility is 
 id ways ready to praise God for the Ic.ist of His 
 mercies. Humility does not lind it diflicult to trust. 
 It sulmiits unconditionally to all that God says. 
 Tlie two whom Jesus })raises for tlieir great faith 
 are just those who thought least of themselves. The 
 centurion had said, ' I am not worthy that Thou 
 sliouldest come under my roof;' the SyropliLMiician 
 Woman was content to be numbered with the 
 dogs. In intercourse with men it is the secret of 
 blessing and love. The humble man does not take 
 ofl'ence, and is very careful not to give it. He is 
 » \er ready to serve his neighbour, because he has 
 k'iunt from Jesus the Divine beauty of being a 
 Servant. He finds favour with God and man. 
 
 
 ' $ 
 
 xll 
 
160 
 
 LIKE CHRIST: 
 
 f'h: 
 
 Oh what a glorious calling for the followers of 
 Christ ! To be sent into the world by God to prove 
 that there is nothing more divine than self-humilia- 
 tion. The humble glorifies God, he leads others to 
 glorify Him, he will at last be glorified with Him. 
 Who would not be humble like Jesus ? 
 
 Thou, who didst descend from heaven, and didst 
 humble Thyself to the death of the cross. Thou callest 
 me to take Thy hamility as tiie law of my life. 
 
 Lord, teach me to understand the absolute need 
 of this. A proud follower of the humble Jesus 
 this I cannot, I may not be. In the secrecy of my 
 heart, and of my closet, in my house, in presence of 
 friends or enemies, in prosperity or adversity, I 
 would be filled with Thy humility. 
 
 my beloved Lord ! I feel the need of a new, 
 a deeper insight into Thy crucifixion, and my part 
 in it. Reveal to me how my old proud self is cruci- 
 fied with Thee. Show me in the light of Thy Spirit 
 how I, God's regenercvtC child, am dead to sin and 
 its power, and how in communion with Thee sin 
 is powerless. Lord Jesus, who hast conquered sin, 
 strengthen in me the faith that Thou art my life, and 
 that Thou wilt fill me with Thy humility if I will 
 submit to be filled with Thyself and Thy Holy Spirit. 
 
 Lord, my hope is in Thee. In faith in Thee I 
 go into the world to show how the same mind that 
 was in Thee is also in Thy children, and teaches us 
 in lowliness of mind each to esteem others better 
 than himself. May God help us. Amen. 
 

 IN THE LIKENESS OF llIS DEATH, 
 
 IGl 
 
 Twenty-Second Day. 
 
 LIKE CHRIST: 
 
 In t!)e 3LiUcness of ©is IBeatji^ 
 
 ' For if we have been planted together in the likeness of His 
 death, we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection.— For 
 in that He died, He died unto sin once. —Likewise reckon ye 
 also yourselves to be dead unto sin, but alive unto God in Jesus 
 Christ our Lord.' — I'oAi. vi. 5, 10, 11. 
 
 IT is to the death of Christ we owe our salvation. 
 The better we understand the meaning of that 
 (Icatli, the richer will be onr experience of its power. 
 Ill tliese words we arc tau<Tht what it is to be one 
 with Christ in the likeness of His deatli. Let 
 every one who t^uly longs to be like Christ in his 
 life, seek to understand ariglit what tlie likeness of 
 His death means. 
 
 Christ had a double work to accomplish in His 
 (Iciitli. The one was, to work out righteousness for 
 us, the other to obtain life for us. When Scripture 
 speaks of the first part of tliis work, it uses the 
 expression, Christ died for our sins : He took siu 
 upon Himself, bore its p-'Miishmcnt ; so He made 
 atonement, and brouu;irt in a righteonv,ness in which 
 we could stand before God. When Scripture 
 
162 
 
 LIKE CHEIST : 
 
 ..rol 
 
 ■' 
 
 speaks of the second part of this work, it uses the 
 e;i pression : He died to sin. Dying for sin has 
 reference to the judicial relation between Him and 
 sin : God laid our sin upon Him : through His 
 death atonement is made for sin before God. 
 Dying to sin has reference to a personal relation ; 
 through His death the connection in which He stood 
 to sin was entirely dissolved. During His life sin 
 had great power to cause Him coniiict and suffering : 
 His death made an end of tliis. Sin had now no 
 more power to tempt or to hurt Him. He was 
 beyond its reacli. Deatli had completely separated 
 between Him and sin. Christ died to sin. 
 
 Like Christ, the believer too has died to sin ; lie 
 is one with Him, in the likeness of His dealli. 
 And as the knowledge tliat Christ died for sin us 
 our atonement is indispensable to our justification; 
 so the knowledge that Christ, and we witli Him in 
 the likeness of His death, are dead to sin, is indis- 
 pensiible to our sanctification. Let us endeavour to 
 understand this. 
 
 It was as the second Adam that Christ died. 
 With the first Adam we had been planted together 
 in the likeness of Ms death : he died, and we with 
 him, and the power of his death works in us ; we 
 have in very deed died in him, as truly as he 
 himself died. We understand this. Just so we 
 are one plant with Christ in the likeness of His 
 death: He died to sin, and we in Him; and now 
 the power of His death works in us. We are 
 indeed dead to sin, as truly so as He Himself is. 
 
w 
 
 ii 
 
 iC; 
 
 i5 
 
 
 'l:<!l 
 
 IN TEE LIKENESS OF HIS DEATH. 
 
 163 
 
 es the 
 in has 
 m and 
 yh His 
 3 God. 
 ilation ; 
 [e stoud 
 life sin 
 iffcvinij;: , 
 now no 
 He was 
 3paratcd 
 
 sin ; he 
 s death, 
 pr sin as 
 itication ; 
 Him in 
 is indis- 
 iavour to 
 
 Through our first birth we were made partakers 
 in Adam's death ; through our second birth we 
 liecome partakers in the death of the .second Adam. 
 Every believer who accepts of Christ is partaker of 
 the power of His death, and is dead to sin. But a 
 believer may have much of which he is ignorant. 
 Most believers are in their conversion so occupied 
 with Christ's death /o?'sm as their justification, that 
 tliey do not seek to know wliat it means, that in 
 Ilim they are dead to sin. When they first learn 
 to feel their need of Him as their sanctification, 
 then the desire is awakened to understand this like- 
 ness of His deatli. They find the secret of holiness 
 ill it ; that as Christ, so they also have died to sin. 
 
 The Christian who does not understand this always 
 imagines that sin is too strong for Him, that sin has 
 still power over him, and that he must sometimes 
 obey it. But he thinks this because he does not 
 know that he, like Christ, is dead to sin. If He 
 but believed and understood what this means, his 
 lantruaiie would be, Ohrist has died to sin. Sin 
 has nothing more to say to Him, In His life and 
 death sin had power over Him ; it was sin that 
 caused Him the sufferings of the cross, and the 
 humiliation of the grave, liut He is dead to sin : it 
 has lost all claim over Him, He is entirely and for 
 ever freed from its power. Even so I as a believer. 
 The new life that is in me, is the life of Christ 
 from the dead, a life that has been begotten through 
 death, a life that is entirely dead to sin.' The 
 believer as a new creature in Ciirist Jesus can glory 
 
 
164 
 
 LIKE CHRIST: 
 
 and say : * Like Christ I am dead to sin. Sin has 
 no right or power over me wliatever. I am freed 
 from it, therefore I need not sin.* 
 
 And if the believer still sins, it is because he 
 does not use his privilege to live as one who is 
 dead to sin. Through ignorance or unwatchfulness 
 or unbelief, he forgets the meaning and the power 
 of this likeness of Christ's death, and sins. But if 
 he holds fast what his participation with Christ's 
 death signifies, he has the power to overcome sin. 
 He marks well that it is not said, ' Sin is dead.' No, 
 sin is not dead ; sin lives and works still in the 
 llesh. Ihit he himself is dead to sin, and alive to 
 God ; and so sin cannot for a single moment, with- 
 out his consent, have dominion over him. If he 
 sin, itis because he allows it to reign, and submits 
 himself to obey it. 
 
 Beloved Christian, who seekest to be like Christ, 
 tnke the likeness of His death as one of the most 
 glorious parts of the life you covet. Appropriate 
 it first of all in faith, lleckon that you are indeed 
 dead to sin. Let it be a settled thing ; God says 
 it to every one of His children, even the weakest ; 
 say it before Him too : ' Like Christ I am dead to 
 sin.' Fear not to say it ; it is the truth. Ask the 
 Holy Spirit earnestly to enlighten you with regartl 
 to this part of your union with Christ, so that it 
 may not only be a doctrine, but power and trutli. 
 
 Endeavour to understand more deeply what it 
 says to live as dead to sin, as one who, in dying, 
 has been freed from its dominion, and who can now 
 
IN THE LIKENESS OF HIS DEATH. 
 
 165 
 
 reign in life through Jesus 
 
 Christ over it. 
 
 Then 
 
 there will follow upon the likeness of His death, 
 accepted in faith, the conformity to His death 
 (riiil. iii.),^ something that is gradually and increas- 
 ingly appropriated, as Christ's death manifests its 
 full power in all the faculties and powers of your 
 life. 
 
 And in order to have the full benefit of this 
 likeness of Christ's death, notice particularly two 
 tilings. The one is the obligation under which it 
 brings you, ' How shall we who are dead to sin live 
 any longer therein ? ' Endeavour to enter more 
 deeply into the meaning of this death of Christ 
 into which you have been baptized. His death 
 meant: Eather die than sin : willing to die in order 
 to overcome sin : dead, and therefore released from 
 tlie power of sin. Let this also be your position : 
 'Know ye not, that as many of us as were baptized 
 into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death?* 
 Let the Holy Spirit baptize you continunlly deeper 
 into His death, until the power of God's Word, dead 
 to sin until the confornutv to Christ's death, is 
 discernible in all your walk a ad conversation. 
 
 The other lesson is this : The likeness of Christ's 
 death is not only an obligation but a power. 
 
 ^ The lilceness of Christ's death in Rom. vi. precedes the likeness 
 of Ills resurrection ; no one can be made alive in Him who has 
 lint j^iven himself up to die with Him. The. conformity to Chntit'a 
 death in Phil. iii. is spoken of as coming after tlio knowing Him 
 in the power of Ilis resurrection : the growth of the resurrection 
 life within us leads to a deeper experience of the death. The two 
 continually act and react. 
 
 III 1 
 
I 
 
 166 
 
 LIKIi CHRIST: 
 
 Christian longing to be Christlike, if there be one 
 thing you need more than and above all else, it is 
 tnis : to know the exceeding greatness of God's power 
 that worketh in you. It was in the power of 
 eternity thnt Christ in His death wrestled with tlie 
 powers of hell and conquered. You have part with 
 Christ in His death ; you have part in all tlie 
 powers by whi"h He conquered. Yield yourself 
 joyfully and believingly to be led more deeply into 
 the conformity to Christ's death, then you cannot 
 but become like Him. 
 
 my Lord ! how little I have understood Thy 
 grace. I have often read the words, ' planted into 
 the likeness of His death,' and seen that as Thou 
 didst die to sin, so it is said to Thy believing people, 
 * Likewise also ye.' But I have not understood its 
 po^ver. And so it came that, not knowing the 
 likeness of Tliy death, I knew not that 1 was free 
 from the power of sin, and as a conqueror could 
 have dominion over it. Lord, Thou hast indeed 
 opened to me a glorious prospect. The man wlio 
 believingly accepts the likeness of Tliy death, and 
 according to Thy Word reckons ^ niself dead to .siu 
 — sin shall not have dominion over him; he lias 
 power to live for God. 
 
 Lord, let Thy Holy Spirit reveal this to nie 
 more perfecily. I wisli to take Thy word in 
 simple faith, to take the position Thou assignest me 
 as one who in Thee is dead to sin. Lord, in Thee 
 I am dead to sin. Teach me to hold it fast, or 
 
IN THE LIKENESS OF HIS DEATH. 
 
 167 
 
 rntlier to hold Thee fast in faith, until my whole 
 life be a proof of it. Lord, take me up and 
 keep me in communion with Thyself, that, abiding 
 in Thee, I may find in Thee the death unto sin and 
 the life unto God. Amen. 
 
 i 'I 
 ■'1 
 
 NOTE. 
 
 At a meeting of ministers, where these words in Eom. 
 vi. 11 were being discussed, the question was asked 
 Ity the leader, which of the five different thoughts of the 
 vtsrse was the most important. He pointed out what 
 tlicse thoughts were. Tiie first, likewise also ye, suggesting 
 tlie complete likeness to Him of whom it had just been 
 s.iid, ' In that He died. He died unto sin once ; in that 
 1 It; liveth, He liveth unto God.' The second, reckon ijovr- 
 sdces, the command 'n which the duty of a large but 
 simitle faith is laid upon us. Then, dead indeed to sin, 
 tlie ti'uth in which the teaching of the previous verses is 
 Minuiicd up. Next, alive unto God, the never-failing 
 accompaniment and the blessing of the death to sin. 
 And then, through Jesus Christ our Loi'd^ in Him who is 
 c\er root and centre of all Scripture teaching. Which 
 of these clauses must be considered as that the right 
 understanding of which is most essential to the full 
 experience of the whole] 
 
 The first answer was at once given, ^dead unto sin.' 
 It is certainly this expression, the leader remarked, thai 
 above all has created such deep interest in this verse, 
 and stirred so much earnest striving to realize what it 
 implies. And yet it does not appear to me the most 
 important. 
 
 ^ Alive unto God^^ was the answer of a second. For it 
 is the life of Jesus given to us in regeneration that 
 makes us partakers of His death and its power over 
 
 * V' 
 
 -' m 
 
 ..Li ' 
 
Ilffll 
 
 168 
 
 LIKE CHKIST: 
 
 sin. 'Dead unto sin 'is only the negative aspect of what 
 we have as a positive reality in being alive unto God. 
 If we looked more at the 'alive unto God,* the 'dead 
 unto sin * would be better understood. 
 
 • Reckon yourselves ' was suggested by a third, is not 
 this command to act faith in what has been prepan d us 
 of God tlie chief thought of the verse, and that, there- 
 fore, to whicli our chief attention must be given 1 
 
 Another brother now said, * TJmnujh Jesus Christ mir 
 Lord.' Our leader said : I think 1 have lately been 
 taught that this is indeed that on the right apprehension 
 of which tlje power of the whole verse depends. 
 
 How many have been looking most earnestly for the 
 full insight into the blessedness of being dead unto sin 
 and alive unto God, and yet have failed ! How often we 
 have heard them pray, ' Lord, we arc not yet utterly d( ad, 
 but we long to be so'! How many others, who have 
 better understood the text, and have seen that everytliinir 
 depends upon the 'Reckon yourselves to be dead,' u])()ii 
 the faith that accepts God's statement of what is already 
 true and sure, yet confess that their faith is not followed 
 by the power and the blessing they hoped for ! 
 
 The mistake has been this : they have been more 
 occupied with the blessings to be had in Jesus, 'dead 
 unto sin,' ' alive unto God,' and the question as to tluir 
 experience of them, or even with the effort to exercise 
 a strong abiding faith in these blessings as theirs, than 
 with Jesus niMSi':F.F, in whom both Ihe l)lessiugs, and 
 the faith that sees them, are ours. The death unto sin, 
 the life unto God, are His (see ver. 10), are IN Hlm, 
 accomplished, living, actual, mighty realities ; it is as v:e 
 (ire IN Him, and know ourselves to be in Ilim, and so 
 come away out of ouivelves to be and abide in, Him only 
 and always, that the blessings which there are in Him 
 will, in the most simple and natural way possible, 
 spontaneously become ours in exjieiicnce, and that wo 
 shall be strengthened in faith to claim and enjoy them. 
 It must be Christ Jesus first and Christ Jesus last, lie 
 must be all. 
 
 
IN THE LIKENESS OF HIS DEATH. 
 
 IGO 
 
 See how clearly this comes out in tho third verse of 
 the chapter : ' Know ye not that so many of us as 
 were baptized info Jems ChrUt, were baptized into 
 Uk death?' The baptism into Jesus Christ was tho 
 first thing — that thoy liad understood and accepter I ; 
 the bai)tisra into His death followed from it — this they 
 wore now yet to learn the meaning of. Tlie Lord Jesu:^ 
 hal been baptized with water and with the Holy 8i)irit, 
 an<l yet He spoke of a baptism yet to come ; the full 
 outcome of His first baptism was to be the death of the 
 cross. Even so it is with us. When baptized unto 
 Christ we *put on Christ' (Gal. iii. 27), wo are made 
 partakers of Him and all He is and was, of His death 
 too. But it is only in course of time that wo get to 
 niider.stand this, and really to claim the power of His 
 (icatli unto sin and His living unto God. But we can 
 (U> this successfully only as we hold fast th«j initial 
 all-com))rehensive blessing, baptized INTO CnmsT. It is 
 the faith that goes away out to take its abo(l(! consciously 
 and permanently in Jesns that Avill have the power 
 to say, 'In CFtiiiST Jesus' we are dead unto sin, and 
 alive unto God ; ' in Christ Jesus,' we do boldly reckon 
 ourselves dead unto sin and alive unto God. 
 
 ' nai)tized into His death :' what a word ! The death 
 of our Lord Jesus was the chief thing almut Him; it 
 tiives Him His beauty, His glory, His victory, His 
 power. In the complete conformity to this, the highest 
 [irivilege of the Christian consists. To Ix; immersed, 
 plini,:^^ed into, steeped in tho death of Christ, the wholo 
 lieing penetrated with the spirit of that death, its 
 obedience, its self-sacrifice, its utter giving nyt of every- 
 thing that is of nature, that has been in contact with sin, 
 to pass through the death into the new life that God 
 L'ives : this must be the hiuhest longing of the Christian. 
 H(! has IxH'U baptized into th(! death : He yields himself 
 to the Holy Spirit to have all that it contains uiilolded 
 and ap])lied. And he does this in simple faith : he 
 knows that in Christ Jesns he is dead unto sin and alive 
 unto God. Just as the life unto God is a complete and 
 
 i:i 
 
 
170 
 
 LIKE CHRIST : 
 
 ^ ;;«: 
 
 ! -! 
 
 perfect thing, and yet subject to the law of growtli and 
 increase, so that he goes on to life more abundant, so 
 with the death to sin. In Christ he is dead unto sin, 
 completely and entirely, and yet the full enjoyment ot' 
 what that death means and works in all its extent is 
 matter of growing intelligence and experience. 
 
 But let us beware of wearying ourselves — how often 
 we have done so ! — with trying more to comprdicnd 
 exactly, and to realize feelingly, what this death to sin 
 is, and what the conscious reckoning ourselves dead is, 
 than to remember that all this comes only as we iire 
 ami abide IN Christ Jesus, in whom alone tlicso 
 blessings are ours. I may be so occu})ied with the 
 blessings and their pursuit, that I lose sight and liold 
 of Him in whom I must bo abiding most entirely if 
 I am to enjoy them. Let my first aim be in whole- 
 hearted faith and obedience to dwell in Jesus, in whnm 
 are the death unto sin and the life unto God : the whole 
 state of being which is imidied in these words is Ilis - 
 He lives it, it is His alone — as I lose myself in Him, I 
 may rest assured that the blessing I long for will come, 
 or rather, I shall know that in Him 1 have the thing 
 itself, that Divine life out of death working in me, even 
 when I know not exactly to describe it in words. And 
 I shall see how the whole power and blessedness of the 
 command gathers itself into the closing clause, 'Likewii-o 
 also ye, reckon yourselves to be indeed dead unto sin, 
 and alive unto God, in Christ Jesus.' In Christ is 
 the root of Like Christ. 
 
IN THE TJKENESS OF UIS KKSUUUKCTION, l7l 
 
 Twenty-Third Day. 
 
 mmi 
 
 LIKE CHRIST: 
 
 In t!)e Hiftcticjss of ©is Mcsurrcctfom 
 
 ' For if we have been planted together in the likeness of Hia 
 death, we should be also in the likeness of His resurrection, that 
 iiho as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of His 
 Father, euen ao we also should walk in newness of life/ — lioM. 
 
 T'l) 
 
 vi. 5, 4. 
 
 ON the likeness of His death tliere follows neces- 
 siirily the likeness of His resurrection. To 
 speak alone of the likeness of His death, of bearinj» 
 the cross, and of self-denial, gives a onesided view 
 ut" following Christ. It is only the power of His 
 n'surrection that gives us strength to go on from 
 I hat likeness of His death as what we receive at 
 mice by faith, to that conformity to His death which 
 (■nines as the growth of tlie inner life. Being dead 
 with Christ refers more to the death of the old life 
 to sin and the world which we abandon ; risen with 
 Christ refers to the new life through wliich the 
 Holy Spirit expels the old. To the Christian who 
 earnestly desires to walk as Christ did, the know- 
 ledge of this likeness of His resurrection is indispens- 
 able. Let us see if we do jiot here get the answer 
 
i 
 
 % 
 
 
 Wv„ 
 
 L'JS; 
 
 172 
 
 LIKE C1IUI3T: 
 
 to the question as to where we shall find strength 
 to live in the world as Christ did. 
 
 Wo have already seen how our Lord's life before 
 His death was a life of weaku(\ss. As our Surety, 
 sin had fjreat power over Him. It had also power 
 over His disciples, so that He could not {,'ive them 
 the Holy Spirit, or do for them what He wished. 
 But with the resurrection all was clianged. liaised 
 by the Alnii,L,dity power of God, His resurrection life 
 was full of the power of eternity. He hnd not only 
 con([uered death and sin for Himself but for 1 1 is 
 disciples, so that He could i'rom the iirst day make 
 them partakers of His Spirit, of His joy, and of His 
 heavenly power. 
 
 When the Lord Jesus now makes us partakers 
 of His life, then it is not the life that He liad 
 before His death, but the resurrection life that He 
 won through death. A life in which sin if=i alreiuly 
 made an end of and put away, a life that lias 
 already conquered hell and the devil, the world and 
 the flesh, a life of Divine power in human nature. 
 This is the life that likeness to His resurrection 
 gives us: 'In that He liveth, He liveth unto (Jod. 
 Ye also likciuise, reckon yourselves alive unto Clod 
 through Jesus Christ our Lord.' Oh that throuL,di 
 the Holy Spirit God might reveal to us the glory 
 of the life in the likeness of Christ's resurrection ! 
 In it we find the secret of power for a life of 
 conformity to Him. 
 
 To most Christians this is a mystery, and there- 
 fore their life is full of sin and weakness and defeat 
 
 \:w'- 
 
v« 
 
 IN THE LIKENESS OF HIS RESUKRECTION. 173 
 
 They believe in Christ's resurrection as the sufficient 
 ])r()of of their justification. They think that He 
 had to rise again, to continue His work in heaven 
 as Mediator. But that He rose a,ij;ain, in order tliat 
 His glorious resurrection life might now be the very 
 jwujcr of their daily life, of this they have no idea. 
 Hence their hopelessness when they liear of follow- 
 ing Jesus fully, and being perfectly conformed to 
 His image. They cannot imagine how it can be 
 re(|uired of a sinner, that he should in all tilings act 
 as (Jhrist would have done. They do not know 
 Ciirist in the power of His resurrection, or the 
 mighty power with which His life now works in 
 llidse, who are willing to count all tilings but loss 
 for His sake (Phil. iii. 8 ; Ej)h. i. 19, 20). Come, 
 all ye who are weary of a life unlike Jesus, and lung 
 to walk always in His footsteps, who begin to see 
 tliat there is in the Scriptures a better life for you 
 tlian you have hitherto known, come and let me try 
 to show you ther unspeakable treasure that is yours, 
 in your likeness to Christ in His resurrection. Let 
 me ask three questions. 
 
 The first is : Are you ready to surrender your 
 life to the rule of Jesus and His resurrection life ? 
 I doubt not that the contemplation of Christ's 
 example has convinced you of sin in more than one 
 piiint. In seeking your own will and glory instead 
 of God's, in ambition and pride and selfishness 
 and want of love towards man, you have seen how 
 far } ou r^'^ from the obedience and humility and 
 love of Je And now it is the question, whether 
 
 m 
 
 m 
 
174 
 
 LIKE CHRIST: 
 
 in view of all tliese things, in which you havo 
 acknowledged sin, you are willing to say: If Jesus 
 will take possession of my life, then I resign all 
 right or wish ever in the least to have or to do my 
 own will. I give my life with all I have and am 
 entirely to Him, always to do what He through His 
 Word and Spirit commands me. If He will live 
 and o'ule in me, I promise unbounded and hearty 
 obedience. 
 
 For such a surrender faith is needed ; therefore 
 the second question is : Are you prepared to believe 
 that Jesus will take possession of the life entrusted 
 to Him, and that He will rule and keep it ? When 
 the believer entrusts his entire spiritual and 
 temporal life completely tc Christ, then he learns to 
 understand aright I'aul's words : ' I am dead ; I live 
 no more : Christ liveth in me.' Dead with Christ 
 and risen again, the living Christ in His resuiree- 
 tion life takes possession of and rules my new lite. 
 The resurrection life is not a thing that I may have 
 if I can undertake to keep it: No. just this is what 
 I cannot do. But blessed be God! Jesus Ciiuist 
 Himself is the resurrection and the life, is the resur- 
 rection life. He Himself will from day to day and 
 hour to hour s<>e to it and ensure that I live as one 
 v:ho is risen wilh Him. He does it through that 
 Holy Spirit who is the Spirit of His risen life. The 
 Holy Spirit is in us, and will, if we trust Jesus for 
 it, maintain within us every moment t^^e presence 
 and power of the risen Lord. We need not fear, 
 that we never can succeed in leading such e holy 
 
IN THE LIKENESS OF HIS RESUERECTION. 175 
 
 -r-^'-'i 
 
 life as becomes those who are temples of the living 
 God. We are indeed not able. But it is not 
 leqiiired of us. The living Jesus, who is the resur- 
 reclion, has shown His power over all our enemies ; 
 He. Himself, who so loves us, He will work it in us. 
 He; gives us the Holy Spirit as our power, and He 
 will perform His work in us with Divine faithfulness, 
 if we will only trust Him ; Christ Himself is our 
 life. 
 
 And now comes the third question : Are you 
 ready to use this resurrection life for the purpose 
 for which God gave it Him^ and gives it to you, as a 
 |)i>wor of blessing to the lost ? All desires after the 
 resurrection life will fail, if we are only secddng 
 our own perfection and hap])iness, God raised up 
 and exalted Jesus to give rci)entance and remission 
 of sins. He ever lives to pray for sinners. Yield 
 yourself to receive His resurrection life with the 
 same aim. Give yourself' wholly to working and 
 praying for the perishing : then will you become a 
 tit vessel and instrument in which the resurrection 
 life can dwell and work out its glorious purposes. 
 
 Ih-other! thy calling is to live like Christ. To 
 this end thoio hast alrecuhj been made onr. ivit/i Hi ■. 
 in the likeness of His resurrection. The only 
 question is now, whether thou art desirous after the 
 full experience of His resurrection life, whether 
 thou art willing to surrender thy whole life that 
 He Himself may jnanifest resurrection power in 
 every part of it. I pray thee, do not draw back. 
 Offer thyself unreservedly to Him, with all thy 
 
If il 
 
 i 
 
 III 
 
 V) 
 
 |t;' 
 
 :i^ ' 
 
 17G 
 
 LIKE CHKIST : 
 
 weakness and unfaithfulness. Believe that as His 
 resurrection was a wonder above all tliought and 
 expectation, so He as the liisen One will still work 
 in tlice exceeding abundantly above all thou couldst 
 think or desire. 
 
 What a diflercnce there was in the life of V 
 disciples before Jesus' death and after His resurrec- 
 tion ! Then all was weakness and fear, self and sin : 
 with the resurrection all was power and joy, life and 
 love, and glory. Just as great will the change be, 
 wheir a believer, who has known Jesus' resurrection 
 only as the ground of his justification, but has no'. 
 known of the likeness of His resurrection, discover^ 
 how the IJisen One will Himself be his life, and in 
 very deed take on Himself the responsibility for the 
 whole of that life. Oh, brotlier, who liast not yet 
 exi)erieiiced tliis, who art troubled and weary 
 because thou art called to walk like Chiist, and 
 canst not do it, come and taste the blessedness of 
 giving thy whole life to the liisen Saviour in the 
 assun».nce tliat He v/ill live it for thee. 
 
 Lord ! my soul adores Tliee as the Prince of 
 life! On the cross Tliou didst conquer each one of 
 my enemies, the devil, tlie llesh, the world, and sin, 
 As Conqueier thou didst rise to numifesL and main- 
 tain tlie }towi>r of Tliy risen life in Thy peoide. 
 Thou hast made them one with Thyself in the like- 
 ness of Thy resurrection ; now Thou wilt live in 
 them, and show forth in tlieir earthly life the power 
 of Thy heaveidy life. 
 
t 
 
 IN THE LIKEN KSS OF HIS RESURRECTION. 177 
 
 Praised be Thy name for this wonrlerfiil grace. 
 r>l('ssed Lord, I conie at Thy invitation to offer and 
 surronder to Thee my life, with all it implies. Too 
 lui)^' have I striven in my own stronLrth to live like 
 Tliee, and not succeeded. Tlic more I sought to 
 walk like Thee, the dee]»er was my disappointment. 
 I have heard of Thy disciples who tell how l)l('Ssod 
 it is to cast all care and respo. sii»ility for their life 
 on Tliee. Lord, I am risen with Thee, one with 
 'i'hee in tlie likeness of Thy resurrection ; come and 
 take me entirely for Thy own, and he Tliou my 
 life. . 
 
 Ahove all, I beseech Thee, my Kiscn Lord, 
 ](;veal Tliyself to me, as Thou didst to Thy lirst 
 disciples, in the power of Thy resurrection. It 
 was not enough that after 'J'h} resurrection 
 Tliou didst a})p(;ar to Thy di.sciples ; they knew 
 riu^e not till TIlou didst mnhi ThysiJf known. 
 Lord Jesus ! I do believe in Thee ; he jdeasrd, 
 hi' plrascd to make Thyself knovm to me as my Life. 
 It is Thy work; Thou alone canst do it. I trust 
 Tlice for it. And so shall my resurrection life be, 
 like Tliine own, a continual source of li^ht and 
 l)les8inir to all who are neediiti' Thee. Amen. 
 
 ;4:1 ^: 
 
 NOTE. 
 
 I add hrre an extract from ^^a^sllr1^1 On Sanrfi/i ration, 
 in which the reahty of our beiu'i^ partakers witli Jesus of 
 the very nature in which He lived and died and rose 
 again, is very clearly put. 
 
 
178 
 
 LIKE GIIKIST: 
 
 I have often regretted that the somewhat aiiti([uat(('l 
 stylu ot" this writer, and the introduction of cjuestifjns iidt 
 of immediate interest to the soul seeking the path of 
 holiness, prevents liis l)ook from hc'iug as well known ;is 
 it deserves to be. It is on all hands acknowledged to ho 
 tln^ one standard work on the sid)ject. It has been iiivm 
 him by God's Spirit with wonderful sini])licity to set foiih 
 the great truth that holiness is a new life, a new natuiv, 
 jirepared for us in Christ Jesus, and that therefore evcrv 
 hU'Y> in the pathway of holiness, Avhether in the use of 
 the means of grace or in obeying God's commaiuls, must 
 bo o'le of faith. I have thought that an abridgment of 
 the work, in which all that is essential is provided in the 
 authors own Avords, would supply a real want, and mi^ht 
 be a blessing to many. I have prepared such an abridg- 
 ment, which has been issued by the ])ublishers of the 
 present work, under the title of The Iliijhwai/ of Ilvluias, 
 
 ' The end of Christ's incarnation, death, and resurrection 
 was to prcpd/re and form an Jio^y nature and fraiite fur iia in 
 Himself, to he comiiiuuiafed fo «,s' hi/ miion. and lellowship 
 with Him ; and not to enable us to })roduce in ourselves 
 the first original of such an holy nature by our own 
 endeavours. 
 
 ' 1. By His incarnation \\\('Y a was a man crcatc<l in a new 
 holy frame, after the holiness of the first Adam's frame 
 had been marred and abolished by the first transgressi(Hi ; 
 and this new frame Avas far more exodlent than ever tlie 
 first A<lam's was, because man was really joined to (!ol 
 by a close, inseparable union of the divine and human 
 nature in one person — Christ; so that these natures had 
 communion each with other in their actings, and Chiit-t 
 was able to act in His human native by jiovver prnprr 
 to the divine nature, wherein He was one God with the 
 Father. 
 
 ' Why was it that Chriht set up the fallen nittnre ofwnn 
 in such a wonderfnl frame of holiness, in hmyjinij it to live 
 and act hij connniinion leith God living and acting in HI 
 
IN THE LIKENESS OF HIS liESUKlJECTION. 
 
 179 
 
 tiquattil 
 ions 111 it 
 path of 
 now 11 as 
 5t'»l to lie 
 icn |L:iv< n 
 set fitrlli 
 \r naluii', 
 ire every 
 10 use of 
 ids, must 
 lenient of 
 led inllio 
 lid iiii.4lit 
 lu al)rid;j;- 
 rs of the 
 ' Holiness. 
 
 ■iurrcotinii 
 
 /'(//• //,s lit 
 
 lh)\vship 
 
 ourselves 
 
 our own 
 
 ill a new 
 Ill's frame 
 Is^ressitiii ; 
 "ever the 
 Id to Col 
 d human 
 tures had 
 id ChiUt 
 .f prMptT 
 I with tht' 
 
 \re ofw'in 
 
 it to live 
 
 vg ill it^ 
 
 One great end was, iJiat He might cornmimirate tJiis excellent 
 fidiiie to His seed that shf Id by His Spirit be born of 
 Hiiu and be in Him as the last AcUini, the quickening 
 Si)int ; that, as we Jia\ e borne the image of the earthly 
 man, so we might also bear the image of the heavenly 
 (1 Cor. XV. 45, 49), in holiiu'ss here and in glory here- 
 after. Thus He was born Emmanuel, (jlod Avith us; 
 heeause Jie fulness of the Godhead loitli all holiness did first 
 dwell in Ilnii botlily, even m His human natnre, that we 
 might be filled with that fulness in ilini (Miitt. i. 23; 
 Col. ii. 9, 10). Thus He came down from heaven as living 
 ])r(;ad, that, as He liveth by the Father, so those that 
 eat Hinx may live by Him (John vi. 51, 57); by the 
 i<aine life of (tod in l/ie/ii that was first in Him. 
 
 "2. By His death He freed Himself from tlie guilt of 
 our sins imputed to Him, and from all that innocent 
 weakness of human nature which He had borne lor a 
 time for our sakes. And, by freeing Himself, HepTeparcd 
 afreedmn for usfrimi our uhole natural condition; which is 
 both weak as His was, and also polluted with our guilt and 
 siiiltil corruption. Thus the corrupt natural state v, hieh 
 is called in Scripture the '* old man " was crucitied together 
 with Christ, that the body of sin might be destroyed. 
 And it is destroyed in us, not by any wounds which wo 
 ourselves can give it, but by »>ur ])artaking of that 
 fi'cetloui from it, aiivl death unto it, that is alicadi/ itrought 
 i>ut f/T US by tli« death of Christ; as is sigiiified by 
 our baptism, wherein we are buried with Christ by 
 the application of His death to us (Kom. vi. li, 3, 4, 
 1<», 11). 
 
 'Cod "sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful 
 llesh, for sin (or 'by a sacrihce for sin,' as iii the margin) 
 ciiiidemned sin in the llesh, that the righteousiie-s of the 
 law might be rullilled in us, who walk not after the tlesk, 
 hut alter the spirit" (Hoin. viii. 3, 4). Ol>-'rve here, 
 that though Christ died that we might li»tt JBstitit<l by 
 ihe righteousness of God and nf faith, not b% our own 
 li^^hteousness, which is of the law (Rom. x, 4-0 ; Phil. 
 
180 
 
 LIKE (JHKIST: 
 
 iii. 9), yet He died aho, that the righteousness of the law 
 miglit be fulfilled in us, and that by walking after His 
 Spirit, as those that are in Christ (liom. viii. 4). He is 
 resembled in His death to a corn of wheat dying in t\m 
 earth that it may propagate its own nature by bringing 
 forth much fi uit (John xii. 24) ; to the })assover that was 
 slain, that a feast might be kept upon it ; and to bread 
 broken that it may be nourishment to those that eat it 
 (1 Cor. V. 7, 8, and xi, 24) ; to the rock smitten that 
 water migiit gush out of it for us to drink (1 Cor. x. 4). 
 
 * He died that He might make of Jew and Gentile one 
 new man in Himself (Eph. ii. 15); and that He might 
 see His seed, i.e. such as derive tlieir holy nature from 
 Him (Isa. liii. 10). Let these Scriptures be well observed, 
 and they will sufficitmtly evidence that Christ died, not 
 that we might bo able to form an holy nature in our- 
 selves, but that we might receive oiie ready prepared and 
 formed in Christ for us, by union and fellowship with 
 Him. 
 
 ' 3. By His resurrection He took possession of spiritual life 
 for us, n^ now fully procured for us, and made to be our 
 right and property by the merit of His death, and there- 
 fore we are said to be quickened together with Christ. His 
 resurrection was our resurrection to the life of holiness, as 
 Adam's fall was our fall into spiritual death. And we 
 are not ourselves the first makers and formers of our new 
 holy nature, any more than of our original corruj)tion, 
 but both are formed ready for us to partake of them. 
 And, by union with Christ, we partake of that spirii'ital 
 life that H". took possesf^ion of for us at His resurrection, 
 and thereb) we are enabled to bring forth the fruits of 
 it; as the Scripture showeth by the similitude of a 
 marriage union, Koni. vii. 4 : *' We are married to Him 
 that is raised from the dead, that we might bring forth 
 fruit unto God.'" 
 
BEING MADE COiJFOIlMABLE TO IIIS DEATH. 181 
 
 Twenty-Fourth Day. 
 
 LIKE CHKIST: 
 
 Being matie couformaljle to S]is ©eatfj, 
 
 ' That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and 
 the lellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable to His 
 death.' — Phil. ill. 10. 
 
 WE know that the death of Christ was the death 
 of the cross. We kuow that that death of 
 the cross is His chief glory. Without that death 
 Tie would not be the Christ. The distinj^uishing 
 characteristic, the one mark by which He is 
 separated here in earth and in heaven, from all 
 (ither persons, both in the Divine Being and in 
 (lod's imiverse, is this one: He is the Crucified Son 
 of God. Of all the articles of conformity, this 
 iiuist necessarily be the chief and most glorious one 
 — conformity to His death. 
 
 This is what made it so attractive to Paul. 
 What were Chi'st's glory and blessedness must be 
 his glory too : he knows tliat the most intimate 
 likeness to Christ is conformity to His death. 
 What that death had been to Christ it would be to 
 him, as he grew conformed to it. 
 
182 
 
 LIKE CIIUIST: 
 
 T 
 
 Christ's tleaili on tlie cross had been the end of 
 sin. During' Ills life it could tempt Him : wlicii 
 He died on tlic cross, He died to sin ; it could no 
 more reach Him. Conformity to Christ's death is 
 the power to keep us from the power of sin. As I 
 by the grace of the Holy S])irit am kept in my 
 ])osition as crucified with Christ, and live out my 
 crucifixion life as the Crucified One lives it in me, 
 I am ke])t from sinning. 
 
 Christ's doAiih on the cross was to the Fatlu-r 
 a sweet-smelling sacrifice, infinitely pleasing. Oh, if 
 I want to dwell in the favour and love of the Father, 
 and be His delight, T am sure there is nothinijf "ives 
 such deep and perfect access to it as being conform- 
 able to Christ's deatli. There is nothing in the 
 universe to the Father so l)eautifnl, so holy, so 
 heavenly, so wonderful as this sight, the Crucified 
 Jesus. And the closer I can get to Him, and the 
 liker, the more conformed to His death I can become, 
 the more surely shall I enter into the very bosom 
 of His love. 
 
 Christ's death on the cross was the entrance to 
 the power of the resurrection life, the unchanging 
 life of eternity. In our sjiiritual life we often have 
 to mourn the breaks, and failures, and intervals that 
 prove to us that there is still something wanting- 
 that prevents the resurrection life asserting its full 
 power. The secret is here : there is still- some subtle 
 self-life tliat has not yet been brought into the perfect 
 conformity of Christ's death. We can be sure of it, 
 nothing is needed but a fuller entrance into the 
 
BEING MADE CONFORMABLE TO HIS DEATH. 183 
 
 fellowship of the cross to make us to the full 
 partakers of the resurrection joy. 
 
 Above all, it was Christ's death on the cross 
 tliat made Him the life of the world, gave Him the 
 ]io\ver to bless and to save (John xii. 24, 25). In 
 tlie conformity to Christ's death there is an end of 
 self : we give up ourselves to live and die for 
 others ; we are full of the faith that our surrender 
 of ourselves to bear the sin of others is accepted of 
 ilie Father. Out of tin? death we rise, with the 
 power to love and to bless. 
 
 And now, what is this conformity to the death 
 of the cross that brings such blessings, and wherein 
 does it consist ? We see it in Jesus. The cross 
 means entire self-abnegation. The cross means the 
 death of self, — the utter surrender of our own will 
 and our life to be lost in the will of God, to let 
 (Jod's will do with us what it pleases. This was 
 \vliat the cross meant to Jesus. It cost Him a 
 terrible struggle before He could give Himself up to 
 it. When He was sore amazed and very heavy, 
 and His soul exceeding sorrowful unto death, it was 
 because His whole I ing shrank back from that 
 cross and its curse. Three times he had to pray 
 before He could fully say, ' Not my will, but Thine 
 be done.' But He did say it. And His giving 
 Himself up to the cross is to say : Let me do any- 
 tbing, ratlier than that God's will should not be 
 done. I give up everything, — only God's will must 
 be done. 
 
 And this is being made conformable to Christ's 
 

 184 
 
 LIKE CllIMST : 
 
 
 iM 
 
 1 , 
 
 li' 
 
 
 li 
 
 L 
 
 !l iiiS ., -J ^.i 
 
 death, that we so give away ourselves and our 
 whole life, with its power of willin«,' juul acting, to 
 God, that we learn to be and work, jind do notliiii^ 
 but what God reveals to us as His will. And sudi 
 a life is called conformity to the death of Cliiist, 
 not only because it is somewhat similar to His, but 
 because it is Himself by His Holy Spirit just 
 repeating and acting over again in us the life that 
 animated Him in His crucifixion. Were it not for 
 tliis, the very thought of such conformity would be 
 akin to blasphemy. 
 
 But now it is not so. In the power of tlic 
 Holy Spirit, as the Spirit of the Crucified Jesus, th: 
 believer knows that the blessed resurrection life 
 has its power and its glory from its being a cruci- 
 fixion life, begotten from the cross. He yields 
 himself to it, he believes that it has possession of 
 him. Kealizing that he himself has not the power 
 to think or do anything that is good or holy ; nay, 
 that the power of the ilesh asserts itself and defiles 
 everything that is in him, he yields and holds every 
 power of his being as far as his disposal of them 
 goes in the place of crucifixion and condemnation. 
 And so he yields and holds every power of his 
 being, every faculty of body, soul, and spirit, at the 
 disposal of Jesus. The distrust and denial of self 
 in everything, the trust of Jesus in everything, 
 mark his life. The very spirit of the cross breathes 
 tlirough his whole being. 
 
 And so far is it from being, as might appear, a 
 matter of painful strain and weary effort thus to 
 
BEING MADE CONFOIIMABLE TO IITS DEATH. 185 
 
 maintain the crucifixion position, to one who knows 
 Christ in the power of His resurrection — for Vaul 
 putsthis first — and so is made conformed to Hisdcatli, 
 it is rest and strength and victory. Because it is 
 not the dead cross, not siilf's self-denial, not a work 
 in his own strength, that he has to do with, but the 
 living Jesus, in whom the crucifixion is an accom- 
 plished thing, already passed into the life of resur- 
 ri^ction. ' I have been crucified with Christ: Christ 
 liveth in me ; ' this it is that gives the courage and 
 tlui desire for an ever-growing, ever deeper entrance 
 into most perfect conformity with His death. 
 
 And how is this blessed conformity to be attained ? 
 I'aul will give us the answer. ' What things were 
 ijain to me, these I counted loss for Christ. Yea, 
 doubtless, I count all things but loss for the excel- 
 lency of the knowledge of Jesus Christ my Lord, 
 that I may know Him, being made conformed to 
 His death.' The pearl is of great price; but oh! 
 it is worth the purcliase. Let us give up all, yes, 
 all, to be admitted by Jesus to a place with Him 
 on the cross. 
 
 And if it appear hard to give up all, and then as 
 our reward only have a whole lifetime on the cross, 
 oh let us listen again to Paul as he tells us what 
 made hira so willingly give up all, and so intently 
 choose the cross. It was Jesus — Christ Jesus, my 
 Lord. The cross was the place where he C(jnld get 
 into fullest union with his Lord. To know Him, 
 to win Him, to be found in Him, to be made like 
 to Him, — this was the burning passion that made it 
 
 II 
 
 Ij'i : 
 
 . 
 
 
 f. 
 
 
 5' 1 
 
 
 lii! 
 
 
 |(',i 
 
 
 m 
 
 
 IM 
 

 IMAGE EVALUATION 
 TEST TARGET (MT-3) 
 
 /. 
 
 
 ^ 
 
 1.0 
 
 I.I 
 
 1.25 
 
 (50 ^^ 
 
 25 
 
 lis 
 
 IS,' 
 
 ■^ 111112.2 
 
 L^ i:£ lllllio 
 
 1.8 
 
 U IIIIII.6 
 
 P> 
 
 m 
 
 A 
 
 
 y 
 
 >^ 
 
 s^^\ 'm 
 
 Photographic 
 
 Sciences 
 
 Corporation 
 
 23 .'[ST MAIN STREET 
 
 WEBSTER, NY. HS80 
 
 (716) 872-4503 
 
 V 
 
 ^^ 
 
 :\ 
 
 \ 
 
 <b 
 
 V 
 
 
 ,m ^ 
 
 ^ 
 
 

 
 .^^^ 
 
186 
 
 LIKE CHRIST : 
 
 
 easy to cast away all, that gave the cross such 
 mighty attractive power. Anything to come nearer 
 to Jesus. All for Jesus, was his motto. It contains 
 the twofold answer to the question, How to attain 
 this conformity to Christ's death ? Tlie one is, 
 Cast out all. The other, And let Jesus come in. 
 All for Jesus. 
 
 Yes, it is only knowing Jesus that can make the 
 conformity 'x> His deatli at all possible. But let 
 the soul win Him, and be found in Him, and know 
 Him in the power of the resurrection, and it becomes 
 more tlia'i possible, a blessed reality. Therefore, 
 beloved lollower of Jesus, look to Him, look to 
 Him, the Crucified One. Gaze on Him until tliy 
 soul has learnt to say : my Lord, I must be like 
 Tliee. Gaze until tliou hast seen how He Himself, 
 the Crucified One, in His ever present omnipotence, 
 draws nigh to live in thee and breathe through thy 
 being His crucifixion life. It was through the 
 Eternal Spirit that He offered Himself unto God ; 
 that Spirit brings and im]mrts all that that death on 
 the cross is, and means, and effected, to thee as thy 
 life. By that Holy Spirit Jesus Himself maintains 
 in each soul, who can trust Him for it, the power 
 of the cross as an abiding death to sin and self, and 
 a never-ceasing sourc(; of resurrection life and power. 
 Therefore, once again, look to Him, the Living 
 Crucified Jesus. 
 
 But remember, above all, that while thou hast to 
 seek the best and the highest with all thy might, 
 the full blessing comes not as the fruit of thy 
 
wm 
 
 'is; I 
 
 ?■ 
 
 BEING MADE CONFORMABLE TO HIS DEATH. 187 
 
 efforts, but unsought, a free gift to whom it is given 
 from above. It is as it pleases the Lord Jesus to 
 reveal Himself, that we are macle conformable to 
 }Iis death. Therefore, seek and get it from 
 Himself. 
 
 Lord, such knowledge is too wonderful for me ; 
 it is high, I cannot attain to it. To know Thee in 
 tlie |X)wer of Thy resurrection, and to be made con- 
 formable to Tliy death : these are of the things which 
 are hid from the wise and prudent, and are revealed 
 unto babes, unto those elect souls alone to whom it 
 is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom. 
 
 my Lord ! T see more than ever what utter 
 folly it is to think of likeness to Thee as an attain- 
 ment through my effort. I cast myself on Thy 
 mercy : look upon me according to the greatness 
 of Thy loving-kindness ; and of Thy free favour 
 reveal Thyself to me. If Thou wilt be pleased to 
 come forth from Thy heavenly dwelling-place, and 
 to draw nigh to me, and to prepare me, and take 
 iiie up into the full fellowship of Thy life and 
 death, O my Lord, then will I Jive and die for 
 Thee, and the souls Thou hast died to save. 
 
 Blessed Saviour ! I know Thou art willing. Thy 
 love to each of Thy redeemed ones is infinite. O 
 U'.'ich me, draw me to give up all for Thee, and take 
 eternal possession of me for Thyself. And oh ! let 
 some measure of conformity to Tliy death, in its 
 self-sacrifice for the perishing, be the mark of ray 
 life. Amen. 
 
 : 
 
 ■'■■Vi'l , 
 
 I' 
 ■r 
 

 1 
 
 11 
 
 
 188 
 
 LIKE CHRIST: 
 
 Twenty-Fifth Day. 
 — g 
 
 LIKE CHRIST: 
 
 ffiiblnfl ©is Me for ffLtn. 
 
 * Whosoever vill be great among you, let him be your servant ; 
 and whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your slave: 
 euen aa the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to 
 minister, and to giue Hia life a ransom for many.*~MAn-. 
 XX. 26, 27, 28. 
 
 ' Hereby know we love, because He laid down His life for us: 
 and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.* — 1 John 
 ill. 16. 
 
 IN speaking of the likeness of Christ's death, and 
 of being made conformable to it, of bearing 
 the cross and being crucified with Him, there is 
 one danger to which even the earnest believer is 
 exposed, and that is of seeking after these blessings 
 for his own sake, or, as he thinks, for the glory of 
 God in His own personal perfection. The error 
 would be a fatal one ; he would never attain tlie 
 close conformity to Jesus' death he hoped for ; for 
 he would be leaving out just that which is tlie 
 essential element in the death of Jesus, and in the 
 self-sacrifice it inculcates ; tliafc characteristic is its 
 absolute unselfishness, its reference to others. To 
 be made conformable to Christ's death implies a 
 dying to self, a losing sight of self altogether in 
 giving up and laying down our life for others. To 
 
GIVING HIS LIFE FOR MEN. 
 
 189 
 
 the question, how far we are to go in living for, in 
 loving, in serving, in saving men, the Scriptures do 
 not hesitate to give the unequivocal answer: We 
 are to go as far as Jesus, even to the laying down 
 of our life. We are to consider this so entirely as 
 the object for which we are redeemed, and are left 
 in the world, the one object for which we live, that 
 the laying down of the life in death follows as a 
 matter of course. Like Christ, the only thing that 
 keeps us in this world is to be the glory of God 
 in the salvation of sinners. Scripture does not 
 licsitate to say that it is in His path of suffering, as 
 He goes to work out atonement and redemption, 
 that we are to follow Him.* 
 
 How clearly this comes out in the words of the 
 Master Himself : ' Whoever will be chief among 
 you, let him be your bond-servant, even as the 
 Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but 
 to minister, and to give His life a ransom for 
 many.' The highest in glory will be he who was 
 lowest in service, and likest to the Master in His 
 uiving His life a ransom. And so again, a few days 
 later, after having spoken of His own death in the 
 words : * The hour is come that the Son of man 
 siiould be glorified. Verily, verily, I say unto you, 
 Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, 
 it abideth alone ; but if it die, it bringeth forth 
 much fruit ; ' He at once applied to His disciples 
 
 il 
 
 III 
 
 ■ 
 
 ' Compare Matt. xx. 28 with Eph. v. 2, 25, 26 ; Phil. ii. 5-8 ; 
 1 Pet ii. 21-23, and note how distinctly it is in connection with 
 His redemptive work that Christ is set before us as our example : 
 the giving His life away for others is its special significance. 
 
190 
 
 UK£ CHUIST: 
 
 ill- 1 
 
 H 
 
 fin 
 
 
 what He had said by repeating what they had already 
 heard spoken to themselves, ' He that loveth his 
 life shall lose it ; and he that hateth his life in this 
 world shall keep it unto life eternal.' The corn 
 of wheat dying to rise again, losing its life to regain 
 it multiplied manifold, is clearly set forth as the 
 emblem not only of the Master but of each one of 
 His followers. Loving life, refusing to die, means 
 remaining alone iu selfishness : losing life to brinu; 
 forth much fruit in others is the only way to keep it 
 for ourselves. There is no way to find our life but 
 as Jesus did, in giving it up for the salvation of 
 others. Heroin is the Father, herein shall we be 
 glorified. The deepest underlying thought of 
 conformity to Christ's death is, giving our life to 
 God for saving others. Without this, the longing 
 for conformity to that death is in danger of being 
 a refined selfishness. 
 
 How remarkable the exhibition we have in the 
 Apostle Paul of this spirit, and how instructive the 
 words in which the Holy Spirit in him expressed 
 to us its meaning! To the Corinthians he says: 
 ' Always bearing about the dying of the Lord Jesus, 
 that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest 
 in our body. For we which live are alway delivered 
 to death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus 
 might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. So 
 then death workcth in us, hut life in you* * Thougli 
 He was crucified through weakness, yet He livetii by 
 the power of God. For we also are weak in Him, 
 but we shall live with Him by the poweij of God 
 TOWARD you' (2 Cor. iv. 10-12, xiii 4). 'I now 
 
GIVING H!S LIFE FOR MEN. 
 
 191 
 
 rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that 
 which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my 
 llesh for His body's sake, which is the Church' 
 (Col. i. 24). These passaj^es teach us how the 
 vicarious element of the suHcring that Christ bore 
 in His body on the tree, to a certain extent still 
 cluiracterizes the sufl'crings of His body the Church. 
 V> lievers who give themselves up to bear the 
 burden of the sins of men before the Lord, who 
 suffer reproach and shame, weariness and pain, in 
 the effort to win souls, are filling up that which is 
 lucking of the afflictions of Christ in their flesh. 
 Tiie power and the fellowship of His sufl'ering and 
 death work in them, the power of Ciirist's life 
 through them in those for whom they labour in 
 love. There is no doubt that in the fellowship of 
 His sufferings, and the conformity to His death in 
 riiil. iii. Paul had in view not only the inner 
 spiritual, Init also the external bodily participations 
 iu the suffering of Christ. 
 
 And so it must be with each of us in some 
 measure. Self-sacrifice not merely for the sake of 
 (uir own sanctification, but for the salvation of our 
 I'ellow-men, is what brings us into true fellowship 
 with the Christ wlio gave Himself for us. 
 
 The practical application of these thoughts is 
 very simple. Let us first of all try and see the 
 truth the Holy Spirit seeks to teach us. As the 
 most essential thing in likeness to Christ is likeness 
 to His death, so the most essential thing in likeness 
 to His death is the giving up our life to win others 
 to God. It is a death in wldch all thought of 
 
 k V : 
 
 
 i 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 . 
 
 i 
 
 
 J, -3 
 
192 
 
 LIKE CUUIST : 
 
 1^ V 
 
 saving self is lost in that of saving others. Let us 
 pray for the light of the Holy Ghost to show ns 
 this, until we learn to feel that we are in the world 
 just as Christ was, to give up self, to love and 
 serve, to live and die, ' even as the Son of man 
 came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and 
 to give His life a ransom for many.' Oh that Gixl 
 would give His people to know their calling ; that 
 they do not belong to themselves, but to God and 
 to their fellow-men; that, even as Christ, they are 
 only to live to be a blessing to the world. 
 
 'J'hen let us believe in the grace that is waiting to 
 make our experience of this truth a reality. Let 
 us believe that God accepts of our giving up of our 
 whole life for His glory in the saving of otlicis. 
 Let us believe that conformity to the death of Jesus 
 in this, its very life-principle, is what the Holy 
 Ghost will work out in us. Let us above all 
 believe in Jesus : it is He Himself who will take 
 up every soul that in full surrender yields itself to 
 Him, into the full fellowship of His death, of His 
 dying in love to bring forth much fruit. Yes, let 
 us believe, and believing seek from above, as the work 
 and the gift of Jesus, likeness to Jesus in this too. 
 
 And let us at once begin and ad this faith. 
 Let us put it into practice. Looking upon ourselves 
 now as wholly given up, just like Christ, to live 
 and die for God in our fellow-men, let us with new 
 zeal exercise the ministry of love in winning souls. 
 As we wait for Christ to work out His likeness, as 
 we trust the Holy Spirit to give His mind in us 
 more perfectly, let us in faith begin at once to act 
 
O'VING ms tm FOR MEJT. 
 
 . • 193 
 
 to the work it has to do by thl L ? "•*" "'« '^-r 
 "ess. and hoIpf„|„e,,„ win, ^ur'"*'' "'"'«'■»"«- 
 all whom we ,..«,;:• ^ ■"■'"' f 'Lines o„t o„ 
 
 '» ">e work of inte^esS f S I„ f *' «'''''' "-" 
 "se us as one of Hi, in,," ,' . "^ "■' '» <'<"1 to 
 «'f those pwyers ilt"! T^ '" "'^' «"swen„. 
 - those Uo have t ^,1' T" "°*'^- ^^ •^-•° 
 '"Sh which make rl^Tj",^ ^'''■' '""" '^'^ 
 "fe soul-winning o„r oZm " tT""- '^' •"■ 
 "Ives with the great IrZTf ' "" ''""'' <>""•- 
 
 •^''ling out into hTiuZ TT" ""= ^-""i « 
 "f it, we shall find thTL-^"'' *''= ^« "'°''K''t 
 ""«-'" for God is the it M '".°" '"'' '^ «■" 
 -If. of I.ing even as the Son ^^ """^ "' "^'"^ '» 
 "I'd a Saviour of the lost '" ""'■ " '«"'ant 
 
 -"chrtT't'greirr'''^"-^''>e- 
 
 ""t -^ally reaeh them ^tj "v V"""' '"" '=°'"d 
 /- 'o e«; for them the I ° """■''^^" " '««- 
 «-^-I>0"red out; thon tl e T, ""' '"'-"'' "■" "»« 
 ;"i.l.ty power, i Zl set - 1T"'" ""*''"' '"'"' ■" 
 I -^» only really inZen e and 1' -:" ''"' """' ' 
 
 "[ tl'em ; as I lose myself as Toi "• """ "'■' '"""'« 
 I I'ocome in His snirft ' „^ '"« "" ""•' •''""'■. 
 
 "^i'.g- My spirirXe„,r7 '■',: y"^"-' « 
 
 use and bless me '* '""'*' He can 
 
 0.0S. Messed God. Most Th„„ in ,,^,,,, 
 
194 
 
 LIKE CHBI8T : 
 
 [( J! 
 
 ask me to come and give myself, ray very life, 
 wholly, even unto the death, to Thee for my fellow- 
 men ? If I have heard the words of the Master 
 aright, Thou dost indeed seek nothing less. 
 
 God ! wilt Thou indeed have me ? Wilt Tliou 
 in very deed in Christ permit me, like Him, as a 
 member of His body, to live and die for those 
 around me ? to lay myself, I say it in deep reverence, 
 beside Him on the altar of death, crucified with 
 Him, and be a living sacrifice to Thee for men ? 
 Lord ! I do praise Thee for this most wonderful 
 grace. And now I come. Lord God ! and give my- 
 self. Oh for the grace of Thy Holy Spirit to make 
 the transaction definite and real ! Lord ! here I am, 
 given up to Tliee, to live only for those whom Thou 
 art seeking to save. 
 
 Blessed Jesus ! come Thyself, and breathe Thine 
 own mihJ and love within me. Take possession of 
 me, my thoughts to think, n^y heart to feel, my 
 powers to work, my life to live, as given away to 
 God for men. Write it in my heart : it is done, I 
 am given away to God, He has taken me. Keep 
 Thou me each day as in His hands, expecting and 
 assured that He will use me. On Thy giving up 
 Thyself followed the life in power, the outbreaking 
 of the blessing in fulness and power. It will be so 
 in Thy people too. Glory be to Thy name. Amen. 
 
y life, 
 fellow- 
 Master 
 
 It Thou 
 ntt, as a 
 r those 
 verence, 
 ed with 
 r men ? 
 onderful 
 jive my- 
 to raal^e 
 ere I am, 
 ,om Thou 
 
 ,he Thine 
 ession of 
 feel, n»y 
 away to 
 s done, I 
 Keep 
 ting and 
 ^iving up 
 ^breaking 
 all be so 
 Amen. 
 
 IN HIS lfXBKN18& 
 
 195 
 
 Twenty-Sixth Day. 
 
 
 
 LIKE CHRIST: 
 
 * Behold, thy King cometh, meek.*— Matt. xxi. 6. 
 ' Learn of me, for I am meek and lowly of heart, and ye shall 
 And rest for your bouIb.'— Mxrr. xi. 29. 
 
 I 
 
 His 
 
 to the 
 
 that 
 
 iSnd the 
 
 cross 
 first of these two words written of our Lord 
 Jesus. It is in His sufferings that the meek- 
 ness of Jesus is specially manifested. Follower of 
 Jesus ! who art so ready to take Thy place under 
 the shadow of His cross, there to behold the Lamb 
 slain for thy sins, is it not a precious thought, that 
 there is one part of His work, as the suffering Lamb 
 of God, in wliicli Thou mayest bear His image and 
 be like Him every day ? thou canst be meek and 
 gentle even as He was. 
 
 Meekness is the opposite of all that is hard or 
 bitter or sharp. It has reference to the disposi- 
 tion which animates us towards our inferiors. 
 ' With meekness,' ministers must instruct those that 
 oppose themselves, teach and bring back the erring 
 (Gal. vi. 1 ; 2 Tim. ii. 25). It expresses our dis- 
 position towards superiors : we must * receive the 
 
 l|iii 
 
 ! 4 
 
 ' ?m: 1 
 
 ri 
 
 
191 
 
 LIKE CHRIST: 
 
 word with meekness' (Jas. i. 21); if the wife id 
 to be in subjection to her husband, it must be in a 
 meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God 
 of great price (1 Pet. iil). As one of the fruits of 
 the Spirit, meekness ought to characterize all our 
 daily intercourse with fellow-Christians, and extend 
 to all with whom we have to do (Eph. iv. 2 ; OjiI. 
 V. 22 ; Col. iii. 12 ; Tit. iii. 2). It is mentioned 
 in Scripture along with humility, because that is 
 the inward disposition concerning oneself, out of 
 which meekness towards others springs. 
 
 There is perhaps none of the lovely virtues whicli 
 adorn the image of God's Son, which is more seldom 
 seen in those who ought to be examples. There 
 are many servants of Jesus, in whom much love Ut 
 souls, much service for the salvation of others, (ind 
 much zeal for God's will, are visible, and yet who 
 continually come short in this. How often, when 
 offence comes unexpectedly, whether at home or 
 abroad, they are carried away by temper and anger, 
 and have to confess that they have lost the perfect 
 rest of soul in God ! There is no virtue, perhaps, for 
 which some have prayed more earnestly : they feel 
 they would give anything, if in their intercourse 
 with partner, or children, or servants, in company 
 or in business, they could always keep their temper 
 perfectly, and exhibit the meekness and gentleness 
 of Christ. Unspeakable is the grief and disappoint- 
 ment experienced by those who have learnt to long 
 for it, and yet have not discovered where the secret 
 of meekness lies. 
 
W "IS MEBKNE8S. ,„. 
 
 The self. command needed fnr n.- 
 
 t^''»l'«mn>ent, a„d i, ^" , '«' '" " ""'•"'i" Mtun.I 
 f- then, eve; to e^^^ r 7 '" •"'"' '=""'"<"«' 
 I'-r find all aoita of'^« L V"? """"'"'^«» 
 't «" ill : though the ,r ■" *'" "»' ""•''"' 
 
 «Imr,, t.,ere is sWl I„ve HI'"- "^ ""' '«'»?«' "» 
 ""t be good to be f 7 ''*'"■'«= '' *0"U 
 
 ■^^-.thened by it"" r. f^*; "" "<""" ^ 
 conformity to the i,oIv ., "" "'" '" """ro 
 fiod is robbed o , 1' '""'' °' ''- ^""'l' of 
 ■''ro„«th.:..d n L Ln /:r' r.,^"' ""^ "- ' ■'« 
 «" "ot vo,y m eh d i "; f ''™"'""^ "^ "fter 
 ''««.>se, though tbev df f""" °^'"^^ P'^"!''*. 
 ■^"-v. that OUrLtfJl 'tlle'T T' ""'' "^ »«' 
 
 -...ses unepc.„ica,,,eh„l tcS-r^"' M'' '"" 
 Its unfaithfu/uess in «n„ ^""'■'s Church, through 
 
 ^■■'Ivation : the le,Lu/ ''"'"""" *" ""'^^''''g »f 
 
 Thisgraceiso?^ ';,"""'': -"•''■'^^^^^^ 
 I" the Old TesLC '^^b'" '" ""' ^«'" "' ««d. 
 
 f tl'ered „p i„t„ ^i, ^^^ ^^'f' "-e by Jesus 
 
 '"• they shall inherit t"' e««h te^; "" """"'' 
 '"»'• 9: Prov iii -KA V"™ (see Ps. xxv. 9, 
 
 I'estament Z 2' ' ''■ "' =*>• ^» "'c New 
 His meeter t^aT^r t" "■" '"'' ""'' " ^ 
 
 --—r^treBeirslf'i^i-: 
 
 'fi' 
 
 ^*i. 
 
 1^;. 
 
 i 
 
 ffli*! 
 
 
 it 
 
 Ml 
 
 t n si 
 
I 
 
 tl 
 
 H> 
 
 
 198 
 
 LIKE CIlllIST : 
 
 could surely offer no higher inducement to His 
 children, to seek it above all things. 
 
 For every one who longs to possess this spirit, 
 Christ's word is full of comfort and encouragement : 
 ' Learn of me that I am meek.' And what will it 
 profit us to learn that He is meek ? Will not just 
 the experience of His meekness make the discovery 
 of our want of it all the more painful ? What we 
 ask, Lord, is that Thou shouldest teach us how we 
 may be meek. The answer is again : ' Learn of mc, 
 
 that I AM MEEK.' 
 
 We are in danger of seeking meekness and the 
 other graces of our Lord Jesus as gifts of which we 
 must be conscious, before we practise them. This 
 is not the path of faith. * Moses knew not that his 
 face shone,' he had only seen the glory of God, 
 The soul that seeks to be meek, must learn that 
 Jesus is meek. We must take time to gaze on His 
 meekness, until the heart has received the full 
 impression : He only is meek : with Him alone can 
 meekness be found. When we begin to realize this, 
 we next fix our hearts upon the truth : This meek 
 One is Jesus the Saviour. All He is, all He has, is 
 for His redeemed ones ; His meekness is to be com- 
 municated to us. But He does not impart it, by 
 giving, as it were from Himself, something of it 
 away to us. No ! we must learn that He alone 
 is meek, and that only when He enters and 
 takes possession of heart and life. He brings His 
 meekness with Him. It is with the meekness of 
 Jesus that we can be meek. 
 
II 
 
 
 IN<»HI3 MEEKNESS. 
 
 199 
 
 We know how little He succeeded in innlxing His 
 disciples meek and lowly while on earth. It was 
 because He had not yet obtained the new life, and 
 could not yet bestow, througli His resurrection, the 
 Holy Spirit. But now He can do it. He has been 
 exalted to the power of God from thence to reign 
 in our hearts, to conquer every enemy, and continue 
 in us His own holy life. Jesus was our visible 
 Example on earth, that we might see in Him what 
 like the hidden life is that He would give us from 
 heaven, that He Himself would be within us. 
 
 * Learn of me, for I am meek and lowly of heart : ' 
 without ceasing the word sounds in our ears as our 
 Lord's answer to all tlie sad complaints of His 
 redeemed ones, as to the difticulty of restraining 
 temper. my brother ! why is Jesus, your Jesus, 
 your life, and your strength, why is He the meek 
 and lowly One, if it be not to impart to you, to 
 whom He so wliolly belongs, His own meekness ? 
 
 Therefore, only believe ! Believe that Jesus is able 
 to fill your heart with His own spirit of meekness. 
 Believe that Jesus Himself will, through His own 
 Spirit, accomplish in you the work that you have 
 in vain endeavoured to do. ' Behold ! thy Kino 
 COMETH TO THEK, MEEK.' Welcome Him to dwell 
 in your heart. Expect Him to reveal Himself to 
 you. Everything depends on this. Learn of Him 
 that He is meek and lowly of heart, and you shall 
 lind rest to your soul. 
 
 Precious Saviour, grant me now, under the over- 
 
 pHi 
 
200 
 
 LIKE CHRIST: 
 
 shadowing of Thy Holy Spirit, to draw near unto 
 Thee, and to appropriate Thy heavenly meekness 
 as my life. Lord, Thou hast not shown me Thy 
 meekness as a Moses who demands but does not give. 
 Thou art Jesus who savest from all sin, giving in 
 its stead Thy heavenly holiness. Lord, I claim Thy 
 meekness as a part of the salvation that Thou hast 
 given me. I cannot do without it. How can I 
 glorify Thee if I do not possess it ? liOrd, I will 
 learn from Thee that Thou art meek. Blessed Lord, 
 teach me. And teach me that Thou art always 
 with me, always in me as my life. Abiding in 
 Thee, with Thee abiding in me, I have Thee the 
 meek One to help me and make me like Thyself. 
 
 O holy meekness ! Thou art not come down to 
 earth only for a short visit, then to disappear again 
 in the heavens. Thou art come to seek a home. 
 I offer Thee my heart ; come and dwell in it. 
 
 Thou blessed Lamb of God, my Saviour and 
 Helper, I count on Thee. Thou wilt make Thy 
 meekness to dwell in me. Through Thy indwelling 
 Thou dost conform me to Thy image. come, and 
 as an act of Thy rich free grace even now, as I 
 wait on Thee, reveal Thyself as my King, meek, 
 and coming in to take possession of me for Thyself. 
 
 ' Precious, gentle, holy Jesns, 
 
 Blessed Bridegroom of my heart, 
 In Thy secret inner chamber. 
 Thou wilt show me what Thou art. 
 
 Amen.' 
 
^IDIKO M THK LOVE OJ GOD. 
 
 201 
 
 I , 
 
 TWENTy-SEVENTH DaY. 
 
 LIKE CHEIST: 
 
 mans in tie Ubt of ffi„i, 
 
 » Him, the principal part ;, T ^ "'^ ^^''^'''ng 
 •'^veiling and being rooS ' T ^^^'^S '■"» and 
 wufi which He loves T , """ ^""derful love 
 
 : r-e seeketh no7S In^'it"? "'■""^«" 'o - 
 "self to live and be «t 1' ".r"'''^' goes out of 
 "er opens itself and t.^?!""'', "'« ''<^'»^«'; it 
 
 -eive and hold fast the oytrfiuV:"' ^"' ^ 
 i'^ve longs to possess us IV „ t '"'•' ^''"^''^ 
 «■". intensely personal 1 r , ^•'^'"^ '» Christ is 
 -Ives in th^ fE V ttr ■:''^. '-"« »«- 
 °w life in the experien,^ nf , ""f ^"^«- ""^ing 
 "»7 nowhe. at h^ett in S„ 7" "^ "'■"• 
 
 --^e'^^rid^tf '7 ---,1 its 
 
202 
 
 LIKE CHRIST: 
 
 is jusb the same as the Father's love to Him in 
 which He abides. Surely, if anything were needed 
 to make the abiding in His love more wonderful 
 and attractive, this ought to do so. 'Even as tlie 
 Father loved me, so have I loved you : abide in niy 
 love.' Our life may be Christlike, unspeakably 
 blessed in the consciousness of an Infinite Love 
 embracing and deligliting in us. 
 
 We know how this was the secret of Christ's 
 wonderful life, and His strength in prospect of 
 death. At His baptism the voice was heard, tlie 
 Divine message which the Spirit brought and un- 
 ceasingly maintained in living power, ' This is my 
 Bei.oved Son, in whom I am well pleased.' Mom 
 than once we read : ' The Fatlier loveth the Son * 
 (John iii. 35, v. 20). Christ speaks of it as His 
 highest blessedness : * That the world niny know 
 that Thou hast loved tliem, even as Thoa Itad 
 loved me ; Thou lovedst we before the foundation (.»f 
 the world ; ' ' That the love wherewith Thou lovedst 
 me may be in them.' Just as we day by day 
 walk and live in the light of the sun shinini:; 
 around us, so Jesus just lived in the light of the 
 glory of the Father's love shining on Him all the 
 day. It was as thk Bei.oved of God that He was 
 able to do God's will, and finish His work. He 
 dwelt in the love of the Father. 
 
 And just so we are the beloved of Jesus. 
 Even as the Father loved Him, He loves us. And 
 what we need is just to take time, and, shutting 
 our eyes to all around us, to worship and to wait 
 
ABIDING IN THB LOVE OF GOD. 
 
 203 
 
 Christian would Z tell T"'^'!'^'^- ^^- « the 
 thought mi l.i.i . i' ^Xl"l *o '«t the wondrous 
 •'es"3 loves me\.LT^' . ""^ "" ^"^ ^ont,. 
 
 -ho is lo;ed Z oLktl '""'" «'"''' """ ""« 
 walked! ' ""'• "'"St walk as He 
 
 "' ^'I'ich He abode hut Z ""^ '" ''■'^« ">at 
 "■e same as H,s As S„ "'V- ""' "■^'"'"S '» 
 1-athers love wlen H. "'' """' "' 'he 
 
 -as onl, thro,3. obSent'V"'" '^ ""'" ' ^ut i 
 
 »'l obedience that e„st Him nlh "'' "'"' "'is • 
 
 '" giving up His own Sand ""' ""' '"' " '^"^ 
 I'r what He suffered in I „ "'"S obedience 
 
 "^■^'h, even the d « " M '"'"° '""^'"''"' ""'" *e 
 'he Father's co„„„ar,d " ,/ ' T'' """ ^^^ '^T't 
 "J'herefore doth my I M f"" "^"''^ "' '''•'• '"''^ 
 >'°wn my life r] •"■ '"™ ""'• *«««*'' I lav 
 
 -edo/Jlth^i^Tt^-^r ^- 
 
 'ne alone- for r ^n ^^^^^'' ^'''^^h not Jeft 
 
 »■"•■ An{ hfwir'S "'"^^ """."« that please 
 
 «nd proved how su^th pZorol^i^ '^■^•™'"^' 
 "s "P into the presenPM .^ , "hedience takes 
 
 He in-vites us T X 'C« T^ «W "^ God, 
 
 ^'"^' -ir ye keep uiy 
 
 fl! 
 
 M 
 
 -:M 
 
 j;'ii 
 
 
 1 
 
 ri 
 
 
 
 .y 
 
 1 
 
204 
 
 LIKE CHKIST : 
 
 
 commandments, ye shall abide in my love, even as 
 I kept my Father's commandments, and abide in 
 His love.* 
 
 Christlike obedienco is the way to a Christlike 
 enjoyment of Love Divine. How it secures our 
 boldness of access into God's presence! 'Let us 
 love in deed and in truth, liereby shall we assure 
 our hearts before Him.' * Beloved ! if our heart 
 condemn us not, then have we confidence towards 
 God; and whatsoever we ask, we receive of Him, 
 hecaiise we keep His commandments, and do those 
 things that are pleasing in His sight.' How it 
 gives us boldness before men, and lifts us above 
 their approval or contempt, because we move at 
 God's bidding, and feel that we have but to obey 
 orders ! And what boldness too in the face of 
 difficulty or danger ! — we are doing God's will, and 
 dare leave to Him all responsibility as to failure 
 or success^ The heart filled with the thought of 
 direct and entire obedience to God alone, rises 
 above the world into the will of God, into the 
 place where God's love rests on him : like Christ, he 
 has his abode in the love of God. 
 
 Let us seek to learn from Christ what it means 
 to have this spirit of obedience ruling our life. It 
 implies the spirit of dependence ; the confession 
 that we have neither the right nor the desire in 
 anything to do our own will. It involves teach- 
 ableness of spirit. Conscious of the blinding 
 influence of tradition, and prejudice, and habit, 
 it takes its law not from men but from Gocf Him- 
 
ABIDING Of THE LOVI OF GOD. 
 
 205 
 
 self. Conscious of how little the most careful 
 study of the Word can reveal God's will in its 
 spiritual power, it seeks to be led, and for this end 
 to be entirely under the rule of the Holy Spirit. 
 It knows that its views of truth and duty are very 
 partial and deficient, and counts on being led by God 
 Himself to deeper insight and higher attainment. 
 
 It has marked God's word, ' If thou wilt diligently 
 hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, and wilt 
 do that which is right in His sight,' and understood 
 tlmt it is only when the commands do not come 
 from conscience, or memory, or the book, but from 
 the living voice of the Lord heard speaking through 
 the Spirit, that the obedience will be possible and 
 acceptable. It sees that it is only as a following 
 out of the Father's personal directions, and as a 
 service rendered to Himself, that obedience has its 
 full value and brings its full blessing. Its great 
 care is to live on the altar, given up to God ; to 
 keep eye and ear open to God for every indication 
 of His blessed will. It is not content with doing 
 right for its own sake : it brings everything in 
 personal relation to God Himself, doing it as unto 
 the Lord. It wants every hour and every step in 
 Ufe to be a fellowship with God. It longs in little 
 things and daily life to be consciously obeying the 
 Father, because this is the only way to be prepared 
 for higher work. Its one desire is the glory of 
 God in the triumph of His will: its one means 
 for obtaining that desire, with all its heart and 
 strength to be working out that will each moment 
 
 :j! I 
 
206 
 
 LIKE chbist: 
 
 1f 
 
 of the day. And its one but sufficient reward is 
 this, it knows that through the will of God lies the 
 road, opened up by Christ Himself, deeper into the 
 love of God : * If ye keep my commandments, ye 
 shall abide in my love.* 
 
 Oh this blessed Christlike obedience, leading to a 
 Christlike abiding in the Divine Love ! To attain 
 it we must just study Christ more. He emptied 
 Himself, and humbled Himself, and became obedient. 
 May He empty us and humble us too ! He learned 
 obedience in the school of God, and being made 
 perfect, became the author of eternal salvation to 
 all that obey Him. We must yield ourselves to be 
 taught obedience by Him ! We just need to listen 
 to what He has told us how He did nothing of Him- 
 self, l)ut only what He saw and heard from the Father; 
 how entire dependence and continual waiting on the 
 Fathei was the root of implicit obedience, and this 
 again the secret of ever-growing knowledge of the 
 Father's deeper secrets. (John v. 19, 20. See 
 Fifteenth Day.) God's love and man's obedience 
 there are as the lock and key fitting into each other. 
 It is God's grace that has fitted the key to the lock, 
 it is man who uses the key to unlock the treasures 
 of love. 
 
 In the light of Christ's example and words, what 
 new meaning comes to God's words spoken to His 
 people from of old ! ' In blessing I will bless thee, 
 and in multiplying I will multiply thee, because 
 thou hast obeyed my voice.' * If ye will indeed 
 obey my voice, ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto 
 
ABIDIKO m THB WVE OF GOR 
 
 . . • 207 
 
 hy God, to observe to do all «.!/'"''' "' *« I'""' 
 We and obedience indl, bl' '"?""''""'»«»'«•' 
 f-'^tors in the wonderfunLe^n '^ *"" g^"' 
 
 I'eware that we be not ed ! '^''- ^"'^ '^' -8 
 '^'."' them, to seekZ a „ l"" '^"*' '" '='"'"«<="on 
 ^".'^d, or a state 1 'be :::.^,-P«™-e to be 
 
 «n.ple downright doing oToTr^ T'^' ^'"''« the 
 P'^-'t is overlooked, ul n,^ i "/" '" '^^ich they 
 7^d which God loves to '"',''' """^ "«« 'W^ 
 
 *ey is better thj.v^''^ "*"""«'<=«• 'To 
 ■>«thing without, „ot, r T ^ ' "''"""'«- i« 
 -«' the „.„ek and lo Jv " II' ''' '""'*^''««- ^t 
 " servant and a son Z'^^ITV' ''''"''■ «» <>' 
 ; «woet-s„,eIling sa; „r '! f ''^ !?"'''='' ^'"^^ 
 «''ed,eace, first hearkenL . , ""'''<^' "'"Idhko 
 "«•«. and then do,n7thaf T/ '° "'« ^«««-'- 
 
 If^. that will bringlsS w? ' '\"«'" '■» ^^« 
 H„„. g "» the witness that we please 
 
 His Love. ''•^'"^ '^esus, and abiding in 
 
 ,1 I 
 
208 
 
 LIKE CHRIST : 
 
 my God ! what shall I say to the wonderful 
 interchange between the life of heaven and the life 
 of earth Thou hast set before me ? Thy Son, our 
 blessed Lord, has shown and proved to us how it is 
 possible on this earth of ours, and how unspeakably 
 blessed, for a man to live with the love of God 
 always surrounding him, by just yielding himself to 
 obey Thy voice and will. And because He is ours, 
 our Head and our Life, we know that we can indeed 
 in our measure live and walk as we see Him do ; 
 our souls every moment abiding and rejoicing in 
 Thy Divine Love, because Thou acceptest our feeble 
 keeping of Thy commandments for His sake. my 
 God, it is indeed too wonderful, that we are called 
 to this Christlike dwelling in love through the 
 Christlike obedience Thy Spirit works ! 
 
 Blessed Jesus ! how can I praise Thee for coming 
 and bringing such a life on earth and making me .i 
 sharer in it. my Lord ! 1 can only yield myself 
 afresh to Thee to keep Thy commandments, as Tliuu 
 didst keep the Father's. Lord ! only impart to me 
 the secret of Thine own blessed obedience ; the open 
 ear, the watchful eye, the meek and lowly heart; 
 the childlike giving up of all as the beloved Son 
 to the beloved Father. Saviour ! fill my heart with 
 Thy love ; in the faith and experience of that love I 
 will do it too. Yes, Lord, this only be my life : 
 keeping Thy commandments, and abiding in Thy 
 love. Amen. 
 
lED BV THE Sflmr. 
 
 209 
 
 M 
 
 I-IKE CHEIST: 
 ^f" iU ^t Spirit. 
 
 «P«3n.. The descent oTthe Hn? 'V'"' '^"^ His 
 ";e baptism of the Soirit !.• °'^. ^P'"' »- Him. 
 »:"• «ater, was a real tranf '*" '" "■" baptism 
 »'th the Spirit. HettZT''""' ^" ""' ^''^-l 
 »l the Hol/spirit, and ,™t T '''' '°"'^'> f"" 
 "'»» ever the Wd „. ofX^ "">« Manifestly 
 
 "<:« He wrestled a^d eltutr. ' ^^ '''^ ^''^'«^- 
 ^-ine power, but as a man wh' ""' '» ^i^ own 
 ""d led by the Holy LIT T T' ^'^^"gthened 
 
 iijl 
 
 ^i 
 
 I'lij 
 mm 
 
 I. f 
 
 :( 
 I 
 
 / ?!' 
 
 I .<! 
 
210 
 
 LIKE CIIKIST : 
 
 They are called to live like Him. Tliis is not 
 demanded from them without their havinjiij the same 
 power. This power is the Holy Spirit dwellinj^ in 
 us, whom we have of God. Even as Jesus was tilled 
 with the Spirit and then led hy the Spirit, so must 
 we be also filled with the Spirit and be led by tlic 
 Spirit. 
 
 More than once, in our meditations on tlic 
 different traits of Christ's character, it has seemed to 
 us almost impossible to be like Him. We have 
 lived so little for it : we feel so little al>le to livo 
 thus. Let us take courage in tlie thouj^dit : .lusiis 
 Himself could only live thus through the Spiiil. 
 It was after He was filled with the Spirit that lie 
 was led forth by that Spirit to the place of conflict 
 and of victory. And this blessing is ours as surclv 
 as it was His : we may be filled with the Spirit ; 
 we may be led by the Spirit. Jesus, who wa'^ 
 Himself baptized with the Spirit, to set us an 
 example how to live, has ascended into heaven to 
 baptize us into the likeness with Himself. He vvlio 
 would live like Jesus must begin here : He must be 
 baptized with the Spirit. What CJod demands from 
 His cliildren He first gives. He demands entire 
 likeness to Christ because He will give us, as He 
 did Jesus, the fulness of the Spirit. We must be 
 filled with the Spirit. 
 
 We have here the reason why the teaching of 
 the imitation and likeness to Clnist has so little 
 prominence in the Church of Christ. Men sought 
 it in their own strength, with the help of some 
 
"" BY rm: swwT. 21, 
 
 °f. "s. because tl,e^ l.n I ml L "'" "^^ "'^P'-^^d 
 
 '^e Pnvilese of „ f„„ j^,?;,^/' ««3 tJu.„sl,t t„ y^ 
 of^J'cry ohm of 6Wr ''""'"''"'"'"' duty 
 
 " ly then will ]i),e„e,, t„ ^,, . "■ "'«"• ri^l.t place, 
 
 '«''««: to be like Christ ''""' ''''"""^- 
 «»«« Spirit, and to be W h „"""' '"' '«' ^Y the 
 "•« ""-t be filled ^-t r the ■ S ^^'^ "^ "" -" 
 f^^^n the fulnes., of the L"" .-f ^'."'•, N"""»S IcW 
 
 •■* "» '•^. the surrender of .fthf '■"" ^^^ ''V'"<^^ 
 gives. •" '-"til to receive what He 
 
 The snrreader of fni.i, ,.rL 
 ;I'etI,er we are indeed ' ^'"' "" "'^^ i« 
 
 -t.^teps, and f„, tl fe t^ be f r '^ '"""' '" "'•»' 
 ?» not let there be any hcs^-f 7'""' "' "'" «Pirit. 
 "••«t, look buck on alUhe b " '^ '" <»" ""^^ver. 
 
 '"---^--pirit,in;,iT;:~^^^^^^^^^^ 
 
 
 ,;..,;. I 
 
212 
 
 LIKE CHRIST: 
 
 is set forth : Even as I, ye also. Eemember that 
 it was of tliis likeness to Himself in everything He 
 said to the Father : ' The glory which Thou gavest 
 me have I given them.' Think how the love of 
 Christ and the true desire to please Him, how the 
 glory of God and the needs of the world, plead»witli 
 us not through our sloth to despise this heavenly 
 birthright of being Christlike. Acknowledge the 
 sacred right of ownership Christ has in you, His 
 blood-bought ones : and let nothing prevent your 
 answering : * Yes, dear Lord, as far as is allowed to 
 a child of dust, 1 will be like Thee. I am entirely 
 Thine ; I must, I will, in all things bear Thy image. 
 It is for this I ask to be filled with the Spirit.' 
 
 The surrender of faith : only this ; but nothing 
 less than this He demands. Let us give what He 
 asks. If we yield ourselves to be like Him in all 
 things, let it be in the quiet trust that He accepts, 
 and at once begins in secret to make the Spirit 
 work more mightily in us. Let us believe it 
 although we do not at once experience it. To be 
 filled with the Holy Spirit, we must wait on our 
 Lord ill faith. We can depend upon it that His 
 love desires to give us more than we know. Let 
 our surrender be made in this assurance. 
 
 And let this surrender of faith be entire. Tlie 
 fundamental law of following Christ is this : ' He 
 who loses his life shall find it.' The Holy Spirit 
 comes to take away the old life, and to give in its 
 place the life of Christ in you. Kenounce the old 
 life of self-working and sell-watching, and believe 
 
 1! 
 
 ... 
 
 flH 
 
 riiH 
 
 . 
 
 • i'^flHI 
 
 ! 
 
 ■ ' ^MBfSt 
 
 
 jis^BB 
 
 
 i 
 
 m 
 
 II 
 
 
 m 
 
LED BY THE SPIRIT. 
 
 213 
 
 --T^otCLiTj ~ >•- We eve., 
 SP'"t Will .enow your We 7"°^"^ '"« Hol^ 
 Holy Spirit in yo/ZJt nlV\ """^ »' '^e 
 t'ons: yon are i„ the Sn.vT ^''''' "' «'«"•"?- 
 Spirit is in yo„ as your V', ^'°''' ''""^ «''= *« 
 Spirit God JoH-//Z 't ?'"'•• ""-""gh the 
 according to His ™„7 „ ! '" '" "^" ^"'^ '^ -J" 
 '"-ve a deep reverence J ?"■"• , "''■ <^''"«««n. 
 who dwells within ylpir """^ "' *••« «I'»'' 
 which works in yc.Zu Ji he's" .''"" ""^-■ 
 you to Christ's life an,l J." ^""'' '"^ <=ouform 
 
 «e occupied witi J ' , "'Z, T"'?' '^ "i"'"-"- 
 which is at the same 1 1 v " '"'^' '''»' hfe 
 
 «tr»n«th. in the fulTas r^rT, """"P'"* "°<3 ^our 
 •^"ows in deep ,uie! ^mZ^'T'' f "'^ ^P'"' 
 eating JesHs to >•„„ p" , """^"^ of comnmni- 
 
 of the Spirit is yo^irst r ""'" "" '"'"'^'^ 
 
 )'0" accept and hoWin f. H ' " ""' «"' which 
 "ot such feeling aTy^" 1] '''" ^''«» 'here is 
 you count to ^o^kT;::'';"'''''"'^- which 
 fcehng may |,„ ,„„ , •'"" "" you need. The 
 tremMi„g,id 1,*-'™-^ and f«- and nnd 
 
 "ving in^dcnons'ulti!" ofu f ' "•" """''"- »"'' 
 1 Cor. ii. 3 4) T ,""* Sp'rit and of power 
 
 "f the SpirU if your "nd" t f /''"' '''' "'" f"'"- 
 "PPoiuted if, loiC'u.l ^'"' *'" '"^^' l-e dis- 
 omy in the 'blestd" t^t ttt";/"" "'''"'^'^ ^-^ 
 spiritual life is ;,, t„„ i , ""^ "'"^^ of your 
 
 Comforter. Th " th Th '. " • "" ^^°'>- «P'"' 'h" 
 
 in you, the liytg' ^1 '/to 7" '''"""'' "' •^-- 
 b "Kcness to Jesus wUI be seen on 
 
 
 
 I 
 
 
 
 i 
 
 s.': 
 
 1: n 
 
 
 1 
 
214 
 
 LIKE CIllllST ; 
 
 I if 
 
 i\ 
 
 M 
 
 I 
 
 I V^i 
 
 i ;■ 
 
 H> 
 
 IE 
 
 i 
 
 you ; the Spirit of life in Christ Jesns dwelling 
 within, the likeness of the life of Christ Jesus will 
 shine around. 
 
 And if it do not appear that in thus believing 
 and ol)eying your desires are fulfilled, remember that 
 it is in the fellowship with the members of Ch»i:]t's 
 body, and in the full surrender to Christ's service 
 in the world, that the full power of the Spirit is 
 made manifest. It was when Jesus gave Himself 
 to enter into full leHowsliip with men around Him, 
 and like them to be ba[>lized with water, that He 
 was baptized with the Holy Ghost. And it was 
 when He liad given Himself in His second baptism 
 of suffering, a sacrilice for us, that He received the 
 Holy Spirit to give to us. Seek fellowship witli 
 God's children, wlio will with thee plead and believe 
 for the baptism of the S]»irit : the disciples received 
 the Spirit not singly, l)ut wlien tliey were with one 
 accord in one place. Band thyself with God's 
 children around thee to work for souls ; the Spirit 
 is tlie power from on high to fit for that work : the 
 promise will be fulfilled to tlie believing, willing 
 servants, who want Him not for their enjoyment, 
 but for that work. Christ was filled with the 
 Spirit tliat He miglit be fitted to work and live 
 and die for us. (Jive tliyself to such a Christliko 
 living and dying for men, and thou mayest depend 
 upon it, a Christlike bnptism of the Spirit, a Christ- 
 like fulness of the Spirit, will be thy portion. 
 
 Blessed Lord ! liow wondrously Thou hast pro- 
 
LED BY THE SPIlilT. gig 
 
 vided for our ffrowinff 1,|.„ 
 
 « Thine own 'nor; !„;"'"; '° ^-^'f. « giving 
 '' i« His work to rev!a Th .°" " '"''' "^ "'"^ 
 /'r-enco witlan „ "" if"' ?.«'^<^, - ^1,^ Kea, 
 '>^t won for us all thl r, """ "" Thou 
 
 ^irenoth we see 'in Til >""' '"'''"^^^ «'"' 
 
 ""Parted and u,ade our v;,;'owr''°t "'f ■^"'^ 
 "line, and shows it t„ ^ T ' ^^ '"'^''^ of 
 
 ',!>- Thee, we'eann,^ live ; ^ :r.""n '"" ''"" --« 
 ''k« Thee we are full o the H ^^"' ""''• ""'-^^^ 
 ''--' -^e Thy nan ! Ti St'"^'' "'^^-'^- 
 l'««t promised it; it nnvT T •? T^"'''^''' Tl'ou 
 
 Hoiy Saviour.; dr 7't ' r '• f "" "^ 
 'vait and plead for thil J ^ ""'*'' '"^ether to 
 to see the wondrous unfulfill i" "^'"^ "'" ''P«»«'l 
 of the Holy Spirit t' / , , '"'""'■^''^ "^ "oo'l. 
 Kive theiuselves, like TW Tr ''"" ^^ ''™^"' "> 
 And we know i wi 1 I Tht d r',?'' "'" '" ■-"• 
 '"«««. as He that b.ntiil ^^ '" '"'«' ^hine 
 
 •••"I with lire. Glo^t 'Vr'; "" ""'^ «'"- 
 
 J' oe DO J l,y Name. Amen. 
 
 
 
 i. 
 
 m 
 M 
 
 '„ Ui 
 
 i ' In 
 
216 
 
 LIKE CUKIST ; 
 
 Twenty-Ninth Day. 
 
 Miij 
 
 ai 
 
 1 ',. 
 
 LIKE CHRIST: 
 
 3In }]is Mtt tbrousl) tfje iFatfjer* 
 
 ' Even as I live by the Father, so he that eateth me, even he 
 shall live by me.' — John vi. 57. 
 
 EVEKY contemplation of a walk in the footsteps 
 of Christ, and in His likeness, reveals anew 
 the need of fixing tlie eye on the deep living union 
 between the Forerunner and His followers. Like 
 Chrvit : the longer we meditate on the word, the 
 more we realize how impossible it is without thnt 
 other: In Christ. Tlie outward likeness can only 
 be the manifestation of a living inward union. To 
 do the same works as Christ, I must have the same 
 life. The more earnestly I take Him for my example, 
 the more I am driven to Him as my Head. Only 
 an inner life essentially like His, can lead us to a 
 visible walk like His. 
 
 What a blessed word we have here, to assure us 
 that His life on earth and ours are really like eacli 
 other: ' E vai as I live by the Father, so he that 
 eateth me, even he shall live by me.' H you 
 desire to understand your life in Christ, what lb- 
 will be for you and how He will work in you, yoi 
 
IN HIS LIFB TUKOUGIl THE FATHEE. 
 
 217 
 
 kre us 
 
 each 
 
 Ihiit 
 
 you 
 
 It II*- 
 
 yoi 
 
 tea 
 
 r 
 
 liave only to contemplate what the Father was for 
 Him, and how He worked in Him. Christ's life 
 in and through the Father is the image and the 
 measure of what your life in and through the Son 
 may be. Let us meditate on this. 
 
 As Christ's life was a life hidden in God in 
 heaven, so must ours be. When He emptied Him- 
 self of His Divine glory, He laid aside the free use 
 of His Divine attributes. He needed thus as a man 
 to live by faith ; He needed to wait on the Father 
 for such communications of wisdom and power, as 
 it pleased the Father to impart to Him. He was 
 entirely dependent on the Father ; His life was hid 
 in God. Not in virtue of His own independent 
 Godhead, but through the operations of the Holy 
 Spirit, He spoke and acted as the Father from time 
 to time taught Him. 
 
 Exactly so, believer, must your life be hid with 
 Christ in God. Let tliis encourage you. Christ 
 calls you to a life of faith and dep(>udence, because 
 it is the life He Himself led. He lias tried it and 
 proved its blessedness ; He is willing now to live 
 over again His life in you, to teach you also to live 
 in no other way. He knew that the Father was 
 His life, and that He lived through tlie Father, and 
 that the Father supplied His need moment by 
 moment. And now He assures you that as He 
 lived through the Father, even so you shall live 
 through Him. Take this assurance in faith. Let 
 your heart be filled with the thought of the blessed- 
 ness of this fulness of life, which is prepared for 
 
 i i 
 
218 
 
 LIKK chuist: 
 
 ' If 
 
 I 
 
 you in Christ, and will be abundantly supplied as 
 you need it. Do not think any more of your 
 spiritual life, as somethin*^ that you must watch over 
 and nourish with care and anxiety, liejoice every 
 day that you need not live on your own streu,L>lh, 
 but in your Lord Jesus, even as He lived through 
 His Father. 
 
 Even as Christ's life was a life of Divine poirer, 
 although a life of dependence, so ours will also be. 
 He never repented having laid aside His glory, to 
 live before God as a man upon earth. The Father 
 never disappointed His confidence, He gave Him 
 all He needed to accomplish His work. Christ 
 experienced that blessed as it was to be like God in 
 lieaven, and to dwell in the enjoyment of Divine 
 perfection, it was no less blessed to live in the 
 relation of entire dependence on earth, and to 
 receive everything day by day from His hands. 
 
 Believer, if you will have it so, your life can be 
 the same. The Divine power of the Lord Jesus 
 will work in and through us. Do not think that 
 your earthly circumstances make a holy life to 
 God's glory impossible. It was just to manifest, in 
 the midst of earthly surroundings which were even 
 more diflicult, the Divine life, that Christ came aud 
 lived on earth. As He lived so blessed an earthly 
 life through the Father, so may ye also live your 
 earthly life through Him. Only cultivate large 
 expectations of what the Lord will do for you. Let 
 it be your sole desire to attain to an entire union 
 with Him. It is impossible to say what the Lord 
 
« HIS UP. XH«OUa„ „„ ,,,„^^ \^^ 
 
 ■^'"^ ■«"»tld do for a so«f „ 7 ■ 
 
 - «'^«W^ tt«4/, yf ; ''y^ 7^^ -«»,, ,« ;,,. 
 
 ">« Father „,ade that lifl wit ."-^ *''""'■■■ "'"' 
 
 «. wiJl you experience n ^ . ' '" ^'"■■'^- «' "'"'-ious. 
 
 Ife Laa undertaken to wort J] "" """^ ''"" ^"''W 
 
 ^s the life of Chri ■> ^""^ 
 
 '■'■'il nnion ma tlu X/™^ *'" '""^'"■V^aatimi of Hu 
 
 ;,^>-- the it :r:::r '^'^''- "'"^'^^-^^ 
 
 '/""-•^ on earth n Hi i':: t'"'' '" "'""'f-' 
 ^''■-' work to no one less L ^ h': f, ^""''" ""trust 
 ;;'«s one with Him. u "'"' f '^ ''"'"ved Son, wl,„ 
 
 '^f "'e Father sent I^- t""'" J'" ""^ *» 
 ''""■er I.ad sent Him that Vt !" '''"'"■'« "'« 
 
 "'««. but He mu«t eare f» rr rf'^ '"' ^' »"'«r- 
 "Pon which the ,ui2!J!'] '''**• ^" '''« ""'on 
 ;"ta nty tl,at Jesus Z.M W "'"'"' ""^ '"--'J 
 "le Father. "^ ''^<^ on earth through 
 
 "««h and (Irinketh mv tl , . " "''""^ "^•■"eth ,ny 
 
 Wood for the life of !l. ,^'™" ^''■"^ «^''*'' and 
 
 -> i-takes of lit rTHi t'"?" ^'""> " '« 
 '■''o.t'O", and receives ts ,'lf/ '.''?'"'' "'"' '''^■'"r- 
 ■^ "^".t to His lathe,? ^ '"/ f '""• "^ '^« '-' 
 •soever ealeth Me,' is expre;sed ,1 •''°''*' '■^^■''"- 
 .»nd unbroken communio^w^l r '"^"""^^ ^<'""' 
 - the power of a lif^i H^' "" ^-" J--% which 
 
 ^"^ the sou], who truly Ton"; to ,' """ ^''"'' ""* 
 
 y 'on„s to Jrve entirely and 
 
220 
 
 UKE CHBIST : 
 
 •il' 
 
 B 
 
 
 only by Christ, is to eat Him, daily to feed on Him, 
 to make Him his own.^ 
 
 To attain this, seek ccntiniially to have your 
 lieart filled with a believin" and lively assurance 
 tliat all Christ's fulness of life is truly yours. 
 Ilejoice in the contemplation of His liunianity in 
 heaven, and tlie wonderful provision Cod has mmh 
 through the Holy Spirit for the communication of lliis 
 life of your Head in heaven, to flow unbroken and 
 unhindered down upon you. Thank God unceas- 
 ingly for the redemption in which He opened tlie 
 way to tlie life of God, and for the wonderful life 
 now provided for you in the Son. Offer yourscdf 
 unreservedly to Him witli an open heart and con- 
 secrated life that seeks His service alone. In such 
 trust and consecration of faith, in the outpouring of 
 love and cultivation of communion, with His words 
 abiding in you, let Jesus be your daily food. lie 
 who eateth me shall live by me : even as the 
 Father has sent me, and I live by tlie Father. 
 
 Beloved Christian ! what think you ? Does not 
 the imitation of Christ begin to seem possible in 
 the light of this promise ? He who lives through 
 Christ can also live like Him. Therefore let 
 this wonderful life of Christ on earth througii 
 the Father be the object of our adoring contempla- 
 tion, until our whole heart understands and accepts 
 the word, 'Even so, He who eateth me shall live 
 through me.' Then we shall dismiss all care and 
 anxiety, because the same Christ who set us the 
 * For the application of our text to the Lord's Supper, see Note. 
 
example works i„ „, , 
 
 "'"•''t can live ou" Z "" '''''^«" 'h"' life 
 
 n "«. m order that we mavlfv r,""" "'"' I've, 
 '"ve and praise of oar Cl. '"I JJ ''""■ ^ the 
 
 my God I how shall T fi, > 
 "'onderful grace! 'J'hy Son h^"""^" ^''«« ^^ ".is 
 "S he blessedness of a We of7"'" '"'" '° "^•''e'' 
 «" the 1-ather; He lived thro T'T ''"P^ndenee 
 !;^ "^een given „« to see in Hif ,"" ^''''<^^- ^t 
 ''f« can live and work al - "'" "'" ^'vine 
 
 ""'V He is ascended into h '"""' "" '^""'- And 
 '» '«t that life work r „"":' ""^ ''"^ »" P- 
 ;?;«» «' He did on earth : Z iTvoT "'^ '° «^- 
 <-d. p,.a,sed be Thy „an,e f!r this , """f '""• « 
 J^"l. my God, hear H,„ "»«P«d<ahle grace 
 
 (0 Thnp Tj -1 "'^ prayer tint r »""'- 
 
 p r,, ■ " 't may be show i ^ '""^ ""l r 
 
 «f Christ's life through Ve r<,"' "'°'''^' '""^h m-e 
 ''' my God, if I am to L r ^ "^^^ to know 
 - the spirit of wi:d m i„T,:\"'' f ^ •' Oh, ^Z 
 
 what I 
 
 can do tlirouo-h Hi 
 
 I'e a straggle and a.^eCt 
 
 Will nnri TT- CUUIC 
 
 may 
 
 S\^'m. It will th 
 
 poet from H 
 
 en no Joi 
 
 ini. 
 
 li^f'r 
 
 f '. -d His eTamTle P '° "" --"". t C 
 '"at His blessed l7 „„ ^ tt"'' ' ^'"" ">-' '™' '- 
 ■"g to the word, 'Evenl T '' "T """o. accord- 
 
 'e through me.' Th 
 
 '^cn as I throimii 
 
 'g^i the Father 
 
 ;,'"-tin;the Joyful e.";;i^Vn '''' ^^^ 
 
 ^'^messake. Amen, 
 
 measure for H 
 
 ^1^' 
 
 #- 
 
222 
 
 LIKE CIIUI8TI 
 
 ;i ^ 
 
 
 p' « 
 
 \wBm 1 
 
 .f^^^H'i :4^, 
 
 
 :j^^^H 
 
 ^m 
 
 m 
 
 notp:. 
 
 Thou^'h tho words of our Lord Jesus in the si.vtli 
 of John were not spoken directly of the Lord's Supiur, 
 they are yet applicable to it, bccausis tlM*y set forth tli.it 
 spiritual blessing of which the Holy Supper is tlic 
 communication in a visibly form. In eatinj^ the breiid 
 and drinking the wine, our spiritual life is not only 
 strengthened because therein the i>ardon of our sin; 
 is signified and sealed to us, but because tlie Holy Spii It 
 does indeed make us i)artakers of the very body ami 
 blood of our Lord Jesus as a spiritual reality. So one 
 of our Iteformed Church Catechisms, the Heithlbeii,' 
 (Qu. 78), puts it, 'What is it then to eat tlie l)i(»k(ii 
 body and drink the shed blood of Christ V 'It is //»/ 
 onli/ to embrace with a believing heart the sutleritjgs ami 
 death of Christ, and so to obtain the pardon of sin 
 and life etcinal; but moreorer also that we are uin'tcil 
 to His sacred bndy by the Holy Ghost, who dwells botli in 
 Christ and in us, so that m; though Christ be in heaven 
 and we on eaith, are neveitheh'ss Jlesh of Jlis flesh ami 
 hones of His hoiu's.' 
 
 It is known that there are in our Protestant Chuiclios 
 three views of the Lord's Supper. On the one hand, the 
 Lutheran with its consubstajitiation, teaching that the 
 body of our Lord is so i»rcsent in the bread, that even an 
 unbeliever eats no longer only bread, but the body ot 
 the Lord. On the other the Zwinglian view, according' 
 to which the effect of the Sacrament is a very imj)ressive 
 exhibition of the truth that the death of Christ is to us 
 what wine and bread are to the l)ody, and a ven' 
 expressive confession of out- faith in this truth, and so 
 of our interest in the blessings of that death. As the 
 Holy Spirit in the Word speaks to us through the eai', 
 so in the Sacrament through the eye. Midway between 
 these views is that of Calvin, who strongly urges that 
 there is in it a mysti'iious blessing, not well to be 
 expressed in words ; that it is not enough to speak of 
 the life which the Spirit gives to our spirit tlirough faith, 
 
'" "'' ''''' ^"''«^^^H THK r.THKH. 
 
 223 
 
 seed of H ^^'.^'^o''}', "n-l i,avo hI , "^.'^ '""'^ «^'^'«<1 
 
 avoir/? '' "'""^"-'^ ''odv of tin ' "''^ '" "« '^•'^ tl.o 
 avoiding., on tl,o ono liand n '•es"Moctfon. Wi, ! 
 
 change in ti.e bioad ' ' "" «''^'''''"i'^ntaimn yiownt 
 l'>:«v»il» us to the reTatil 7 ," """o ^'il'turli v tt 
 
 l'eavonly,vorl,J,tlu,s, t,, ; '" 'I'mt-Wo of fe 
 
 of Heshand blood.' -iTw'' ' °"?'»''"= "" >"o"t 1?, 
 
 «is flesh and Mood -.t ,i '' "'"' <-'""miiniicalos i,. 
 ticipation of life '«,<,'" '■■""■ »■'""= enjoy, tlf„ 
 
 ^7 the Godhcudt : Lc'l ° T,""' "feflo-vi-X 
 
 "^''""'*^'-^-^*---oe!i;:;ra7s 
 
 .:'f^ 
 
 Mil 
 
 1 
 
 Q 
 
224 
 
 LIKK ClIHl^T: 
 
 :l 
 
 ' 
 
 I 
 
 to the Christian life. Hence these expressions : " The 
 Church is 'the body of Christ.'" "Our bodies are 'the 
 nierabers of Christ.' " *' Wo are members of His l)ody, ol 
 His flesh and His bones." What our mind does not 
 comprehend, let faith receive, tli.it the Spirit unites 
 thin<;8 80|>arated by space. That sacred communion 
 of flesh and blood by which Ciirist transfuses His life 
 into us, just as if it penetrated our bones and marrow, 
 He testifies and seals in the Supjier, not by represent in;,' 
 a vain or empty sign, l)Ut by these exerting an ellicacy 
 of the Spirit by which He fulfils what He promises.' 
 * I willingly admit anything which helps to express the 
 true and substantial communication of the body and 
 blood of the Lord, Jis exhibited to believers under the 
 sacred symbols of the Supper, understanding that they 
 are not received by the imagination or the intelltct 
 merely, but are enjoyed in reality as the food of eternal 
 life.' 'We say that Christ descends to lis, as well by 
 the external symbol as by His Spirit, that Me may tiuly 
 quicken our souls by the substance of His fiesh and 
 blood.' 'Such is the corporeal presence which the 
 sacrament recpiires, and which we say is here disidayed 
 in such power and etticacy, that it not only gives our 
 minds undoubted assurance of heavenly lite, but also 
 secures the immortality of our flesh.' ^ 
 
 To the soul who seeks fully to live by Christ as He 
 did by the Father, the sacrament is a real si)iritiial 
 blessing, something more than what faith in the woid 
 gives. Let all the praying and believing and living 
 in which we fccok to rea'i/.' the wonderful blessing of 
 living just as Christ did by the Father, ever cidminatc 
 in our communion of tl-o oody and blood at the Lonl's 
 table. And let us go forth from each such celebration 
 with new confidence, that what has been given aii<l 
 confirmed on the great day of the feast, will by Jesus 
 Himself be maintained in power in the daily life through 
 the moie ordinary chantiels of His grace — the blcsscil 
 fellowshii) with Himself in the word and prayer. 
 ^ Ctklvin'a JnsliluteH, iv. 17, § 7, 9, 10, 19, 24. 
 
IN GlOlimiNG T/IE ^,,,,,,^ 
 
 225 
 
 illl 
 
 ''"hirtieth Day. 
 
 I'HCK OHiUST: 
 
 ' Father, the Jiour *« /.« 
 
 T'WE glory of „n „|j;e„. . ,. ^ . 
 
 '™"y to all that U expec erf r '""' ""'^''^ Per- 
 ;;-■ perfection ,„ay befohw/ '''"" ""-"-'<« 
 
 ' >e ol'jeet has no glory to t!^,' T ""'"""'"■ ""' 
 
 ■ate and condemns ^r ,,1 ^^^""'^ One Ho 
 fr'^es the sinner from te n„ ""'^ ^ne He also 
 
 '■"■"mnnion «ith hL /T ''""' '"'''' '''"^ '<' 
 ?'- of Israel, thy BeTeeLr ^";;"""' '''■ ' ^''« ^f°'>- 
 
 II 
 
 !^J 
 
 :isii'i 
 
 I 
 
226 
 
 LIKS CHRIST : 
 
 midst of thee/ To the Blessed Spirit, whose 
 special work it is to maintain the fellowship of God 
 with man, the title of Holy in the New Testament 
 belongs more than to the Father or the Son. It is 
 this holiness, judging sin and saving sinners, which 
 is the glory of God. For this reason the two words 
 are often found together. So in the song of Moses : 
 'Who is like Thee, glorious in holiness V So in 
 the song of the Seraphim : * Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord 
 God of hosts ; the whole earth is full of His glory' 
 And so in the song of the Lamb : ' V.^io shall not 
 glorify Thy Name ? for Thou only art Holy* As has 
 been well said : * God's glory is His manifested 
 holiness ; God's holiness is His hidden glory.' 
 
 When Jesus came to eartb, it was that He 
 might glorify the Father, that He might again show 
 forth in its true light and beauty that glory which 
 sin had so entirely hid from man. Man himself had 
 been created in the image of God, that God might 
 lay of His glory upon him, to be shown forth in 
 him — that God might be glorified in him. The 
 Holy Ghost says, ' Man is the image and glory of 
 God.' Jesus came co restore man to his high 
 destiny : He laid aside the glory which He had with 
 the Father, and came in our weakness and humilia- 
 tion, that He might teach us how to glorify the 
 Father on earth. God's glory is perfect and 
 infinite : man cannot contribute any new glory to 
 God, above what He has : he can only serve as a 
 glass in which the glory of God is reflected. God's 
 holiness is His glory : as the holiness of God is seen 
 
» oionmmo the wthbr 
 
 in h- "^ 227 
 
 «f.ow™;rth°' '' «'°"''«<^'- H« 6lo:y aa God is 
 
 B« ye holy, for I am ho ^ '.• t" "'""''""aUy said! 
 
 thl ;^ ^^ "'""W enter into Llll t """"y '^'t'" 
 the Holy One. In Hi, „ i "^''"^ «''* Him as 
 a His sacrifice of H^T"^'"' ^'"^ »'° ""d S^ 
 *eFather-s teach nf 1 h"" ''"'• '•" »'« waiting^ 
 
 *» «- Word. chrisT;h:w^:^th:ir'""'"« <"-''-- 
 
 ''orth living for. but t W ™ ' .'*'""'^<' -"aing 
 what a blessed thing t is Iw^.k""?' ""<'«''"«"d 
 ^« GOK. His will afone actoL !' ^"'^ ^"^ "■•% 
 Because He alone is holy H^ ?f^"' '^'^ "^ed 
 done, and so His g^t' sW "'""' ^'''"^'' ^^ 
 
 Jesus glorified pJ i " "" "»• 
 
 only in hI icli Jiatr"*"^ ^^ He n„t 
 ^«d given Him. and%Wed """^ J"^'^«»"« «od 
 There is something f„ „ "'''° ""e Father is 
 
 '""allyspolceof Isown "^ ''*'"°"- ^e con 
 l^'Y He did no C" ^T""!! -'"tion to the 
 His holy life jj ^™' to the silent influence of 
 
 *-d what the 'i r^d ,'C?f ^1r^ '^ -"e - 
 «fter time He told them Z h"'"' '"« ^''«- Time 
 «e«t from the Father. t^atHe^' ''T *" " «»^«t 
 and owed everything to ir^' fiT*" "P"" »« 
 the Father's honour Jd f ?' , ''f ■"« ""'y sought 
 
 '»f ase theFather! itt Hif" '^^P'"- -'^ 
 Jesus glorified God *« !! „ ""''' ""'^ ^vour. 
 
 s 
 
 !!i4 ! 
 
 '■i 
 
 f'M' 
 
 Wid 
 
228 
 
 LIKE CHRIST; 
 
 
 and God's holiness is His redeeming love : love 
 that triumphs over sin by conquering the sin and 
 rescuing the sinner. Jesus not only told of t^o 
 Father being the Eighteous One, whose condemna- 
 tion must rest on sin, and the Loving One who saves 
 every one who turns from his sin, but He gave 
 Himself to be a sacrifice to that righteousness, a 
 servant to that love, even unto the death. It was 
 not only in acts of obedience, or words of confession, 
 that He glorified God, but in giving Himself to 
 magnify the holiness of God, to vindicate at once 
 His law and His love by His atonement. He gave 
 Himself, His whole life and being. Himself wholly, 
 to show how the Father loved, and longed to bless, 
 how the Father must condemn the sin, and yet 
 would save the sinner. He counted nothing too 
 great a sacrifice, He lived and died only for this, 
 that the glory of the Father, the glory of His 
 holiness, of His redeeming love, might break through 
 the dark veil of sin and flesh, and shine into the 
 hearts of the children of men. As He Himself 
 expressed it in the last week of His life, when the 
 approaching anguish began to press in upon Him : 
 'Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say 
 — Father, save me from this hour ? But for this 
 came I unto the world: Father! glorify Thy 
 Name.* And the assurance came that the sacrifice 
 was well-pleasing and accepted, in the answer : * I 
 have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.' 
 
 It was thus Jesus as man was prepared to have 
 part in the glory of God: He sought it in the 
 
IN GLOBIFYING THE FATHER. 
 
 229 
 
 hiiTniliation on earth ; He found it on the throne 
 of heaven. And so He is become our forerunner, 
 leadiug many children to glory : He shows us that 
 the sure way to the glory of God in heaven is to live 
 only for the glory of God on earth. Yes, this is the 
 glory of a life on earth : glorifying God here, we 
 are prepared to be glorified with Him for ever. 
 
 Beloved Christian ! is it not a wonderful calling, 
 blessed beyond all conception, like Christ to live 
 only to glorify God, to let God's glory shine out in 
 every part of our life ? Let us take time to take in 
 the wondrous thought : our daily life, down to its 
 most ordinary acts, may be transparent with the 
 glory of God. Oh ! let us study this trait as one 
 that makes the wondrous image of our Jesus 
 specially attractive to us : He glorified the Father. 
 Let us listen to Him as He points us to the high 
 aim, that your Father in heaven may he glorified, 
 and as He shows us the way, Herein is my Father 
 glorified. Let us remember how He told us that, 
 when in heaven He answers our prayer, this would 
 still be His object, and let in every breathing of 
 prayer and faith it be our object too : ' That the 
 Father may he glorified in tlie Son' Let our whole 
 life, like Christ's, be animated by this as its ruling 
 principle, growing stronger until in a holy en- 
 thusiasm OUT watchword has become : All, All to 
 THE Gloky of God. And let our faith hold fast the 
 confidence that in the fulness of the Spirit there is 
 the sure provision for our deeire being fulfilled: 
 * Know ye not that your body is the temple of the 
 
230 
 
 LIKE CHRIST: 
 
 I 
 
 Holy Spirit, which is in you ? — therefore glorify God 
 ill your body and in your spirit.* 
 
 If we want to know the way, let us again study 
 Jesus. He obeyed the Fiither. Let simple down- 
 right obedience mark our whole life. Let an 
 humble, childlike waiting for direction, a soldier-like 
 looking for orders, a Christlike dependence on the 
 Father's showing us His way, be our daily attitude. 
 Let everything be done to thij Lord, according to 
 His will, for His glory, in direct relationship to 
 Himself. Ltt God's glory shine out in the holiness 
 of our life. 
 
 He confessed the Father : He did not hesitate to 
 speak often of His personal relationship and inter- 
 course, just as a little child would do of an earthly 
 parent. It is not enougli that we live right before 
 men: how can they understand, if there be no 
 interpreter ? They need, not as a matter of preach- 
 ing, but as a peisonal testimony, to hear that wh;it 
 we are and do is hecausc we love the Father, and 
 are livimj for Him. The witness of the life and 
 the words must go together.^ 
 
 And He gave Himself to the Father's work. So 
 He glorified Him. He showed sinners tliat God has 
 a right to have us wholly and only for Himself, that 
 God's glory alone is worth living and dying for, and 
 that as we give ourselves to this, God will most 
 wonderfully use and bless us in leading others to 
 see and confess His glory too. It was that men 
 might glorify the Father in heaven, might find their 
 
 * See note. 
 
i 
 
 orify God 
 
 lin study 
 le down- 
 Let an 
 Idier-like 
 s on tlie 
 attitude, 
 rding to 
 »ship to 
 holiness 
 
 '' ^^«^^m.G rUE P.,H.H. 
 
 Wessedness also in i, . ^^ 
 
 ^ ^'^« '» glorify Thee 
 , " my God 1 r ^„ 
 p'ory ; I feel deeply hn^"""^ ^''««' «how me Th 
 ■-^ "-y resolution or Pff. """'''^ ^'"Possibr ,•> 
 "P or bind myself T, "" "^ ""i-e, to mJ ?' 
 
 -«' mate aU C' "^'^ »« argC"^- ™^'" 
 *ow me hn„ , ^ goodness pas/ htf''^' ^°" 
 
 W'* Father i. ''"''' "»«« to earth f , 
 
 • -^eacii us to ^ark 
 
 •i 
 
 m 1 
 
 '.'Si 
 
 li/r 
 
 «l 
 
232 
 
 LIKE CHRIST: 
 
 Thy confession of the Father, and how Thou didst 
 in personal testimony tell men of what He was to 
 Thee, and what Thou didst feel for Him, and let 
 our lips too tell out what we taste of the love of 
 the Father, that men may glorify Him. And above 
 all, oh ! teach us that it is in saving sinners that 
 redeeming love has its triumph and its joy, that 
 it is in holiness casting out sin that God has His 
 highest glory. And do Thou so take possession of 
 our whole hearts that we may love and labour, live 
 and <i'e. '> x* this one thing, ' That every tongue 
 should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the 
 Glou/ ov Ooi "i e Father.* 
 
 my Father ! let the wliole earth, let my heart, 
 be filled with Thy glory. Amen. 
 
 NOTE. 
 
 'Let us begin by considering what was the ground- 
 work of the whole beauty and harmony of our blessed 
 Saviour's character. Love to the Father was the ruling 
 motive of His Hfe. It so pervaded His nature as to 
 find expression, directly or indirectly, in every word as 
 well as every action. It will be well if we try to realize 
 something of the perfect simplicity with which that love 
 was so continually shown forth in daily life. 
 
 * Wo especially need to remind ourselves of how entirely 
 this was the case, because, in these days of artificial 
 manners, and of false shame, we are so frequently tempted 
 to conceal our true motives, and to think it a disgrace 
 if we are led into any sign of betraying our deepest 
 religious feelings. We conceal them from those who 
 
IN GLORIFYING THE FATHEB. 
 
 — • 23^ 
 
 ack,„gi„ ^ teste SeUfea™^^'"" ■'"•#''* """k "s 
 he merest breath of dWpJ^^ '^« f «*« rebuke. 
 
 sLall find :btZt°:'.:tfe^^''»''<' » different tlnW We 
 
 tl'at false Ufecreiion wh?l'^. '■" O" Master's life, ^fiut 
 
 . from onraelves, but f^.m thf T*' '" '''™rt "otiee, not 
 
 """duct, and i'„ „„,er " «!'''"'*'" I'"''<=ipi«» of ou' 
 
 from being woundedrSmU no T T" ^^'O* feelings 
 
 ^ e life of our Lord Tnvi- '*»"'«n'art whatever fn 
 
 Christ loved the Urj ih p'l*"':'?'' '""•»•<>. a^ man 
 w«h all His strength ^d ?m' T!"' *" H's heart, Td 
 not but assert itsSf con^^t' *Per.a.li„g l„ve 1^^ 
 unhesitatingly referred tnT ^' ■"' '^''d simply and 
 the slightest occS for , ,f * '""P'" '''«='. >vtaever 
 ty d object ihatZ^lfT&Tl "T.' ^' ''» " ^s 
 
 ~ ite^c^^^teutKt 
 
 persona connection with hS„^"" ^^^" ''»*'*°^ate and 
 
 'Hrrato^„i-rb"r?--^dZi.ie^^^^ 
 
 -»./-.. IS "t^:: He M;.^e^^ 
 
 ••^^mes. -Religious Tract Society. 
 
 "t 
 
 ii 
 
 M 
 
234 
 
 LIK£ OUIOST : 
 
 Thirty-First Day. 
 
 LIKE CHKIST: 
 
 *We know that when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; 
 
 for we shall see Him as He is. And every man that bath this 
 
 hope in him purifleth himself, euen aa He is pure.* — 1 Joun iii. 
 
 2, 3. 
 *And I appoint unto you a kingdom, euen aa my Father 
 
 hath appointed unto me.* — Luke xxiL 29. 
 
 aOD'S glory is L'^ holiness. To glorify God is 
 to yield ourselves that God in us may show 
 forth His glory. It is only by yielding ourselves to 
 be holy, to let His holiness fill our life, that His 
 glory can shine forth from us. The one work of 
 Christ was to glorify the Father, to reveal what a 
 glorious Holy God He is. Our one work is, like 
 Christ's, so by our obedience, and testimony, and life, 
 to make known our God as 'glorious in holiness,' 
 that He may be glorified in heaven and earth. 
 
 When the Lord Jesus had glorified the Father on 
 earth, the Father glorified Him with Himself in 
 heaven. This was not only His just reward ; it 
 was a necessity in the very nature of things. 
 There is no other place for a life given up to the 
 glory of God, as Christ's was, than in that glory. 
 
IN HIS GLORY. 
 
 235 
 
 The law holds good for us too : a heart that yearns 
 and thirsts for the glory of God, that is ready to 
 live and die for it, becomes prepared and fitted to 
 live in it. Living to God's glory on eartli is the gate 
 to living in God's glo^y in heaven. If with Christ 
 we glorify the Father, the Father will with Christ 
 glorify us too. Yes, we shall be like Him in His 
 glory. 
 
 We shall be like Him in ffis spiritual glm^, the 
 glory of His holiness. In the union of the two 
 words in the name of the Holy Spirit, we see that 
 what is HOLY and what is spiriiual stand in the 
 closest connection with each other. When Jesus 
 as man had glorified God by revealing, and honour- 
 ing, and giving Himself up to His holiness, he was 
 as man taken up into and made partaker of the 
 Divine glory. 
 
 And so it will be with us. If here on earth we 
 have given ourselves to have God's glory take posses- 
 sion of us, and God's holiness, God's Holy Spirit, 
 dwell and shine in us, then our human nature with 
 all our faculties, created in the likeness of God, shall 
 have poured into and transfused through it, in a 
 way that passes all conception, the purity and the 
 holiness and the life, the very brightness of the 
 glory of God. 
 
 We shall be like Him in His glorified body. It 
 has been well said : Embodiment is the end of the 
 ways of God. The creation of man was to be God's 
 masterpiece. There had previously b(ien spirits with- 
 out bodies, and animated bodies without spirits, but 
 
 .i' > 
 
 \ 
 
 
236 
 
 LIKK CHRIST ! 
 
 in man there was to be a spirit in a body lifting up 
 and spiritualizing the body into its own heavenly 
 purity and perfection. Man as a whole is God's 
 image, his body as much as his spirit. In Jesus a 
 human body — mystery of mysteries ! — is set upon 
 the tlirone of God, is found a worthy partr er and 
 container of the Divine glory. Our bodies are 
 going to be the objects of the most astonishing 
 miracle of Divine transforming power : * He will 
 fashion our vile body like unto His glorious body, 
 according to the working whereby He is able even 
 to subdue all things unto Himself.' The glory of 
 God as seen in our bodies, made like Christ's 
 glorious body, will be something almost more 
 wonderful than in our spirits. We are ' waiting for 
 the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.' 
 
 We shall be like Him in His place of honour. 
 Every object must have a fit place for its glory to 
 be seen. Christ's place is the central one in the 
 universe : the throne of God. He spake to His 
 disciples, ' Where I am, there shall my servant be. 
 If any man serve me, Jdm will my Father honour.' 
 ' I appoint you a kingdom, even as my Fath' r hath 
 appointed me ; that ye may eat and drink at my 
 table, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes 
 of Israel.' To the Church at Thyatira He says: 
 ' He that overcometh and keepeth my words unto 
 the end, to him will I give power over the nations, 
 EVEN AS I received of my Father.' And to the 
 Church at Laodicea : ' To him that overcometh will 
 I grant to sit on my throne, even as I overcame. 
 
^ HIS QLOBT. 
 
 237 
 
 borue the i„,„g„ ^f j^"""' \«- 'Ev^N as we have 
 
 "-tofse truth wha Dit^e " r' """''"»" "'"" 
 God's creative word- -W "" u« '^'"' '« « 
 "nagc, after Our likeness ' rl T' "'"• « 0" 
 ness of the Invisible tnl ""^ '""h the lilie- 
 
 Nature, to shar v" h 00/1?^" " ""« ^'-t 
 '^ man's destiny. His "f* "1'^°' "'« "niverse, 
 speakable glory StZ r t " '"'^"^ ""e of un- 
 
 t-.e eternai'pu,^ J rteh r "" "^° «^-'H 
 to be eonf„rn,ed to theWe of T /'^'^''''"^'^^ 
 «nd the eternal reali JirTu '" *'^'-''°™ Son. 
 fall be like hC^Z 1^' ^"P"'" '^''«° ^^e 
 from every side: yel'l^C" ""^ ">« ^°'«« 
 he way to share the'^lo^'fr'^^^V"' ««>, on 
 l.ve a Godlike, live a AZl S "'"' '' ^^™'- 
 
 ^ shall be satisfied when T , 
 
 UKENEss.' so the PsalmiTf "'^''^ «"■"> Thv 
 
 ;^» satisfy the soul^rOoTs^-"' "''■ ^"^ing 
 that it was created lid ^b ""'«"' ''««"'»« for 
 external to it. only seen bnf ? '"" *" something 
 Partaker of that fkeTe's "L "r^^"' 't is af 
 Blessed they who Cel^„r f"" ''^ '""^fied. 
 h-'-ger; they shall be ^1 Tl T^'' '"^"^"'e 
 "ess of God. this will be th. „l ' """ ^^'y ^^l^e. 
 
 on them from God Hin^lf L* '"■^f "''""^^ <'<"^n 
 
 ■amiselt, streammg through their 
 
 !l SI 
 
 Hi 
 
238 
 
 LIKE CHRIST I 
 
 whole being, streaming out from them through thu 
 universe. ' Wlien Christ who is *our life shall be 
 manifested, we also shall be manifested with Him 
 in glory.' 
 
 Beloved fellow-Christians ! nothing can be maae 
 manifest in that day that has not a real existence 
 here in this life. If the glory of God is not our 
 life here, it cannot be hereafter. It is impossible ; 
 him alone who glorifies God here, can God glorify 
 hereafter. ' Man is the image and gbjry of God.' 
 It is as you bear the image of God here, as you 
 live in the likeness of Jesus, who is the brightn<,'ss 
 of His glory, and the express image of His person, 
 that you will be fitted for the glory to come. If 
 we are to be as the imago of the heavenly, the 
 Christ in glory, we must first bear the image of th 
 earthly, the ('lirist in humiliation. 
 
 Child of God ! Christ is the uncreated image of 
 God. Man is His created image. On the throne in 
 the glory the two will be eternally one. You know 
 what Christ did, hew He drew near, how He sacrificed 
 all, to restore us to the possession of that image. 
 Oh, shall we not at length yield ourselves to this 
 wonderful love, to this glory inconceivable, and 
 give our life wholly to manifest the likeness and 
 the glory of Christ. Shall we not, like Him, make 
 the Father's glory our aim and hope, living to His 
 glory here, as the way to live in His glory there. 
 
 The Fatliers glory : it is in this that Christ's glory 
 and ours have their common orig'ii. Let the Father 
 be to us what He was to Him, and the Father's 
 
IK HIS GLORY. 
 
 239 
 
 glory will be ours as it is His. All the traits of the 
 life of Christ converge to this as their centre. He 
 was Son ; He lived as Son ; God was to Him 
 Father. As Son He sought the Father's glory; 
 as Son He found it. Oh ! let this be our conformity 
 to the image of the Son, tliat the Faihru is the 
 all in all of our life ; the Father's glory must be our 
 everlasting home. 
 
 Beloved brethren ! who have accompanied me 
 thus far in tliese meditations on the image of our 
 Lord, and the Christlike life in which it is to be 
 reflected, the time is now come for us to part. 
 Let us do so with the word, 'We shall be like 
 Him, for we shall see Him as He is. He who 
 hath this hope in Him purificth Himself, even as 
 He is pure.* Like Christ! let us pray for each 
 other, and for all God's children, that in ever- 
 growing measure this may be the one aim of our 
 faith, the one desire of our heart, the one joy of our 
 life. Oil, what will it be when we meet in the 
 glory, when we see Him as He is, and see each other 
 all like Him ! 
 
 Ever blessed and most glorious God! what 
 thanks shall we render Thee for the glorious gospel 
 of Christ, who is the image of God, and for the 
 light of Thy glory which shines upon us in Him I 
 And what thanks shall we render Thee, that in 
 Jesus we have seen the image not only of Thine, but 
 of our glory, the pledge of what we are to be with 
 Thee through eternity I 
 
 i' 
 
 1 
 
240 
 
 LIKE CHRIST IN HIS GLOBT. 
 
 God ! forgive us, forgive us for Jesus* blood's 
 sake, that we have so little believed this, that we 
 have so little lived this. And we beseech Thee 
 that Thou wouldst reveal to all who have had 
 fellowship with each other in these meditations, 
 what 'J'HE GLOiiY is in which they are to live 
 eternally, in which they can be living even now, as 
 they glorify Thee. Father ! awaken us and all 
 Thy children to see and feel what Thy purpose 
 with us is. We are indeed to spend eternity in 
 Thy glory : Thy glory is to be around us, and on 
 us, and in us ; we are to be like Thy Son in His 
 glory. Father! we beseech Thee, oh visit Thy 
 Church ! Let Thy Holy Sjjirit, the Spirit of glory, 
 work mightily in her; and let this be her one desire, 
 the one mark by which she is known : the glory 
 of God resting upon her. 
 
 Our Father ! grant it for Jesus' sake. Amen. 
 
ON PKEACllING CHKIBT OUIl EXAMPLE. 241 
 
 -^A 
 
 0n preadfeittg Cfjrist our featnple* 
 
 LET us make 
 LIKENESS : ' 
 
 man in our image, after our 
 in these words of the Council of 
 Creation, with which the Bible history of man opens, 
 we have the revelation of the Eternal purpose to 
 which man owes his existence, of the glorious eternal 
 future to which he is destined. God proposes to 
 make a Godlike creature, a being who shall be 
 His very image anJ likeness, the visible manifesta- 
 tion of the glory of the Invisible One. 
 
 To have a being, at once created and yet God- 
 like, was indeed a task worthy of Infinite Wisdom. 
 It is the nature and glory of God that He is abso- 
 lutely independent of all else, having life in Him- 
 self, owing His existence to none but Himself alone. 
 If man is to be Godlike, he must bear His image 
 and likeness in this too, that he must become what 
 he is to be, of his own free choice; he must make him- 
 self. It is the nature and glory of the creucure to be 
 dependent, to owe everything to the Blessed Creator. 
 How can the contradictiou be reconciled ? — a being 
 a.t once dependent and yet self-determined, created 
 and yet GodUke. In man the mystery is solved. 
 As a creature God gives him life, but endows him 
 with the wonderful power of a free will ; it is only 
 in the process of a personal and voluntary appropria- 
 tion that anytliing so high and holy as likeness to 
 God can really become his very own. 
 
242 
 
 ON PKEACHING CHRIST OUR EXAMPLE. 
 
 When sin entered, and man fell from his high 
 destiny, God did not give up His purpose. Of His 
 revelation in Israel the central thought was : ' Be 
 ye holy, as I am holy,' Likeness to God in that 
 which constitutes His highest perfection is to be 
 Israel's hope. Redemption had no higher ideal 
 than Creation had revealed ; it could only take up 
 and work out the Eternal purpose. 
 
 It was with this in view that the Father sent to 
 the earth the Son who was the express Image of 
 His person. In Him the God-likeness to which we 
 had been created, and which we had personally to 
 appropriate and make our own, was revealed in 
 human form : He came to show to us at once the 
 Image of God and our own image. In looking 
 upon Him, the desire after our long-lost likeness to 
 God was to be awakened, and that hope and faifi 
 begotten which gave us courage to yield ourselves to 
 be renewed after that Image. To accomplish this, 
 there was a twofold work He had to do. The one 
 was to reveal in His life the likeness of God, so that 
 we might know what a life in that likeness was, 
 and understand what it was we had to expect and 
 accept from Him as our Redeemer. Wlien He had 
 done this, and shown us the likeness of the life of God 
 in human form. He died that He might win for us, 
 and impart to us. His own life as the life of the like- 
 ness of God, that in its power we might live in tlie 
 likeness of what we had seen in Him. And when 
 He ascended to heaven, it was to give us in the 
 Holy Spirit the power of that life He had first set 
 before us and then won to impart to us. 
 
ON PREACHING CHRIST OUR EXAMPLE. 
 
 243 
 
 It is easy to see how close the connection is 
 between these two parts of the work of our Lord, 
 and how the one depends upon the other. For 
 what as our Example He had in His life revealed. 
 He as our Redeemer by His death purchased the 
 power. His earthly life showed the path, His 
 heavenly life gives the power, in which we are to 
 walk. What God hath joined together no man may 
 separate. Whoever does not staled in the full faith 
 of the Eedemption, has not the strength to follow 
 the Example. And whoever does not seek con- 
 formity to the Image as the great object of the 
 Redemption, cannot fully enter into its power. 
 Christ lived on earth that He might show forth tJie 
 image of God in His life : He lives in heaven that 
 we may show forth the image of God in our lives. 
 
 The Church of Christ has not always maintained 
 the due relation of these two truths. In the 
 Roman Catholic Church the former of the two was 
 placed in the foreground, and the following of 
 Christ's example pressed with great earnestness. 
 As the fruit of this, she can point to no small 
 number of saints who, notwithstanding many 
 errors, with admirable devotion sought literally and 
 entirely to bear the Master's image. But to the 
 great loss of earnest souls, the other half of the 
 truth was neglected, that only they who in tlie 
 power of Christ's death receive His life within 
 them, are able to imitate His life as set before them. 
 
 The Protestant Churches owe their origin to the 
 revival of the second truth. The truth of God's 
 pardoning and quickening grace took its true place 
 
 
 ti\ 
 
244 
 
 ON PKEACHING CHKIST OUR EXAMPLE, 
 
 to the great coiufort and joy of thousands of anxious 
 souls. And yet here the danger of onesidedness 
 was not entirely avoided. The doctrine that Christ 
 lived on earth, not only to die for our redemption, 
 but to show us how we were to live, did not 
 receive sufficient prominence. While no orthodox 
 Church will deny that Christ is our Example, the 
 absolute necessity of following the example of His 
 life is not preached with the same distinctness as 
 that of trusting the atonement of His death. 
 Great pains are taken, and that most justly, to lead 
 men to accept the merits of His death. As great 
 pains are not taken, and this is what is not right, 
 to lead men to accept the imitation of His life as 
 the one mark and test of true discipleship. 
 
 It is hardly necessary to point out what influence 
 the mode of presenting this truth will exercise in 
 the life of the Church. If atonement and pardon 
 be everything, and the life in His likeness some- 
 thing secondary, that is to follow as a matter of 
 course, the chief attention will be directed to the 
 former. Pardon and peace will be the great 
 objects of desire ; with these attained, there will be 
 a tendency to rest content. If, on the other hand, 
 conformity to the image of God's Son be the chief 
 object, and the atonement the means to secure 
 this end, as the fulfilment of God's purpose in 
 creation, then in all the preaching of repentance 
 and pardon, the true aim will ever be kept in the 
 foreground ; faith in Jesus and conformity to His 
 character will be regarded as inseparable. Such a 
 Church will produce real followers of the Lord. 
 
ON PREACHING CHRIST OUR EXAMPLR 
 
 245 
 
 In this respect the Protestant Cliurches need still 
 to go on unto perfection. Then only will the Church 
 put on her beautiful garments, and truly shine in 
 the light of God's glory, when these two truths 
 are held in that wondrous unity in which they 
 appear in the life of Christ Himself. In all He 
 suffered for us, He left us an example that we 
 should follow in His footsteps. As the banner of 
 the cross is lifted high, tJie atonement of the cross and 
 the fdlowshij) of the cross must equally be preached 
 as the condition of true discipleship. 
 
 It is remarkable how distinctly this comes out 
 in the teaching of the blessed Master Himself. In 
 fact, in speaking of the cross. He gives its fellow- 
 ship more prominence than its atonement. How 
 often He told the disciples that they must bear 
 it with Him and like Him ; only thus could they 
 be disciples, and share in the blessings His cross- 
 bearing was to win. When Peter rebuked Him as 
 He spoke of His being crucified, He did not argue as 
 to the need of the cross in the salvation of men, but 
 simply insisted on its being borne, because to Him 
 as to us the death of self is the only path to the 
 life of God. The disciple must be as the Master. 
 He spoke of it as the instrument of self-sacrifice, 
 the mark and the means of giving up our own life 
 to the death, the only path for the entrance upon 
 the new Divine life He came to bring. It is not 
 only I wlio must die, He said, but you too ; the 
 cross, the spirit of daily self-sacrifice, is to be the 
 badge of your allegiance to me. How well Peter 
 learnt the lesson we see in his Epistle. Both the 
 
 I 
 
 I 
 
 ■A 
 
 m \ 
 
 8 
 
 1^ 
 
246 
 
 ON PREACHING CEIRIST OUR EXAMPLE. 
 
 remarkable passages in which he speaks of the 
 Saviour suffering for us — (' Christ suffered for us ; 
 who bare our sins upon the tree ; * ' He suffered, the 
 just for the unjust ') — are brought in almost inciden- 
 tally in connection with our suffering like Him. 
 He tells us that as we gaze upon the Crucified 
 One, we are not only to tliink of the cross as the 
 path 'in which Christ found His way to glory, but 
 as that in which each of us is to follow Him. 
 
 The same thought comes out witli great promin- 
 ence in the writings of the Apostle Paul. To take one 
 Epistle, that to the Galatians ; we find four passages 
 in which the power of the cross is set forth. In one 
 we have one of the most striking expressions of the 
 blessed truth of substitution and atonement : * Being 
 made a curse for %is, as it is written. Cursed is every 
 one that hangeth on a tree.' This is indeed one of 
 the foundation-stones on which the faith of the 
 Church and the Christian rests. But a house needs 
 more than foundation-stones. And so we find that 
 no less than three times in the Epistle the fellow- 
 ship of the cross, as a personal experience, is spoken 
 of as the secret of the Christian life. * I have been 
 crucified with Christ.' * They that are Christ's have 
 crucified the flesh with its affections and lusts.' 
 *God forbid that I should glory save in the cross 
 of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is 
 crucified unto me, and I unto the world.' That 
 Christ bore the cross for us is not all ; it is but the 
 beginning of His work. It does but open the way to 
 the full exhibition of what the cross can do as we are 
 taken up into a lifelong fellowship with Him the 
 
ON PREACHING CHRIST OUR EXAMPLE. 
 
 24V 
 
 Crucified One, and in our daily life we experience 
 and prove what it is to be crucified to the world. 
 And yet how many earnest and eloquent sermons 
 have been preached on glorying in the cross of 
 Christ, in which Christ's dying on the cross for us 
 has been expounded, but our dying with Him, in 
 which Paul so gloried, has been forgotten ! 
 
 The Church does indeed need to have this second 
 truth sounded out as clearly as the first. Christians 
 need to understand that bearing the cross does not 
 in the first place refer to the trials which we call 
 crosses, but to that daily giving up of life, of dying 
 to self, which must mark us as much as it did 
 Jesus, which we need in times of prosperity almost 
 more than in adversity, and without which the ful- 
 ness of the blessing of the cross cannot be disclosed 
 to us. It is the cross, not only as exhibited on 
 Calvary, but as gloried in on account of its 
 crucifying us, its spirit breathing through all our 
 life and actions, that will be to the Christian and the 
 Church as it was to Christ, the path to victory and 
 to glory, the power of God for the salvation of men. 
 
 The Eedemption of the cross consists of two 
 parts — Christ bearing the cross, Christ's crucifixion 
 for us, as our atonement, the opening up of the way 
 of life ; our crucifixion, our bearing tlie cross with 
 Christ, as our sanctification, our walking in the path of 
 conformity to His blessed likeness. Christ the Surety 
 and Christ the Example must equally be preached. 
 
 But it will not be sufficient that these two truths 
 be set forth as separate doctrines ; they can exercise 
 their full power only as their inner unity is found 
 
24S 
 
 ON PREACHING CHHIST OUR EXAMl'I.K. 
 
 in th? deeper truth of Christ our nctid. As we 
 see how union with the Lord Jesus is the root in 
 which the ])()wer of both the Surety and the Example 
 has its life, and how the one Saviour makes us 
 partakers both of the atonement and the fellowship 
 of His cross, we shall understand how wonderful 
 their liarmony is, and how indispensable both are 
 to the welfare of the Church. We shall see that as 
 it is Jesus who opened up tlie way to heaven as 
 much 1)1/ the footsteps He left us to tread in as hi/ the 
 atonement He gave us to trust in, so it is the same 
 Jesus who gives us pardon through His blood, and 
 conformity to Himself through His Spirit. And we 
 shall understand how for both faith is the only 
 possible path. The life-power of this atonement 
 comes through faith alone ; the life-power of the 
 example no less so. Our Evangelical Protestantism 
 cannot fulfil its mission until the grand central 
 truth of salvation hy faith alone has been fully 
 applied, not only to justification, but to sanctification 
 too, that is, to the conformity to the likeness of Jesus. 
 The preacher who desires in this matter to lead 
 his people in the path of entire confornuty to the 
 Saviour's likeness, will find a very wide field indeed 
 opened up to him. The Christlike life is like a 
 tree, in which we distinguish i\\Q fruit, the root, and 
 the stem that connects the two. As in individual 
 effort, so in the public ministry, the fruit will pro- 
 bably first attract attention. Tlie words of Christ, 
 'Do ye even as I have done,' and the iTe(iuent 
 exhortations in the Epistles to love, and forgive, 
 and forbear, even as Christ did, lead first to a 
 
ON PREACHING OlIRISr OUR EXAMPLE. 
 
 249 
 
 comparison of the actual life of Christians witli 
 His, and to the unfolding and setting up of that 
 only rule and standard of conduct which tlie 
 Saviour's example is meant to sui)ply. The need 
 will be awakened of taking time and looking 
 distinctly at each of the traits of that wonderful 
 Portrait, so that some clear and exact impressions 
 be obtained from it of wliat God actually would 
 have us be. Believers must l)e brought to feel that 
 the life of Christ is in very deed the law of theiv 
 life, and that complete conformity to His erample 
 is what God expects of them. There may be a 
 difference in measure between the sun shining in 
 the heavens and a Limp lighting our home here on 
 earth ; still the liglit is the same in its nature, and 
 in its little sphere the lamp may be doing its work 
 as beautifully as the sun itself. The conscience of 
 the Church must be educated to understand that the 
 humility and self-denial of Jesus, His entire devotion 
 to His Father's w^ork and will, His ready obedience. 
 His self-sacrilicing love and kindly beneficence, 
 are nothing more than what each believer is to 
 consider it his simple duty as well as his privilege to 
 exhibit too. There is not, as so many think, one 
 standard for Christ and anotlier for His people. 
 No ; as branches of the vine, as members of tlie 
 body, as partakers of the same spirit, we may and 
 therefore must bear the image of the Elder lirotlier. 
 The great reason wliy this conformity to Jesus is 
 so little seen, and in fact so little sought after 
 among a large majority of Christians, is undoubtedly 
 to be found in erroneous views as to our impotence 
 
250 
 
 ON PREACHING CHRIST OUR EXAMPLE. 
 
 and what we may expect Divine grace to work in 
 us. Men have such strong faith in the power of 
 sin, and so little faith in the power of grace, that 
 they at once dismiss the thought of our being 
 expected to be just as loving, and just as forgiving, 
 and just as devoted to the Father's glory as Jesus 
 was, as an ideal far beyond our reach ; beautiful 
 indeed, but never to be realized. God cannot expect 
 us to be or do what is so entirely beyond our power. 
 They confidently point to their own failure in 
 earnest attempts to curb temper and to live wholly 
 for God, as tlie proof that the thing cannot be. 
 
 It is only by the persistent preaching of Christ 
 our Example, in all the fulness and glory of this 
 blessed truth, that such unbelief can be overcome. 
 Believers must be taught that God does not reap 
 where He has not sown, that the fruit and the 
 ROOT are in perfect harmony. God expects us to 
 strive to speak and think and act exactly like 
 Christ, because the life that is in us is cxaetly the 
 same as that which was in Him. We have a life 
 like His within us ; what more natural than that 
 the outward life should be like His too ? Christ 
 living in us is the root and strength of Christ's 
 acting and speaking through us, shining out from 
 us so as to be seen by the world. 
 
 It is specially the preaching of Christ our 
 Example, to he received hy faith alone, that will be 
 needed to lead God's people on to what their Lord 
 would have them be. The prevailing idea is that 
 V e have to believe in Jesus as our Atonement and 
 our Saviour, and then, under the influence of the 
 
ON PRKACIIING CHRIST OUR EXAMPLE. 
 
 261 
 
 strong motives of gratitude and consistency, to strive 
 to imitate His example But motives cannot supply 
 the strength ; the sense of impotence remains ; we 
 are brought again under the law : we ought to, but 
 cannot These souls must be taught what it means 
 to believe in Christ tJieir Example. That is, to claim 
 by faitli His Example, His Holy Life, as part of the 
 salvation He has prepared for them. They must be 
 taught to believe that this Example is not a some- 
 thing, not even a some one outside of tliem, but the 
 living Lord Himself, their very Life, who will work 
 in them what He first gave them to see in His 
 earthly life. They must learn to believe that if 
 they will submit themselves to Him, He will mani- 
 fest Himself in them and their life-walk in a way 
 passing all their thoughts; to believe that the 
 Example of Jesiis and the confoi'mity to Him is a 
 part of that Eternal Life which came down from 
 heaven, and is freny r/ivcn to every one that helieveth. 
 It is because we are one with Christ, and abide in 
 Him, because we have in us the same Divine life 
 He had, that we are expected to walk like Him. 
 
 The full msight into this truth, and the final 
 acceptance of it, is no easy matter. Christians 
 have become so accustomed to a life of continual 
 stumbling and unfaithfulness, that the very thought 
 of their being able with at least such a measure of 
 resemblance as the world must recognise, to show 
 forth the likeness of Christ, has V)ecome strange 
 to them. The preaching that will CGiKjuer their 
 unbelief, and lead God's people to victory, must be 
 animated by a joyous and triumphant faith. For it 
 
252 
 
 ON PREAOHINC. CHRIST OUR EXAMPIl, 
 
 is only to faith, a faith larger and deeper than 
 Christians ordinarily think needful for salvation, that 
 the power of Clirist'a example talking posseosiou of 
 the whole life will be given. But w'lvm Christ in 
 His fulneHH, Christ as the Law and tlie Life of the 
 believer, is preached, this deeper faith, penetrating 
 to the very root of our oneness of life with Him, will 
 come, and with it the power to manifest that life. 
 
 The growtli of this faith may in different cases 
 vary mucli. To some it may come in the course of 
 quiet persevering waiting upon God, To others it 
 may come as a sudden revelation, after seasons of 
 effort, of struggling and failure ; just one full sight 
 of what Jesus as the Example really is, Hiuiself 
 bring and giving all He claims. To some it may 
 come in solitude — where there is none to help but 
 the living God Himself alone. To others it will be 
 given, as it has been so often, in the communion of 
 the saints, where amid the enthusiasm and love 
 which the fellowship of the Spirit creates, hearts are 
 melted, decision is strengthened, and faith is stirred 
 to grasp what Jesus offers when He reveals and 
 gives Himself to make us like Himself. But, in 
 whatever way it come, it will come when Christ in 
 J:he power of the Holy Spirit is preached as God's 
 revelation of what His children are to be. A' 
 believers will be led, in the deep consciou.'- of 
 
 utter sinfulness and impotence, to yield thei, elves 
 and their life as never before into the hands oi an 
 Almighty Saviour, and to realize in their experience 
 the beautiful harmony between the apparently con- 
 tradictory words : * In me, that is, in my flesh. 
 
ON PUEACIIINO CHRIST OUR EXAMPLE. 
 
 '253 
 
 dwelleth no good tiling ; ' and, * I can do all things 
 through Christ, who strengtheneth me.' 
 
 But root and fruit are ever connected hy a stem, 
 with its branches and leaves. In the life of Christ 
 this was so too. The connection between His 
 hidden life rooted in God, and that life manifesting 
 itself in the fruit of holy words and works, was 
 maintained by His life of conscious and continual 
 personal fellowship with the Father. In His wait- 
 ing on the Father, to see and hear what He had to 
 make known, in His yielding Himself to the lead- 
 ings of the S[)irit, in His submission to the teachings 
 of the Word which He came to fulfil, in His watch- 
 ing unto prayer, and in His whole life of dependence 
 and faith, Clnist became our Example. He had so 
 truly been made like unto us in all things, become 
 one with us in the weakness of the flesh, that it was 
 only thus that the life of the Father could be kept 
 flowing freely into Him and manifesting itself in 
 the works He did. And just so it will be with us. 
 Our union to Jesus, and His life in us, will most 
 certainly secure a life like His. This not, however, 
 in the way of an absolute necessity, as a blind force 
 in nature works out its end ; but in the way of an 
 intelligent, willing, loving co-operation — a continual 
 coming and receiving from Him in the surrender of 
 faith and prayer, a continual appropriating and exer- 
 cising of what we receive in watchful obedience and 
 earnest effort, a continual working because we know 
 He works in us. The faith in the vitality and the 
 energy of the life in which we are eternally rooted will 
 not lead to sloth or carelessness, but, as with Christ, 
 
p^ 
 
 254 
 
 ON PREACHING CrdKIST OUR EXAMPLE. 
 
 rouse our energies to their highest power. It is the 
 faith in the glorious possibilities that open up to us 
 in Christ our life, that will lead to the cultivation 
 of all that constitutes true personal fellowship and 
 waiting upon God. 
 
 It is in these three points of similarity that the 
 Christlike life must be known ; our life like Christ's 
 hidden in God, maintained like His in fellowship ivith 
 God, will in its external manifestation be like His 
 too, a life for God. As believers rise to apprehend 
 the truth, we are indeed like Christ in the life we 
 have in God through Him ; we can be like Christ in 
 the keeping up and streUj^thening of that life in 
 fellowship with God ; we e hall be like Christ in the 
 fruits which such a life must bear ; the name of fol- 
 lowers of Christ, the imitation of Christ, will not be a 
 profession but a reality, and the world will know that 
 the Father has indeed loved us as He loved the Son. 
 
 I venture to suggest to all ministers and 
 Christians who may read tliis, the inquiry whether, 
 in the teaching and the thought of the Church, we 
 have sufficiently lifted up Chnst as the Divine 
 Model and Pattern, in likeness to whom alone we 
 can be restored to the Image of God in which we 
 were created. The more clearly the teachers of the 
 Church realize the etrmal ground on which a truth 
 rests, its essential in^portance to other truths for 
 securing their complete and healthy development, 
 and the share it has in leading into the full enjoy- 
 ment of that wonderful salvation God has prepared 
 for us, the better will they be able to guide God's 
 people into the blessed possession cf that glorious 
 
ON PREACHING CHHIST OUP EXAMPLE. 
 
 255 
 
 life of high privilege and holy practice which will 
 prepare them for becoming such a blessing to the 
 world as God meant them to be. It is tha one 
 thing that the world needs in these latter days — 
 men and women of Christlike lives, who prove 
 that they are in the world as He was in the world, 
 that the one object of their existence is nothing 
 other than what was Christ's object — the glorifying 
 of the Father and the paving of men. 
 
 One word more. Let us above all beware lest in the 
 preaching and seeking of Christlikeness that secret 
 but deadly selfislmess creeps in, which leads men to 
 seek it for the sake of getting for themselves as 
 much as is to be had, and because they would fain 
 be as eminent in grace and as high in the favour of 
 God as may be. God is love : the image of God is 
 Godlike love. When Jesus said to His disciples : 
 * Be ye perfect, even as your Father in heaven is 
 perfect,' He told them that perfection was loving and 
 blessing the unworthy. His very names tell us that 
 all the other traits of Christlikeness must be sub- 
 ordinate to this one : seeking the will and glory of 
 God in loving and saving men. He is Christ the 
 Anointed : the Lord hath anointed Him — for whom ? 
 for the broken-hearted and the capti\ e ; for them 
 that are bound and tliem thsiL mourn. He is Jesus; 
 living and dying to save the lost. There may be a 
 great deal of Christian work with little of true holiness 
 or of the spirit of Christ. But there can be no large 
 measure of real Christlike lioliness without a distinct 
 giving up oneself to make the salvation of sinners 
 for the glory of God the object of our life. He gave 
 
wwfKr 
 
 am0$»^\%>%^-y 
 
 "v 
 
 t5^ 
 
 ON PilEACHING C*HKrf=iT OUR EXAMPLE. 
 
 Himself for us, that He might claim ub foe Him- 
 self, a peculiar people, zealous of good works. Him- 
 self foi: us, and us fok Himsklf : an entire exchange, 
 "a perfect union, a complete identity in interest and 
 piitpose. Himself for ts as Saviour, us for Himself 
 still as Saviour i likfe Him and foi- H^ to Continue 
 on earth tlfie wOrk He Vegan. Whether we preach 
 tl^e CJhristlike, life iu its deep inner springs, where it 
 has its origin in oUr oneness with Him in God, or iii 
 its '^owth arid' mairitenahce by a life of faith and 
 prayer, of dependence and i'ellqwship with the leather, 
 or in its fruits of huiftility and holiness and love, let 
 us ever keep this in the foreground. The one chief 
 inark and glory of the Christ is that He lived and 
 ^ied and lives again for this one thing alone: the 
 will and the gloky of the God of love in the 
 SALVATION OF SINNERS. And to be Christlike means 
 sitnply this: to seek the life and favour and Spirit 
 of God only, that we may be entirely given up to 
 the same object ; the will and the glory of the 
 God of love in the salvation of sinners. 
 
 THE END. 
 
 MORRISON AND GinB, EDINBITROH, 
 FBUiTKBS TO HER JfAJt'S'lY'B STATIONKKY OFFIOK. 
 
Tl 
 
 ^ *