April 20

What went ye out into the wilderness to behold? A reed shaken with the wind? — Luke vii. 24.

“What went ve out into the wilderness for to see? a reed
April 20.

shaken with the wind?” Nay! an iron pillar that stood firm

whatsoever winds blew against it. This, as I take it, is in some true sense

the basis of all moral greatness, that a man should have a grip which

cannot be loosened — like that of the cuttlefish with all its tentacles round

its prey — upon the truths that dominate his being and make him a hero.

“If you want me to weep,” said the old artist-poet,” there must be tears

in your own eyes.” If you want me to believe, you yourself must be

aflame with conviction which has penetrated to the very marrow of your

bones. And so, as I take it, the first requisite, either for power upon

others, or for greatness, in a man’s own development of character, is that

there shall be this unwavering firmness of grasp of clearly-apprehended

truths, and unflinching boldness of devotion to it.

No doubt there is much to be laid to the account of temperament; but whatever their temperament may be, the way to this unwavering courage, and firm, clear ring of indubitable certainty, is open to every Christian man and woman; and it is their own fault, their own sin and their own weakness, if they do not possess these qualities. Temperament 1 What on earth is the good of our religion if it is not to modify and govern our temperament? Has a man a right to jib on one side, and give up the attempt to clear the fence, because he feels that in his own natural disposition there is little power to take the leap? Surely not! Jesus Christ came here for the very purpose of making our weakness strong; and if we have a firm bold upon Him, then, in the measure in which His love has permeated our whole nature, will be our unwavering courage, and out of weakness we shall be made strong.

Then let our closeness to Jesus Christ, and our experience of His power, kindle in us the fiery enthusiasm with which He baptizes all His true servants, and let it, because we know the sweetnesses that excel, deprive us of all liability to be tempted away by the vulgar and coarse delights of earth and of sense. Let us keep ourselves clear of the babble that is round about us, and be strong because we grasp Christ’s hand.