The Master-Passion

The men who have filled the largest space in the eyes of the world, and who have achieved the most striking results, have commonly been those who were actuated by some master-passion. Their souls were occupied with one great purpose which subordinated everything else to itself. They were, in a certain sense, “men of one idea.” For though their souls may have contained many ideas, yet a single aim directed, employed, and animated them all. The master-passion appropriated them to itself, and on the inner throne of the heart, wielded an undisputed sceptre.

Thus with Napoleon the master-passion Vas ambition. His fierce appetite for selfaggrandizement consumed him. It tasked every gigantic faculty, employed every busy hour, and hurried every step through that whole terrific march over slaughtered millions up to his splendid infamy. It expired only with his expiring breath. For in the delirium of his dying moments he fancied that he was on a battle-field, and his passing spirit was “watching the current of a heady fight.”

The master-passion with Isaac Newton, that prince of Christian philosophers, was science. His days and nights were given to charts, and diagrams, and telescopes. He often stopped, when half-dressed, in the morning to solve some problem that was agitating his mind, and his servant was obliged to rouse him from his revery in order to partake of his meals. For him “to live” was science.

Those who have read the narrative of Thomas Elwes, the celebrated miser, will remember that gold was the object of his low and insane appetite. For this he lived, — if such a wretched existence as he dragged out could, by any courtesy, be called living. He was eaten up by this gTced for lucre. And he attained his purpose. He grew rich. He died rich — and leaving his hid treasures to hungry heirs, his pauper soul stole out into its bleak and desolate eternity!

Philanthropy was the ruling thought of Wilberforce. This unified his whole existence. The law of love ran through it like a golden chain, binding with its shining links every thought, and word, and action into one purpose of heavenly beneficence. One day writing his Practical

View of religion among the upper classes — the next day closeted with William Allen, andClarkson, on the slave-traffic — the next day addressing a Bible meeting in Exeter Hall, and then groping with Elizabeth Fry through the horrors of Newgate prison, his life was like the long clear sunshine of a summer’s day, warming, and gladdening all beneath its genial influence.

Now in the very place where Bonaparte put his lust of power, and Newton his love of science, and Elwes his thirst for gold, and WillDcrforce his philanthropy, in that very place the genuine Christian puts his love to the crucified Jesus. And he keeps it there. He makes Christianity the sovereign predominating purpose of his soul. “Gro a little deeper,” said a wounded soldier of Napoleon to the surgeon who was probing his left side —

THE MASTER- PASSION. Ill

“and you will find the Emperor.” So the Paul-like Christian may say — go deeper — go to the very core of my heart, and there you will find the Saviour. Other affections lie on the surface, but this master-feeling lives and lurks in the inmost depths. Other feelings I am possessed of, but this one yossesses me. For me to live is Christ. For this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press towards the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus!