Epilogue

LORD,” says St. Augustine, “give what Thou

commandest, and then command what Thou

wilt.” And such must be the sentiment, at the close of an exposition like the foregoing, of every earnest and intelligent reader. Christ must give what He demands, or He demands far more than can possibly be given by those to whom His demands are addressed. When the inward and searching nature of His legislation is realised, and the height and scope are appreciated of the character and service to which He calls mankind — especially when it is perceived that His ethical teaching includes duties to God as well as duties to man, and not only performance in the life which now is but constant preparation for that which is to come — despair must seize upon the human spirit, unless in the teaching of the Master there is, besides the imperative of morality, a promise of super¬ natural grace and assistance. It has not been the direct business of the present volume to set this forth — it was attempted in the former volume on His teaching concerning Himself — but it has been every¬ where assumed; and it recurs ever and anon in the

THE ETHIC OF JESUS

record, culminating in the invitation, “Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” Jesus lifts up a far higher standard than any other ethical teacher; but little would He deserve the name of Saviour if this were all He did. To demand that vastly more should be produced out of human nature than had ever been expected from it can be wise and beneficent only if first there is vastly more put into it. And it is because the Saviour does this — because He is the Giver of the ethical life which He demands — that we adore Him by a name which is above every name.