SERMON XI.

BY REV. HERSEY B. GOODWIN,

OF CONCORD, MASS.

THE ACTIVE QUALITIES IN THE CHARACTER OF JESUS.

1 PETER II. 21.

LEAVING US AN EXAMPLE, THAT YE SHOULD FOLLOW HIS STEPS.

The example of Christ has been often the theme of the Christian's meditation. It is an example however which can never be studied without profit, and the more we reflect on it the more do we discern of its moral perfection and worth. The love and reverence for the Saviour which exist in the bosom of every rational Christian are founded in a knowledge of his character, and the more intimate that knowledge is, the purer and deeper will those feelings become. To be acquainted with the teachings of Jesus is indeed of the utmost importance, for they are teachings compared with which all others sink into insignificance, and they carry with them the evidence of their own divine origin. They commend themselves to the sober reason and the enlightened conscience of every man, and the older they grow the more does experience unfold of their truth, their beauty and their power. But the precepts and doctrines of Christ do not comprise the whole of his religion as it is presented in the New Testament and transmitted to our times. Christianity has not come

to us as a collection of abstract truths. It derives much of its authority from the works of its Founder, and it is illustrated and enforced by his life and character. We have not only therefore a collection of principles, but those principles are embodied in a human form,-living, moving, speaking and acting. The word of God has not only been given in an articulate language, but it has been manifested in flesh and tabernacled amongst us.

It has been sometimes said, and it is, I am apprehensive, thought and felt by many in our times, that the truths of our religion form a most beautiful and perfect theory, but that many of them when applied to the purposes of life are visionary and impracticable. Take, for example, the supreme love of God, the love of our neighbor as ourselves, the pursuit of goodness for goodness' sake, and more particularly the duty of loving our enemies and the forgiveness of injuries; these have uniformly been regarded as exalted principles, but many have doubted whether in the ordinary pursuits of life they could be reduced to practice. Now we appeal with confidence on these points to the life and character of Jesus, and we say that in that character they were reduced to practice. Putting out of view all inferior examples of Christian excellence, examples that might be mentioned in every age of the Christian church, we say that in Jesus himself these noble principles were clearly shown not to be theoretical but practical principles,--that he himself was the first, the brightest, the most glorious manifestation of their truth, their beauty and their power, that his life was a constant commentary upon his doctrines,--and that in him above all

others Christianity was a living, breathing, acting thing.

From these remarks we may learn the importance of understanding the character of Christ. It is important, in bringing home to us the reality of his teachings and their practical power, and it is not too much to say that without some knowledge of that character we cannot fully understand those teachings. It is also important, in producing and keeping alive a love, a reverence and a close attachment for the Saviour, without which we cannot be his true disciples. It is important, as placing us within the influence of the purest and most powerful example of moral excellence which the world ever saw. It is above all important, as presenting us one of the most striking proofs of his divine commission and authority. For venture to affirm that no man of unbiassed mind, no man who suffers his reason and his conscience to do their natural office within him, can long contemplate the ministry of Jesus from his baptism to his death and not say that here are proofs of a wisdom and a power which natural causes are insufficient to explain.

Such then being the importance of the subject, I would now call your attention to it, not so much for the purpose of repeating ideas which have been often suggested, as of unfolding some traits of character that are not sufficiently regarded. You have frequently heard of the piety and the benevolence of Jesus, of his entire consecration of himself to God, and his perfect devotedness to the best interests of mankind. You have dwelt also upon the unspotted innocence of his character, as of a lamb without blemish and without stain; for it was an innocence which the malice of his enemies

vainly endeavored to assail. You have been accustomed to meditate upon his humility, his gentleness, his forbearance, his patience and resignation, which were all the results of his deep, unfeigned and unwavering piety. These are doubtless the most obvious, and perhaps they are the most important traits of his character. They are those which strike the mind most forcibly when we think of his peculiar situation and the scene of trial and temptation through which he was called to pass. They are virtues which his situation peculiarly demanded, and though in the common estimation of the world they are many of them but passive qualities, yet in Jesus they required peculiar exertion and were continually the occasion of patient self-denial. As such we can contemplate them with no other feelings than those of admiration, homage and love.

But these qualities it should be remembered do not comprise the whole of the character of Jesus, and we ought not to dwell upon them to the exclusion of other traits which go to make up that perfect and harmonious whole. It is a wonderful truth, but yet it must be admitted to be not the less a truth, that the character of Christ as presented to us in the New Testament is one without defect,-that there is in all its parts and proportions a perfect balance,-that there is nothing to detract from its greatness or its goodness,-that no one quality throws another into the shade, but that all are unfolded in such wonderful harmony that we see in him the stature of a perfect man. This, I say, is his character as the Gospels represent him. But it is not so with the popular notions that prevail in regard to it. The idea of perfection varies, we know, with the different