Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

235

CHAPTER VI.

Christ's adaptation of incidental Occurrences or Expressions to the Purposes of Instruction.

WHEN St. James wished to deter the Jews from too indiscriminately desiring the distinction of teachers in the Christian church, he dwells particularly on the difficulty of ordering their conversation in such a manner as to reflect no dishonour on so sacred a profession. On their circumspection in the government of the tongue, not only the credit of their office, but the success of their ministerial labours, would greatly depend. And even among the best of men, there was an inconsistency in this respect frequently to be deplored; for the gift of speech became so often an occasion of stumbling, that a Christian might be considered perfect in proportion as he was able to subdue the unruliness of the tongue. "If any man offend not in word,

the same is a perfect man

[ocr errors]

Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing '.'

With a similar conviction of the difficulty of exercising this branch of practical religion, St. Paul gives a special rule on the subject, to the intent that the language of believers in all the circumstances and relations of life should not only be inoffensive, but of an edifying tendency- Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man'.' And the Psalmist has made it the distinctive character of the righteous man, that his mouth speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgement 3.'

The difficulty of obeying the apostolical injunction in this respect must have been felt by all who have ever accustomed themselves to review their conduct with honest self-examination. They must be conscious of failing often against charity which speaketh no ill of its neighbour2 Col. iv. 6.

James, iii. 2, 8—10. 3 Ps. xxxvii. 30.

of having often grieved the good by saying what ought not to have been said, or of having encouraged the wicked by omitting to say what ought to have been said—of many an idle word or inconsistent discourse which has gone forth past recal, and has been recorded for judgement against the utterer at the day of general ac

count.

But chiefly must those whose official duty it is to be telling of the Lord's works in the great congregation, have experienced the necessity of praying that grace may be multiplied to them in proportion to their increased need, and of setting always a watch upon themselves, lest, like Moses, they speak unadvisedly with their lips, and bring disrepute and suspicion upon the cause they have undertaken. One light expression inadvertently suffered to escape them, or one opportunity of recommending religion neglected or unimproved, will press heavily on the recollection of those who have a strong sense of the extensive harm which thoughtlessness in these respects often produces. We are verily

guilty concerning our brother in a moral sense, as often as we tempt him by a want of proper seriousness in our own deportment, or forego availing ourselves of the advantage of a seasonable observation whenever it may be introduced with propriety.

[ocr errors]

Now it was foretold of Christ, that' grace should be poured into his lips,'—and that the Lord God had given him the tongue of the learned, that he should know how to speak a word in season to him that was weary. It would be unnecessary to shew how satisfactorily these predictions were fulfilled in our Lord. Even the men of Nazareth, prejudiced as they were, by local associations, and perplexed by the meanness of his supposed origin, all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth 5. My object is rather to direct attention to one very remarkable feature of that wisdom which Christ displayed in his ministry, the manner in which

4 Ps. xlv. 2. ́Is. 1. 4.

5 Luke, iv. 22.

he adapted incidental occurrences or expressions to the purpose of instruction. The consideration of this subject will perhaps afford some hints for the better discharge of that difficult duty to which allusion has been made.

One of the things occurring to a reader who perused the life of our Saviour for the first time, and who brought to it a mind alive to original impressions, would probably be the wisdom with which every incident in it was directed to the promotion of one common end. There is an unity of design pervading the whole, never interrupted by inconsistencies or digressions which might have the effect of diverting the mind from the prominent subject of attention, or of diminishing the influence arising from the general tenor of his more serious discourses. It would seem as if every word and action were studied with a view of affording a kind of prophetic fulfilment of the apostolic rule― Whether ye eat or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.'

« AnteriorContinuar »