This selfishness is of various kinds, and shows itself in various ways. It is selfishness in reference to the things of Christ; or in re- ference to the Church of Christ ; or in reference to the work given us to do; or in reference to the sacrifices we are called upon to undergo, and the toils we are called upon to endure. It would be easy to show how God's chastisements are pointed against all these forms of selfish- ness, aiming deadly blows at each one of them from the outermost to the innermost circle. But this is too large a field. We shall merely take up the first, and even it we can only touch upon. It is the most important of them all, and stands so connected with the rest, that whatever uproots it, destroys the others also.
Selfishness, in reference to the things of
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Christ, obviously springs from coldness to- wards Christ himself. A preference of self to Christ is its root and source Anything, there- fore, that tends to obscure or keep out of view the person of Christ must lead to selfishness. It may be the love of the world ; it may be the love of the creature ; it may be the love of man's applause. There are the dark bodies that eclipse the glory of a living Sa- viour and nourish self. But these are not all. Satan has deeper devices still. He brings in religion between us and the Saviour ! Reli- gious acts, ordinances, duties, are all turned by him into so many instruments for exalting self and lowering the Saviour. But even this is not all. He has a subtler device still for these last days. He is trying to make the work of Christ a substitute for his person ; to fix attention so much upon the one as to ex- clude the other. The result of this is a tho- roughly selfish and sectarian religion. I know this is delicate ground, but the evil is an aug- menting one and ought to be made known.
There are not a few who are so occupied with truth that they forget " the True One :'" so occupied with faith that they lose sight of its personal object : so given to dwelling upon
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the work of Christ, that they overlook his person. They seem to regard the latter sub- ject as a matter if not beyond them, at least one about which it will be time enough to concern themselves when they see him face to face. What He is seems a question of small importance, provided they know that he has accomplished a work by which they may secure eternal life. " We are forgiven," they say, " we have peace, — all is well." They take but little interest in the person of him who has purchased these blessings. The redemption is all, and the Redeemer is nothing, or, at least, very little ! The suffi- ciency of his work is all, the glory and excel- lence of his person, nothing ! What is this but selfishness ? We get all the benefit we can out of the work of Christ, and then leave himself alone ! And this selfishness intro- duces itself everywhere into the actings and thinkings of this class. We can trace it in the mould of their doctrines. Their views of the atonement are selfish ; being framed not upon the principle of how God is to get his purpose fulfilled, and his glory displayed ; but simply of how a sinner is to be saved. Their views of Jehovah's sovereignty and electing
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grace are selfish ; being just so many devices for taking the sinner out of God's hands, and placing him in his own. Their views of the Spirit's work are selfish ; being just an attempt to make His aid appear less abso- lutely indispensable, and man's own skill and strength of very considerable avail in the matter of salvation. But even where those selfish views of doctrine have not been adopted, there is a latent tendency towards selfishness among many ; which can only be ascribed to their neglect of the person of Christ.
But what has chastisement to do with this? Much every way. Chiefly in this, that it throws us more entirely for consolation and strength upon the person of the Saviour. Never do we feel more brought into contact with a living personal Saviour than in our days of sorrow. It is Jesus, — Jesus alone, — Jesus himself, — that we feel to be absolutely necessary. The truth is precious ; his work is precious ; but it is himself that we then prize so much ; it is with himself that we have chiefly to do; it is to himself that we pour out our sorrows.
Thus by creating a necessity for our lean- 13
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