4. The fourth motive is one which is suggested by a knowledge of human nature. It is notorious that in every condition of life there are those who are stronger and those who are weaker. Some are born to lead, others seem bound to depend on those who are stronger than themselves. If so, is it not criminal if we keep to ourselves the Divine gift of strength, and refuse to give of our knowledge and experience to some weaker brother, or refuse to receive what some brother or sister has to impart to us ?
Tf Throughout life Darwin was subject to violent paroxysms of pain, which often occasioned great alarm to his friends. He was never able to work consecutively for more than twenty minutes without interruption from these infirmities, which so enfeebled him that even a brief journey to London was exhaust- ing. Burdened with extraordinary difficulties, he achieved his results by the exercise of the sternest resolution. His modesty was almost a weakness ; and when he confessed, with touching simplicity, that he believed he had acted rightly in steadily following and devoting himself to science, those who revered him
1 W. Bradfield, Personality and Feiloicshif, 195.
474 THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE SAINTS
knew not which to admire the more, his great gifts or his in- curable humility. He was fortunate in his friendships. The names of Wallace, Hooker, Scrope, and Lyell are associated with his fame ; and the really impressive worth of these men was not so much their intellectual greatness as the grandeur of character, the unexampled forbearance, and the mutual assistance which distinguished them as coadjutors in a notable cause. Some votaries of science have shown themselves disastrously prejudiced and jealous ; they have been more anxious for the priority of their personal claims than for the purity of their motive or the progress of knowledge. But this band of giants dwelt in a fellow- ship marred by no regrettable incidents, and strove toward the attainment of a great ideal, hand in hand and conjoined in heart, in honour preferring one another.1
III.
The Occasions.
What are the occasions on which Christian fellowship may be enjoyed ?
1. They who fear the Lord may be said, most truly and most safely, to speak one to another when they perform in God's presence their solemn acts of worship. Would that we might oftener see those infallible signs of hearts engaged, the fixed earnest look, the humble reverent posture, the hearty response, the united Amen, which we do witness with thrilling joy on those rare occasions when our thoughts are specially solemnized for the work of worship ! We have the firm assurance that God is then effectually present, softening, humbling, and elevating the minds of His servants.
One purpose which seems essentially involved in the possession of spiritual Christianity is the bearing witness for Christ. Those who, by the gift of the Holy Ghost, are clad in spiritual power are thus made mighty that they may be " witnesses unto God." This would seem to necessitate an organized system of testimony. The witness cannot be fully given either in the words of acknow- ledgment or in the deep heart-affection which prompts to the
1 S. P. C adman, Charles Darwin and Other English Thinkers, 38.
MALACHI in. 16 475
holy life. There must be palpable and public dedication — not only the understanding enlightened and the heart transformed, but new companionships to supersede the old, not only the head filled with the truth and the heart warmed with its omnipotence of love, but the hand cordial in its grasp and greeting for those who have received like precious faith and power. Disciples of the spirit of Nicodemus — with less excuse than he — may en- deavour, under the shadows of the night, to come to Jesus ; but their cowardice dishonours the Master, and enfeebles their own souls. Though the spirit of active persecution slumbers, no age of the world will be without its " Pharisees " who hinder ; and the brand would be as disgraceful now as when it was originally affixed upon the recreant hearts of old — " Among the chief rulers also many believed on him ; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue : for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God." In some great rallying time of patriotism, the trusted men are not those who trim between opposing parties as the balance of interest inclines, and whose defection would surprise neither the one nor the other. In some Thermopylae of a nation's liberties, or some Marathon of its triumph, they are the crowned if they live ; and, if they fall, they are inurned amid a country's tears, who "look proudly to Heaven from the death-bed of fame." There is no armour for the back in the Christian's panoply Divine ; and they are the trusted soldiers in Immanuel's army who are not stragglers on a foray, or free-lances in a guerilla warfare, but resolute bands in the sacramental host which is marshalled for the conquest of the world.
^f The marching orders of the spiritual world are often stern enough, as stern sometimes, and as seeming hopeless, as those for the Balaclava charge, or of a forlorn hope.