^ By grace Jansen simply meant the birth of a religious sense. This may be strong, or it may be weak ; but even its humblest forms are enough to distinguish him who has it from those who have it not — to draw all his actions into a new perspective, and put a different colouring on all his thoughts. In other words, it involves a radical change of character ; and, as such a change is beyond man's power to effect, grace must descend upon him like a whirlwind — as once it descended on Jansen's two spiritual heroes, St. Augustine and St. Paul — and draw his will " irresistibly, unfailingly, victoriously," out of darkness into light.^
^ The Rev. Adam Lind, minister of the United Presbyterian Church, Elgin, writes: "For some time after coming to Elgin, Brownlow North lived in great retirement, deeply engrossed with liis Bible, and abounding in private prayer. I saw him occasion-
* Viscount St. Cyrcs, Pascal, 84.
198 GROWTH
ally, and had ample opportunities of observing the workings of his mind ; and the mark of true grace which struck me first in his case was the spirit of profound humility, penitence, and adoring gratitude. He seemed like one unable to get out of the region of wonder and amazement at the sovereign kindness of that benignant Being who had borne with him so long in his sin, and such sin, and so much sin; and not only borne with him, but shielded him, and held him back from self -ruin, at length arresting him in his career of folly and wickedness, and bringing him to Himself, a pardoned penitent, a returned prodigal." ^
^ The grace of God in the heart of man very soon betrays its presence. It is the imparting to the soul of the mind of Christ, which desires the welfare of om' brother as well as the glory of our God. In its own nature it is expansive and communicative. It is like light, whose property it is to shine; like salt, whose nature it is to communicate to foreign substances its saltness; like seed, which ever seeks to reproduce itself ; like water, which, descending from above into an earthly heart, becomes therein a well of water springing up to everlasting life. These are not accidents ; they are essential properties of grace wherever found. The soul that was dead, when made alive is made a new centre, source, and spring of life amid a world of death. Christians are this world's light amid its night, and this world's salt amid its putrefaction, and this world's springs of living water in its wastes of barrenness, and the seed which yet shall fill the world's face with its fruit. Life loves to work, and where there is no work there is no life, or only weak and dying life.^
2. What does the knowledge of Christ mean ? The knowledge of Christ means such a sympathetic entering into the springs and motive forces of His life as shall, by its gradual increase, lead us into the perfection of spiritual life.
To know more of Jesus is to know more of God and more of life in its relations to Him. Many religions that have not Christ in them have given their followers a caricature of God. The life of Jesus is a reflection of God. And it is by knowing more of Him that we learn what things God approves — what spirit on our part, and what actions. We cannot make right advancement towards the ideal life, unless we gain more and more knowledge of Him whose character is ideal, and whose gospel is constructive in the highest sense.
1 K. Moody-Stuart, Brownlow North, 38. 2 jrj^-^^ 49^
2 PETER III. i8 199
To know Christ is thus to know God truly ; it is to recognize His hand in all the dispensations of Providence, to know Him in His works, to read His handwriting in the fabric of the earth and the heavens, to feel His love in His dealings with us, to imprint His love upon our hearts by translating it into love for man also ; and then in the spirit of this double love to examine ourselves, and learn to understand the intricacies of our own heart; to discover, and without weariness to combat, its selfishness and lurking pride; day by day, and hour after hour, to labour without ceasing for the expulsion of its envyings, jealousies, and sensual lusts ; to get the mastery over the tongue, the eyes, the ears; to subdue sloth, peevishness, and anger; in forgetfulness of self, to serve our neighbour with real interest and ardour ; and finally to order all our domestic concerns and cares with pains- taking devotion to God's holy will.
^ I stand with a great artist before a famous picture. I make bold, in my ignorance of art, to confess that I can see nothing extraordinary in it at all, " What," exclaims my companion, somewhat indignantly but with great enthusiasm, "don't you observe the splendid manipulation," and he launches forth into a glowing analysis of the picture before us. While he is explaining I can discern more clearly than I did before what made the picture famous in the eyes of others, but yet at the close I have to exclaim, " Well, my friend, I have no doubt I would speak as you have done if I had your eyes, but I confess I don't see what makes you so enthusiastic. I should much like, however, to possess your knowledge and enthusiasm, and shall be glad if you will only show me how." " There is only one way of possessing the knowledge," replies my companion ; " you must begin to learn the first elements of drawing and colouring, and as you make progress in the acquisition of the art of painting you will know." Without striving to grow in the graces of the painter's pencil, you will never understand the feelings of the painter himself. ^