1. ' Euergj' ' in the physical sense means power or capacity of work. It includes tlie active and the potential side, force of motion and energy of position : two interchanging factors of which the sum total is constant. In its moral application there is a similar duality. The man of energy is not only an active agent, but also one in wliom Ave recognize a reserve of power. This energy of character is partly physical, partly mental. It is altogether different from the purely physical quality of strength or might (/cpdros, iVxi''?), "the virtue of the warrior or athlete. A physical basis is neces- .sary, yet daimtless energ)- may be found in a feeble frame. The quality is essentially moral, tecause it involves tlie constant exercise of a powerful will. The fundament^il requirement is unhindered mental force. Two modem statesmen may lie instanced. One wrote in liis diary the cardinal principles of his life — benevolence, self- sacriiice, purity, energy. Another expounds and exliibits the 'strenuous life.' Tlie duty of work and the heroism of energy constitute a large part of the teaching of Carlyle. Such lessons and lives are illustrations of the spirit of Christianity. On the other hand, indolence and idleness are natural to many men and even to many nations. The habit of inactivity is fostered by mental indifference or the lack of any propelling emotion such as religion or patriotism. The dutv and honour of work are Christian conceptions. In 2 Tli 3'"" we have an early indication of a long struggle, in the course of which sloth was enthroned as one of the seven mortal sins. (Cf. Paget, l^pirif of Ditcipline, pp. 1-.tO).
2. The life of our Lord Himself funii-lip-; tbo supreme type of Clrristian energy. l^n.uv i~ measured by the amount of work it (an :h r,Mii] li-li within a given time. The ministry d .1. ~n- wa- limited to a very brief period, but into that little .space there was crowded a work that ha.s no parallel in the historj- of the world. Energy is also measured liy the vastiiess and continuaiice of its effects, and after Tiiin-l.-i-ii ii-nnirir- iln- .niicken- ing influenie oi J. -u, i- .,|,.i.,iiM- nn !!,,■ \\-o\\<{ with undiniiiii-hi'-l ].,<\\i:r. .Ii-n- «a. ur\,T idle. For Him every hnur had it- aiijiointi',! ia~k (.In 2^). and every day was governed by a steaily and strenu- ous purpose (Jn 9*). He was sometimes wearj- in His toils (Mt 8«, Jn 4«), yet was ever ready to meet fresh calls upon His time and strength, His pity or His help. The rea-son was that the springs of His energy never ran drj'. It is riglit to say that tlie secret of Christ's ener^fj' lay in His Divinely unconquerable will, but it is none the less tnie that the strength of His spirit wa.s fed by His
Such sayings passed 13=), and the life of
love to man and His faith in ( lod. His boimdless love and compas-'^icm for liuniaii beings inspired Him to go about doing good. His perfect faith in God enabled Him to feci, as no other on earth has ever felt, that nothing was impossible (Mt 17™). But beneath all conscious faith and love there sprang up in the soul of Jesus a fountain of life and power tlirough His abiding union with His Father. ' lly Father worketh liitherto,' He once said, ' and I work ' (Jn 5"). ' He went about doing good,' St. Peter declared, ' for God was wth him (Ac 10^).
3. The teaching of Jesus on this subject may be divided into two parts. (1) He enjoins many qualities that contribute to the life of strenuous- ness. Such are diligence (parables of Talents and Pounds, Mt 2o, Lk 19), readiness (Lk 12*5), use of oijportimities (Jn 9*), watchhilness (Mk 13*^), per- severance and importunity of prayer (Lk IP 18'), constancy and continuance of service (Lk 12*= 17'"). Such precepts receive double force from tho ex- ample of His life of unresting labour (Jn 5" 9*). In St. Paul the same lessons are illustrated and inculcated (ICo IS'"-^). — (2) Faith is set forth as the supreme source of active energj'. Faith re- ceives healin" ; it can also bestow healing. Before its presence toth bodily and mental diseases dis- appear. Sayings of Jesus to this effect are re- nitiiibered as maxims and metaphors. ' All things are possiljle to him that lielieveth' (Mk 92*11=-'). By faith mountains disappear and trees may be uprooted (Mk 11==, Lk 11% " • ■
into ordinary speech (1 Co achievement was regarded as illustrative of the power of faith (He 11). The fact that men of faith are the possessors _ of boundless energy is indeed A\Tit large in the history of tlie world. But the living faith enjoined by Jesus and practised in the planting of Christianity procured an immediate possession of surprising power. Exorcists and ma- gicians were abashed ; and demonic possession, still a i>lague of the East, disappeared before the ad- van, in;..: stall. lai.ls ..f ilie new faith. This spiritual en. i^\ .1. ]i lid. .1 .Ml iimii.'.liate communication with (;...i, I'll.. It-i ^^..l.i~ .attributed to Christ are thcM. : ■ ^\. sh.all 1 ,.. .iM- power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you" (Ac l^).
R. Scott.
ENOCH. — There is no mention of the patriarch Enoch in the Gospels except as a link in our Lord's genealogy, Lk S".