audi
delii
till i
higher nmmnials at man. Here there is inori; selfdenial on the part of the vigorous and rn\>. behalf of the helpless and the weak. (:S) Tli^ good for till- bad, a fart manifested (in the n. onl.v among ethical persons, and exemplili'.ii i i as one of the most potent forces for 11m i i | - 1 i t i of humanity. These various sta^'es - i ■
world-process, and to make it more or less r\ olutinnallv intel- ligible. (See further on this subject Grittith-Jones, The' Ascent through Christ, bk. ii. ch. iii. pp. 283-306).
(3) The Risen Life of our Lord initiates the final stage in the spiritual evolution of the race, and completes the range of forces that work for the perfecting of the human soul in its upward march. The Resurrection and the Ascension indicate a fresh epoch in the history of mankind, both in the development of the individual soul and in the progress of society. A new type of character emerges, and a new community is born ; each marking a higher achievement and indicating a further advance in spiritual life. Historical Christi- anity rests on the faith that Jesus rose again and passed into the unseen world, whence He eonti'pues to send forth His personal influence and sa\^ng grace by His Spirit among believers, and throuch them into the world at large. This He does tinvt by quickening individual men in the New Life^
enabling them to conquer sin, and to put forth the distinctive Christian virtues ; and, secondly, by tlie perpetual renewal and invigoration of the Christian society or Church, which is composed of those believers who join in brotherly love in the active service of mankind in the name of their spiritual Head. This new force has leavened and in a measure created modern Western civilization, and though it has so far not succeeded in permeating it through and through with the Christian spirit, it is demonstrable that its finest and most potent elements are those derived from the Christian Ideal and ennobled by the Christian graces. The slow- ness of the world's spiritual development along Christian lines is undeniable, it is marked by- ages of stagnation and by periods of unmistakabfe reaction ; this, however, is entirely consistent with the laws of evolution tlirough all its upward stages, and is inevitable when we remember the potent forces of spiritual degeneracy and inertia which oppose its march. It is clear that there is no rival directive or inspiring ideal among mankind that could take the place of Christianity without crying halt to all that is noblest in the life of the race. The future of the world lies with Christ, unless it is to fall back on a lower stage of ethical and spiritual development on its way to utter disinte- gration and decadence. Since the lines of cosmic development have so far been on the whole in an upward direction, and since there is no indication that the Christian ideal has lost its hold on the best minds of the race, or is less potent than formerly in regenerating individual souls and in inspiring the Church to ever fresh activity and in- fluence, there is reason for confident belief that at last the race as a whole will be raised to the Christian level, and that the future is with Him of whom it is prophesied that He shall reign in undisputed sway over the affections and command the obedience of all mankind (Ph S'"", Rev ll'' etc. ). See, further, art. INCARNATION.
Literature.— Griffith-Jones, Ascent through Christ ; Gore, Bampton Lectures on The Incarnation ; H. Drummond, Ascent of Man. E. GEIFFITH-JoNES.
EXALTATION.— 1. Tlie general sentiment that the lowly in heart alone receive the true exaltation, is exceedingly prominent in both the Old and New Testaments. The life of Christ was throun;liout one of self-humbling, but He knew prophetically tliat it would end in the highest exaltation. In t he Song of Mary at the Annunciation this jjrin- (•ijile of Divine procedure is stated : ' He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree' (Lk P-). In Christ's parable of the Wedding Feast He insists on this principle, as against the self-seeking and pride of the scribes and Pharisees, who love the chief seats in the synagogue, and the foremost places at feasts. It is better to take the lowest room, and wait till the host shall give their proper place to one's virtue and dignity, by saying, ' Friend, come up higher ' (Lk 14'»). The behaviour of a Christian among his fellows should have regard to this prin- ciple. He is not to be forward to lay claim to that which may even be his right (cf. Mt 23'- 1| Lk 14" 18").
2. One of the clearest words of Jesus in regard to His own exaltation is Jn 12'-. Some Greeks came desiring to see Him. Our Lord seeing in this desire of theirs something proplietic of the future ingathering of the Gentiles into His king- dom, opened up His heart to His disciples as to the way in which He hoped to conquer the hearts of men. He made somewhat enigmatic reference to His death. He knew that the hour had almost come for the suftering of the lowly Son of Man. But it is necessary that the seed which is to pro-