(1) The personal temptation of Jesus is given as the record of a unique struggle witliin the chambers of personality. It was associated with that en- hancing of His self-consciousness Avhich was repre- sented by the descent of the Spirit as that of a dove, and the hearing of a voice, ' Thou art my be- loved Son ' (Mk 1'"). The^^rs^ temptation was over- come by His affirmation that the soul is infinitely more precious than the natural life, and that there is eternal provision for it in communion with the Father (Mt 4"*). As Christ said afterwards to His disciples, ' I have food to eat that ye know not of ' ( Jn 4'*^). The second temptation was resisted on the ground that man has the responsibility of cherishing his life and using it wisely, as the vehicle of a God- given personality. To depend on the aid of angels would be an act of presumption (Mt 4'''-). God has chosen that they should minister only when per- sonality has achieved its proper work (Mk 1'^), or before personality is permitted to begin it (Mt 18^"). A true man scorns the aid of impersonal forces when afl'airs of the soul are at stake (26^^). The third temptation was met in the confidence that personality is of itself worth more than all the world. It may subject itself only to God (4^"), by whose gentleness it is made great ; for it is meant to be king of all, but not through the acknowledgment of Satan (cf. 1 Co 3-^). So Jesus taught elsewhere, ' What shall it profit a man if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul ? ' ; but ' The meek shall inherit the earth ' (Mk 838, Mt 55)._
(2) The public teaching of Christ never moved far from the personal character of true religion. {a) Tlie Kingdom of heaven is essentially the realm of personality. It thus calls for no less an analogy tlian a new birth, and the breath of the Spirit (Jn 3'^- ®). Its boundaries are specifically in character, for it is inherited by such as are poor in spirit, pure in heart, and peaceable in will (Mt 5^- ®* ^), and those wdio revert to the attitude of children (18^). Deeds of themselves, however zealously performed, are outside this realm (7^-''), for a house may be swept and garnished, yet vacant for evil spirits (12"). But even our words will witness against us, for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh (12^'). The approach of tliis Kingdom, therefore, is a call to repentance (Mk 1''): its entry involves the 'binding of the strong man' (Mt 12-^); and its extension needs sucli a personal influence as the word or the gospel incorporated in the lives of the disciples (5'^*-). (b) The inner righteousness is only another way of stating that in true religion the personality must come to its own, as the character of fruit is fixed by the tree on which it grows (7^^). Nothing done by rote or for show is worthy of the soul's approach to its God (6'"^). The only genuine worship is in spirit and in truth (Jn ^^), in the consciousness that the best things may be asked for from a Father (Mt 7^^), who in turn expects the inward attitude of a believing (6^^), lowly (Lk 18"), and forgiving heart (Mt 6'^). The only de- filing thing in life is the effluence of a man's per- sonality (Mk 7^**). The only unforgivable sin is the sin against the Holy Ghost, which is essentially a sin against one's own personality (Mt 12^1). And behind Christ's teaching were His miracles of mercy, which were sacramental of this rescue of personality from its fetters (Mk l^^-, Lk 13^^) j^ short, with Christ, religion is positive because it is spiritual. Saintliness is not by contraction, but by expansion. Keeping the Law is acting the Good Samaritan. In a word, religion is raised to per- sonality-power.
(3) The private training of Christ was always and
PEKSOXALITY
PEESOXALITY
345
Avliolly exerted on the personality of His disciples. He left behind Him no dotnments, nor any organi- zation, only men who knew whom they believed {•2 Ti V-). He was satislied, therefore, that they should be with Hini (Mk 3^^), sure that afterwards tliey would become 'fishers of men' (Mt 4*''), 'laml>s in the midst of wolves' (Lk 1(F), all be- cause of His influence on their character. They had nothing else to carry with them but the secret of this wonderful change (Mt lO''^-)- This cliange was due to something deeper than even the per- sonal magnetism of Jesus. It was due to a re- velation at the core of a man's nature (16'"'*), by an organ of personalitj- undiscovered by the wise (11^), and unappreciated bj' the rich (19-^). The Church rests on the confession of a convinced personality (16^^), in whom it has pleased God to reveal His"' Son (W', cf. Gal iy^[-). And this reve- lation piovides the clue to spiritual truth and the criterion of religious authority (:Mt lO^'- 23^ Jn 8^^*-, cf. 1 Co 3-^-^, 1 Jn 2-") [cf' art. Authority in ItELiGiONi (iii. )]. It is worth while for a disciple to "lose his life' in order to gain the hidden life of his true personality (Mt 16^) ; and if he finds stumbling-blocks to this in his nature, he must act with surgical severity (IS*- ^).