The Pulpit Commentary — Luke — Volume 1 — Section 39

eclence. 1 Now, Jesus suppliBR us, in his own perfect and sinlee~ PerRon, with the" ideal" we individunlly ncod to ~atisfy the cravings nod longings of the heart. He is, in fact, "altogether lovely." So that by his realized Personality we are saved from occupation with a pure abstraction, callud the "absolute," and the self-effacement to which the Indian dreamers and others are led, as the hope and consequence of their speculation. The definiteness of the historic Person is thus placed in antagonism to the dreamy indefiniteness of speculation about the absolute. Again, the human mind is intro- Bpective and self-reliant in its tendencies. Jesus Christ again applies the re'luisite check aud antagonism to the dangerous tendency. His perfect life shows us by con- trast how imperfect our lives are; his mission 11s Saviour demonstrates our spiritual need; and so we end by taking up self-suspicion in place of self-confidence, and we delight ourselves in the Lord alone. Thus it may be seen that the life of Jesus, e~pecially when we remember his Divinity and omnipotence, becomes a. personal interest aud a reforming power. 3 IV. THE HISTOBY OF CHRISTIANITY D THE BEBULT or THE PERSONAL CHBIST INFLOENOING AS THEY NEEDED IT THE WILLING SONS OF MEN. The Book of the Acts has to be taken as the development of the Gospel. In it we see the Lord adding to the Church of such as shall be saved, and accomplishing his sacred purposes through human instrumentalities. The people are made willing in the day of his Pentecostal power (Ps. ex. 3). The great Personality is tbUB seen to be moulding men. It bas been said truly that Christianity has been a progress through antagonism (cf. Hebberd, td supra). Paganism was a development; Christianity has been a history of restraint. It has curbed men's passions, and conducted them through antagonism to their goal. "The flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh : and these an, contrary the one to the other :.so that ye cannot do the things that ye would" (Gal. v. 17). This policy of restraint or anta:,;onism may be traced through Church his- troy. Only an outline can be here suggested. Mohammedanism was a providential restraint upon the growing superstitions of the early centuries. Catholicism again was a restraint upon the vandalism of the Germanic tribes, and by the establishment of feudalism it changed nomadic nations into settled and sympathizing patriots. Protes- tantism followed, to restrain the" spiritual despotism'' which accompanied Catholicism, and secure freedom and the rights of the individual. Even the scientific spirit, a~ cau easily be shown, is due to Protestantism, and if it threatens us, as it does, with unspiritual developments, Christianity will take a new start and antagonize that spirit with a wholesome assertion of the spiritual nature and rights of man (cf. Hebberd, ut supra). A great restrainin~ Saviour is thus seen to be moving among men and using their freedom to serve bis glorious designs. The Christian faith is simple trust in this historic yet immortal Person, who can consider and consult at once the majestic cycles of human progress and the minutest needs of those who trust him. We have certainty at the foundation o! our faith, and a living Lord continually at our side.- R. M. E. Vere. 5-25.-The inauguration of the dispensation of graee. From the prologue about the historic certainty of the Christian faith, we now proceed to the first stage of the wonderl'ul history in the annunciation of the birth of the Baptist. In this we have Luke mounting higher than either Matthew or Mark. We can understand this since he was writing for a Gentile audience, and the speculative turn of Grecian minds would certainly lead to inquiries as to the origin of the leaders in the dispensation of grace. Luke satisfies all just demands, and with that exquisite taste which should regulate thought upon such themes. Let us notice the facts as presented to us. I. THE LORD UTILIZED EXISTING ORGANIZATIONS. Just as we believe the New Testament eldership w11s based upon I.he Old Testament office of elder, so here we have the great reformer taken from the Aaronic priesthood. Once more is hono'!-r put upon the line of Aaron. The parents of the forerunner both belonged to the priestly tribe. 'fhey are moreover, godly people, being "both righteous before God, walking in all the comn:andments and ordinances of the Lord blameless" (ver. 6). By which oould I Cr. Tfohbercl's • Seorot of Christianity,' pp. 178-208. • Cf. LmtLo Taylor'• • Lectures on Spiritual Chriatianiiy,' pp. l~S.  30 THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. LUKE. [on. t. 1-B0,