Christ Our Example, by the Author of the Listener

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1873. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER VII. IN HIS JOYS. 'These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might he full.'--John, xv. 11. Had 'the Man of sorrows' any joys? The Gospels, the proper memoirs of his life, make no mention of any. His tears are spoken of, but not his smiles. When we consider what he was--holy, pure, divine, eternal; when we consider whence he came--from the bosom of the Father, from a throne in glory; and what he came for--to suffer, the just for the unjust; we might conclude that in this unsatisfying, miserable world, the Son of God could find nothing to enjoy--could have no thought of gladness; and yet I think he had. We must look very closely indeed to find the sources of his joy, for they were few, and hidden. Once, and I think no more, it is said in the Gospels, that Jesus rejoiced in spirit. (Luke, x. 21.) The occasion of his rejoicing is very remarkable: --' I thank thee, 0 Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them wnto babes.' There could be but one cause for this--Jesus had no pleasure in the blindness of any one--no value for the soul of one above another; but he beheld his Father's glory in it; he knew that had the wise and prudent of this world been chosen to make known his gospel, men would have given to them the glory--perhaps they would have taken it to themselves. But God had chosen the foolish of this world to confound the wise, and Jesus delighted in the preference, because he saw the greater glory that would result from it to God: proving that salvation is of grace, and not of merit; that divine knowledge is imparted immediately from heaven, and not acquired by human understanding. I cannot help remarking how different a feeling ...