This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1908 edition. Excerpt: ... Hence there can be no excuse for any personal consent to life on a lower plane, for within the kingdom of God what ought to be may be, and what may be must be. And to "walk even as He walked" is to present to the world a witness which cannot be controverted. If the attitude of the world be critical ...
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This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1908 edition. Excerpt: ... Hence there can be no excuse for any personal consent to life on a lower plane, for within the kingdom of God what ought to be may be, and what may be must be. And to "walk even as He walked" is to present to the world a witness which cannot be controverted. If the attitude of the world be critical such a testimony silences the criticism, just as the fragrance of the flower forbids all stricture upon the worth of the seed. If on the other hand, the world's attitude is wistful, as so often it is, the beauty of holiness attracts and encourages to a closer acquaintance with the soulsatisfying Christ. "Ye are My witnesses" is still His word to us, and in no other way can we be true to the commission than by setting ourselves to follow Him fully. But while this is the ideal which we accept and towards which we press, most of us are very conscious of shortcoming. We pray, work, strain every nerve to "follow His steps," and yet the repeated failure of our best efforts but serves to convince us of our Inability. As water cannot rise above its own level, so human nature has no power to rise to the height of Divine life; and while a lofty ideal may ennoble, it does not necessarily enable. All Christ's dealings with His earliest followers go to show us this. He was continually revealing His own character to them, and showing to them the inner meaning of all His service, so that they desired earnestly to follow Him, and found they could not. His words to Peter, quoted at the head of this chapter, only serve to confirm what Peter and the others had already discovered in their own experience--the insufficiency of their own best resources. They were devoted but defeated, as are many to-day who, like them, are nevertheless keenly desirous of following...
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