From the flesh? St. Paul says not. From the Devil? No one, I
trust, will say that, save his own children, the Pharisees, if there
be any of them left, which we will hope there are not. No! all these
come from the gracious spirit of humanity--the spirit of Christ and
of God. Pray to him, that he may take possession of all your
thoughts, feelings, and desires, and purge you from every taint of
selfishness. Give up your hearts to him; and grieve not, by any
selfishness, passion, or hardness of your own, his gracious
instructions: but let him teach you, and guide you, and purge you,
and sanctify you, till you come to the stature of a perfect man, to
the fulness of the measure of Christ, who could perfectly hate the
sin, and yet perfectly love the sinner; who could see in every man,
even in his enemies and murderers, a friend and a brother.
And you who are afflicted, remember, that if the spirit of humanity
be the spirit of Christ, the spirit of Christ is also the spirit of
humanity. What do I mean? This: that if that good Samaritan had
Christ's spirit, was like Christ, then Christ has the same spirit,
and is like that good Samaritan, utterly humane, for mere humanity's
sake.
Yes, thou who art weary and heavy laden--thou who fanciest, at
moments, that the Lord's arm is shortened, that it cannot save, and
art ready to cry, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?--take
comfort, and look upon Christ.
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