Southern Christian Advocate

For the Southern Christian Advocate.

THE TRUTH AS IT IS IN JESUS.

Many an inquirer after truth has desired that when Pilate put the question to our Lord, "What is truth," he had answered so definitely, that in all future time there should have been an infallible criterion to guide them aright. But he who knew all men, saw that human nature, ever hewing out to itself cisterns, broken cisterns that can hold no water, would warp the purest and fairest interpretation that could be given, and leave it, as it has, thousands of times, prostrate, wounded and bleeding. Whoever will observe the face of society, complex as it is instructive, varied and forever varying in character, must see that those features which designate the truth to be one, individually one, are rarely seen. Now opinion passes for truth, and that which will not bear the scrutiny of one correct judgment, is arrayed in opposition to many. Here in its sacred name sectarianism often finds a sanctuary, while bigotry and prejudice unite, and raise a wall so high that truth shrinks before the mighty phalanx, and that which has but the semblance of it, is called by its name and passes for such.

But thanks to the Divine Author of our faith, he made it to consist in fixed principles, exhibited in practices so distinct in character, so definite in design, and happy in results, that whoever will look into the life of Christ will see an embodiment of the truth without the least mixture of error. The truth as it is in Jesus consists in a single desire to do the will of God, and this outworking in good deeds to mankind. Our Lord said, my meat is to do the will of God, and finish the work he has given me to do: and this he exhibited in varied acts of mercy and beneficence to men. His benevolence was characterised by impartiality: the Centurion's servant, and the Ruler's daughter, shared alike his sympathy and power. There was no distinction made between man and man from the adventitious circumstances thrown around them: wealth and worldly honor never elicited praise from him : all had to meet on common ground, and partake of his grace through the same infallible instrument,—faith. That exhibited to its professor the truth as it is in Jesus distinctly, and enabled the soul fully to apprehend its divine relation to him as the Redeemer and Sanctifier.

Many scenes on earth have illustrated this truth and still exhibit it. Go to the abode of the devout and humble believer, who without wealth or worldly influence passes his days in comparative obscurity,—known to few without the circle of his own home, but possessing a mind richly stored with divine knowledge, and a heart deeply impregnated with the love of God: he meets as he passes through life the usual vicissitudes that human nature is heir to; but guided by the truth as it is in Jesus, regards not the attractions of earth, nor pants after those things which perish with the using: he looks above, and realizes that there is one who knows his necessities, treasures up his secret grief, and is ever ready to confer spiritual and temporal good, and looks to the termination of his earthly career with the humble yet confident persuasion of eternal life. The truth as it is in Jesus reveals the wants of the soul; the necessity of a Redeemer: here, all mankind may meet and claim the benefits of redemption on the ground of common necessities.

A Holy Spirit is offered to comfort and direct a world of sinners, to inspire them with a hope full of immortality and finally conduct them to an inheritance above. These are some of the spiritual blessings that the truth as it is in Jesus opens to the view : but the heart is morally weak and impotent; there is in the unrenewed mind a deadness to its true need ; a darkness to its real condition; a blindness to its future destiny, that the truth must exhibit and bring to the light. Our divine Lord proved by precept and example, that all good proceeds from him. He said, ye will not come to me, that ye may have life, or in other words, be brought into favour with God, quickened by his spirit, and conformed to his image. When he said " I am the light of the world," he declared himself infinitely pure in nature, the fountain of wisdom, excellence and knowledge, the giver of spiritual and eternal life. The truth as it is in Jesus appears clearer and brighter the more it is investigated. It has been a guide to the great and good in all ages. It has purified the hearts of the most abandoned of mankind. It has refined and elevated the most barbarous races of men. It has exhibited the heartlessness, treachery and deception of infidelity. It has unveiled error though like that secret and imponderable agent diffused through all matter, it has infected the whole moral universe. The truth as it is in Jesus, that perfect electrometer can extract it thence and exhibit its positive turpitude. And though the soul may be insulated by outward circumstances from access to many sources for truth, and attracted by splendid temptations to wander from God, let but one earnest and sincere supplication ascend for the Spirit of truth, its relation will be changed, it will be drawn toward God, and power will be given to repel the foes of earth and darkness. The truth as it is in Jesus encourages mankind to love one another, to wage a truceless war against sin. To join their forces together and direct their strength against the power of Satan : to take his high towers, and dismantle his fortified holds, and thus enlarge the Redeemer's kingdom, until it shall embrace a world now lying in moral ruin.

C. F. G.