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THE VITAL MESSAGE
impression which fills us with utter reverence。 Napoleon； no mean judge
of human nature； said of it： 〃It is different with Christ。 Everything about
Him astonishes me。 His spirit surprises me； and His will confounds me。
Between Him and anything of this world there is no possible comparison。
He is really a being apart。 The nearer I approach Him and the closer I
examine Him； the more everything seems above me。〃 It is this wonderful
life； its example and inspiration； which was the real object of the descent
of this high spirit on to our planet。 If the human race had earnestly centred
upon that instead of losing itself in vain dreams of vicarious sacrifices and
imaginary falls； with all the mystical and contentious philosophy which
has centred round the subject； how very different the level of human
culture and happiness would be to… day！ Such theories； with their absolute
want of reason or morality； have been the main cause why the best minds
have been so often alienated from the Christian system and proclaimed
themselves materialists。 In contemplating what shocked their instincts for
truth they have lost that which was both true and beautiful。 Christ's death
was worthy of His life； and rounded off a perfect career； but it is the life
which He has left as the foundation for the permanent religion of mankind。
All the religious wars； the private feuds； and the countless miseries of
sectarian contention； would have been at least minimised； if not avoided；
had the bare example of Christ's life been adopted as the standard of
conduct and of religion。 But there are certain other considerations which
should have weight when we contemplate this life and its efficacy as an
example。 One of these is that the very essence of it was that He critically
examined religion as He found it； and brought His robust common sense
and courage to bear in exposing the shams and in pointing out the better
path。 THAT is the hall…mark of the true follower of Christ； and not the
mute acceptance of doctrines which are； upon the face of them； false and
pernicious； because they come to us with some show of authority。 What
authority have we now； save this very life； which could compare with
those Jewish books which were so binding in their force； and so
immutably sacred that even the misspellings or pen…slips of the scribe；
were most carefully preserved？ It is a simple obvious fact that if Christ
had been orthodox； and had possessed what is so often praised as a 〃child…
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THE VITAL MESSAGE
like faith；〃 there could have been no such thing as Christianity。 Let
reformers who love Him take heart as they consider that they are indeed
following in the footsteps of the Master； who has at no time said that the
revelation which He brought； and which has been so imperfectly used； is
the last which will come to mankind。 In our own times an equally great
one has been released from the centre of all truth； which will make as deep
an impression upon the human race as Christianity； though no
predominant figure has yet appeared to enforce its lessons。 Such a figure
has appeared once when the days were ripe； and I do not doubt that this
may occur once more。 One other consideration must be urged。 Christ has
not given His message in the first person。 If He had done so our position
would be stronger。 It has been repeated by the hearsay and report of
earnest but ill…educated men。 It speaks much for education in the Roman
province of Judea that these fishermen； publicans and others could even
read or write。 Luke and Paul were； of course； of a higher class； but their
information came from their lowly predecessors。 Their account is
splendidly satisfying in the unity of the general impression which it
produces； and the clear drawing of the Master's teaching and character。 At
the same time it is full of inconsistencies and contradictions upon
immaterial matters。 For example； the four accounts of the resurrection
differ in detail； and there is no orthodox learned lawyer who dutifully
accepts all four versions who could not shatter the evidence if he dealt
with it in the course of his profession。 These details are immaterial to the
spirit of the message。 It is not common sense to suppose that every item is
inspired； or that we have to make no allowance for imperfect reporting；
individual convictions； oriental phraseology； or faults of translation。 These
have； indeed； been admitted by revised versions。 In His utterance about the
letter and the spirit we could almost believe that Christ had foreseen the
plague of texts from which we have suffered； even as He Himself suffered
at the hands of the theologians of His day； who then； as now； have been a
curse to the world。 We were meant to use our reasons and brains in
adapting His teaching to the conditions of our altered lives and times。
Much depended upon the society and mode of expression which belonged
to His era。 To suppose in these days that one has literally to give all to the
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poor； or that a starved English prisoner should literally love his enemy the
Kaiser； or that because Christ protested against the lax marriages of His
day therefore two spouses who loathe each other should be for ever
chained in a life servitude and martyrdomall these assertions are to
travesty His teaching and to take from it that robust quality of common
sense which was its main characteristic。 To ask what is impossible from
human nature is to weaken your appeal when you ask for what is
reasonable。 It has already been stated that of the three headings under
which reforms are grouped； the exclusion of the old dispensation； the
greater attention to Christ's life as compared to His death； and the new
spiritual influx which is giving us psychic religion； it is only on the latter
that one can quote the authority of the beyond。 Here； however； the case