the crown of thorns-第9节
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ountain of inward peace and joy。 His spirit leaps like new wine in the whirl of exciting pleasure； but in the hour of solitude and of golden opportunity； it is 〃flat； stale； and unprofitable。〃 He marks off the year by its festivals； and distributes the day into hours of food； rest； and folly。 In short； he holds no serious conception of life； and he is untouched by lofty sentiment。 The great drama of existence； with its solemn shifts of scenery and its impending grandeur； is but a pantomime to him； and he a thoughtless epicurean； a grinning courtier； a scented fop； a dancing puppet； on the mighty stage。 And surely； such a life； a life of superficiality and heartlessness； a life of silken niceties and conventional masquerade； a life of sparkling effervescence； has a moral。 It shows us how vain is human existence when empty of serious thought； of moral purpose； and of devout emotion。
Another is a skeptic。 He has no genuine faith in immortality； in virtue； or in God。 To him； life is a sensual opportunity closing up with annihilation and to be enjoyed as it may。 It is a mere game； and he who plays the most skilful（sic） hand will win。 Virtue is a smooth decency； which it is well to assume in order to cover and artful selfishness； and it is a noteworthy fact； too； that； in the long run； those who have trusted to virtue have made by it。 At least； vice is inexpedient； and it will not do to make a public profession of it。 Religion； too； he says； is well enough； it does for the weak and the ignorant； though shrewd men； like our skeptic know that it is all a sham； and； of course； scarce give it a serious thought。 What is religion to a keen… minded； hard…headed； sagacious man of the world？ What has it to do with business； and politics； and such practical matters？ Pack it away for Sunday； and then put it on with clean clothes； out of respect for the world； but if it lifts any remonstrance in the caucus or the counting…room； why； like a shrewd man； laugh it out of countenance。 What has our skeptic to do with the future world or with spiritual relations？ Keep bugbears to frighten more timid and credulous persons。 But only see how he uses the world； and plays his scheme； and foils his adversary and twists and bends his plastic morality； all because he is not troubled with scruples； and has no faith in God or duty！
And yet； to the serious eye； that scans his spiritual mood； and looks all around his shrewd； self…confident position； there is a great moral in the skeptic's life。 It teaches us； more than ever； the value of faith； and the glory of religion。 That flat negation only makes the rejected truth more positive。 The specimen of what existence is without God in the world； causes us to yearn more earnestly for the shelter of His presence； and the blessedness of His control。 From the dark perspective of the skeptic's sensual view； the bleak annihilation that bounds all his hopes； we turn more gladly to the auroral promise of immortality； to the consolations and influences of a life beyond the grave。 Yes； in that tale that is told； in that skeptic history； there is indeed a great moral。 It shows how meaningless and how mean； how treacherous and false； is that man's life who hangs upon the balance of a cunning egotism； and moves only from the impulses of selfish desire…without religion； without virtue； repudiating the idea of morality； and practically living without God。
Or； on the other hand； suppose we call up the image of one who has well kept the trusts of family； and kindred； and friendship；one who has made home a pleasant place； who has filled it with the sanctities of affection； and adorned it with a graceful and generous hospitality；before whose cheerful temper the perplexities of business have been smoothed； and whose genial disposition has melted even the stern and selfish；who； thus rendering life around her happier and better； attracting more closely the hearts of relatives； and making every acquaintance a friend； has； chief of all； beautifully discharged the sacred offices of wife and mother； encountering the day of adversity with a noble self… devotion； enriching the hour of prosperity with wise counsel and faithful love； unwearied in the time of sickness； patient and trustful beneath the dispensation of affliction； in short； by her many virtues and graces evidently the bright centre of a happy household。 And now suppose that； with all these associations clinging to her； in the bloom of life； with opportunities for usefulness and enjoyment opening all around her； death interferes； and suddenly quenches that light！ Is there not left a moral which abides a sweet and lasting consolation？ That moral is…the power of a kind heart； the worth of domestic virtues； the living freshness of a memory in which these qualities are combined。
Thus； then； in its brevity and its comprehensiveness； with its plot and its moral； we see that each human life is like 〃a tale that is told。〃 To you； my friends； I leave the personal application of these truths。 Surely they suggest to each of us the most vital and solemn considerations。 Surely they call us to diligence and repentance；to introspection and prayer。 What we are in ourselves；what use we shall make of life；is not this an all important subject？ What lesson we shall furnish for others；what influence for good or evil；can we be indifferent to that？ God give us grace and strength to ponder and to act upon these suggestions！
Finally； remember under whose dominion all the sorrows and changes of earth take place。 Let your faith in Him be firm and clear。 To Him address your grief；to Him lift up your prayer。 Of Him seek strength and consolation；of Him ask that a holy influence may attend every experience。 And while all the trials of life should quicken us to a loftier diligence； and inspire us with a keener sense of personal responsibility； surely when our hearts are sore and bleeding；when our hopes lie prostrate； and we are faint and troubled； it is good to rise to the contemplation of the Infinite Controller；to lean back upon the Almighty Goodness that upholds the universe； to realize that He does verily watch over us； and care for us； to feel that around and above all things else He moves the vast circle of his purpose； and carries within it all our joys and sorrows； and that this mysterious tale of human life…this tangled plot of our earthly being…is unfolded beneath His all…beholding eye； and by His omnipotent and paternal hand。
The Christian View of Sorrow
〃A man of sorrow； and acquainted with grief〃 Is。 Iii。 3。
There is one great distinction between the productions of Heathen and of Christian art。 While the first exhibits the perfection of physical form and of intellectual beauty； the latter expresses； also； the majesty of sorrow； the grandeur of endurance； the idea of triumph refined from agony。 In all those shapes of old there is nothing like the glory of the martyr； the sublimity of patience and resignation； the dignity of the thorn…crowned Jesus。
It is easy to account for this。 In that heathen age the soul had received no higher inspiration。 It was only after the advent of Christ that men realized the greatness of sorrow and endurance。 It was not until the history of the Garden； the Judgment…Hall； and the Cross had been developed； that genius caught nobler conceptions of the beautiful。 This fact is； therefore； a powerful witness to the prophecy in the text； and to the truth of Christianity。 Christ's personality； as delineated in the Gospels； is not only demonstrated by a change of dynasties；an entire new movement in the world；a breaking up of the its ancient order； but the moral ideal which now leads human action； which has wrought this enthusiasm； and propelled man thus strangely forward；has entered the subjective realities of the soul；breathed new inspiration upon it；opened up to it a new conception； and； lo！ The statue dilates with a diviner expression；lo！ The picture wears a more lustrous and spiritual beauty。
The Christ of the text； then；〃A man of sorrows； and acquainted with grief；〃…has verily lived； for his image has been reflected in the minds of men； and has fastened itself there among their most intimate and vivid conceptions。 Sorrow； as illustrated in Christ's life； and as interpreted in his scheme of religion； has assumed a new aspect and yields a new meaning。 Its garments of heaviness have become transfigured to robes of light； its crown of thorns to a diadem of glory； and often； for some one whom the rich and joyful of this world pity；some suffering； struggling； over… shadowed soul；there comes a voice from heaven； 〃This is my beloved son； in whom I am well pleased。〃
I remark； however； that Christianity does not accomplish this result by denying the character of sorrow。 It does not refuse to render homage to grief。 The stoic is as far from its ideal of virtue as the epicurean。 The heart of the true saint quivers at pain； and his eyes are filled with tears。 Whatever mortifications he may deem necessary as to the passions of this poor flesh； if he imitates the example of Christ he cannot deny those better affections which link us even to God； he cannot harden those sensitive fibres which are the springs of our best
