STUDIES OF THE PORTRAIT OF CHRIST.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 54, 5 March 1900, Page 2

STUDIES OF THE PORTRAIT OF CHRIST.

The Rev. T. F. Robertson, St. Step-' Sh.en.is, Ponsonby, referred yesterday to the high value of the recent volume under the above name by Dr. George SMatheson of Edinburgh. He remem[bexed the writer as a student in his last year at the University of Glasgow. He was almost blind led by a $jfsßw student. And yet that blind scholar had left the great majority of Students far behind in the race of life 'duty and success. By the devotion of a- sister reading with him, not only [English, 'but Latin, Greek, Hebrew', and .other languages, he became a [highly cultured eloquent Minister of .Christ, and one of the most enlightened and thoughtful Christian authors En Scotland. His first volume of studlies of the portrait of Christ was the. freshest and most suggestive Scriptural volume of the hour. Ear superior in its quiet mystic musings and fine flashes of thought to anything3.a_rrar or Stalker has written. The jhig'h spirituality of Thomes A. Ivems>is is there without his Monkish views of life;, it breathes a spirit of large, liberal hearted humanity. From this D_ew point a vision of "the King in His [beanty" has been granted to this blind tauthor far superior to that given to (other men with eyes. The portrait of jChrist in the great gallery of human [history revealed to this jmre soulled scholar and teacher is truly captivating. It lifts the Redeemer of men far lab-ve passing questions of modern fcriticism. Hence it is most nseful at tche present hour. Christian write-rs Swell upon these questions and create idoubt in many. Roman writers mag.tiafy them beyond all bounds, to the >njury of Christianity; in order to |_rive ns to the arms of an infallible ■phurch. It is cheering to find- the Christ of History, and of humanity, Rising, as the supreme authority of the jDhristian faith, above all questions of • criticism. The man :oi sorrows in sympathy with all the darkest trials and sufferings of humanity, $ret the man lof deepest joy and highest sense of victory; rejoicing with us in the joy. of the deliverance of our .British brothers and sisters in Africa. ( We like Christ must win our crown of ©y in sorrow our highest victory amidst jfche shadows of Gethsemane and the (Cross. Two fresh gleams of light .from this volume as follows: Christ Hid not thank God for hiding Gospel •light from the vainly wise, and prufient, but for giving it to all by revealing it to lowly child-like souls. For jonly Jowly souls can give light to pthers. They only can be used by jChrist .to give the light of His life and [teaching to men. The vain teacher Jeonceals Christ by his own imposing .shadow. Again Christ was careful of [the lives of his disciples. They must Slot thr; ow them away in rash martyrdom. When persecuted in one city Ithey must flee to another; not to hide ithemselves, but to face fresh dangers 5n spreading the light of Christ—just as the brave leader saves his soldiers Iby strategy, by retreat and caution. Christian life is too valuable to be [thrown away in the city, in the home or on the battle-field.. We do not use (the authors words but what his words pay and suggest. His words are full (of electric Christian light. Other {teachers he tells us require a preparaPon, purity, wisdom, goodness in their Pisciples, before coming to them. Christ takes men as He finds them; in His presence they are made fit for the [highest life on earth and in Heaven. (This commonplace thought of evangelism has an impressive power and ibeauty from the lips of Matheson. His jprayers at the cllose of each chapter of (this volume are idyllic utterances of {the most inspiring- kind.