按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
if this cup may not pass away from me except I drink it； thy will be done。〃 And once more； as he returned from his weary； sleeping disciples； and found himself alone； the wish broke forth…yet tempered by the same obedient compliance。
And here I pause to ask； if； in all that scene of agony； anything is developed inconsistent with the character of Christ？ If we would have it otherwise？ If these tears and groans of anguish are tokens of a weakness that we would conceal from our convictions；that we would overlook； as marring the dignity and the divinity of the Saviour？ For one； I would not have it otherwise。 I would not have the consoling strength； the sympathizing tenderness； the holy victory that may be drawn from thence；I would not have these left out from the Life that was given us as a pattern。 Jesus； we are told； 〃was made perfect through suffering。〃 This struggle took place that victory might be won；this discipline of sorrow fell upon him that perfection and beauty might be developed。 By this we see that Christ's was a spirit liable to trial；impressible by suffering； and from this fact does the victory appear greater and more real。 In this we see one striving with man's sorrow；seeking； like man； to be delivered from pain and grief； yet rising to a calm obedience；a lofty resignation。 Had Jesus passed through life always serene； always unshrinking； we should not have seen a man； but something that man is not； something that man cannot be in this world； and that calm question； 〃The cup that my Father hath given me； shall I not drink it？〃 would lose its force and significance。 Otherwise； why should not Jesus be as resigned as before？ He had betrayed no sense of suffering； no impressibility by pain； why should he not be willing； seeing he was always able to meet the end？ But O！ when that deep； holy calmness has fallen upon a soul that has been tossed by sorrow； and that has shrunk from death；when the brow has come up smooth and radiant from the shadow of mourning；when that soul is ready for the issue； not because it has always felt around it the girdle of Omnipotence； but because； through weakness and suffering； it has risen and worked out an unfaltering trust； and taken hold of the hand of God by the effort of faith；then it is； I say； that resignation if beautiful and holy；then do we wonder and admire。
So it was with Jesus。 A little while ago we saw him bowed with sorrow； his eyes lifted with tears to heaven。 We saw that he keenly felt the approaching pain； and shame； and death。 A little while ago； the still night air was laden with his cry； 〃Father； if it be thy will； let this cup pass from me。〃 And now； as one who is strong and ready； he says calmly to Peter； 〃The cup which my Father hath given me； shall I not drink it？〃 Truly； a battle has been fought； and a victory won； here； but we should not be the better for it； were it not for that very process of suffering in which that battle was waged； and from which that victory was wrung。 Now； when we sorrow； we know who also sorrowed； we remember whose agony the still heavens looked upon with all their starry eyes；whose tears moistened the bosom of the bare earth；whose cry of anguish pierced the gloom of night。 Now； too； when we sorrow； we know where to find relief； we learn the spirit of resignation； and under what conditions it may be born。 Thank God； then； for the lesson of the lonely garden and the weeping Christ…we； too； may be 〃made perfect through suffering。〃
Such； then； were the circumstances that illustrate the words of the text。 Scarcely had Jesus risen from his knees； and wakened the drowsy disciples； when the light of lanterns flashed upon him； and Judas came with a multitude to bear him to that death from which； but now； he shrunk with agony。 But he shrank no more。 The trial was over；the darkness had vanished；an angel had strengthened him； and when the impetuous Peter drew his sword and smote off the servant's ear； his master turned to him； with the calm rebuke； 〃Put up thy sword into his sheath； the cup which my Father hath given me； shall I not drink it？〃 Yes； cold and bitter as that cup was； pressed next to his very lips； he had learned to drink it。 God had given him strength； and no more did he falter； no more did he groan…save once； for a moment； when； upon the cross； drooping； and racked with intense pain； he cried out； 〃My God； my God； why hast thou forsaken me？〃 But that passed away in the triumphant ejaculation； 〃It is finished！〃
Such was the resignation of Jesus； a trait in his character which； like all the rest； is not only to be admired； but imitated；not an abstract virtue； manifested by a being so perfect and so enshrined in the sanctity of a divine nature that we cannot approach it； and in our mortal； work…day trials can never feel it； but a virtue which should be throned in every heart； the strength and consolation of which every suffering soul may experience。 Nay； if there is one virtue which is more often needed than any other； which lies at the base of true happiness； and than which there is no surer seal of piety； it is this virtue of resignation。 And let me proceed to say； that by resignation I mean not cold and sullen apathy； or reckless hardihood； but a sweet trust and humble acquiescence； which show that the soul has submitted itself to the Father who knows and does best； and that it meets his dispensations with obedience and his mysteries with faith。 The apathy and hardihood to which I have alluded are very far from the trust and piety of a religious spirit。 The fatalist acquiesces in the course of things because he cannot help it。 He has reasoned to the conclusion that his murmuring and weeping will not alter matters and he has resolved to take things as they come。 But here is no resignation to the will of God； but to the necessity of things。 Here is no faith that all things are wisely ordered； and that sorrow is but the shadow of the Father's hand。 No； here is the simple belief that things are as they are； and cannot be altered；…that an arbitrary law is the eternal rule； not a benevolent and holy purpose； and the philosopher would be just as resigned if he believed all things to be under the guidance of a blind fate； whose iron machinery drives on to level or exalt； unintelligent and remorseless； whether in its course it brings about good or evil；…whether it gladdens human hearts or crushes them。 Such resignation as this may be quite common in the world； manifested in various phases； and by men of different religious opinions。 Do we not often hear the expression； 〃Well； things are as they are；…we do best to take them as they come；〃 and here the matter ends？ No higher reference is made。 The things alluded to may issue from the bosom of material nature； may be sent into the world by chance； or may come from the good Father of all； but the minds of these reasoners reach not so far。 Now I repeat； there is no religion and no true philosophy in this method； certainly it is not such resignation as Jesus manifested。 In fact； it indicates total carelessness as to the discipline of life； and will generally be found with men in whose thoughts God is not； or to whose conceptions he is the distant； inactive Deity； not the near and ever…working Controller。 I cannot admire the conduct of that man who when the bolt of sorrow falls； receives it upon the armor of a rigid fatalism； who wipes scarcely a tear from his hard； dry face； and says； 〃Well； it cannot be helped； things are so ordered。〃 Below all this there is often a sulky； half…angry sentiment； as though the victim felt the blow； but was determined not to wince；…as though there was an acknowledgment of weakness； but also a display of pride；…a feeling that we cannot resist sorrow； yet that sorrow has no business to come； and now that it has come the sufferer will not yield to it。 This； evidently； is not resignation； religious resignation； but only sullen acquiescence； or reckless hardihood。
In a certain sense it is true that we do well to take things as they come；…that we cannot help the eternal laws that control events。 But we must go behind this truth。 Whence do events come； and for what purpose do they come？ What is life； and for what end are all its varied dispensations？ Religion points us up beyond the cloud of materialism； and behind the mechanism of nature； to an Infinite Spirit； to a God； to a Father。 All things are moved by infinite Love。 Life is not merely a phenomenon； it is a Lesson。 Its events do not come and go； in a causeless； arbitrary manner； they are meant for our discipline and our good。 In whatever aspect they come； then； let their appropriate lesson be heeded。 This is the religious view of life； and is wide apart from the philosophy that lets events happen as they will； as though we were in the setting of a heady current； and were borne along among other matters that now help us； now jar and wound us；…that happen without order and without object； all； like ourselves； driven along and taking things as they come。 In the religious view； all things stream from God's throne； and whatever sky hangs over them； the infinite One is present； prosperity is the sunshine that he has sent； and Faith； as she weeps； beholds a bow in the clouds。