The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1886-09-15
Growth in Christian Life

Growth in Christian Life.
Growth is law of all animate things.
A dead thing cannot grow. Its bulk may
be enlarged by adding to it from the out
side. but growth is from within. A tree
grows by assimilating the elements which
are suited to it in the soil and air, and
rain and sunshine.
Growth in grace is not from the out
side, but from within. Religious vows,
though increased to hundreds, are no in
dication of growth. When the Holy
Ghost begins his work in the soul he i'm
plants the germ of Christian life within.
Faith and hope and love and patience
and Joy are all there in germ, waiting to
be evolved and developed in the visible
life. A plant contains every property OF
vegetable life A calf contains every
property of animal life. A babe is a man
in miniature. The man has grown, that
IS the difference. John says: Il write
unto you, little children, write unto
you, young men, write unto yon, faith
ers They were all Christians, though
not in equal measure. They had not all
reached the stature of men" in Jesus
Christ. Some had, others were growing
toward it. Is it not profitable exercise
to make some tests of growth? Let us
make one. Some of my readers, perhaps,
have been sixty years in the Christian
life, and others less. 1t is good thing
to look back occasionally, providing our
standpoint be not the same as that of
Lots wife.
AS rule, looking up is better than
looking down, and looking ahead is bet
ter than looking back. If you have
started to climb to the top of lofty
mountain, and are working hard, it is
well to stop for while now if you 10 k
down you will see how far up the noun
tain side you are, and that will encour-
age you. If you look also toward the
summit you will see how much farther
you have to travel. So in our Christian
life-looking back will tell you of pro-
gress, and by looking ahead you will find
how much there is yet for you to know
and to be before you shall stand perfect
in Christ Jesus" One of the evidences
Of growth In the Christian life is an ever-
increasing self control. Man has in him
a governing power. 1t is the fruitage of
his reason and conscience and volition. In
him are two well known forces, the flesh
and the spirit. These are antagonistic
10 each other. Along the history of the
past what evidences have we of the su-
premacy of the material over the spiritual ?
Whole libra les have been written to
demonstrate the power of spirit over
matter. But the power has been on the
other side too often. These two forces
struggle for the mastery. The battle
ground of this struggle is the heart. The
angels of God have always watched these
struggles with the greatest interest In
too many hearts, even among protesting
Christians, passion is king. Peter the
Great struck his gardener in fit of pas.
sion the poor fellow died from the effects
OF 1t when the monarch heard of it he
wept saying l have civilized my sub
jects, l have conquered other nations,
but / have not civilized and conquered
myself Men Of self.control never have
violent fits of anger.
1t is not an easy thing to conquer self
But if you are growing in grace you will
find that it will grow easier. 1t would
not be wise to pray God TO annihilate
your passionate nature. Would you
break the neck Of young horse because
at the fret you could not manage him
Adam Clark said I am as irritable as
any man when ! find anger, suspicion Of
others, jealousy, revenge, retaliation
springing up, I 90 Immediately 20 God
and pray 90, Lord, Thou knowest 1
am irritable, and / am liable to do i'm
prudent things, o Lord, manage me.
Pray God to give grace to regulate and
control your passions. Your passionate
nature is useful. Your soul, sensitive to
Justice and equity, will often be stirred.
See the Lord in the temple with the
money.chaugers; Paul in Athens when
ne saw the city given wholly to idolatryi