The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1894-05-23

Nowhere do we detect Limitation, or
desire further expression OF ability to
see things as they are. The rarest
common sense and the utmost discretion
are manifest in every word and action.
He towers above all the great men of
history in each separate trait of charac-
ter, at the same time harmonizing all
these traits and intensifying their
grandeur by surprising every mere
human model, in that most difficult of
allthe virtues-patient endurance, for a
great end, OF unmerited suffering. "That
We may be perfect and entire, lacking
nothing" sid st. Paul, "let Patience
have her perfect work" And this it
had, in Him who was made the perfect
Captain of our salvation, through the
suffering which he met and conquered.
Conceive, then, of a manhood whose
capacity and completeness are limited
only by the bounds of the mortality in
which it is ensphered, and you have the
truest possible ideal OF that perfection
which found its realization in "the
measure OF the stature OF the fullness Of
Christ"
And now, in proof OF the fitness and
probable fulfillment of the promise of
such manhood among men, let us see
what progress Christianity has made
toward this type of discipleship.
We have seen that our religion looks
in that direction; let us now try to dis
cover if there be any perceptible adj
our present Christian civilization we
shall find that no other style of disciple
ship meets the demands of the hottest
and most enlightened minds of this age,
although past ages have been satisfied
with far less.
1t might do for Jacob, in the rude
days of the Patriarchs, to improve very
slowly under the power OF the belief
which he held in the one true God, for
he had no Goldman before his eyes, a
living example OF true godliness of life.
And it might do for a Samson or Il
Solomon to give way to weaknesses
which disgraced them as leaders in
Israel, for they had no adequate concep-
ton of the noble manhood to be illus
trated in Jesus.
But no such poor type of Christian
living will do, in the days in which we
live. Christianity has silently effected
the most remarkable changes, during
the passage OF the centuries since the
Advent, until to-day the world as well
as the Church has constantly before its
eyes the noblest standard.
True discipleship is known and felt by
all; not in the mere observance of
church formalities, not in the expression
OF devout sentiment, nor even in the
conservation of wealth to charitable
works, but in the peculiar character
formed by faith in Christ-a character
developing into harmony OF parts and
gradually becoming Christ-like; a char.
acter in which Christian patience il
having her perfect work.
We have the advantage in these days
of being surrounded by world which
knows what fruits new religion should
produce and which demands them also
This knowledge of the true results o
faith in Christ is itself one Of the effects
of that moral elevation which Christian
ity has been gradually comforting on the
world at large. For time was, not very
long ago, when men in general could no
see how Christian could be brave YET
patient; Christ-like, yet progressive
humble, and yet noble at the SAINT
time.
But now, everybody demands thes'
things as evidence OF the new faith, anC
sees how they must combine in the SAINT
character in order to form the perfect
man, in imitation OF the Lord who drov,
the money-lenders from the temple will
a scourge of small cords, but who, "beini
reviled, reviled not again"
The time has also gone by when mel
of doubtful honesty and suspicion
morality can maintain their Christian
standing among men, by rigid uphold
ing OF orthodox ideas. A moral equilib
rum between the belief and the life il
now demanded before man can &c
credit for religious sincerity.
Every article that a man adds to hi
creed in these days gives the communit
new reason for asking greater purit
in his conduct.
The free-thinker may be little loos
without being charged with inconsis
tency-men expect this of such denier
of the authority of revelation. Blu
positive professions imply positive pei
formances. The disciple OF Christ ha
publicly given his parole not to trans
gress the limits OF strict duty; and tn
world OF to-day insists, as never befor,
on holding him to his word. All thi
has an effect in developing a more fin
ished type OF practical duty.
The power OF the gospel is hedgin
Christ's followers about, not ony by til
commands it gives and the spiritui
power it imparts, but also by the pre-
sure of public opinion; by the instin'
tive demands OF an advancing ag
And since scepticism is not native to IL
human heart; since man, as a religion
being, is naturally believer; since il
fidelity demands peculiar surrounding
before it can thrive, therefore few reje
the real truth OF the religion as a Who'll
in these days OF convincing, scientif
and experimental proofs OF it.
But all absurdity, connected by me
with this faith, is discovered and rejec
ed with augmented vehemence. III
popular mind, accepting what is re