The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-12-23

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out spot. Peter 10.
Standing alone, the words quoted
above may seem a trif1e vague Peter
used them to tell the people by what
agency and power they had been re-
deemed from sin. They are far more
significant, though, in presenting
characterization of Jesus of Nazareth,
who looms up again throughout Chris
tendon. as the anniversary of his
birth approaches. as the most COM
manding figure that the world has
ever known. 1t is Peters idea that
Jesus was as lamb without blemish
and without spot; in other words. 9
perfect creature spot1ess man. St
John refers to him as having been
sinless. So does st. Paul in his second
letter to the Corinthians. Indeed,
the character of Christ as it is depict
ed by the Evangelists in all of its null
hilarious ramifications is a most re-
markable one. An excellent summary
of it. written in simple but forceful
language. comes from the pen of the
late George Park Fisher who, for
many years. was professor Of eccle-
sastical history in Yale university.
Professor Fisher wrote that the pic
ture of Christ's character presented by
the Evangelists shows it to
be one of unequalled excel
lence. And he continued: This
is universally admitted. It is not a
character made up of negative virtues
alone, where the sole merit is the alb
sence of cuIpable traits. 1t has posi-
tive. strongly marked features. 1t COM
bines piety. an absorbing love and
loyalty to God, with philanthropy
love to men without any alloy of sell
fishness. and too strong to he conquer
ed by their injustice and ingrattude.
1t unites thus, in perfect harmony,
the qualities of saint and the philan-
tnropist There is no compromise
with evil no consent to the least
wrong doing, even in friend or fol-
lower. But with this purity there is
a deep we'll of tenderness, a spirit of
forgiveness which never fails. With
the active virtues. with an intrepidity
that quails before none. however high
in station and public esteem, there are
connected the passive virtues Of pa
tience. forbearance and meekness.
The world beholds in Jesus its ideal of
goodness"
And the effect of the life of Christ,
or his three short years of ministry.
on humanity is admirably set forth
with unusual brevity and clarity by
Lecky, in his History of European |
Morals, when he wrote:
1T was reserved for Christianity to
present to the world an ideal char |
acter which through all the changes
of eighteen centuries has inspired the /
hearts of men with an impassioned |
love. has shown itself capable of act
ing on all nations, ages, temperaments |
and conditions; has been not only the 7
highest pattern of virtue but the I
strongest incentive to its practice. and I
has exercised so deep an influence |
that it may be truly said that the sim
pie record of three short years of ac-
tive life has done more to regenerate |
and soften mankind than all the dis
QUESTIONS of philosophers and all the |
exhortations of moralists"
There is no difference among Chris
tians regardless of sect or creed, that
the conclusions of Professor Park and /
of Lecky are not correct. This being I
true. there is every reason in the |
world why countless Christians should !
not confine their thoughts of Christ /
merely to the Christmas season, as so |
many of them do. There is every sea
son why they should make his life |
and his teachings a constant study |
and order their ways accordingly. /
They should put their shoulders to
the wheel to push the cause of Christ
and Christianity forward on it rests
the salvation of the world.
ON Christmas.