our own passions, or the giving* of our substance to relieve the poor, or the bestirring ourselves to lead sinners back to God, or the laying down of our lives for the brethren — whatever it be we must never allow self to stand between us and our duty. But the battle must first be fought and victory gained at home — in and with ourselves. For a Christian to gratify all his cravings would be not less unreasonable than for a fever patient to indulge in copious draughts of cold water with the certainty of fatal consequences. Our natures perturbed by sin require homoeopathic treatment — further perturbation by self-denial will restore them to life and health.
" He humbled Himself — and God exalted Him, that every tongue should confess the Lord Jesus." Brethren, besides confessing the greatness of Christ's sufferings and the greatness of His glory we must not forget to acknowledge the malice of our sins for which He suffered. When Joseph's brethren sold him into slavery and to prove his death falsely exhibited to his father a bloodstained garment, Jacob cried out: "A most wicked beast hath devoured Joseph." How much more wicked was that beast of sin which sent back to His Father Christ's earthly garb — His torn and bleeding humanity! Christ was to His Father as a vase of priceless worth, but when filled with our putrid wickedness the Father crushed and ground Him unto dust. Christ was the only begotten and well-beloved Son of the God of armies, but when He donned the rebel uniform of sin His Father caused Him to be tortured and executed.
