A TEST OF CHRISTIAN CHARACTER.
By JOS. CLARKE.
When a man is building a house, which he intends shall withstand the iron tooth of time, he is very careful to have none but the most durable material used in its structure. If the building is to be of great size and weight, the stone is sometimes tested, to prove its strength and solidity, before it is placed in the building; as was the marble used in the building of the Washington Monument. In the upbuilding of a Christian character, so many have failed in the past, it is evident to all who are in earnest for eternal life, that we cannot be too careful and severe with ourselves (not with each other), in subjecting our characters to Scripture tests, to know assuredly if we are the children of God. The great reason for thus testing our own characters at this time is, not to adjudge ourselves outcasts from God, but to form such habits of thought, and feeling, and doing, as shall best conduce to our growth in the Christian life. Every wrong motive of action, every wrong habit of thinking, speaking, or acting, every evil emotion of the heart, every vain thought, each and all of these are materials unfit to stand the test; while the opposite characteristics are durable and polished materials, with which to form a symmetrical, beautiful, and heavenly character. But the particular test, to which I would call your attention now, is found in the words of David, “I hate vain thoughts, but thy law do I love.” This I speak of, as one out of many to be found in the Bible, and I do it because I know that it is the delight of every Christian to subject his own character daily to the mirror of God’s holy word; not in every case because he doubts his acceptance with God; for there are a few, who have so often examined themselves, that they have arrived at excellence of character. These however are few, and for these I do not now write; but for such as in consequence of past neglect have become lukewarm, given place to Satan, and now seek to get right with God. To such I would say, Are you willing to subject yourselves to this test? If you are, may the Lord help you. If not, this article is not for you. To this test we now apply our minds: David was a man of God. He wrote as he was moved by the Holy Ghost. His delineation of Christian character is our model. He hated vain thoughts. Do we hate vain thoughts? If we do, so far we are right in the sight of God. Reader, you say you do; but please stop and consider. Are you sure you hate all vain thoughts? Do not, I beseech of you, hastily say, Yes, I do, and heedlessly pass on to something else, more interesting to your taste; stop right here, and ponder for hours upon this matter. Be sure it is not a light affair. It is of more importance to you, than all earthly considerations, whether you do truly hate all vain thoughts; I have seen men who wore the badge of discipleship, who hated a large class of vain thoughts, but still clung to a few vain ideas, which proved their ruin. Did you ever think of this, dear reader, that one vain thought, if perseveringly held, would ruin you in the end? Do not, I demand of you most affectionately, get tired of my perseverance in holding you to this point; I assure you, it is a theme most interesting, when you get accustomed to meditate upon it. True it may bring you great dismay and shame of soul; but it is better to shame yourself out of your sins now, while you have an opportunity of getting clear of them, and throwing them overboard, than by-and-by, when they will cling to you like oil or powder to a burning magazine. Vain thoughts were the bane of David’s life. He hated them. He hated all of them. Not one did he let. We sometimes see men—oh! how good they are in almost everything. You cannot but love them. They are pillars in the church. But alas! there are a few things against them, and perhaps the worst of it is, these few things lie so deep down you cannot touch them; neither can any man touch them. They can search themselves, by this test, and they would find out in time; but it would in many cases require time, and much candor and plain dealing with self, to get at the root of the evil. The beauty of dealing severely with one’s self is, that God helps such by his Spirit. Ah! yes, and angels love to help such, and they build with such material as Satan cannot crush, or throw down; and the Tobiahs and Sanballats cannot get these Nehemiahs away to the plains of Ono, to discuss minor points. No, dear reader, he cannot do that. Do not think I am getting personal, because if you do think so, you are the very person I am not writing for. I am writing for such as will like plain talk, and plain dealing. It is too late for fine-drawn distinctions. We want eternal life. That is what you and I seek. Before such a motive all personalities vanish. If I am indeed a child of God, I shall hate vain thoughts. Now I must know what vain thoughts are, or I may shipwreck my soul on this ignorance. What then are vain thoughts? Solomon says of this world, “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.” Ah! now we have the key to this matter: all is vanity; all of this vain earth. Another says, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity. The wicked and unconsecrated man is vain, in all his thoughts. His best acts are so mingled with unworthy motives that God sees no merit in them; and those not actually sinful, are, at least, vain; and how few of the best can say, I am free from vain thoughts. It may be asserted without fear of contradiction, that the greatest task the good man has, is to watch against vain thoughts. If successful here, he is everywhere. This is the door by which Satan enters; and he, who keeps this door well, can keep the other avenues to the soul. Vain thoughts! It is shameful to open your heart to this and that foolish idea, this surmise, and that fancy; this desire, this conjecture, and that plan so founded on nothing; air castles, day dreams—or, perhaps your mind is almost void at times: no connected plan of thought; vacancy, want of order. Do you know this is just the place for Satan to work, in a heart unkept, unwashed, unswept, all full of dust of the world, so that a good thought gets smothered in a moment? But again, vain thoughts include, not only thoughts actually sinful, but all useless thoughts. Why? Because this useless timber excludes good thoughts. Have you thought of this? Will robins mate with bats, or will the thrush nest with the crow? Do not get tired, brother, I want to hold you here. We cannot soon exhaust this subject. It is a wide field. If you are disgusted with my plainness, and my subject, then my effort is not for you. It is the delight of the neat housekeeper to scan the remotest corners for whatever filth is there; not because she likes to handle filth; but she is desirous to rid her house of the least particle of dust, which may unhappily cling to a corner, or to any part of her domains. So the Christian delights in this duty; and while he laments the existence of evil, he is so habituated to self-examination that it becomes his delight to turn his eyes within, not only because he has this work to do, but because he finds it profitable, and edifying to his soul. In time, he builds and builds, and from frequent imperfection, he attains to some assurance, which comforts and strengthens him in times of darkness. We say he builds; yes, and he is always ready to improve his building, by removing this or that article which the test pronounces unworthy, and he is willing to subject his building to the severest tests which inspiration furnishes; and it is as great a pleasure to remove the unworthy article, as to replace it with such as will stand the scrutiny of God’s wisdom. Why? Because that the removing the condemned article, is the first step in introducing the tried and sure material, durable as eternity. But to particularize a little more. It is possible for a man to cherish vain thoughts, and at the same time, think he is a very Solomon in wisdom, in this very thing, and to plume himself upon his vanity. I do not refer to men of the world, but to good men, at least those who we believe are good men; men who are at heart engaged in the work. A man may think he is such a guardian of another’s virtue, that he does not suspect106his own. So those, having charge of souls, may be so burdened with other’s sins, that they forget their own frailty, and become overanxious. A sort of jealousy may come in, lest some brother should sin. We may not rid ourselves of responsibility; but there is a middle ground between recklessness, and a sickly, nervous worry about little matters. There is one species of vain thoughts which weakens us, at times. I speak of general principles, which apply to myself, perhaps, as much as to any one. But apply as they may, we may not ignore them, for this is our safety, to deal unsparingly with that “pink of perfection,” dear self. At the present time, a quick and rapid movement is called for in our onward march. Our Captain orders, Haste; the army is in great force upon our track. Many are too much encumbered with this world, to be reached. Only a few of the present company will reach the goal. These will have the more difficulty to break from the influence of those who have only a name to live. If one were wakened from sleep abruptly, to escape from the hungry flame, which was consuming the house, we could readily appreciate the kindness of him who gave the alarm. So we applaud the wisdom and kindness of those whom God has fitted up to alarm a drowsy church, and a sinking world. And as they bid us watch and pray, let us study continually, to see what dangers we must watch against. In investigating this matter, all our labor will be fruitless, unless we have the eye-salve, to remove the film which sin and Satan have caused to cover our eyes. A clock might as reasonably be expected to repair itself, as for a wicked heart to seek out its own wickedness, and expel the same, of its own free will and power. We need the help of God’s good Spirit in this matter; and, dear reader, let us take care to cherish the good Spirit of God, and ask such aid in all our meditations. Let us bear in mind, that exposure is of small consequence, compared with guilt. What if men do, or do not, know of our sins? God sees them. If we can propitiate his favor, all is well; if not, ruin is sure. To attain to the power to exclude evil thoughts, we may with propriety seek for high attainments in holiness, as the only means of permanent success. We may maintain this position of light skirmishing with the enemy, sometimes victorious, sometimes vanquished, for a century if it were possible, and Satan would be pleased. What we now want, is a complete arming and discipline, and absolute victory in every conflict. To receive this we need humility, and courage to face the foe in that fortress, the heart. We may pray as often and as long as the Pharisees did, and unless we understand our own case, our prayers will be as vain as theirs; and every one of them will only strengthen the foe we have admitted to this important position. When we have seen the evil of this heart, as God sees it, then will our prayers ascend with power to the throne on high. Oh! the wisdom we need in this search! Solomon was wise; but when he turned his eyes within, he failed to see the folly and madness lodged in his heart. He nursed within himself the foulest serpents and the basest thoughts. His heart once filled with divine wisdom and purity, became swinish and beastly. Alas! would it were not so; but he doubtless was fully warned by the good men of his time. Their counsel was set at naught, and the wisest man fell. Lord, arouse us to look within, and seek out the foes which lurk in our own hearts, only to ruin us. Let all our love for these foes be turned to hatred; and renew us wholly in the temper of our minds. O Jesus, our great Physician, let us come near to thee by our faith; and as here upon earth, thou didst heal disease by a touch, so heal us of the disease of sin. Oh! heal us most thoroughly, so that it shall be natural and easy for us to act with wisdom and discretion. Heal us, so that every tendency to evil shall be eradicated, and take away our unbelief. Heal us, so that all our impulses shall be noble, every motive pure. Fulfill in us what thou didst in Enoch, and let us move on with constant and even step, until like him we shall be admitted to see thee amid the glories of Heaven.