p. 485 | Copying My Lord's Likeness

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Aug 13, 1885

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 11, No. 31.

Copying My Lord's Likeness.

By Evangelical Christendom

LEAVING my desk and books early one forenoon in Florence, I wandered out into the piazza, which was glowing in the fervent rays of the bright Italian sun, and making my way across the Arno, landed at length in the gallery of the Pitti Palace, so justly celebrated for the wondrous gems of art that adorn its walls. Having been a familiar visitor to the place, and feeling somewhat in a passive, listless mood, my eye caught sight of an artist in an inner room, whose quiet, earnest occupation immediately fixed my attention. She had planted herself before a picture, which, by some strange oversight, I had scarcely noticed previously. It was rather small in size and quiet in coloring, and represented ideally the countenance of our blessed Lord. A look of deep, unspeakable sadness sat on the features, but the eyes glistened with the most intense yearning and compassion. After gazing for awhile at this most moving picture, I began to watch the artist who was copying it. I could not but admire the care and patience she displayed in adding touch to touch with such a watchful, earnest,

loving purpose, ever turning her eyes to the beautiful original, and absorbed in the task of endeavoring to reproduce, as faithfully as in her lay, a likeness of its loveliness.

A train of thought was awakened in me as I watched her. Not in this manner, but in another and a nobler way, am I too called on to produce a likeness of my blessed Lord. Not in lines and color on a canvas, but in the lineament and features of my character, is my own soul to be conformed to the reality of my Saviour's living self. Shall I ever succeed unless animated by a spirit of deepest love and admiration? Can I become like him unless I be much with him, gazing on his glory and beauty, who is the chiefest among ten thousand and altogether lovely? Should I not ever compare myself with his bright example, and strive earnestly to be in all things as he was? The copy this artist will produce will, after all, be valueless compared with the priceless original; but to those who cannot see that original, it will convey some faint idea of what its beauty is. So to the world that sees not Christ, knows him not, and cares not for him, to that world am I called upon to be a revelation of him, so that in me they may see a witness, faint and far-off though it be, to the glory of the only begotten Son of the Father, full of grace and truth. Fill me with thy love, O Christ! Do thou ever dwell in my heart till, when thou shalt appear, I shall be altogether like thee, when I shall see thee as thou art.