p. 341 | The Mind of Christ by H. Clay Trumbull

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jun 4, 1885

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 11, No. 22.

The Mind of Christ.

By H. Clay Trumbull

"HAVE this mind in you, which was also in Christ Jesus." There is no good work done without a pattern. The greatest artist commonly wants a model before him in his painting or in his sculpture. He may have more models than one. He may copy the face of one person, the form of a second, the hand of a third; and the drapery may be from quite another source; but he has some basis of what is, in all that goes to make up his ideal of what ought to be. There was never but one perfect model in character and in conduct. In our being and in our doing, we ought to imitate Christ Jesus.

This model ought to be before us elsewhere than in the sanctuary, and at other times than on the Sabbath. When a hotel or railroad porter handles our summer baggage roughly; when a table waiter seems the slowest of mortals; when a chance acquaintance appears impertinent; when a child is provokingly tiresome with its questions; when one with whom we are in discussion is as opinionated as he is unreasonable; when we are misused, or cheated, or betrayed; when our patience is most taxed, and our temper is most tried,—then, and at other times, we may ask ourselves, "What would Christ Jesus do and say if he were just in my place at this moment?" If you then speak and act fairly in response to that question, you have taken a good way of showing how much there is in you of the mind which was in him.—H. Clay Trumbull.