[Feb. 28th, 1864.]
There is an analogy between the youth of man, the youth of the Christian, and the youth of the Church.
The state of youth is characterized by, 1. The predominance of animal spirit and of emotional life. 2. A tendency to be governed by the feelings rather than by the dictates of the judgment and of an enlightened conscience. 3. Hence by imprudence and extravagance, i.e., pushing things to extremes. 4. By joyousness and singleness of mind, i.e., having the attention and feelings engrossed with one object. These are the characteristics also of the young Christian. We see in every revival of religion, where these characteristics are brought into full play, this predominance of feeling, this disposition to be governed by emotion, this tendency to extremes, and this joyousness and absorption in the one great object which fills the hearts of young converts.
We see all these traits in the description of the early Church in the Acts. How are the Scriptures to be understood when they describe the experience and conduct of the early Christians? 1. It is a description of genuine religious experience. 2. It is a description founded on facts. The early Christians did feel and act as they are described in the Acts of the Apostles. 3. This experience being actual is not ideal or normal. It was of course modified by their peculiar circumstances, and by their imperfections of knowledge, experience and feeling. Consequently it is not an authoritative example to us. That they continued to attend the temple, that they celebrated the eucharist daily in connection with an ordinary meal, that they had all things in common, may have been actual, and the effect of genuine religious feeling; but it does not follow that these things were right then, or obligatory now. They were youthful excesses, which experience and the teaching of the Spirit led them to modify. The life of the early Church was a youthful life, very different from the life of Paul, Peter and John. 1. As devoted so exclusively to devotional exercises. 2. As pressing religious duties, as the celebration of the eucharist, etc., into ordinary life, and thus inevitably leading to its becoming ultimately a formal service, and destroying its solemn religious character. 3. In continuing to attend the temple service. 4. In community of goods. This would have been right if other things had been in due proportion. But the benevolent feeling was far stronger than the disposition to moderation and diligence in business. So that it became ruinous, and would be ruinous now unless among perfect men. 5. In their joyful exultation and singleness of heart. What that means is perhaps something different from what the same English word means elsewhere. Here the Greek word is , in Eph. 6:5, Col. 3:22, the word . These words differ in signification, although they often agree in usage.
The trait of mind, or the feature in the religious life of these early Christians, which the word here used expresses, is probably that characteristic of youth above referred to, the smooth, uniform flow of life in one current, undisturbed by attention to any other object. These Christians were engrossed in one thing. They thought and cared nothing about anything but their own happiness and blessedness. While there is something beautiful in this, it is not what is meant elsewhere by singleness of heart, which is not a transient state of feeling, but a permanent trait of character. Singleness is opposed both to duplicity, seeming one thing and being another, pretending to be what we are not, and also to diversion or distraction of mind arising from the conflict of different objects of desire, or different principles of action. Singleness of heart consists in having one object of pursuit and one principle of action. To servants it was commanded that they should look to Christ. To do his will should be their sole object, and desire to please him their controlling motive. It should not be partly the fear of punishment, partly the hope of reward, or partly a desire for their own advancement, but simply and solely to do the will of Christ.
This is a very high attainment. It is a possible attainment. It gives consistency, strength and peace.
← 139. Religious Joy and Despondency · Contents · 141. Beauty of Holiness →