Job 16:2

"Handfuls of Purpose"

For All Gleaners

"I have heard many such things." Job 16:2

Many unreflecting speeches are made respecting the religious life; also many superficial speeches; especially are many conjectural words uttered regarding human experience. There has been no lack of answers to the religious reed of man. Christianity takes its place amongst those answers, and must vindicate itself by the fulness and adequacy of its doctrines. The heart knows the right speech when it hears it. The heart is sated with foolish appeals. Take care of the answering voice which God has put within, and let its tones be well heard when appeals are made for the heart's confidence. The answer of Christianity to the sorrow of the world is unique; it never can be classed amongst "many such things," for it stands alone in boldness, compass, tenderness. All other religions have outworn themselves, in fruitless endeavours to give intelligent peace to the human mind; they have wrought apathy or stoicism, indifference, neglect, and even contempt, but profound and enlightened serenity is a miracle which they have never accomplished. The sorrow of the world is not a commonplace, and therefore it is not to be subdued or mitigated by commonplaces. When we speak of the sorrow of the world as a whole, we must remember that it is made up of individual distresses and agonies, and only that which applies to the individual can be applied effectually and happily to the whole world. Who has not heard of fate, or chance, or misfortune, or the necessity of things? Who has not been told, more or less carelessly, to be quiet, patient and hopeful? Who has not been reminded that others are suffering more than themselves? The sufferer may well reply: I have heard many such things, but they have no application to my particular need. When Jesus Christ comes to the heart it is impossible for the heart to say that many other speakers have said the same things in the same tone. Herein it is true, as everywhere else, "Never man spake like this Man." We wonder at the gracious words which proceed out of his mouth: he needeth not that any should testify of man, for he knows what is in man. The distinctiveness of Christ's appeals constitutes a strong claim for their divinity. David said of the sword of Goliath, "there is none like it": so we say of the words of Jesus Christ; they are unrivalled in sublimity, pathos, and simplicity. He who has heard Christ with the attention of his heart can never forget the gracious eloquence and the infinite wisdom of the divine speaker. Go to Christ for yourselves: this Man still receiveth sinners. We read that the disciples went and told Jesus what had happened in an hour of calamity; we must go on the same errand, tell him everything, speak to him every day, and take no step which he does not sanction or accompany.