whole, why should it not be after the fashion of the New Testament?  “And there were added unto them in that day”—­so it is written in one place—­“about three thousand souls”—­“souls,” not “hands."[33] And we may depend upon it there would be less soulless labour in the world, and fewer men and women in danger of degenerating into mere “hands,” if we would learn to think of them in Christ’s higher and worthier way.

Let me try to show, by two or three examples, how Christ’s teaching about man is needed through all our life.

(1) There was, perhaps, never a time when so many were striving to fulfil the apostle’s injunction, and, as they have opportunity, to do good unto all men.  More and more we busy ourselves to-day with the good works of philanthropy and Christian charity.  And what we must remember is that our philanthropy needs our theology to sustain it.  They only will continue Christ’s work for man who cherish Christ’s thoughts about man.  Sever philanthropy from the great Christian ideas which have created and sustained it, and it will very speedily come to an end of its resources.  All experience shows that philanthropy cut off from Christ has not capital enough on which to do its business.  And the reason is not far to seek.  They who strive to save their fellows, they who go down into the depths that they may lift men up, see so much of the darkened under-side of human life, they are brought so close up to the ugly facts of human baseness, human trickery, human ingratitude, that, unless there be behind them the staying, steadying power of the faith and love of Christ, they cannot long endure the strain; they grow weary in well-doing, perchance even they grow bitter and contemptuous, and in a little while the tasks they have taken up fall unfinished from their hands.  “Society” takes to “slumming” for a season—­just as for another season it may take to ping-pong—­but the fit does not last; and only they keep on through the long, grey days, when neither sun nor stars are seen, who have learnt to look on men with the eyes, and to feel toward them with the heart, of Jesus the Man of Nazareth.

(2) “Whoso shall cause one of these little ones that believe on Me to stumble, it is profitable for him that a great mill-stone should be hanged about his neck, and that he should be sunk in the depth of the sea.”  Once more is revealed Christ’s thought of the worth of the soul.  How the holy passion against him who would hurt “one of these little ones” glows and scorches in His words!  Is this a word for any of us?  Is there one among us who is tempting a brother man to dishonesty, to drink, to lust; who is pushing some thoughtless girl down the steep and slippery slope which ends—­we know where?  Then let him stop and listen, not to me, but to Christ.  Never, I think, did He speak with such solemn, heart-shaking emphasis, and He says that it were better a man should die, that he should die this night, die the most miserable and shameful