My friend will you hear Him to-day?  Hark! what is He saying to you?  “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”  Will you not think well of such a Savior?  Will you not believe in Him?  Will you not trust in Him with all your heart and mind?  Will you not live for Him?  If He laid down His life for us, is it not the least we can do to lay down ours for Him?  If He bore the cross and died on it for me, ought I not to be willing to take it up for Him?  Oh, have we not reason to think well of Him?  Do you think it is right and noble to lift up your voice against such a Savior?  Do you think it is just to cry, “Crucify Him! crucify Him!” Oh, may God help all of us to glorify the Father, by thinking well of His only-begotten Son.

FOWLER

THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE

Charles H. Fowler, Methodist Episcopal divine, was born 1837 in Burford, Ontario, Canada, was educated at Syracuse University and the Garrett Biblical Institute, Evanston, Ill.  He was ordained in 1861 and after filling pastorates in many places was made president of the Northwestern University in 1872, but vacated this post to become editor of the Christian Advocate; four years later he was appointed missionary secretary and in 1884 was elected bishop.  He was well-known as an able preacher and administrator.  He died in 1908.

FOWLER

1837—­1908

THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST

Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.—­Rom. viii., 9.

I read that with the conviction that it is one of the most searching passages that can be found in the Book of God.  It takes hold of the question of our salvation as a very substantial and thorough question.  It removes indefinitely, almost infinitely, from this problem of our destiny, all shadow of uncertainty or of doubt.  It brings us squarely to the facts in our character.  On the force of this Scripture we are borne up on to a platform where we stand with our hearts uncovered and naked before the eye of God.

This means that the saint must be great in the arduous greatness of things achieved; that there is no chance for sainthood by any fixt, imputed plan, but that our real selves shall test and make our real future.