Christ's Service of Love (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1907 edition. Excerpt: ... BY WAY OF REMEMBRANCE I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance.--2 Peter iii. 1. At first it looks merely like a graceful courtesy for the writer to declare that he is giving them not so much new truths as only reminding them of what they already know; just as previously in this same letter he says, "I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them." Again and again in St. Paul's Epistles also we find marks of the same gracious courtesy, as if his readers knew the things he desired to teach them and possessed the virtues he longed them to have. In the Epistle to the Romans we are touched with this sweet humility and courtesy in the implication that all he hoped to do for them was to remind them of something they knew as well as he. "I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another. Nevertheless, brethren, I have written the more boldly unto you in some sort, as putting you in mind, because of the grace that is given to me of God." This courtesy of the Apostle, however, in assuming previous knowledge is not mere meaningless flattery. That attitude, for one thing, is the true teacher's instinct. To assume knowledge is often the way to bring out into consciousness what is either latent or is in danger of being forgotten. It is more than a mere trick to gain the confidence of an audience by giving them a good opinion of themselves. It was really true that their readers knew the facts and conclusions they sought to bring before their notice; they had been taught in the faith; they were aware of the story of God's grace in Jesus Christ, and also of the religious import of that story. And so, as a matter...