THE TEACHINGS OF THE BIBLE 253 



before, and yet his every thought, word, and deed is 

 really that of his great leader. Can yon talk of self- 

 denial to such a Christian ? He had forgotten that 

 such a man as Saul of Tarsus or Paul ever existed ; he 

 lives only in his Master's work, and is transfigured by 

 it. Tins, and nothing less, is Christianity, and this 

 is the very highest and grandest heroism. Paul con- 

 quers Europe single-handed, alone he stands before 

 Caesar's tribunal, and yet he is never alone ; and from 

 the gloom of the Mammertine dungeon he sends back 

 a shout of triumph. And Peter walks steadily, cheer- 

 fully, and unflinchingly, in the footsteps of his Master 

 to share his cross. 



Let us, before leaving this topic, notice carefully just 

 what religion, and especially Christianity, is not. 



1. It is not merely opinion or intellectual belief in a 

 creed. This may be good, or even necessary, but it is 

 not religion. " Thou believest that there is one God ; 

 thou doest well : the devils also believe and tremble." 

 We speak with pride, sometimes, of our puissant Chris- 

 tendom, so industrious, so intelligent, so moral, with its 

 ubiquitous commerce, its adorning arts, its halls of 

 learning, its happy firesides, and its noble charities. 

 And yet what is our vaunted Christendom but a vast 

 assemblage of believing but disobedient men? Said 

 William Law to John Wesley, "The head can as easily 

 amuse itself with a living and justifying faith in the 

 blood of Jesus as with any other notion." The most 

 sacred duty may degenerate into a dogma, asking only 

 to be believed. " I go, sir," answered the son in the 

 parable, " but went not." 



2. It is not mere feeling. It is neither hope of 

 heaven's joy, nor fear of hell's misery. It may rightly 



