Page:Christian Healing.djvu/16

2 the religion nearest right is that one. The genius of Christianity is works more than words; a calm and steadfastcommunion with God; a tumult on earth, — religious factions and prejudices arrayed against it, the synagogues as of old closed upon it, while it reasons with the storm, hurls the thunderbolt of truth, and stills the tempest of error; scourged and condemned at every advancing footstep, afterwards pardoned and adopted, but never seen amid the smoke of battle. Said the intrepid reformer, Martin Luther: “I am weary of the world, and the world is weary of me; the parting will be easy.” Said the more gentle Melanchthon: “Old Adam is too strong for young Melanchthon.”

And still another Christian hero, ere he passed from his execution to a crown, added his testimony: “I have fought a good fight,. . . I have kept the faith.” But Jesus, the model of infinite patience, said: “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” And he said this when bending beneath the malice of the world. But why should the world hate Jesus, the loved of the Father, the loved of Love? It was that his spirituality rebuked their carnality, and gave this proof of Christianity that religions had not given. Again, they knew it was not in the power of eloquence or a dead rite to cast out error and heal the sick. Past, present, future magnifies his name who built, on Truth, eternity's foundation stone, and sprinkled the altar of Love with perpetual incense.