MEDITATION XXIII.

The Son of Man.

Beginning from Moses and from all the prophets, he interpreted to them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. St. Luke xxiv. 27.

1. THE IMAGE OF GOD.

MAN was created in God's image, but man's nature was a lifeless image of the Everliving. God breathed. into man's nostrils the breath of life, and he became a living soul. The life, however, was not inherent in him. It was soon lost. From that time onward man was but a dead image. His soul had powers of action for the life of reason, but he had no longer the Spirit, and without that Spirit his soul could not rise up to its proper functions. By the possession of a spiritual nature intended to be the organ of the Divine Spirit dwelling within him, he had a capacity for a life higher than that which his soul could of itself exercise. This capacity involved a necessity. Being formed for this high purpose, man's nature became a horrible thing unless it fulfilled it. The spiritual power which remained as the highest element of man's nature was an object of misery and abomination, even though the soul with which it was conjoined might possess the highest natural powers of excellence for moral and intellectual

achievements. Man had been formed for the inhabitation of God, and as the fairest mould of features can in no way compensate for the absence of life when the breath has departed from the body, so was it impossible for any powers of nature, however noble, to raise any individual amongst mankind out of the consequences of the fall. He walked upon the earth as a corpse, having lost the life of God. The more God loved him, yea, and the more he might at times seem to rise to be worthy of that love, so much the more was he loathsome to the eye of His Creator. As the presence of the corpse of one we love when corruption has begun to creep over the lines where beauty lingers: as the presence of a maniac uttering horrible words with a voice that recalls affectionate remembrances of bygone years: such, but unspeakably more sad, must have been the presence of fallen man to God, now that he had lost, not physical life, nor mental power, but the spiritual capacity of eternal life.

This life could not be restored to man by any external agency. Moral and intellectual development were only subsidiary to the higher energies of the Spirit. Rizpah might drive away the birds from her dead, but she could not thereby restore life. The law as given by Moses might obviate some tendencies of corruption in man, but there was 'no law that could give life,' nor lead man on to 'righteousness' (Gal. iii. 21). No overshadowing of the Shechinah could give the illumination of the Divine Spirit which was necessary in order for man to rise to the fellowship of God.

Consequently it was in vain that the Angel of the Covenant should be the mere Shepherd of Israel by any external guidance however tender and watchful. The Servant of the Lord must not bring up to heaven a corpse from the lower world, however fair. He ⚫ must not merely embalm that which He would save. The dead image of God would be ghastly still. Messiah must give life, and since He could not infuse life externally, He must take man's nature upon Himself, that the organs of humanity might live by His personal appropriation, and the Spirit of life proceeding from His Person might fill those organs with the life of God.

Thus should the image of God shine with the likeness of God, and once more be found worthy of the Divine love, as Isaiah said, 'Behold My servant whom I uphold, Mine elect in whom My soul delighteth I have put My Spirit upon Him' (Is. xlii. 1). And again, The Redeemer shall come to Zion and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the Lord. As for me, this is My covenant with them, saith the Lord: My Spirit that is upon. thee, and My words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed's seed, saith the Lord, from henceforth and for ever' (Is. lix. 20, 21).

Messiah therefore must take upon Himself man's nature so as to restore the image of God to the living participation of God's love, and the life thus given would be transmitted from Him to His offspring to the end of time. Thus should we be

'made the righteousness of God in Him' (2 Cor. v. 21).

O Jesu, Thou who art the image of the invisible • God, being in all eternity the brightness of the Father's glory and the express manifestation of His Person, make me to feel the glory of that life whereinto Thou callest me, that I may be changed into Thine image more and more until I attain to be wholly like to Thee, seeing Thee as Thou art.

My son, by My Spirit within thee I will form thee for Myself. I will make My likeness to be clear and My glory to shine out upon thee.

Blessed Jesu, let me ever be true to Thy holy inspirations. When I follow my own natural mind, I lose Thy control, and Thine image upon me becomes marred with many sins. O that I might be wholly conformed to Thee! O that I could feel Thy life as the impulse of all my actions!

Look to Me, My son, so shalt thou find My power. Remember Me at all times, and listen for My Spirit speaking in thy heart.

How good Thou art, most gracious Lord, that Thou dost still vouchsafe to speak to me with Thy holy suggestions, whereas I am so constantly neglectful of Thee.

Take heed, My son, that thou provoke Me not. I refused to dwell with Israel in the wilderness because they rejected Me; but how much more must I turn and fight against thee if thou dost not obey Me. I dwell with Israel

in the midst of the camp, and yet I was separate from them. I dwell in thine heart that thou mayest do what I bid thee, and thus be perfected after My good pleasure by thine obedience.

Yea, Lord, Thou hast taken upon Thyself our nature, and Thou showest us by Thine example what is the true life of man. Help me ever by Thy Spirit to follow in the steps of Thy most holy life, that I may grow up unto Thee in all things, increasing with the increase of God.

My Spirit shall ever help thee onward to perfection if thou wilt thus yield thyself up to Bim.

O Thou who hast laid the foundation of the earth and formed the spirit of man within him, let me not be rebellious so as to vex Thy Holy Spirit whom Thou hast placed within me. Lead me from strength to strength in the fulness of power by Thy Spirit, that Thou mayest be glorified in the renewal of the mind whereby Thou dost transform me according to the purpose of Thy grace.

2. THE PREDESTINED HEAD.

Man was formed to rule the world as the representative of God, and the purpose of God could not be frustrated through man's fall. The Seed of the woman which was to bruise the serpent's head must rise to the throne of creation. The first Adam could not regain his position. The son of Adam must win it back again by a power greater than that of nature.

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