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Full text of "The greater life and work of Christ : as revealed in Scripture, man,and nature"
3.1^.2.2.3ffrom tly? Etbrartr oftl|p ICtbrarg nfJ^rittrrtntt Sljpnlrtgtral ^^mtttarQTHE GREATER LIFEAND WORKOF CHRIST "^1^ r/]AwkiUAS REVEALED IN SCRIPTURE,MAN, AND NATUREBY /ALEXANDER PATTERSONFLEMING H. REVELL COMPANYCHICAGO NEW YORK TORONTOPublishers of Evangelical LiteratureEntered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1896, by
 
FLEMING H. REVELL COMPANY,In the Office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington, D. C.THIS BOOK IS INSCRIBED INREMEMBRANCE OFREV. ROBERT PATTERSON, D. D.,BY HIS SON, THE AUTHOR,IN LOVING TESTIMONY TO HIS TRUE PIETY ANDCHRISTIAN MANHOOD, HIS FAITH IN, UNDER-STANDING OF, AND FIDELITY TO, THEWORD OF GOD, AND HIS UNWAV-ERING HOPE IN THE KINGDOMAND COMING OF OURLORD JESUS CHRIST.PREFACE.It will be seen at a glance that this is not a lifeof Christ in the usual sense. It is not a review of theevents of the earthly existence of our Lord. Thereis a greater life and a larger work of Christ of whichhis life on earth is but a single chapter. While noapology is needed for any publication of the greattheme of the gospel, it may be stated that there is aspecial reason for such a book as this. The authorhas examined many works on Christ and lists of hun-dreds more, and has conferred with competent liter-ary authorities, and has learned of few works, ifany, covering this greater life and work of Christ.Such a study of Christ should be available. Theauthor presents this, hoping it may in some measuresupply the need, and lead to further presentation ofthis great theme by more competent students.There are still greater and more vital reasons forsuch a review of Christ. The Eternal Christ is thetheme of Scripture, and not the Christ of the gospelssimply. Until this is seen, the Bible will be anenigma. The study of the Bible should thereforebegin with him who is its Alpha as well as its Omega-This book is a study of Scripture from this standpoint.It covers the whole Bible narrative, not in an at-tempt to mention all details, but only the great per-sonages, events, and crises in which the person andwork of Christ are seen.[5]6 PREFACE.It follows from Christ's place in Scripture that he
 
is also the center of all Christian doctrine. Everytruth radiates from him. A discussion of the work ofthe Eternal Christ necessarily involves a considera-tion of collateral truths. This book therefore con-tains an outline of the Christian doctrines studiedfrom the historical base line of the eternal life ofChrist, and running concurrent with his work fromthe development of which they spring.A right conception of Christ is necessary to aright view of every doctrine of the Christian faith.Wrong or defective views of Christ v/ill affect everyother truth. Heresy begins with, or is based upon,such wrong ideas of Christ. Not only all Christianbelief but all the philosophy of life is involved in thequestion, ''What think ye of Christ.?" Every prob-lem and question arising among men may and shouldbe studied from the Christological standpoint.A more vital because a more personal reason callsfor a study of the Eternal Christ. The believer's per-sonal welfare and growth are in proportion to hisknowledge of Christ. The spiritual nature may bestunted by being kept in a narrow range of truth assurely as poisoned by error. The soul must be fedby continually advancing study. The common evan-gelical presentation of the rudiments of the gospel isnot intended as the only or sufficient subject of theChristian's consideration. We are therefore ex-horted, " Let us cease to speak of the first principlesof Christ, and press on unto perfection." The gospelis robbed of its power and attractiveness by beingnarrowed down to a few themes and aspects.PREFACE. 7The great stimulant, corrective, and sustenance ofthe spiritual nature is the knowledge of Christ. Tothis the apostles continually urge, intending as wemore fully apprehend Christ, we shall personally ap-propriate him, and so attain to the ''measure of thestature of the fulness of Christ. " It will be found thatthis intellectual apprehension of Christ will ministerto the emotional reception and manifestation of him.The final goal of the Christian's faith, hope, and loveis God the Father. To bring us to the Father wasChrist's work. He does this by the revelation of Godin himself. But it is himself in all the many phasesof his character, of which the gospel narrative is butone. Christ there was * * God manifest in the flesh, "but in the flesh only, and only so far as flesh canmanifest God. But there are revelations of Christ,and hence of God, which flesh cannot make by reasonof its limitations. These are seen only in the EternalChrist.The great defect in the study of Christ is to con-sider him in but a single chapter of his life and work.It has been a great mistake to rest the proof andteaching of the nature and work of Christ upon thisone revelation of himself, precious as it is. A defect-
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