Quarterly Record of Church of England Sunday School Institute 85, 178, 285, 356 Questions, Scripture

85, 229 24

U.

81 270

V.

Verses, Number of, in each Book of the Bible

Visiting, on

W.

:

230

68

259

210

273

76

97

306

157

61

295

Church of England

SUNDAY SCHOOL QUARTERLY

MAGAZINE.

31ST MARCH, 1851.

The Teacher in his Closet.

"IRON AND CLAY."

"His feet, part of iron, and part of clay."

SUCH was the delineation of the later period of the Fourth Great Monarchy which He to whom the future is ever present inscribed on Daniel's prophetic page, whilst the infant State was yet struggling for its very existence. Brief but significant words, affording an outline which the infidel Gibbon has filled up with masterly skill in his "Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire."

The heroic devotedness of Leonidas, the consummate generalship of Fabius, the daring enterprise of Alexander, all may be paralleled in that remarkable record of a remarkable age; but strangely intermingled with these will also be found the most degraded sensuality, the most unbounded luxury, the wildest anarchy, the meanest cowardice and servility, that ever stained the annals of the human

race.

The prophecy and its fulfilment now stand out complete; but the emblem, like most of those so abundantly scattered throughout Scripture, has a power and significance which render it of far wider application than to the purpose for which it was originally employed. And I think that no attentive observer of modern society, or of individual character, will deny that in both branches of investigation we meet with the "iron and the clay" in close and wondrous proximity. Vol. IV.

B

It is so in society at large. Men who want to make out a case (as it is called), find no difficulty in arranging facts and statistics to suit their purpose. By diligently collecting all on one side, and as diligently excluding all on the other, they can either make us shudder with disgust and alarm at the enormous wickedness of the times, or, on the contrary, make us anticipate the halcyon days of universal peace and goodness. The calm, unbiassed enquirer knows that he must combine the two pictures; and that now, as always, though the proportions may vary, the elements remain the same-iron is mingled with clay.

But, leaving this enticing theme, I rather wish to fix the attention of my readers on the applicability of the emblem to individual character the mixture of iron and clay in the principles and the practice, the opinions and conduct, of those whom we meet with in the daily walks of life.

But, first, as to the power of the emblem itself, which is often misunderstood. "Iron mixed with miry clay" is not an image of utter weakness and incoherence, such as iron and sand would have been. On the contrary, there is a certain cohesiveness, a certain show of strength, an apparent stability; but when pressure is applied, when weight must be sustained, or force resisted, the mingled mass betrays its weakness; and its elements, "partly strong, and partly broken," crumble away in the time of need. The iron cleaves not to the clay, and the clay not only offers no resistance itself, but severs the portions of the metal which else might have availed for mutual and united support.

Accordingly, when either the unbridled indulgence of human passions, or the inscrutable decree of an All-wise Providence has destroyed the fine balance of the mind, the melancholy spectacle is withdrawn from our view to add another inmate to the abodes of insanity. But not in those humiliating scenes must we look for the iron and the clay. Rather in the daily walks of life shall we find the constantly recurring character which displays the strength and fortitude of Good mingled with the weakness of Evil-the Will enfeebled by the Passions, the Judgment overruled by the impulse of the Feelings.

The deeper we search into the recesses of our own hearts, the more we shall shrink from harshly pronouncing any one of our fellow-creatures to be utterly and irredeemably lost in moral weakness and degradation; whilst, on the other hand, the man never trod this earth in whom the elements of evil found no place.

Amidst the wondrous records of the past, as displayed in God's Word, we gaze, indeed, on one bright, glorious type of what man once was, and what redeemed man again shall be; but only through

the valley of the Shadow of Death-only through the portals of the tomb-can we attain to that spotless image; and the sweet Psalmist of Israel, gazing with prophetic eye on a future redemption through his Incarnate God, exclaimed, "When I wake up after thy likeness, I shall be satisfied with it."

This "hope of glory" is the Christian's support under his daily experience, that in himself and in his fellow Christians the iron is mingled with clay; and whilst, with St. Paul, he is compelled to confess, "The good that I would, I do not; and the evil that I would not, that do I," with St. Paul he also rejoices in the assurance of ultimate triumph, "I thank God, through Jesus Christ my Lord."

Nor does the emblem apply only to the varying progress of grace in the individual heart. It represents most aptly the same character acting externally on the world around, the Christian as he strives, with more or less of living energy (for I speak not of those who are yet without the very principle of divine life), to spread the truth amongst his fellow-creatures.

This struggle is carried on with very different degrees of energy by various individuals, who may be looked on as types of large classes. The iron and the clay are found mingled in very diverse proportions.

See one man-of natural boldness and energy. Devoted to the cause of the Redeemer, he seems to hold as nothing the opposition and ridicule of the ungodly. Difficulties seem only to rouse him— opposition only to quicken his movements. The stormy wind only speeds him onward, the angry waves cleave before him, for the hand that holds the helm is one that knows not fear.

Contrast with him the timorous, retiring Christian, who would, indeed, face the martyr's doom, were the alternative simply apostacy or death, but whose whole temperament seems fitted only for the calm and the sunshine. He is for ever feeling his way; puts out his arm only to draw it back, and plants his forward footstep in timid hesitation. He fears to assert a principle, lest he should be charged with self-conceit; he fears to vindicate the truth, lest the partisans of error should taunt him with the assumption of unerring wisdom. He hears of projects for the good of his fellow-creatures, and kindles for a moment at the bright prospect of success; but the vision fades fast from his eyes, and he soon sees nothing but obstacles and failures.

Must I draw another sketch, and speak of a yet weaker agent in the improvement of society? Is there not many a mournful tale of disappointed hope-chilled feelings-failing energies-abortive plans, the guilt of which must lie on those who know to do good, and do it not-who come not to the help of the Lord against the mighty ? Yes; let those who are bearing the burden and heat of the day speak

out, and they will tell of many a fellow Christian whose place in the struggle is often empty, whose arm is not felt in the strife, whose voice is not heard cheering the overworked soldier of the Cross.

Yes, there are those whose piety we may not question, but whose sole desire seems to be to live under their own vine and their own fig-tree. Of them it must be said, they have NOT done what they could. They would live contented by the Brook Cherith, but will not go up with the Prophet to face the idolatrous King on Carmel's Mount; they would linger with Moses in Midian's calm solitude, but will not challenge Pharaoh's obedience; they would dwell on the Mount of Transfiguration, but cannot meet the charge "surely thou art this man's disciple."

And when, in addition to such sad inconsistency, we find that even the best of men have their times of weakness and despondency, a feeling of disappointment sorely tries our faith.

Just when God's time for Israel's deliverance is come, Moses, the chosen instrument, draws back; and that which at first appears true modesty, proves at last (when all his arguments are silenced) unbelief and cowardice. Just when the startled nation have confessed that "the Lord He is God," and, halting no longer between two opinions, are looking for the advice and encouragement of the Prophet Elijah, he swerves from his path at the threat of a woman, and hastens to ask a solitary grave in the wilderness. When Nineveh is to be roused from its sinful security, and brought to own the God of Israel, Jonah flies from the commission, and will rather leave Nineveh unwarned than peril his own safety.

Yes, and just when the friend whom years of loving intercourse, undimmed by any word or deed on his part, had bound (one might have thought) to their deepest affection, was seized in the midst of the disciples by a traitor from their own band, then "they all forsook Him and fled."

And the world is still the same; the iron is yet mingled with the clay. We look around on many whom we love and reverence-many who stand out boldly on the Lord's side, and fight manfully under his banner, but we dare not say of one that he never fails and never flinches: we dare not seek in one a living type of perfect Christianity. What then-is all lost? Is there no hope? Is evil alone to fill up its measure? Is the world at large to drift onward to destruction amid the wailings of hopeless grief?

Not so! We find Moses, Elijah, Jonah, Peter, all returning to their work, the wiser and better that they have learnt a lesson of their own unworthiness and weakness. And have patience, O Christian, with thy faltering brother; he too will yet be found at his appointed task, for there is that in his heart which cannot die.