“But Christe’s lore, and His apostles twelve
He taughte, but first he folwede it himselve.”
THESE are the words of an old English poet―Chaucer. He is about the earliest of all English poets whose writings we still read with pleasure. If we turned these words into a plain modern sentence they would be something like this: “He taught the doctrine of Christ and His twelve apostles, but, before all, he put it into practice himself.” I have taken these words because I think they contain a most important lesson for us all. They are spoken of a “poor parson,” who is further called “a good man of religion.” Chaucer has given a long description of this truly good man, and he ends up with the words I have quoted.
You see there are two things which distinguish him particularly; first, teaching Christ’s lore (or learning), and, secondly, following it. And you will notice that our old poet wishes to give special prominence to the second fact. Now why is this? Is not because it is easier to preach than to practice? Thank God, Christ’s teaching is so simple that a very child, who has learned it well, can teach it to others. But to put it into practice! We all know how hard that is―at least, we know if we have ever really tried. Of course I do not mean to say that anyone could teach Christ’s lore without having first been taught it by God’s Holy Spirit. And even then, when we do know it ourselves, it is often very difficult to teach it rightly to others. But I mean that all his is easy compared with carrying it out in our lives.
Shall we think for a moment what Christ’s teaching is? St. John tells us that God’s commandment is: “That we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another.” I think that Christ’s lore is wonderfully summed up in these few words. “Believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ.” Is it not a wonderful name? To believe on this name is clearly something very different from believing, for instance, that the old poet, whose words I have quoted, is called Chaucer. You believe that, perhaps, because you know it already; perhaps, because I have told you so. Anyway it does not make much difference to you. But if you really believe that the Son of God is the Saviour of men, and that you must therefore come to Him with your burden of sin and care, and that He is the Lord, and you must therefore obey Him―this must make all the difference in the world to you. And here you see how much easier it is to teach than to do. You can easily enough teach anyone that God’s commandment is “to believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ;” but really to believe it yourself, and thus to follow Christ’s lore, is another matter. We can never accomplish this save by the grace of God.
And so with the second half of the command, “love one another.” A very simple command, is it not? Only three words, and so plain and obvious that anyone could learn, and understand, and remember it. But how comes it, then, that our Lord and St. John so constantly repeat this command, just as if it were the hardest thing imaginable! I think we need not look very far to find the reason. If we look around us a little, or look into our hearts, we shall soon see how very, very hard it is to follow this part of the teaching. To be perfectly kind and loving towards every one, to do everything we ought for them for one day―this is a task which will prove too hard for most of us.
Our religion is apt to be “much cry and little wool,” to be “talking” rather than “practicing,” “teaching” rather than “following.” Let us earnestly strive to do the one, and not to leave the other undone; to teach Christ’s lore when we can; but above all, by God’s grace and help, to follow it every day and hour of our lives. C. S. P.