attitude which is favourable or unfavourable to it. We can either
look at the facts which will create it or at those who will check it.
We can go about with a sharp eye for the lovable or for the unlovable
in man. We can either consciously war against or lazily acquiesce in
our own predominant self-absorption and selfishness. And in these and
in a number of other ways, our feelings towards other Christian
people are very largely under our own control, and therefore are
fitting subjects for commandment.

Our Lord lays down the obligation which devolves upon all Christian
people, of cherishing a kindly and loving regard to all others who
find their place within the charmed circle of His Church. It is an
obligation because He commands it. He puts Himself here in the
position of the absolute Lawgiver, who has the right of entire and
authoritative control over men's affections and hearts. And it is
further obligatory because such an attitude is the only fitting
expression of the mutual relation of Christian men, through their
common relation to the Vine. If there be the one life-sap circling
through all parts of the mighty whole, how anomalous and how
contradictory it is that these parts should not be harmoniously
concordant among themselves! However unlike any two Christian people
are to each other in character, in culture, in circumstances, the
bond that knits those who have the same relations to Jesus Christ one
to another is far deeper, far more real, and ought to be far closer,
than the bond that knits either of them to the men or women to whom
they are likest in all these other respects, and to whom they are
unlike in this central one. Christian men! you are closer to every
other Christian man, down in the depths of your being, however he may
be differenced from you by things that are very hard to get over,
than you are to the people that you like best, and love most, if they