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their very faces wore the self…same look？ These were not two
souls； it was a composite soul。 It did not matter to which of the
two you spoke； you would have said the same words to either。 It
was quite indifferent which replied； each would have said the same。
Half a century's REFLECTING had told upon them； they were changed
into the same image。 It is the Law of Influence that WE BECOME
LIKE THOSE WHOM WE HABITUALLY REFLECT： these had become like because
they habitually reflected。 Through all the range of literature；
of history； and biography this law presides。 Men are all mosaics
of other men。 There was a savor of David about Jonathan； and a
savor of Jonathan about David。 Metempsychosis is a fact。 George
Eliot's message to the world was that men and women make men and
women。 The Family； the cradle of mankind； has no meaning apart
from this。 Society itself is nothing but a rallying point for these
omnipotent forces to do their work。 On the doctrine of Influence；
in short； the whole vast pyramid of humanity is built。
But it was reserved for Paul to make the supreme application of
the Law of Influence。 It was a tremendous inference to make； but
he never hesitated。 He himself was a changed man； he knew exactly
what had done it；
It was Christ。
On the Damascus road they met； and from that hour his life was
absorbed in His。 The effect could not but followon words； on
deeds； on career； on creed。 The 〃impressed forces〃 did their vital
work。 He became like Him Whom he habitually loved。 〃So we all；〃
he writes； 〃reflecting as a mirror the glory of Christ； are changed
into the same image。〃
Nothing could be more simple； more intelligible； more natural； more
supernatural。 It is an analogy from an every…day fact。 Since we
are what we are by the impacts of those who surround us； those who
surround themselves with the highest will be those who change into
the highest。 There are some men and some women in whose company
we are
Always at our best。
While with them we cannot think mean thoughts or speak ungenerous
words。 Their mere presence is elevation； purification； sanctity。
All the best stops in our nature are drawn out by their intercourse；
and we find a music in our souls that was never there before。
Suppose even THAT influence prolonged through a month； a year； a
lifetime； and what could not life become？ There； even on the common
plane of life； talking our language； walking our streets； working
side by side； are sanctifiers of souls； here； breathing through
common clay； is Heaven； here； energies charged even through a
temporal medium with the virtue of regeneration。 If to live with
men； diluted to the millionth degree with the virtue of the Highest；
can exalt and purify the nature； what bounds can be set to the
influence of Christ？ To live with Socrateswith unveiled facemust
have made one wise； with Aristides； just。 Francis Assisi must
have made one gentle； Savonarola； strong。 But to have lived with
Christ must have made one like Christ： that is to say； A CHRISTIAN。
As a matter of fact； to live with Christ did produce this effect。
It produced it in the case of Paul。 And during Christ's lifetime
the experiment was tried in an even more startling form。 A few
raw； unspiritual； uninspiring men； were admitted to the inner circle
of His friendship。 The change began at once。 Day by day we can
almost see the first disciple grow。 First there steals over them
the faintest possible adumbration of His character； and occasionally；
very occasionally； they do a thing or say a thing that they could
not have done or said had they not been living there。 Slowly the
spell of His Life deepens。 Reach after reach of their nature is
overtaken； thawed； subjugated； sanctified。 Their manner softens；
their words become more gentle； their conduct more unselfish。 As
swallows who have found a summer； as frozen buds the spring； their
starved humanity bursts into a fuller life。 They do not know how
it is； but they are different men。
One day they find themselves like their Master； going about and
doing good。 To themselves it is unaccountable； but they cannot
do otherwise。 they were not told to do it； it came to them to do
it。 But the people who watch them know well how to account for
it〃They have been；〃 they whisper； 〃with Jesus。〃 Already even；
the mark and seal of His character is upon them〃They have been
with Jesus。〃 Unparalleled phenomenon； that these poor fishermen
should remind other men of Christ！ Stupendous victory and mystery
of
Regeneration
that mortal men should suggest GOD to the world！
There is something almost melting in the way his contemporaries；
and John especially； speak of the influence of Christ。 John lived
himself in daily wonder at Him； he was overpowered； over…awed；
entranced； transfigured。 To his mind it was impossible for any one
to come under this influence and ever be the same again。 〃Whosoever
abideth in Him sinneth not；〃 he said。 It was inconceivable that he
should sin； as inconceivable as that ice should live in a burning
sun； or darkness coexist with noon。 If any one did sin； it
was to John the simple proof that he could never have met Christ。
〃Whosoever sinneth；〃 he exclaims； 〃hath not seen HIM； neither known
HIM。〃 Sin was abashed in this Presence。 Its root withered。 Its
sway and victory were forever at an end。
But these were His contemporaries。 It was easy for THEM to be
influenced by Him； for they were every day and all the day together。
But how can we mirror that which we have never seen？ How can all
this stupendous result be produced by a Memory； by the scantiest
of all Biographies； by One who lived and left this earth eighteen
hundred years ago？ How can modern men to…day make Christ； the
absent Christ； their most constant companion still？
The answer is that
Friendship is a spiritual thing。
It is independent of Matter； or Space； or Time。 That which I
love in my friend is not that which I see。 What influences me in
my friend is not his body but his spirit。 He influences me about
as much in his absence as in his presence。 It would have been an
ineffable experience truly to have lived at that time
〃I think when I read the sweet story of old；
How when Jesus was here among men；
He took little children like lambs to his fold；
I should like to have been with Him then。
〃I wish that His hand had been laid on my head；
That His arms had been thrown around me；
And that I had seen His kind look when he said；
'Let the little ones come unto me。'〃
And yet； if Christ were to come into the world again； few of us
probably would ever have a chance of seeing Him。 Millions of her
subjects in the little country of England have never seen their
own Queen。 And there would be millions of the subjects of Christ
who could never get within speaking distance of Him if He were
here。