Character and Conduct – 19 September – The Christian Law

WE ARE often reminded that Christ left no code of commandments.   It is in Him – in His Person and His work – the Law lies.   He has given indeed for our instruction some applications of the negative precepts of the Decalogue to the New Order.   He has added some illustrations of positive duties, almsgiving, prayer, fasting.   He has set up an ideal and a motive for life;  and, at the same time, He has endowed His Church with spiritual power, and has promised that the Paraclete, sent in His Name, shall guide it into all the Truth.   (The fundamental principle of the Christian Social Union is “to claim for the Christian Law the ultimate authority to rule social practice.”)

The Christian Law, then, is the embodiment of the Truth for action in forms answering to the conditions of society from age to age.   The embodiment takes place slowly, and it can never be complete.   It is impossible for us to rest indolently in the conclusions of the past.   In each generation the obligation is laid on Christians to bring new problems of conduct and duty into the Divine light, and to find their solution under the teaching of the Spirit.   The unceasing effort to fulfil the obligation establishes the highest prerogative of man, and manifests the life of the Church.   From this effort there can be no release;  and the effort itself becomes more difficult as human relations grow fuller, wider, more complex.

Christian Social Union Addresses, Bishop WESTCOTT

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These quotes are from ‘Character and Conduct’ A selection of helpful thoughts from various authors arranged for daily reading.

Collected by Constance M Whishaw and first published in 1905 as a follow up to her volume of Daily Readings for members of the Being and Doing Guild who asked for an additional volume

In her preface Whishaw writes:

‘This collection of noble thoughts expressed by men and women of past and present ages who have endeavoured to leave the world a little better than they found it.’

It is my hope in publishing them here readers may be inspired to imitate the example of the authors.