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Mind, Character, and Personality Volume 1
impulses. To many a despairing one there opened the possibility of a
new life.—
Education, 80
(1903).
His Heart a Wellspring of Life—It is often said that Jesus wept,
but that He was never known to smile. Our Saviour was indeed a Man
of sorrows and acquainted with grief, for He opened His heart to all
the woes of men. But though His life was self-denying and shadowed
with pain and care, His spirit was not crushed. His countenance did
not wear an expression of grief and repining but ever one of peaceful
serenity. His heart was a well-spring of life, and wherever He went He
[184]
carried rest and peace, joy and gladness.—
Steps to Christ, 120
(1892).
Christ Was Never Passionate—Christ carried out in His life His
own divine teachings. His zeal never led Him to become passionate.
He manifested consistency without obstinacy, benevolence without
weakness, tenderness and sympathy without sentimentalism. He was
highly social; yet He possessed a reserved dignity that did not encour-
age undue familiarity. His temperance never led to bigotry or austerity.
He was not conformed to this world; yet He was not indifferent to the
wants of the least among men. He was awake to the needs of all.—
Manuscript 132, 1902.
(
Evangelism, 636
.)
Tact to Meet Prejudiced Minds—His messages of mercy were
varied to suit His audience. He knew “how to speak a word in season
to him that is weary” (
Isaiah 50:4
); for grace was poured upon His lips
that He might convey to men in the most attractive way the treasures
of truth. He had tact to meet the prejudiced minds and to surprise
them with illustrations that won their attention.—
The Desire of Ages,
254
(1898).
He Reached to Depths of Human Woe—He traversed every path
where souls were straying. He reached to the very depths of human
woe and misery.—
Letter 50, 1897
.
Combats Satan’s Power Over Mind—He [Christ] saw the
power—the deceptive power—of Satan upon human minds, and He
engaged [bound Himself by a pledge] to come to this earth. He lays
aside the robes of His royalty, He lays off His royal crown, He lays
off His high command, He steps down from the throne of His glory
as High Commander in all heaven, and clothes His divinity with hu-
manity, that humanity might touch humanity. That is what He came
here for. He came right down to our earth to take upon Himself the
nature of man, to pass through all the trials, all the afflictions and