Entering more into detail, I would say that the character has been sketched out for us by a master-hand. If you look at the epistle for the day (Romans xii., 6–16) you will see what I mean.
Look where you will, you can but say that God did all things well in him—the Holy Ghost filled him with His fruit.
You know full well what his purpose and manner of life was. As a representative—a magistrate—a landlord—a master—a neighbour—there was always the same Christian consistency—the same unworldliness of spirit. Well did he carry out the injunction of a dying father—“See, my son, that you render unto Cæsar the things that are Cæsar’s, and unto God the things that are God’s.”
Of his more private life I will only say that he was taught of God to fill up every relationship, and in each one to show whose beauty and comeliness were put upon him.
If however, I am still to select those features of character which were most prominently marked—the jutting headlands (so to speak) of that fair line of coast, his life—I would name these two: 1, Meekness of humility; 2, Tenderness of unselfish love. As to both of these, he had drunk deeply into the spirit of his Master.
1. Well was the mind of the meek and lowly Jesus reflected in the life of His meekly humble servant.
Humility was his clothing—no mere ornament on him—he was clothed with it, and oh how real and deep it was! To the eye of others there was much in which he might have gloried. Glory he did, but only as a Christian—only in the Lord—only in the Lord’s Cross.
Throughout life there was the most utter self-abasement. Never was he unwilling to be nothing that Christ might be all. Never was he unmindful of the Rock from which he had been hewn. Never could any complain of him that they could not see Christ over his head.
But most strikingly did his deep self-abasement come out at the close of life.
When asked if prayer should be offered for him, his words were: “Say nothing in my praise, all to the grace of God.” “People may say that I have been a good man. I have been but a poor sinner. I have left undone much that I ought to have done. O Lord! my goodness extendeth not to Thee. Even if I could say, ‘I have walked in my integrity,’ nothing but free redemption has saved me, and could save me.” “I’m a poor sinner, and nothing at all; Jesus Christ is my all in all.” “A poor sinner in myself, but pardoned and accepted in the Beloved Son of God. Amen. Amen.”