February 25

Who went about doing good.—Acts 10:38.

How very applicable is this sentence to the whole of Christ's active life. How diligently, and with what perseverance did he carry on the great work which he came to perform. And that work was one of active goodness, one of entire philanthropy to our miserable race. In Jesus was goodness embodied; and from him it constantly flowed. It manifested itself in a thousand forms, according to the scenes of misery which were presented before him. Miracles of the most astounding character were wrought, and they were all miracles of goodness and compassion. He gave sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf, speech to the dumb, feet to the lame, power to the weak, and health to the sick. He fed the hungry, cleansed lepers, cured palsies, he banished fevers, expelled devils, allayed storms, and raised the dead. He did not forget in his benevolent career, the maladies of the mind, the misery of the soul. He shed a flood of light on all things connected with the immortal interest of the soul. Spiritual gloom fled before him, as the mists before the rising orb of day. He communicated comfort to the distressed, he became the friend and companion of the poor, he forgave their sins, and received into his society and confidence, publicans and sinners. He wiped away the tear of misery from the eye, and filled the heart with joy and gladness, and abiding consolation and peace. He opened before the minds of the people a door of hope, in the valley of Achor, a passage to a blessed immortality. In doing good he was no respecter of persons, or times, or places. His energy never failed, his compassion never subsided. And he "went about" doing good. He sought out the poor, and wretched, and miserable, and went from city to city, and from village to village, scattering on every side, and in every place, the profusions of his compassion and love. At last, after bestowing unnumbered benefits on our world, he gave his own life, and died in the place of the transgressors, that he might thus obtain for us remission of sins, and eternal glory. Let Christ's life be the subject of our constant meditation, and let it be our daily ambition to imitate the blessed Jesus, "who went about doing good."