How To Live On Christ by Harriet Beecher Stowe
How does a Christian bear fruit? Discipline? Striving? Working Hard? Or Silent, Undisturbed Union with Christ Resulting in Spontaneous Growth?
Originally published as an introduction to the book by Christopher Dean, “Religion as it Should Be, or, The Remarkable Experience and Triumphant Death of Ann Thane Peck.” It also appeared in the Oberlin Evangelist as "The Way to Live On Christ." (May 12, 1847, p. 75.)
I came across this quote in an excellent book called They Found the Secret by V. Raymond Edman in a chapter exploring what J. Hudson Taylor called “The Exchanged Life.”
Reproduced as originally published with the exception of edits to headings, paragraphs, and punctuation to improve readability.
How to Live On Christ
The very figure which Christ uses illustrates this idea;
‘as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine, no more can ye, except ye abide in me.’
Now how does a branch bear fruit?
Not by incessant effort for sunshine and air; not by vain struggles for those vivifying influences which give beauty to the blossom, and verdure to the leaf;—it simply abides in the vine, in silent and undisturbed union; and the fruit and blossoms appear as of spontaneous growth.
How Shall a Christian Bear Fruit?
How, then, shall a Christian bear fruit? By efforts and struggles to obtain that which is freely given; by meditations on watchfulness, on prayer, on action, on temptation, and on dangers?
No, there must be a full concentration of the thoughts and affections on Christ; a complete surrender of the whole being to him; a constant looking to him for grace.
Christians in whom these dispositions are once firmly fixed go on calmly as the sleeping infant borne in the arms of its mother.
Christ reminds them of every duty in its time and place—reproves them for every error—counsels them in every difficulty, excites them to every needful activity.
In spiritual, as in temporal matters, they take no thought for the morrow—for they know that Christ will be as accessible tomorrow as today, and that time imposes no barrier on his love. Their hope and trust rest solely on what he is willing and able to do for them; on nothing that they suppose themselves able and willing to do for him.
Their talisman for every temptation and sorrow is their oft-repeated, childlike surrender of their whole being to him, as the infant in every trouble finds a safe asylum in the bosom of its mother. That such was the course of the subject of this narrative is shown by her great and uncommon activity in every good thing; for, we read,
‘He that abideth in me and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit; for without me ye can do nothing.’
Some may say, ‘Truly this is a very delightful state of feeling, but how shall we obtain it? How shall we begin?’
We answer, just in the same way that a sinner begins the Christian life, by coming to the Saviour and making a full, free, and hearty surrender of his body, soul, and spirit; fully resolved in future to resign the whole to the Redeemer’s direction. And having made this general surrender, make it also in particular, in reference to every circumstance of every day.
Imagine a Day Spent on this Principle.
Let us imagine a day spent on this principle.
You awake in the morning and commend yourself to Christ’s care for the day.
The first temptation that besets you may lead you to a waste of time. Say immediately, ‘Lord, assist me in this particular.’
The next may be a temptation to irritation. Cast yourself again on Christ for this.
A few hours after you may be tempted to censorious remarks on some neighbor. Cast yourself upon Jesus.
A while after, you may perhaps forget yourself and give utterance to some hasty or ill-judged expression. Turn instantly to Christ, confess your fault, and ask for further help.
If you find yourself beset with uncommon difficulties and temptations and in danger of forgetting what manner of spirit you are of,—steal from your avocations though but for a few moments, and ask help of Jesus.
The example of the subject of this memoir, in having a full and stated season of prayer at noon, cannot be too highly commended. The middle is usually the most unspiritual part of the whole day. The cool of the morning is generally to everyone, a time of good purpose and resolution, and the quiet of the evening is often devoted to penitence and retrospection; but the noon is too often a season of hurry and bustle—there is therefore so much the greater need that we then consecrate a portion of the time as a stated season of prayer.
But the Christian, who would live as Christ directs, must beware of making seasons of prayer the substitute for that constant recurrence to him which we have endeavored to inculcate.
Morning and evening, the little child is with its mother in a long and fond embrace; it listens with rapture to the expressions of her affection and willingly renders the tribute of promised obedience. But in times of difficulty or danger, it instinctively runs to the same arms for protection, without reflecting whether the danger be great or small.
A direction of great importance to one who would live this life, is this:—In your sins, troubles, and temptations, make no distinction between great and little things. Remember that nothing that has the slightest bearing on your improvement and spiritual progress is insignificant in the estimation of Christ.
Now, it is a fact that Christians are more impeded in their progress by little things than by great ones;—because, for great things, they seek the strength of Christ, and for little ones, they act in their own.
But if the little accidents of every day’s occurrence, the petty annoyances to which everyone is subjected, be sufficient to ruffle the temper and excite an unchristian spirit, they are to you matters of very serious moment; and as such, you must regard them—nor can you fully abide in Christ by attaching to such things that just importance, which shall lead you to refer them to Him with the same freedom that you feel in reference to what you commonly call serious affairs.
Looking To the Life of Christ
If you are conscious of peculiar and besetting faults, familiarize your mind to those incidents of the life of Jesus, which show a particular bearing on them.
If you are irritable, examine all those incidents which show his untiring patience; if you are proud, those which exhibit his humility; if you are worldly, those that show his spirituality; if you are negligent and careless in duty, those which show his incessant zeal and activity.
Study them, understand them, keep them in memory, and pray to him to infuse into you the same spirit. The memory, too, may well be stored with those sacred songs descriptive of the character of the Saviour or imploring his divine aid; for their sweet words will sometimes come to you in hours of temptation like gentle messages from your Lord.
The remarks now made are intended as general hints, but the only teacher of the true life of faith is Christ. Go to him and ask him to direct you. Remember the remarkable dying words of the subject of this memoir in relation to the Saviour,
‘He came and looked upon me and said, “I am willing to make you just as meek as I am, just as patient, just as lovely. Indeed it seemed as if he had been by me long before, only I had not perceived him.”’
Christ in the Bible says this to every Christian when he says,
‘I will put my law into their hearts and write it in their thoughts.’
Christ is willing to make you just as meek, just as patient, just as lovely as he is; and if you desire it earnestly, if you desire it more than everything else, if you are willing to give up all beside for it, he will explain to you practically what is meant by ‘abiding in him,’ and by his coming to make his abode with you.
Then your Christian race will be full of love and joy; more like the free flight of a bird than the struggles of a captive. You will naturally lay aside every weight and the sin that easily besets you and run with patience the race that is set before you, because your whole soul will be so filled with the view of Jesus at its termination; you will be so inspired with admiration, hope and joy, that you will run because you cannot hold back;—the spectators, the race-course, all about you, will be forgotten in the view of Jesus, at once your helper, your judge, and your eternal reward.
— Harriet Beecher Stowe
Were you encouraged by this article by Harriet Beecher Stowe as I was? Please share with others who would be edified by this.
Questions or further thoughts? I’d love your feedback in the comments.
What was your favorite part of the article?
What did you disagree with?
What was most convicting for you?
What would you love to learn more about?
Feel free to drop them in the comments and we can dive deeper!