莱尔主教upper_room-第19章
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heaven；Jesus Christ； and one path to heart…peace and rest；Jesus
Christ。 By that way all labouring and heavy…laden ones must go；
whatever be their rank or condition。 Kings in their palaces； and
paupers in the workhouse； are all on a level in this matter。 All alike
must walk in the 〃old paths；〃 and e to Christ； if they feel
soul…weary and athirst。 All must drink of the same fountain； if they
would have their thirst relieved。
You may not believe what I am now saying。 Time will show who is right
and who is wrong。 Go on； if you will； imagining that true happiness is
to be found in the good things of this world。 Seek it； if you will； in
revelling and banqueting； in dancing and merry…making； in races and
theatres； in field sports and cams。 Seek it； if you will； in reading
and scientific pursuits； in music and painting； in politics and
business。 Seek it in a round of religious formalities；in a
perfunctory obedience to the requirements of a ceremonial Christianity。
Seek it； but you will never overtake it； unless you change your plan。
Real heart…rest is never to be found except in the 〃old paths；〃 in
heart…union with Jesus Christ。
The Princess Elizabeth； daughter of Charles I。； lies buried in Newport
Church； in the Isle of Wight。 A marble monument； erected by our
gracious Queen Victoria； records in a touching way the manner of her
death。 She languished in Carisbrook Castle during the unhappy
monwealth wars； a prisoner； alone； and separate from all the
panions of her youth； until death set her free。 She was found dead
one day with her head leaning on her Bible； and the Bible open at the
words； 〃e unto Me； all ye that labour and are heavy…laden； and I
will give you rest。〃 The monument in Newport Church records this fact。
It。 consists of a female figure reclining her head on a marble book；
with the text already quoted engraven on the book。 Think what a sermon
in stone that monument preaches！ Think what a standing memorial it
affords of the utter inability of rank and high birth to confer certain
happiness！ Think what a testimony it bears to the lesson before you
this day；the mighty lesson that there is no true 〃rest〃 for any one
excepting in Christ！ Happy will it be for your soul if that lesson is
never forgotten！
（b） But who is there among the readers of this paper that has walked in
the 〃old paths；〃 and found the rest which Christ gives？ Who is there
that has tasted true peace by ing to Him； and casting his soul on
Him？ Let me entreat you never to leave the 〃old paths；〃 and never to be
tempted to think there is a better way。 Stand fast in the liberty
wherewith Christ has made you free。 Turn not aside to right or left。 Go
on to the end of your days as you have begun； looking to Jesus and
living on Him。 Go on drawing daily full supplies of rest； peace； mercy；
and grace from the great fountain of rest and peace。 Remember； that if
you live to the age of Methuselah； you will never be anything but a
poor empty sinner； owing all you have and hope for to Christ alone。
Never be ashamed of living the life of faith in Christ。 The 〃old paths〃
will bear thinking of to all eternity。 The way of the world is a way
which will not bear calm reflection now； and of which the end is shame
and remorse。 Men may ridicule and mock you； and even silence you in
argument； but they can never take from you the feelings which faith in
Christ gives。 They can never prevent you feeling； 〃I was weary till I
found Christ； but now I have rest of conscience。 I was blind； but now I
see。 I was dead； but I am alive again。 I was lost； but I am found。〃
Last； but not least； look forward with confidence to a better rest in a
world to e。 Yet a little time； and He that shall e will e； and
will not tarry。 He will gather together all who have believed in Him；
and take His people to a home where the wicked shall cease from
troubling； and the weary shall be at perfect rest。 He shall give them a
glorious body； in which they shall serve Him without distraction； and
praise Him without weariness。 He shall wipe away tears from all faces；
and make all things new （Isa。 25：8）。
There is a good time ing for all who have e to Christ in the 〃old
paths；〃 and mitted their souls into His keeping。 They will remember
all the way by which they have been led； and see the wisdom of every
step in the way。 They will wonder that they ever doubted the kindness
and love of their Shepherd。 Above all； they will wonder that they could
live so long without Him； and that when they heard of Him they could
hesitate about ing to Him。
There is a pass in Scotland called Glencroe； which supplies a beautiful
illustration of what heaven will be to the man who es to Christ。 The
road through Gleneroe carries the traveller up a long and steep ascent；
with many a little winding and many a little turn in its course。 But
when the top of the pass is reached； a stone is seen by the wayside；
with these simple words engraven on it； 〃Rest； and be thankful。〃 Those
words describe the feelings with which every one who es to Christ
will at length enter heaven。 The summit of the narrow way will be won：
we shall cease from our weary journeying； and sit down in the kingdom
of God。 We shall look back over all the way of life with thankfulness；
and see the perfect wisdom of every little winding and turn in the
steep ascent by which we were led。 We shall forget the toils of the
upward journey in the glorious rest。 Here in this world our sense of
rest in Christ at best is feeble and partial； but 〃when that which is
perfect is e； that which is in part shall be done away。〃 Thanks be
unto God； a day is ing when the end of the 〃old path〃 will be
reached； and believers shall rest perfectly； and be thankful！
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＇5＇ The substance of this paper was originally preached in a sermon in
the Chapel Royal； Whitehall； in the year 1883。
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CHAPTER VI
Acts 17：26。
〃ONE BLOOD。〃
＇6＇
THIS is a very short and simple text； and even a child knows the
meaning of its words。 But simple as it is； it supplies food for much
thought； and it forms part of a speech delivered by a great man on a
great occasion。
The speaker is the Apostle of the Gentiles； St。 Paul。 The hearers are
the cultivated men of Athens； and specially the Epicurean and Stoic
philosophers。 The place is Mars' Hill at Athens； in full view of
religious buildings and statues； of which even the shattered remains
are a marvel of art at this day。 Never perhaps were such a place； such
a man； and such an audience brought together！ It was a strange scene。
And how did St。 Paul use the occasion？ What did this Jewish stranger；
this member of a despised nation； ing from an obscure corner of
Asia； this little man whose 〃bodily presence was weak；〃 and very unlike
the ideal figure in one of Raphael's cartoons； what does he say to
these intellectual Greeks？
He tells them boldly the unity of the true God。 There is only one God；
the maker of heaven and earth； and not many deities； as his hearers
seem to think； a God who needed no temples made with hands； and was not
to be represented by images made of wood or metal or stone。
Standing in front of the stately Parthenon and the splendid statue of
Minerva； he sets before his refined hearers the ignorance with which
they worshipped； the folly of idolatry； the ing judgment of all
mankind； the certainty of a resurrection； and the absolute need of
repentance。 And not least； he tells the proud men of Athens that they
must not flatter themselves that they were superior beings； as they
vainly supposed； made of finer clay； and needing less than other races
of men。 No！ he declares that 〃God has made of one blood all nations。〃
There is no difference。 The nature； the ne
