莱尔主教upper_room-第27章
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and hear the gospel； and draw near to the throne of grace； about
strength for duty； fort in trouble； guidance in perplexity； help in
sickness； consolation in death； support under bereavement； happiness
beyond the gave； reward in glory；about all these things there is an
abundant supply of promises in the Word。 No one can form an idea of its
abundance unless he carefully searches the Scriptures； keeping the
subject steadily in view。 If any one doubts it； I can only say； 〃e
and see。〃 Like the Queen of Sheba at Solomon's court； you will soon
say； 〃The half was not told me〃 （1 Kings 10：7）。
The promise of our Lord Jesus Christ； which heads this paper； is
somewhat peculiar。 It is singularly rich in encouragement to all who
feel spiritual thirst； and e to Him for relief； and therefore it
deserves peculiar attention； Most of our Lord's promises refer
specially to the benefit of the person to whom they are addressed。 The
promise before us takes a far wider range： it seems to refer to many
others beside those to whom He spoke。 For what says He？〃 He that
believeth on Me； as the Scripture hath said〃 （and everywhere teaches）；
〃out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water。 But this spake He
of the Spirit； which they that believe on Him should receive。〃
Figurative； undoubtedly； are these words；figurative； like the earlier
words of the sentence； figurative； like 〃thirst〃 and 〃drinking。〃 But
all the figures of Scripture contain great truths； and what the figure
before us was meant to convey I will now try to show。
（1）：For one thing； then； I believe our Lord meant that he who es to
Him by faith shall receive an abundant supply of everything that he can
desire for the relief of his own soul's wants。 The Spirit shall convey
to him such an abiding sense of pardon； peace； and hope； that it shall
be in his inward man like a well…spring never dry。 He shall feel so
satisfied with 〃the things of Christ；〃 which the Spirit shall show him
（John 16：15）； that he shall rest from spiritual anxiety about death；
judgment； and eternity。 He may have his seasons of darkness and doubt；
through his own infirmities or the temptations of the devil。 But；
speaking generally； when he has once e to Christ by faith he shall
find in his heart of hearts an unfailing fountain of consolation。 This；
let us understand； is the first thing which the promise before us
contains。 〃Only e to Me； poor anxious soul；〃 our Lord seems to
say；〃Only e to Me； and thy spiritual anxiety shall be relieved。 I
will place in thy heart； by the power of the Holy Spirit； such a sense
of pardon and peace； through my atonement and intercession； that thou
shalt never pletely thirst again。 Thou mayest have thy doubts； and
fears； and conflicts； while thou art in the body。 But once having e
to Me； and taken Me for thy Saviour； thou shalt never feel thyself
entirely hopeless。 The condition of thine inward man shall be so
thoroughly changed； that thou shalt feel as if there was within thee an
ever…flowing spring of water。〃
What shall we say to these things？ I declare my own belief； that
whenever a man or woman really es to Christ by faith； he finds this
promise fulfilled。 He may possibly be weak in grace； and have many
misgivings about his own condition。 He may possibly not dare to say
that he is converted； justified； sanctified； and meet for the
inheritance of the saints in light。 But for all that； I am bold to say
the humblest and feeblest believer in Christ has got something within
him which he would not part with； though he may not yet fully
understand it。 And what is that 〃something〃？ It is just that 〃river of
living water〃 which begins to run in the heart of every child of Adam
as soon as he es to Christ and drinks。 In this sense I believe this
wonderful promise of Christ is always fulfilled。
（2） But is this all that is contained in the promise which heads this
paper？ By no means。 There yet remains much behind。 There is more to
follow。 I believe our Lord meant us to understand that he who es to
Him by faith shall not only have an abundant supply of everything which
he needs for his own soul； but shall also bee a source of blessing
to the souls of others。 The Spirit who dwells in him shall make him a
fountain of good to his fellow…men； so that at the last day there shall
be found to have flowed from him 〃rivers of living water。〃
This is a most important part of our Lord's promise； and opens up a
subject which is seldom realized and grasped by many Christians。 But it
is one of deep interest； and deserves far more attention than it
receives。 I believe it to be a truth of God。 I believe that just as 〃no
man liveth unto himself〃 （Rom。 14：7）； so also no man is converted only
for himself； and that the conversion of one man or woman always leads
on； in God's wonderful providence； to the conversion of others。 I do
not say for a moment that all believers know it。 I think it far more
likely that many live and die in the faith； who are not aware that they
have done good to any soul。 But I believe the resurrection morning and
the judgment day； when the secret history of all Christians is
revealed； will prove that the full meaning of the promise before us has
never failed。 I doubt if there will be a believer who will not have
been to some one or other a 〃river of living water；〃a channel through
whom the Spirit has conveyed saving grace。 Even the penitent thief；
short as his time was after he repented； has been a source of blessing
to thousands of souls！
（a） Some believers are 〃rivers of living water〃 while they live。 Their
words； their conversation； their preaching； their teaching； are all
means by which the water of life has flowed into the hearts of their
fellow…men。 Such； for example； were the Apostles； who wrote no Epistles
and only preached the word。 Such were Luther； and Whitefield； and
Wesley； and Berridge； and Rowlands； and thousands of others of whom I
cannot now speak particularly。
（b） Some believers are 〃rivers of living water〃 when they die。 Their
courage in facing the King of Terrors； their boldness in the most
painful sufferings； their unswerving faithfulness to Christ's truth
even at the stake； their manifest peace on the edge of the grave；all
this has set thousands thinking； and led hundreds to repent and
believe。 Such； for example； were the primitive martyrs； whom the Roman
emperors persecuted。 Such were John Huss； and Jerome of Prague。 Such
were Cranmer； Ridley； Latimer； Hooper； and the noble army of Marian
martyrs。 The work that they did at their deaths； like Samson； was far
greater than the work done in their lives。
（c） Some believers are 〃rivers of living water〃 long after they die。
They do good by their books and writings in every part of the world；
long after the hands which held the pen are mouldering in the dust。
Such men were Bunyan； and Baxter； and Owen； and George Herbert； and
Robert M'Cheyne。 These blessed servants of God do more good probably by
their books at this moment； than they did by their tongues when they
were alive。 〃Being dead； they yet speak〃 （Heb。 11：4）。
（d） Finally； there are some believers who are 〃rivers of living water〃
by the beauty of their daily conduct and behaviour。 There are many
quiet； gentle； consistent Christians； who make no show and no noise in
the world； and yet insensibly exercise a deep influence for good on all
around them。 They 〃win without the Word〃 （1 Pet。 3：1）。 Their love；
their kindness； their sweet temper； their patience； their
unselfishness； tell silently on a wide circle； and sow seeds of thought
and self…inquiry in many minds。 It was a fine testimony of an old lady
who died in great peace；saying that under God she owed her salvation
to Mr。 Whitefield：〃 It was not any sermon that he preached； it was
not anything that he ever said to me。 It was the beautiful consistency
and
