莱尔主教upper_room-第28章
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not anything that he ever said to me。 It was the beautiful consistency
and kindness of his daily life； in the house where he was staying； when
I was a little girl。 I said to myself； if I ever have any religion； Mr。
Whitefield's God shall be my God。〃
I charge every reader of this paper to lay hold on this view of our
Lord's promise； and never forget it。 Think not for a moment that your
own soul is the only soul that will be saved； if you e to Christ by
faith and follow Him。 Think of the blessedness of being a 〃river of
living water〃 to others。 Who can tell that you may not be the means of
bringing many others to Christ？ Live； and act； and speak； and pray； and
work； keeping this continually in view。 I knew a family； consisting of
a father； mother； and ten children； in which true religion began with
one of the daughters； and when it began she stood alone； and all the
rest of the family were in the world。 And yet； before she died； she saw
both her parents and all her brothers and sisters converted to God； and
all this； humanly speaking； began from her influence！ Surely； in the
face of this； we need not doubt； that a believer may be to others a
〃river of living water。〃 Conversions may not be in your time； and you
may die without seeing them。 But never doubt that conversion generally
leads to conversions； and that few go to heaven alone。 When Grimshaw；
of Haworth； the apostle of the north； died； he left his son graceless
and godless。 Afterwards the son was converted； never having forgotten
his father's advice and example。 And his last words were；〃 What will my
old father say when he sees me in heaven？〃 Let us take courage and hope
on； believing Christ's promise。
（1） And now； before we part； let me ask every one who reads this paper
a plain question。 Do you know anything of spiritual thirst？ Have you
ever felt any…tiring of genuine deep concern about your soul？I fear
that many know nothing about it。 I have learned； by the painful
experience of the third of a century； that people may go on for years
attending God's house； and yet never feel their sins； or desire to be
saved。 The cares of this world； the love of pleasure； the 〃lust of
other things；〃 choke the good seed every Sunday； and make it
unfruitful。 They e to church with hearts as cold as the stone
pavement on which they walk。 They go away as thoughtless and unmoved as
the old marble busts which look down on them from the monuments on the
walls。 Well； it may be so； but I do not yet despair of any one； so long
as he is alive。 That grand old bell in St。 Paul's Cathedral； London；
which has struck the hours for so many years； is seldom heard by many
citizens during the business hours of the day。 The roar and din of
traffic in the streets have a strange power to deaden its sound； and
prevent men hearing it。 But when the daily work is over； and desks are
locked； and doors are closed； and books are put away； and quiet reigns
in the great city； the case is altered。 As the old bell strikes eleven；
and twelve； and one； and two； and three at night； thousands hear it who
never heard it during the day。 And so I hope it will be with many a one
in the matter of his soul。 Now； in the plenitude of health and
strength； in the hurry and whirl of business； I fear the voice of your
conscience is often stifled； and you cannot hear it。 But the day may
e when the great bell of conscience will make itself heard； whether
you like it or not。 The time may e when； laid aside in quietness；
and obliged by illness to sit still； you may be forced to look within；
and consider your soul's concerns。 And then； when the great bell of
awakened conscience is sounding in your ears； I trust that many a man
who reads this paper may hear the voice of God and repent； may learn to
thirst； and learn to e to Christ for relief。 Yes！ I pray God you may
yet be taught to feel before it be too late！
（2） But do you feel anything at this very moment？ Is your conscience
awake and working？ Are you sensible of spiritual thirst； and longing
for relief？ Then hear the invitation which I bring you in my Master's
name this day： If any man；〃 no matter who he may be；if any man； high
or low； rich or poor； learned or unlearned；…〃 if any man thirst； let
him e to Christ； and drink。〃 Hear and accept that invitation without
delay。 Wait for nothing。 Wait for nobody。 Who can tell that you may not
wait for 〃a convenient season〃 till it be too late！ The hand of a
living Redeemer is now held out from heaven； but it may be withdrawn。
The Fountain is open now； but it may soon be closed for ever。 〃If any
man thirst； let him e and drink〃 without delay。 Though you have been
a great sinner； and have resisted warnings； counsel； and sermons； yet
e。Though you have sinned against light and knowledge； against a
father's advice； and a mother's tears； though you have lived for years
without a Sabbath； and without prayer； yet e。Say not that you know
not how to e； that you do not understand what it is to believe； that
you must wait for more light。 Will a tired man say； that he is too
tired to lie down？ or a drowning man； that he knows not how to lay hold
on the hand stretched out to help him？ or the shipwrecked sailor； with
a lifeboat alongside the stranded hulk； that he knows not how to jump
in？ Oh； cast away these vain excuses！ Arise； and e！ The door is not
shut。 The fountain is not yet closed。 The Lord Jesus invites you。 It is
enough that you feel thirst； and desire to be saved。 e： e to
Christ without delay。 Who ever came to the fountain for sin and found
it dry？ Who ever went unsatisfied away？
（3） But have you e to Christ already and found relief？ Then e
nearer； nearer still。 The closer your munion with Christ； the more
fort you will fed。 The more you daily live by the side of the
Fountain； the more you shall feel in yourself 〃a well of water
springing up into everlasting life〃 （John 4：14）。 You shall not only be
blessed yourself； but be a source of blessing to others。
In this evil world you may not perhaps feel all the sensible fort
you could desire。 But remember you cannot have two heavens。 Perfect
happiness is yet to e。 The devil is not yet bound。 There is 〃a good
time ing〃 for all who feel their sins and e to Christ； and mit
their thirsting souls to His keeping。 When He es again； they will be
pletely satisfied。
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Note
THERE is a passage in an old writer which throws so much light on some
points mentioned in this paper； that I make no excuse for giving it to
the reader in its entirety。 It es from a work which is little known
and less read。 It has done me good； and I think it may do good to
others。
〃When a man is awakened； and brought to that； that all must be brought
to； or to worse；' What shall I do to be saved！' （Acts 16：30…31）； we
have the apostolic answer to it： ' Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ；
and thou shalt be saved； and thy house。' This answer is so old that
with many it seems out of date But it is still； and will ever be；
fresh； and new； and savoury； and the only resolution of this grand case
of conscience； as long as conscience and the world lasts。 No wit or art
of man will ever find a crack or flaw in it； or devise another or a
better answer； nor can any but this alone heal rightly the wound of an
awakened conscience。
〃Let us set this man to seek resolution and relief in this case of some
masters in our Israel。 According to their principles they must say to
him； 'Repent； and mourn for your known sins； and leave them and loathe
them； and God will have mercy on you。' 'Alas！' （saith the poor man）； '
my heart is hard； and I cannot repent aright： yea； I find my heart more
hard and vile than when I was secure in sin。' If you speak to this man
of qualifications for Christ； he knows nothing of them； if of sincere
obe
