莱尔主教upper_room-第32章
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Again； is it not true that this fight with the world is a thing of
absolute necessity？ Does not our Master say； 〃Whosoever doth not bear
his cross； and e after Me； cannot be My disciple〃？ （Luke 14：27）。 〃I
came not to send peace on earth； but a sword〃 （Matt。 10：34）。 Here； at
any rate； we cannot remain neutral； and sit still。 Such a line of
conduct may be possible in the strife of nations； but it is utterly
impossible in that conflict which concerns the soul。 The boasted policy
of non…interference； the masterly inactivity〃 which pleases so many
statesmen； the plan of keeping quiet and letting things alone；all
this will never do in the Christian warfare。 To be at peace with the
world； the flesh； and the devil； is to be at enmity with God； and in
the broad way that leadeth to destruction。 We have no choice or option。
The promises to the Seven Churches in Revelation are only 〃to him that
overeth。〃 We must fight or be lost。 We must conquer or die
eternally。 We must put on the whole armour of God。 〃He that hath no
sword； let him sell his garment and buy one〃 （Eph。 6：11； Luke 22：36）。
Surely； in the face of such considerations as these； I may well charge
and entreat all who are inclined to make peace with the world； and not
resist it； to awake to a sense of their danger。 Awake and cast aside
the chains which indolence or love of popularity are gradually weaving
round you。 Awake before it is too late；before repeated worldly acts
have formed habits； and habits have crystallized into character； and
you have bee a helpless slave。 When men on every side are
volunteering for war； and ready to go forth to battle for a corruptible
crown； stand up and resolve to do it for one that is incorruptible。 The
world is not so strong an enemy as you think； if you will only meet it
boldly； and use the right weapons。 The fancied difficulties will
vanish； or melt away like snow； as you approach them。 The lions you now
dread will prove chained。 Hundreds could tell you that they served the
world for years； and found at last that its rewards were hollow and
unreal； and its so…called good things could neither satisfy nor save。
Cardinal Wolsey's dying words are only the language of ten thousand
hearts at this minute；…
〃Vain pomp and glory of this world； I hate ye：
I feel my heart is opened。…
Had I but serv'd my God with half the zeal
I serv'd my king； He would not； in mine age；
Have left me naked to mine enemies。〃
But who； on the other hand； ever fought God's battle manfully against
the world and failed to find a rich reward？ No doubt the experience of
Christian pilgrims is very various； Not all have 〃an abundant entrance〃
into the kingdom； and some are 〃saved so as by fire〃 （2 Pet。 1：11； 1
Cor。 3：15）。 But none； I am persuaded； have such joy and peace in
believing； and travel to the celestial city with such light hearts； as
those who e out boldly； and overe the love and fear of the world。
Such men the King of kings delights to honour while they live； and when
they die； their testimony is that of old Bunyan's hero； Valiant；〃 I
am going to my Father's house； and though with great difficulty I have
got hither； yet now I do not repent me of all the troubles I have been
at to arrive where I am。〃
III。 The third and last thing which I shall ask you to notice in this
text is； the secret of the true Christian's victory over the world。 St。
John reveals that secret to us twice over； as if he would emphasize his
meaning； and make it unmistakable： 〃This is the victory that overeth
the world； even our FAITH。 Who is he that overeth the world； but he
that BELIEVETH that Jesus is the Son of God？〃
Simplicity is a distinguishing characteristic of many of God's
handiworks。 〃How beautifully simple！〃 has often been the philosopher's
cry； on finding out some great secret of nature。 Simplicity is the
striking feature of the principle by which the man 〃born of God〃
overes the world。 Perhaps he hardly understands it himself。 But he
is what he is； and does what he does； acts as he acts； behaves as he
behaves； for one simple reason； he BELIEVES。 He realizes the existence
of unseen objects； pared to which the frowns or smiles； the favour
or blame of the world； are trifles light as air。 God； and heaven； and
judgment； and eternity； are not 〃words and names〃 with him； but vast
and substantial realities； and the faith of them makes everything else
look shadowy and unreal。 But； towering far above all other objects； he
sees by faith an unseen Saviour； who loved him； gave Himself for him；
paid his debt to God with His own precious blood； went to the grave for
him； rose again； and appears in heaven for him as his Advocate with the
Father。 SEEING HIM； he feels constrained to love Him first and
foremost； to set his chief affection on things above； not on things on
the earth； and to live not for himself； but for Him who died for him。
SEEING HIM； he fears not to face the world's displeasure； and fights on
with a firm confidence that he will be 〃more than conqueror。〃 In short；
it is the expulsive power of a new principle； a living faith in an
unseen God and an unseen Jesus； that minimizes the difficulties of a
true Christian； drives away the fear of man； and overes the world。
This is the principle that made the Apostles what they were after the
day of Pentecost。 When Peter and John stood before the Council； and
spoke in such fashion that all men marvelled at their boldness； their
vivid faith saw One higher than Annas and Caiaphas and their
panions； who would never forsake them。 When Saul； converted and
renewed； gave up all his brilliant prospects among his own nation； to
bee a preacher of the gospel he had once despised； he saw far away；
by faith； One that was invisible； who could give him a hundredfold more
in this present life； and in the world to e life everlasting。 These
all overcame by FAITH。
This is the principle which made the primitive Christians hold fast
their religion even to death； unshaken by the fiercest persecution of
heathen emperors。 They were often unlearned and ignorant men； and saw
many things through a glass darkly。 But their so…called 〃obstinacy〃
astonished even philosophers like Pliny。
For centuries there were never wanting men like Polycarp and Ignatius；
who were ready to die rather than to deny Christ。 Fines； and prisons；
and torture； and fire； and sword failed to crush the spirit of the
noble army of martyrs。 The whole power of imperial Rome； with her
legions； proved unable to stamp out the religion which began with a few
fishermen and publicans in Palestine。 They overcame by FAITH。
This is the principle that made our own Reformers in the sixteenth
century endure hardships even unto death； rather than withdraw their
protest against the Church of Rome。 Many of them； no doubt； like
Rogers； and Philpot； and Bradford； might have enjoyed rich preferments
and died quietly in their beds； if they would only have recanted。 But
they chose rather to suffer affliction； and strong in faith； died at
the stake。 This was the principle that made the rank and file of our
English martyrs in the same agelabourers； artisans； and
apprenticesyield their bodies to be burned。 Poor and uneducated as
they were； they were rich in faith； and if they could not speak for
Christ； they could die for Him。 These all overcame by BELIEVING。
But time would fail me if I brought forward all the evidence that might
be adduced on this subject。 Let us look at our own age。 Let us consider
the men who have made the greatest mark on the world for Christ's cause
in the last hundred years。 Let us remember how clergymen like
Whitefield； and Wesley； and Romaine； and Venn stood alone in their day
and generation； and revived English religion； in the face of
opposition； slander； ridicule； and real persecution from nine…tenths of
the professing Chris
