莱尔主教upper_room-第33章
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opposition； slander； ridicule； and real persecution from nine…tenths of
the professing Christians in our land。 Let us remember how men like
William Wilberforce； and Havelock； and Henry Lawrence； and Hedley
Vicars； and George Moore； the Christian merchant； have witnessed for
Christ in the most difficult positions； and displayed Christ's banner
even in the House of mons； in the camp； at the regimental mess
table； or in the counting…house in the city。 Let us remember how these
noble servants of God were neither frightened nor laughed out of their
religion； and won the respect even of their adversaries。 These all had
one principle。 〃Give me；〃 said that strange dictator who rode
rough…shod over England's Church and Crown in the seventeenth century；
〃Give me men that have a principle。〃 These Christian soldiers of our
own day had a principle； and that ruling principle was faith in an
unseen God and Saviour。 By this faith they lived； and walked； and
fought the good fight； and overcame。
Does any one who reads this paper desire to live the life of a true
Christian； and overe the world？ Let him begin by seeking to have the
principle of victory within。 Without this； all outward show of
spirituality is utterly worthless。 There is many a worldly heart under
a monk's cowl。 Faith； inward faith； is the one thing needful。 Let him
begin by praying for FAITH。 It is the gift of God； and a gift which
those who ask shall never ask in vain。 The fountain of faith is not yet
dry。 The mine is not exhausted。 He who is called the 〃Author of faith〃
is the same yesterday； to…day； and for ever； and waits to be entreated
（Heb。 12：2）。 Without faith you will never war a good warfare； never set
down your foot firmly； never make progress on the ice of this slippery
world。 You must believe if you would do。 If men do nothing in religion；
and sit still like uninterested spectators of a show； it is simply
because they do not believe。 Faith is the first step towards heaven。
Would any one who reads this paper fight the Christian battle with
constantly increasing success and prosperity？ Then let him pray daily
for a continual growth of faith。 Let him abide in Christ； get closer to
Christ； tighten his hold on Christ every day that he lives。 Let him
never forget the prayer of the disciples； 〃Lord； increase our faith。〃
Let him watch jealously over his faith； and never let its fire burn
low。 According to the degree of his faith will be the measure of his
peace； his strength； and his victory over the world。
（a） And now let us leave the whole subject with the solemn
self…inquiry； 〃What do we know of that great test of religion which
this text supplies？ What do we know of overing the world？。 Where are
we？ What are we doing？ Whose are we； and whom do we serve？ Are we
overing or being overe？〃 Alas； it is a sorrowful fact； that many
know not whether they are Christ's freemen or the world's slaves！ The
fetters of the world are often invisible。 We are dragged downward
insensibly； and are like one who sleeps in a boat； and knows not that
he is drifting； gently drifting； towards the falls。 There is no slavery
so bad as that which is unfelt。 There are no chains so really heavy as
those which are unseen。 Wise is that petition in our matchless Litany：
〃From all the deceits of the world； good Lord； deliver us。〃
I press this inquiry in all affection on my younger readers。 You are
just at that generous and unsuspecting age when the world seems least
dangerous and most inviting； and it stands to reason you are most
likely to be ensnared and overe。 Experience alone can make you see
the enemy in his true colours。 When you have as many grey hairs on your
heads as I have； you will place a very different estimate on the good
things； or the praise or the hatred of this world。 But； even now；
remember my caution： 〃If you love your souls； hold the world at arm's
length。 Beware of the world。〃
（b） Reader； you and I meet over this paper for once in our lives； and
are parting in all probability to meet no more。 You are perhaps
launching forth on the waves of this troublesome world。 My heart's
desire and prayer to God is； that you may have a prosperous voyage； and
be found at length in the safe haven of eternal life。 But； oh； take
heed that you are well equipped for the stormy waters you have to
cross； and see that you have a pass to steer by； that you can depend
on； and a pilot who will not fail！ Beware of making shipwreck by
conformity to the world。 Alas； how many put to sea in gallant trim；
with colours flying； and brilliant prospects； and are lost at last with
all on board！ They seem at first to begin with Moses； and Daniel； and
the saints in Nero's household； but they end at last with Balaam； and
Demas； and Lot's wife！ Oh； remember the pilot and the pass！ No
pass like the Bible。 No pilot like Christ！
Take the advice I give you； as a friend； this day。 Ask the Lord Jesus
Christ to e and dwell in your heart by faith； and to 〃deliver you
from this present evil world〃 （Gal。 1：4）。 Ask Him to pour out His
promised Spirit on you； and to make you willing to bear His easy yoke
without further delay； and to resist the world。 Strive； in the strength
of Christ； to get the victory over the world； whatever it may cost you。
Be ashamed of being a slave； however gilded the chains may be。 Be
ashamed of the mark of the collar。 Resolve to play the man and be free。
Liberty is the greatest of blessings； and deserves the greatest
struggles。 Well said the Jewish rabbis in ancient days； 〃If the sea
were ink； and the earth parchment； it would never serve to describe the
praises of liberty。〃 For freedom's sake； Greeks； and Romans； and
Germans； and Poles； and Swiss； and Scotchmen； and Englishmen； have
often cheerfully fought to the bitter end； and laid down their lives。
Surely； if men have made such sacrifices for the freedom of their
bodies； it is a disgrace to professing Christians if they will not
fight for the liberty of their souls。 This day； I repeat； resolve in
the strength of Christ； that you will fight the good fight against the
world； and not only fight； but overe。 〃If the Son shall make you
free； you shall be free indeed〃 （John 8：36）。
（c） Finally； let us all remember that the Christian soldier's best time
is yet to e。 Here； in this world； we are often 〃sore let and
hindered〃 in our warfare。 There are many hard things to be done and
borne。 Them are wounds and bruises； there are watchings and fatigues；
there are reverses and disappointments。 But the end of all things is at
hand。 For those who 〃overe〃 there will be a conqueror's crown。
In the warfare of this world； the muster on the morning after a victory
is often a sorrowful sight。 I pity the man who could look at Miss
Thompson's famous picture of The Roll…call without deep emotion。 Even
when peace is proclaimed； the return of victorious regiments is an
occasion of very mingled feelings。 That man must have had a cold heart
who could see the Guards march back into London after the Crimean war
without a sigh or a tear。
Thanks be to God； the review day of Christ's victorious army will be a
very different thing。 There will be none missing in that day。 It will
be a meeting without regret。 It will be 〃a morning without clouds〃 and
tears It will make rich amends for all we have suffered in resisting
and overing the world。
He who saw our gracious Queen distributing the Victoria Cross at the
Horse Guards during the Russian war might well be stirred and moved at
the sight。 But he who saw her e down from her seat to meet a wounded
officer who could not walk； and； with her own royal hands； pin his
decoration on his breast； will probably remember it as long as he
lives。
But； after all； it was nothing pared to the transactions of that
great day； when the Captain of our salvation and His victorious
sold
