莱尔主教upper_room-第35章
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idolatry。〃 An Athenian sculptor might have designed a matchless tomb；
but he could not have wiped a single tear from a mourner's eye。
These things ought not to be forgotten。 They ought to be carefully
pondered。 They suit the times in which we live。 We have fallen on a
sceptical and an unbelieving age。 We meet on every side with doubts and
questionings about the truth and value of revelation。 〃Is not reason
alone sufficient？〃 〃Is the Bible really needful to make men wise unto
salvation？〃 〃Has not man a light within； a verifying power； able to
guide him to truth and God？〃 Such are the inquiries which fall thick as
hail around us。 Such are the speculations which disquiet many unstable
minds。
One plain answer is an appeal to facts。 The remains of heathen Egypt；
Greece； and Rome shall speak for us。 They are preserved by God's
providence to this very day as monuments of what intellect and reason
can do without revelation。 The minds which designed the temples of
Luxor and Carnac； or the Parthenon or Coliseum； were not the minds of
fools。 The builders who executed their designs did better and more
lasting work than any contractor can do in modern times。 The men who
conceived the sculptured friezes； which we know as the Elgin Marbles；
were trained and intellectual to the highest degree。 And yet in
religion these men were darkness itself （Eph。 5：8）。 The sight which St。
Paul saw at Athens is an unanswerable proof that man knows nothing
which can do his soul good without a Divine revelation。
II。 I ask you to notice； in the second place； what St。 Paul FELT at
Athens。 He saw a 〃city wholly given to idolatry。〃 How did the sight
affect him？ What did he feel？
It is instructive to observe how the same sight affects different
people。 Place two men on the same spot； let them stand side by side；
let the same objects be presented to their eyes。 The emotions called
forth in the one man will often be wholly different from those called
forth in the other。 The thoughts which will be wakened up and brought
to birth will often be as far as the poles asunder。
A mere artist visiting Athens for the first time would doubtless have
been absorbed in the beauty of its buildings。 A statesman or orator
would have called up the memory of Pericles or Demosthenes。 A literary
man would have thought of Thucydides and Sophocles and Plato。 A
merchant would have gazed on the Piraeus； its harbour； and the sea。 But
an Apostle of Christ had far higher thoughts。 One thing； above all
others； swallowed up his attention； and made all else look small。 That
one thing was the spiritual condition of the Athenian people； the state
of their souls。 The great Apostle of the Gentiles was eminently a man
of one thing。 Like his Divine Master； he was always thinking of his
〃Father's business〃 （Luke 2：49）。 He stood at Athens； and thought of
nothing so much as Athenian souls。 Like Moses； Phinehas； and Elijah；
〃his spirit was stirred within him when he saw the city wholly given to
idolatry。〃
Of all sights on earth； I know none so impressive； none so calculated
to arouse thought in a reflecting mind； as the sight of a great city。
The daily intercourse of man with man； which a city naturally produces；
seems to sharpen intellect； and stimulate mental activity to an extent
which dwellers in rural parishes； or other solitary places； cannot
realize。 Rightly or wrongly； the inhabitant of a city thinks twice as
much； and twice as quickly； as the inhabitant of a rural village。 It is
the city 〃where Satan's seat is〃 （Rev。 2：13）。 It is the city where evil
of every kind is most rapidly conceived； sown； ripened； and brought to
maturity。… It is the city where the young man； leaving home； and
launching into life； bees soonest hardened； and conscience…seared by
daily familiarity with the sight of sin。It is the city where
sensuality； intemperance； and worldly amusements of the vilest kind
flourish most rankly； and find a congenial atmosphere。…It is the city
where ungodliness and irreligion meet with the greatest encouragement；
and the unhappy Sabbath…breaker； or neglecter of all means of grace；
can fortify himself behind the example of others； and enjoy the
miserable fort of feeling that 〃he does not stand alone！〃It is the
city which is the chosen home of every form of superstition；
ceremonialism； enthusiasm； and fanaticism in religion。It is the city
which is the hotbed of every kind of false philosophy； of Stoicism；
Epicureanism； Agnosticism； Secularism； Scepticism； Positivism；
Infidelity； and Atheism。It is the city where that greatest of modern
inventions； the printing…press； that mighty power for good and evil； is
ever working with unsleeping activity； and pouring forth new matter for
thought。It is the city where the daffy newspapers are continually
supplying food for minds； and moulding and guiding public opinion。It
is the city which is the centre of all national business。 The banks；
the law…courts； the Stock Exchange； the Parliament or Assembly； are all
bound up with the city。It is the city which； by magnetic influence；
draws together the rank and fashion of the land； and gives the tone to
the tastes and ways of society。It is the city which practically
controls the destiny of a nation。 Scattered millions； in rural
districts； without habitual concert or contact； are powerless before
the thousands who dwell side by side and exchange thought every day。 It
is the towns which govern a land。 I pity the man who could stand on the
top of St。 Paul's Cathedral； and look down on London without some
emotion； and not reflect that he sees the heart whose pulsations are
felt over the whole civilized globe。 And shall I wonder for a moment
that the sight of Athens 〃stirred the spirit〃 of such a man as the
great Apostle of the Gentiles？ I cannot wonder at all。 It was just the
sight which was likely to move the heart of the converted man of
Tarsus； the man who wrote the Epistle to the Romans； and had seen Jesus
Christ face to face。
He was stirred with holy passion。 It moved his heart to see so many
myriads perishing for lack of knowledge； without God； without Christ；
having no hope； travelling in the broad road which leadeth to
destruction。
He was stirred with holy sorrow。 It moved his heart to see so much
talent misapplied。 Here were hands capable of excellent works； and
minds capable of noble conceptions。 And yet the God who gave life and
breath and power was not glorified。
He was stirred with holy indignation against sin and the devil。 He saw
the god of this world blinding the eyes of multitudes of his
fellow…men； and leading them captive at his will。 He saw the natural
corruption of man infecting the population of a vast city like one
mon disease； and an utter absence of any spiritual medicine；
antidote； or remedy。
He was stirred with holy zeal for His Master's glory。 He saw the
〃strong man armed〃 keeping a house which was not lawfully his； and
shutting out the rightful possessor。 He saw his Divine Master unknown
and unrecognised by His own creatures； and idols receiving the homage
due to the King of kings。
Reader； these feelings which stirred the Apostle are a leading
characteristic of a man born of the Spirit。 Do you know anything of
them？ Where there is true grace； there will always be tender concern
for the souls of others。 Where there is true sonship to God； there will
always be zeal for the Father's glory。 It is written of the ungodly；
that they not only mit things worthy of death； but 〃have pleasure in
them that do them〃 （Rom。 1：32）。 It may be said with equal truth of the
godly； that they not only mourn over sin in their own hearts； but mourn
over sin in others。
Hear what is written of Lot in Sodom： 〃He vexed his soul from day to
day with their unlawful deeds〃 （2 Pet。 2：8）。 Hear what is written of
David： 〃Rivers of water r
