莱尔主教upper_room-第41章
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they are not quite what they ought to be at present； and they hope one
day to be different。 But the 〃convenient season〃 never seems to e。
Meaning and intending they go on； and meaning and intending they go off
the stage。 Meaning and intending they live； and meaning and intending；
too oft； they die；kind； good…natured； respectable people； not
enemies； but friends to St。 Paul； but； like Agrippa； 〃almost
Christians。〃
How is it； you may well ask； that men can go so far in religion； and
yet go no further？ How is it that they can see so much； and know so
much； and yet not follow the light they have to the 〃perfect day〃？ How
is it that intellect and reason and conscience can make such progress
towards Christianity； and yet heart and will can lag behind？
The answers to these questions are soon given。 The fear of man keeps
back some。 They have a cowardly dread of being laughed at； mocked； and
despised； if they bee decided Christians。 They dare not risk the
loss of man's good opinion。 Like many of the Jewish rulers in our
Lord's time； they 〃love the praise of men more than the praise of God〃
（John 12：43）。 The love of the world keeps back others。 They know that
decided religion entails separation from some of the fashionable
amusements and modes of spending time； which are mon in the world。
They cannot make up their minds to this separation。 They shrink from
their baptismal vow to 〃renounce the pomps and vanities of this world。〃
Like Lot's wife； they would like to be delivered from the wrath of God；
but； like her； they must 〃look back〃 （Gen。 19：26）。 A certain subtle
form of self…righteousness keeps back many。 They take fort in the
secret thought that； at any rate； they are not so bad as Festus。 They
are not like some people they know： they do not despise religion。 They
go to church。 They admire earnest men like St。 Paul Surely they will
not be lost on account of a few inconsistencies！The morbid dread of
being party…spirited keeps back many； and especially young men。 They
are oppressed with the idea that they cannot take a decided line in
religion without mitting themselves to some particular 〃school of
thought。〃 This is what they do not want to do。 They forget that the
case of AgripPsalms is not one of doctrine； but of conduct； and that
decided action about duty is the surest way to obtain light about
doctrinal truth。 〃 If any man will do God's will； he shall know of the
doctrine〃 （John 7：17）。 Some secret sin； I fear； keeps back not a few。
They know in their own hearts that they are clinging to something which
is wrong in God's sight。 There is an Herodias； or a Drusilla； or a
Bernice； or an Achan's wedge of gold somewhere； in their private
history； which will not bear the light of day。 They cannot part with
this darling。 They cannot cut off the right hand； or pluck out the
right eye； and so they cannot bee disciples。 Alas！ for these
excuses。 Weighed in the balance； they are worthless and vain。 Alas！ for
those who rest in them。 Except they awake； and cast off their chains；
they will make shipwreck for ever。
Is AgripPsalms reading this paper to…day？ Are there any like him whose
eyes are on this page？ Take a kindly warning from a minister of Christ；
and try to realize that you are in a very dangerous position。 Wishing；
and feeling； and meaning； and intending； do not make up saving
religion。 They are but painted corks； which may enable you to float on
the surface for a time； and keep your head above water； but they will
not prevent you being carried down the stream； and being at last swept
over a worse fall than that of Niagara And； after all； you are not
happy。 You know too much of religion to be happy in the world： you are
too much mixed up with the world to get any fort from your religion。
In short； you are neither happy in the world nor out of the world。
Awake to a sense of your danger and your folly。 Resolve by God's help
to bee decided。 Draw the sword； and cast away the scabbard。 〃If you
have no sword； sell your garment and buy one〃 （Luke 22：36）。 Burn your
ships； and march straight forward。 Do not merely look at the ark； and
admire it； but enter in； before the door is shut and the flood begins。
One thing； at any rate； may be laid down as an axiom in the elements of
religion： An 〃almost〃 Christian is neither a safe nor a happy man。
III。 Let us turn now to the last picture of the three。 Let us look at
the man whom Festus thought 〃beside himself；〃 and by whom Agrippa was
〃almost persuaded to be a Christian。〃 Let us look at St。 Paul。 This is
the man who boldly said；〃 I would to God； that not only thou； but all
that hear me this day； were both almost and altogether such as I am；
except these bonds。〃 He wished his hearers no chains or imprisonment；
such as he was suffering when he spoke。 But he did wish them to be of
one mind with him about the one thing needful； and to share his peace；
his hope； his solid fort； his expectations。
〃Altogether such as I am。〃 A weighty and memorable saying！ It is the
language of one who is thoroughly convinced and persuaded that he is in
the right。 He has cast overboard all doubts and hesitations。 He holds
the truth with the firm grasp of both hands； and not with finger and
thumb。 It is the language of the man who wrote in one place； 〃I know
whom I have believed； and that He is able to keep that which I have
mitted to Him against that day。〃And in another place；〃 I am
persuaded that neither death； nor life； nor angels； nor principalities；
nor powers； nor things present； nor things to e； nor height； nor
depth； nor any other creature； shall be able to separate us from the
love of God； which is in Christ Jesus our Lord〃 （2 Tim。 1：12； Rom。
8：38…39）。
（a） St。 Paul was altogether convinced of the truth of the facts of
Christianity。 That the Lord Jesus Christ was actually 〃God manifest in
the flesh；〃 that He had proved His divinity by doing miracles which
could not be denied；that He had； finally； risen from the grave and
ascended up into heaven； and was sitting at God's right hand as man's
Saviour；on all these points he had thoroughly made up his mind； and
had not the slightest doubt of their credibility。 On behalf of them he
was willing to die。
（b） St。 Paul was altogether convinced of the truth of the doctrines of
Christianity。 That we are all guilty sinners； and in danger of eternal
ruin； that the grand object of Christ ing into the world was to make
atonement for our sins； and to purchase redemption by suffering in our
stead on the cross；that all who repent and believe on Christ
crucified are pletely forgiven all sins；and that there is no other
way to peace with God and heaven after death； but faith in Christ；all
this he most stedfastly believed。 To teach these doctrines was his one
object from his conversion till his martyrdom。
（c） St。 Paul was altogether convinced that he himself had been changed
by the power of the Holy Spirit； and taught to live a new life；that a
holy life； devoted and consecrated to Christ； was the wisest； happiest
life a man could live； that the favour of God was a thousand times
better than the favour of man；and that nothing was too much to do for
Him who had loved him and given Himself for him。 He ran his race ever
〃looking unto Jesus；〃 and spending and being spent for Him （Heb。 12：2；
2 Cor。 5：15； 12：15）。
（d） Last； but not least； St。 Paul was altogether convinced of the
reality of a world to e。 The praise or favour of man； the rewards or
punishments of this present world； were all as dross to him。 He had
before his eyes continually an inheritance incorruptible； and a crown
of glory that would never fade away （Phil。 3：8； 2 Tim。 4：8）。 Of that
crown he knew that nothing could deprive him。 Festus might despise him；
and think him 〃mad。〃 The Roman emperor； to whom he was going； might
order him to be beheaded or thrown to the l
