莱尔主教upper_room-第42章
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and think him 〃mad。〃 The Roman emperor； to whom he was going； might
order him to be beheaded or thrown to the lions。 What matter？ He was
firmly persuaded that he had treasure laid up in heaven which neither
Festus nor Caesar could touch； and which would be his to all eternity。
This is what St。 Paul meant when he said 〃altogether such as I am。〃
About the facts； doctrines； practice； and rewards to e of
Christianity； he had a rooted； settled； firm conviction；a conviction
which he longed to see all men sharing。 He was confident： he wanted
others to enjoy the same confidence。 He had no doubt or fear about the
future state of his soul。 He would fain have seen Festus； Agrippa；
Bernice； and all around them； in the same happy condition。
Now； are there many in the present day like St。 Paul？ I do not of
course mean； are there many inspired Apostles？ But I do mean； is it
mon to meet Christians who are as thorough； as unhesitating； as full
of assurance as he was？ I fear there can only be one answer to this
question。 〃Not many；〃 whether rich or poor； high or low； 〃are
called。〃〃Strait is the gate； and narrow is the way； that leadeth unto
life； and few there be that find it〃 （1 Cor。 1：26； Matt。 7：14）。 Look
where you please； search where you like in town or in country； there
are few 〃altogether〃 Christians。 Festus and AgripPsalms are everywhere：
they meet us at every turn。 But there are few thorough； wholehearted
followers of St。 Paul。 Yet one thing is very certain。 These few are the
〃salt of the earth；〃 and the 〃light of the world〃 （Matt。 5：13…14）。
These few are the glory of the Church； and serve to keep it alive。
Without them； the Church would be little better than a decaying
carcase； a white…washed sepulchre； a lighthouse without light； a
steam…engine without fire； a golden candlestick without a candle； a joy
to the devil； and an offence to God。
These are the kind of men who shake the world； and leave an indelible
mark behind them。 Martin Luther； and John Wesley； and William
Wilberforce were hated and lightly esteemed while they lived； but the
work they did for Christ will never be forgotten。 They were
〃altogether〃 Christians。
These are the kind of men who enjoy true happiness in their religion。
Like Paul and Silas； they can sing in prison； and； like Peter； they can
sleep quietly on the very edge of the grave （Acts 12：6； 16：25）。 Strong
faith gives them an inward peace which makes them independent of
earthly troubles； and pels even their enemies to wonder。 Your
lukewarm Laodicean Christians have little fort in their religion。 It
is the 〃thorough〃 men who have great peace。 The first Marian martyr；
John Rogers； when he was going to be burned alive for Protestantism； is
said to have walked to the stake in Smithfield as cheerfully as if he
were going to his wedding。 The outspoken； courageous words of old
Latimer； before the faggots were lighted； in the day of his martyrdom；
in Broad Street； Oxford； are not forgotten to this very day。 〃Courage！
Brother Ridley；〃 he cried to his fellow…sufferer； 〃we shall light a
candle in England to…day； by God's grace； which shall never be put
out。〃 These men were 〃altogether〃 Christians。
He that would be safe and prepared to meet his God at a moment's
notice； at evening； at cock…crowing； or in the morning；he that would
enjoy felt peace in his religion； peace unaffected by sicknesses；
bereavements； bankruptcies； revolutions； and the last trumpet's
sound；he that would do good in his day and generation； and be a
fountain of Christian influence to all around him； influence known and
recognised long after he has been laid in his grave；let that man
remember what I tell。 him to…day； and never forget it。 You must not be
content to be an 〃almost〃 Christian； like Agrippa。 You must strive； and
labour； and agonize； and pray to be an 〃altogether〃 Christian； like St。
Paul。
And now； let us leave these three pictures with self…inquiry and
self…examination。 The time is short。 Our years are quickly passing
away。 The world is growing old。 The great assize will soon begin。 The
Judge will soon appear。 What are we？ To whom are we like？ Whose is this
image and superscription upon us？ Is it that of Festus； or of Agrippa；
or of St。 Paul？
Where are Festus and Agrippa now？ We do not know。 A veil is drawn over
their subsequent history； and whether they died as they lived we cannot
tell。 But where is St。 Paul； the 〃altogether〃 Christian？ That question
we can answer。 He is 〃with Christ； which is far better〃 （Phil。 1：23）。
He is waiting for the resurrection of the just； in that paradise of
rest where sin and Satan and sorrow can trouble him no more。 He has
fought the good fight。 He has finished his course； he has kept the
faith。 A crown is laid up for him which he will receive in the great
review day of the Lord's appearing （2 Tim。 4：7…8）。
And； let us thank God； though St。 Paul is dead and gone； the Saviour
who made St。 Paul what he was； and kept him to the end； still lives and
never changes；always able to save； always willing to receive。 Let the
time past suffice us； if we have trifled with our souls hitherto。 Let
us turn over a new leaf。 Let us arise and begin with Christ； if we
never began before。 Let us go on with Christ to the end； if we have
begun with Him already。 With the grace of God； nothing is impossible。
Who would have thought that Saul the Pharisee； the persecutor of
Christians； would ever bee the 〃altogether Christian〃 himself； would
bee the great Apostle of the Gentiles； and would turn the world
upside down？ While there is life there is hope。 The follower of Festus
and AgripPsalms may yet be converted； and live for years； and lie down
in the grave at last an 〃altogether〃 Christian like St。 Paul。
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＇10＇ This paper contains the substance of a sermon； preached in April
1881； at St。 Mary's； Oxford； before the University； and at the Chapel
Royal； St。 James's； London。
＇11＇ Luther； Beza； Grotius； Poole； Bengel； Stier； and Dean Howson。
__________________________________________________________________
CHAPTER XI
John 6：68。
〃TO WHOM？〃
＇12＇
〃Then Simon Peter answered Him； Lord； to whom shall we go？ Thou hast
the words of eternal life。〃John 6：68。
THE chapter containing the text which heads this page； is singularly
rich in matter。
It begins； we must remember； with that well…known miracle； the feeding
of five thousand men with five loaves and two fishes；a miracle which
some early writers call the greatest which Christ ever worked；the
only miracle which all the four Evangelists alike record；a miracle
which exhibited creative power。
It goes on to show us another miracle of hardly less striking
character； the walking of Christ on the waters of the sea of
Galilee；a miracle which exhibited our Lord's power； when He thought
fit； to suspend the so…called laws of nature。 It was as easy for Him to
walk on the water as it had been to create land and sea at the
beginning。
The chapter then carries us on to that wonderful discourse in the
synagogue of Capernaum； which St。 John alone； of all the four Gospel
writers； was inspired to give to the world。 Christ； the true bread of
life；the privileges of all who e to Him and believe；the deep
mystery of Mary's； in the year 1880。 It is now published with some
omissions and alterations eating Christ's flesh and drinking Christ's
blood； and the life which that flesh and blood convey；what a wealth
of precious truth lies here！ How great the debt which the Church owes
to the fourth Gospel！
And； finally； as the chapter draws to a close； we have the noble
outburst of the warm…hearted Apostle St。 Peter；〃Lord； to whom shall
we go？ Thou hast the words of eternal life。〃 In this remarkable verse
there are three points to which I now propose to
