莱尔主教upper_room-第47章
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disciples。 But these were exceptional cases。 As a general rule； it was
not worth while for a man to profess Christianity if his heart was not
entirely in his profession。 It cost much。 It brought on a man the risk
of a vast amount of trouble； and brought in very little gain。 The whole
result was； that the proportion of sincere； right…hearted； and
converted persons in the Church of the Apostle's days was far greater
than it ever has been at any other period in the last eighteen
centuries。 There was a very deep meaning in St。 Paul's words when he
said； 〃Let us hold fast our profession。〃
In the days in which we live； 〃profession〃 is a very different thing。
Millions of people profess and call themselves Christians； whom the
Apostle would not have called Christians at all。 Millions are annually
baptized； and added to the rolls and registers of churches； who have
little or no religion。 Many of them live and die without ever attending
a place of worship； and live very ungodly lives。 Many more only go to a
church or chapel occasionally； or once on Sunday at the most。 Many
others pass through life without ever being municants； and live
and die in the habitual neglect of that Holy Sacrament which the Lord
manded to be received。 Most of these people are reckoned Christians
while they live； and are buried with Christian burial when they die。
But what would St。 Paul have said of them？ I fear there can be no doubt
about the answer。 He would have said they did not deserve to be
reckoned members of any Church at all！ He would not have addressed them
as 〃saints and faithful brethren in Christ Jesus。〃 He would not have
called upon them to 〃hold fast their profession。〃 He would have told
them they had no profession to hold fast； and that they were 〃yet dead
in trespasses and sins〃 （Eph。 2：1）。 All this is sorrowful and painful；
but it is only too true。 Let those deny it who dare。
Let us； however； thank God that there are not a few to be found in
every part of Christendom who really are what they profess to betrue；
sincere； earnest…minded； hearty； converted； believing Christians。 Some
of them； no doubt； belong to churches in which their souls get little
help。 Some of them have very imperfect knowledge； and hold the truth in
solution； with a mixture of many defective views。 But they have all
certain mon marks about them。 They see the value of their souls； and
really want to be saved。 They feel the sinfulness of sin； and hate it；
and fight with it； and long to be free from it。 They see that Jesus
Christ alone can save them； and that they ought to trust only in Him。
They see that they ought to live holy and godly lives； and in their
poor way they try to do it。 They love their Bibles； and they pray；
though both their reading and their praying are very defective。 Some of
them； in short； are in the highest standard of Christ's school； and are
strong in knowledge； faith； and love。 Others are only in the infants'
room； and in everything are weak and poor。 But in one point they are
all one。 Their hearts are right in the sight of God； they love Christ；
their faces are set towards heaven； and they want to go there。 These
are those in the present day to whom I wish in this paper to apply St。
Paul's exhortation； 〃Let us hold fast our profession。〃 Let us cling to
it； and not let it go。
Now I cannot forget that we meet thousands of persons in daily life who
are always saying； 〃I make no profession of religion。〃 They not only
say it； but rather glory in saying it； as if it was a right； wise； and
proper thing to say。 They seem even to despise those who make a
profession； and to regard them as hypocrites and impostors； or； at any
rate； as weak and foolish people。 If this paper happens to fall into
the hands of any person of this kind； I have somewhat to say to him；
and I invite his best attention。
I do not deny that there are many hypocrites in religion。 There always
were； and there always will be； as long as the world stands。 As long as
there is good gold and silver coin in the realm； so long there will be
forging； coining； and counterfeit money。 The very existence of bad
coins is an indirect proof that there is something which it is worth
while to imitate； and that there is such a thing as good current money
in circulation。 It is just the same with Christianity！ The very fact
that there are many false professors in the churches is an indirect
proof that there are such persons as true…hearted and sound believers。
It is one of Satan's favourite devices； in order to bring discredit on
Christianity； to persuade some unhappy people to profess what they do
not really believe。 He tries to damage the cause of our Lord Jesus
Christ in the world by sending out wolves in sheep's clothing； and by
raising up men and women who talk the language of Canaan； and wear the
coat of God's children； while they are inwardly rotten at heart。 But
these things do not justify a man in condemning all religious
profession。
I tell those who boast that they make no profession； that they are only
exhibiting their own sorrowful ignorance of Holy Scripture。 The
hypocrisy of some unhappy people must never prevent us doing our own
duty； without caring what men may say or think of us。 We must never be
ashamed of showing ourselves boldly on Christ's side； by honouring His
word； His day； and His ordinances； by speaking up for Christ's cause on
all proper occasions； and by firmly refusing to conform to the sins and
the follies of the children of this world。 The words of our Lord Jesus
Christ ought never to be forgotten： 〃Whosoever shall be ashamed of Me
and of My words； of him shall the Son of man be ashamed when He shall
e in His own glory； and in His Father's； and of the holy angels〃
（Luke 9：26）。 If we will not confess Christ upon earth； and openly
profess that we are His servants； we must not expect that Christ will
confess us in heaven at the last day。
In short； the very last thing that a man should be ashamed of is the
〃profession〃 of religion。 There are many things unhappily of which most
people seem not ashamed at all。 Ill…temper； selfishness； want of
charity； laziness； malice； backbiting； lying； slandering； intemperance；
impurity； gambling； Sabbath…breaking；all these are terribly mon
things among men； and of most of them people do not seem a bit ashamed；
though they ought to be！ They that habitually 〃do such things will not
inherit the kingdom of God〃 （Gal。 5：21）。 But of Bible…reading； praying；
holy living； and working for the good of bodies and souls； no one ever
need be ashamed。 These may be things which many laugh at； dislike； and
despise； and have no taste for； but they are the very things with which
God is well pleased。 Once more； I repeat； whatever men may say； the
very last thing of which we ought to be ashamed is our 〃profession〃 of
faith in Christ； and obedience to Christ。
II。 Let us； in the second place； consider； Why St。 Paul says； 〃Let us
hold fast our profession。〃 The answer to this question is threefold；
and demands the serious attention of all who hope that they are really
sincere in their Christian profession。
（a） For one thing； OUR HEARTS are always weak and foolish； even after
conversion。 We may have passed from death to life； and be renewed in
the spirit of our minds。 We may see the value of our souls； as we once
did not。 We may have bee new creatures； old things may have passed
away； and all things may have bee new。 But believers must never
forget that until they die they carry about with them a weak； foolish；
and treacherous heart。 The roots of all manner of evil are still within
us； although cut down to the ground by the grace of the Holy Ghost。
Whether we like to acknowledge it or not； there are within us； at our
very best； latent dislike of trouble； secret desire to please man and
keep in with the world； c
