莱尔主教upper_room-第49章
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（if； indeed； he can be delighted at all） as to injure a true Christian；
and make him bring discredit on his religion。 When I think of the
devil； I do not wonder that St。 Paul said； 〃Hold fast。〃 〃Let us hold
fast our profession。〃
Now I suspect that some reader of this paper may be secretly thinking
that I am an alarmist； and that there is no need of such watchfulness；
carefulness； and 〃holding fast。〃 I ask such a person to turn with me to
the Bible for a few moments； and to consider seriously what that
blessed book teaches。
I ask him to remember that Judas Iscariot and Demas both began well；
and made a good profession。 One was a chosen Apostle of our Lord Jesus
Christ； a constant panion of our blessed Saviour for three years。 He
walked with Him； talked with Him； heard His teaching； saw His miracles；
and up to the very night before our Lord was crucified was never
thought a worse man than Peter； James； or John。 Yet this unhappy man at
last let go his profession； betrayed his Master； came to a miserable
end； and went to his own place。The other man whom I named； Demas； was
a chosen panion of the Apostle St。 Paul； and professed to be of like
mind with that eminent man of God。 There can be little doubt that for
some years he journeyed with him； helped him； and took part in his
evangelistic labours。 But how did it all end？ He gave up his
profession； and the last Epistle St。 Paul wrote contains this
melancholy record： 〃 Demas has forsaken me； having loved this present
world〃 （2 Tim。 4：10）。 We never hear of him again。
To every one who thinks I have dwelt too much on the Christian's
dangers； I say this day； Remember Demas； remember Judas Iscariot；
tighten your grasp； 〃hold fast your profession；〃 and beware。 We may
appear to men to be very good Christians for a season； and yet prove at
last to be stony…ground hearers； and destitute of a wedding garment。
But this is not all。 I ask every believer to remember that if he does
not 〃hold fast；〃 he may pierce himself through with many sorrows； and
bring great discredit on his character。 We should never forget David's
awful fall in the matter of the wife of Uriah； and Peter's
thrice…repeated denial of his Master； and Cranmer's temporary
cowardice； of which he so bitterly repented at last。 Are we greater and
stronger than they？ 〃Let us not be high…minded； but fear。〃 There is a
godly fear which is of great use to the soul。 It was the great Apostle
of the Gentiles who wrote these words： 〃I keep under my body； and bring
it into subjection； lest； after I have preached to others； I myself
should be a castaway〃 （1 Cor。 9：27）。
Does any Christian reader of these pages desire much happiness in his
religion； and much joy and peace in believing？ Let him take an old
minister's advice this day； and '： hold fast his profession。〃 Let him
resolve to be very thorough； very decided； very watchful； very careful
about the state of his soul。 The more boldly he shows his colours； and
the more unpromising and firm he is； the lighter will he find his
heart； and the more sensibly will he feel the sun shining on his face。
None are so happy in God's service as decided Christians。 When John
Rogers； the first martyr in Queen Mary's time； was being led to
Smithfield to be burned； the French Ambassador reported that he looked
as bright and cheerful as if he were going to his wedding。
Does any Christian reader of these pages desire much usefulness to
others in his religion？ Let me assure him that none do so much good in
the long run of life； and leave such a mark on their generation； as
those who 〃hold fast their profession〃 most tightly； and are most
decided servants of Christ。 Few men； perhaps； did more for the cause of
the Protestant Reformation； and shook the power of Rome more pletely
in this country； than the two noble bishops who were burned back to
back at one stake in Oxford； and would not let go their faith to save
their lives。 I need not say that I refer to Ridley and Latimer。 The
careless； thoughtless； irreligious world takes notice of such men； and
is obliged to allow that there is something real and solid in their
religion。 The more light shines in our lives； the more good shall we do
in the world。 It is not for nothing that our Lord says； in the Sermon
on the Mount； 〃Let your light so shine before men； that they may see
your good works； and glorify your Father which is in heaven〃 （Matt。
5：16）。
Let us gather up all these things in our memories； and never forget
them。 Let it be a settled principle in our minds； that it is of
immeasurable importance to our happiness and usefulness to 〃hold fast
our profession；〃 and to be always on our guard。 Let us dismiss from our
minds the crude modern idea that a believer has only got to sit still；
and 〃yield himself〃 to God。 Let us rather maintain the language of
Scripture； and strive to 〃mortify the deeds of our body；〃 to 〃crucify
our flesh；〃 to 〃cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of flesh and
spirit；〃 to wrestle； to fight； and live the soldier's life （Rom。 8：13；
Gal。 5：24； 2 Cor。 7：1； Eph。 6：12； 1 Tim。 6：12； 2 Tim。 2：3）。 One might
think that the account of the armour of God in the Epistle to the
Ephesians ought to settle the question of our duty。 But the plain truth
is； men will persist in confounding two things that differ； that is
justification and sanctification。 In justification； the word to be
addressed to man is； Believe； only believe。 In sanctification； the word
must be； Watch； pray； and fight。 What God has divided； let us not
mingle and confuse。 I can find no words to express my own deep sense of
the immense importance of 〃holding fast our profession。〃
III。 In the last place； let us consider what encouragement there is to
Christians to hold fast their profession。
The Apostle St。 Paul was singularly fitted； both by grace and nature；
to handle this subject。 Of all the inspired writers in the New
Testament； none seems to have been so thoroughly taught of God to deal
with the conflicts of the human heart as St。 Paul。 None was better
acquainted with the dangers； diseases； and remedies of the soul。 The
proof of this is to be seen in the seventh chapter of his Epistle to
the Romans； and the fifth chapter of his Second Epistle to the
Corinthians。 Those two chapters ought to be frequently studied by every
Christian who wishes to understand his own heart。
Now what is the ground of encouragement which St。 Paul proposes？ He
tells us to 〃hold fast our profession；〃 and not let it go； because 〃we
have a great High Priest that is passed into the heavens； Jesus the Son
of God。〃
That word 〃High Priest〃 would ring with power in the ears of a Jewish
reader far more than it would in the ears of Gentile Christians。 It
would stir up in his mind the remembrance of many typical things in the
service of the tabernacle and temple。 It would make him recollect that
the Jewish high priest was a kind of mediator between God and the
people；that he alone went once every year into the Holy of Holies on
the day of atonement； and had access through the veil to the
mercy…seat；that he was a kind of daysman between the twelve tribes
and God； to lay his hand on both （Job。 9：33）；that he was the chief
minister over the house of God； who was intended 〃to have passion on
the ignorant and them that were out of the way〃 （Heb。 5：2）。 All these
things would give the Jews some idea of what St。 Paul meant when he
said； 〃Let us hold fast；〃 because we have got a great High Priest in
heaven。 The plain truth is； that the Christian is meant to understand
that we have a mighty； living Friend in heaven； who not only died for
us； but rose again； and after rising again took His seat at the right
hand of God； to be our Advocate and Intercessor with the Father until
He es again。 We are meant to understand that Christ not only died
for us； but is a
