莱尔主教upper_room-第52章
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not thought so now。 The old order of things has passed away。 You may
believe anything or nothing on these subjects； so long as you are
earnest and sincere。 Holding 。fast has given way to holding loose。
How is it in matters of worship and ritual？ It used to be thought
important to be content with the plain teaching of the Prayer Book。 It
is not thought so now。 You must have the Lord's Table called an altar；
and the sacrament called a sacrifice； without the slightest warrant in
the Prayer Book； and a ceremonial fitted to these novel views。 And then
if you plain； you are told that you are very narrow and illiberal；
and that a clergyman ought to be allowed to do and say and teach
anything； if he is only earnest and sincere。 Holding fast has given way
to holding loose。
How is it in the matter of holy living？ It used to be thought important
to 〃renounce the pomps and vanity of this wicked world；〃 and to keep
clear of races； theatre…going； balls； card…playing； and the like。 It is
not thought so now。 You may do anything and go anywhere you please； so
long as you keep Lent； and occasionally attend early munion？ You
must not be so very strict and particular！ Once more I say； holding
fast has given way to holding loose。
This state of things； to say the least； is not satisfactory； It is full
of peril。 It shows a condition of Christianity which； I am certain；
would not have satisfied St。 Paul or St。 John。 The world was not turned
upside down by such vague； loose doctrine and practice eighteen
centuries ago。 The souls of men in the present day will never receive
much benefit from such loose Christianity either in England or anywhere
else。 Decision in teaching and living is the only Christianity which
God has blessed in the ages that are past； or will continue to bless in
our own time。 Loose； vague； misty； broad Christianity may avoid offence
and please people in health and prosperity； but it will not convert
souls； or supply solid fort in the hour of sorrow or sickness； or on
the bed of death。
The plain truth is； that 〃sincerity and earnestness〃 are being the
idol of many English Christians in these latter days。 People seem to
think it matters little what opinions a man holds in religion； so long
as he is 〃earnest and sincere；〃 and you are thought uncharitable if you
doubt his soundness in the faith！ Against this idolatry of mere
〃earnestness〃 I enter my solemn protest。 I charge every reader of this
paper to remember that God's written Word is the only rule of faith；
and to believe nothing to be true and soul…saving in religion which
cannot be proved by plain texts of Scripture。 I entreat him to read the
Bible； and make it his only test of truth and error； right and wrong。
And for the last time I say； 〃Hold fast； and not loose；hold fast your
profession。〃
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CHAPTER XIII
Matt。 8：11。
MANY
〃Many shall e from the east and west； and shall sit down with
Abraham； Isaac； and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven。〃Matt。 8：11。
THE words of Scripture which head this page were spoken by our Lord
Jesus Christ。 You may take them either as a prophecy or as a promise。
In either point of view they are deeply interesting； and contain much
food for thought。
Take the words as a prophecy； and remember that they are sure to be
fulfilled The Bible contains many predictions of things most unlikely
and improbable； which have yet proved true。 Was it not said of Ishmael；
the father of the Arabian race； that he was to be a 〃wild man； his hand
against every man； and every man's hand against him〃？ （Gen。 16：12）。 We
see the fulfilment of those words at this very day； when we look at the
tribes in the Sudan； or observe the ways of the Bedouins。Was it not
said of Egypt that it was finally to bee 〃the basest of kingdoms；〃
and its inhabitants a people who could neither govern themselves nor be
governed？ （Ezek。 29：15）。 We see the fulfilment of those words at this
very day along the whole valley of the Nile； and every statesman in
Europe knows it to his sorrow。 It will be just the same with the
prophecy before our eyes。 〃Many shall sit down in the kingdom of
heaven。〃
Take the words as a promise。 It was spoken for the encouragement of the
Apostles； and of all Christian ministers and teachers down to the
present day。 We are often tempted to think that preaching； and
teaching； and visiting； and trying to bring souls to Christ does no
good； and that our labour is all thrown away。 But here is the promise
of One who 〃cannot lie；〃 and never failed to keep HIS word。 He cheers
us with a gracious sentence。 He would have us not faint or give way to
despair。 Whatever we may think； and however little success we may see；
there is a Scripture before us which cannot be broken； 〃Many shall sit
down in the kingdom of heaven。〃
I。 We have first in these words the number of those who shall be saved。
Our Lord Jesus Christ declares that they shall be 〃many。〃
How strange that word 〃many〃 sounds！ Will any be saved who are not born
again； washed in Christ's blood； and sanctified by the Holy Ghost？ Will
any be saved （except infants） who have not repented of sin； believed on
the Lord Jesus for forgiveness； and been made holy in heart？ None；
none； certainly none。 If men and women can be saved without repentance；
faith； and holiness； we may as well throw the Bible away； and give up
Christianity altogether。
But are there many people of this kind to be seen in the world？ Alas！
there are very few。 The believers whom we see and know are 〃a little
flock。〃 〃Strait is the gate； and narrow is the way； which leadeth unto
life； and few there be that find it〃 （Matt。 7：14）。 Few are to be seen
in towns； and few in country parishes l Few among the rich； and few
among the poor！ Few among the old； and few among the young！ Few among
the learned； and few among the unlearned！ Few in palaces； and few in
cottages！ It is an abiding sorrow with all true Christians that they
meet so few with whom they can pray； and praise； and read the Bible；
and talk of spiritual things。 They often feel to stand alone。 Many are
the people who never go to any place of worship from the first day of
January to the last day of December； and seem to live without God in
the world。 Few are the municants in any congregationa mere handful
pared to those who never go to the Lord's table at all。 Few are the
men and women who do anything for the cause of Christ upon earth； or
appear to care whether those around them are lost or saved。 Can any one
deny these things？ Impossible！ Yet here is our Lord Jesus Christ
saying； 〃Many shall sit down in the kingdom of heaven。〃
Now； why did our Lord say so？ He never made a mistake； and all that He
says is true。 Let me try to throw some light on this question。
（a） There shall be 〃many〃 when all are gathered together who have died
in the Lord； from Abel； the first saint； down to the last who is found
alive when the trumpet sounds； and the resurrection takes place。 They
shall be a 〃multitude which no man can number〃 （Rev。 7：9）。
（b） There shall be 〃many〃 when all the infants who died before they
knew good from evil； or their right hand from their left； are called
from their little graves； and assembled。 Few； probably； are aware what
an enormous proportion of children never live for a year！ They shall be
〃a multitude which no man can number。〃
（c） There shall be 〃many〃 when all the believers of every name； and
nation； and people； and tongue； the Old Testament saints； like Enoch；
and Noah； and Abraham； and Isaac； and Jacob； and Moses； and David； and
the prophets；the saints of the New Testament； like the Apostles； the
saints among the primitive Christians； and the Reformers；… when all
these are brought together； they will be 〃a multitude which no man can
number。〃
（d）
