莱尔主教upper_room-第54章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
New Zealand and the Islands of the Pacific Ocean； from Africa and from
Mexico。 Some will have laid their bones in solitary graves like Henry
Martyn in Persia； with none to do them honour in their death。 Some will
have been buried at sea with a sailor's funeral。 Some will have died
the death of martyrs； and been burnt to ashes like our own Reformers。
Some will have fallen victims to malignant climates； or heathen
violence at missionary stations。 And some will have died； like Moses；
in places where no human eye saw them。 But they shall all e
together； and meet again in the kingdom of heaven。 It matters little
where we are buried； and how we are buried； and in what kind of a
grave。 China is just as near to heaven as England is； and the sea shall
give up her dead at the same moment as the land。 Our coffin； and our
funeral； and the burial service； and the long procession of mourners；
are all matters of very secondary importance。 The one point we should
aim to make sure； from whatever place we may e； is to be amongst
those who 〃shall sit down in the kingdom of heaven。〃
（c） They shall e from utterly different ranks； classes； and
professions。 Heaven will be a place for servants as well as masters；
for maids as well as mistresses； for poor as well as rich； for the
unlearned as well as the learned； for tenants as well as landlords； for
subjects as well as rulers； for the pauper as well as the Queen。 There
is no royal road to heaven； and there will be no class distinctions
when we get there。 At length there will be perfect equality； perfect
fraternity； and perfect freedom。 It will matter nothing whether we had
much money on earth； or none at all。 The only question will be； whether
we have really repented of our sins； really believed on the Lord Jesus；
and were really converted and sanctified people。 There will be no
preference given to those who have e from monasteries； nunneries； or
hermits' caves。 It is very likely that those who have done their duty
in that state of life to which God called them； and have carried
Christ's cross in the army or the navy； in Parliament or at the bar； in
the bank or the merchant's office； behind the counter or at the bottom
of a coal…pit； will be found in the first rank in the kingdom of
heaven。 It is not necessary to wear a peculiar dress； or to put on an
austere countenance； and to retire from the world； in order to sit down
in the kingdom of heaven。
（d） They shall e from most unlikely places； and from positions in
which you would have thought the seed of eternal life could never have
grown up in a soul。 Saul； the young Pharisee； came from the feet of
Gamaliel； and from persecuting Christians； and rose to be the great
Apostle of the Gentiles； who turned the world upside down。 Daniel lived
in Babylon； and served God faithfully in the midst of idolatry and
heathenism。 Peter was once a fisherman on the sea of Galilee。 Matthew
was a public tax…gatherer； who spent his days in receiving custom。
Luther and Latimer began life as devoted Papists； and ended life as
devoted Protestants。 John Bunyan； the author of the Pilgrim's Progress；
was once a careless； thoughtless； swearing； bell…ringing young man； in
a country village。 George Whitefield served in a public…house at
Gloucester； and spent his early days in cleaning pots and carrying out
beer。 John Newton； the author of well…known hymns and letters； was once
the captain of a slave…ship on the coasts of Africa； and saw no harm in
buying and selling human flesh and blood。 All these truly 〃came from
east and west；〃 and seemed at one time in their lives the most unlikely
people in the world to e to Christ； and 〃sit down in the kingdom of
heaven。〃 But they did e unmistakably； and they are an everlasting
proof that our Lord Jesus Christ's words are strictly true。 Men and
women may 〃e from the east and west；〃 and yet be found at last in
the kingdom of eternal happiness and glory。
Let us learn never to despair of the salvation of any one as long as he
lives。 Fathers ought never to despair of prodigal sons。 Mothers ought
never to despair of self…willed； headstrong daughters。 Husbands should
never despair of wives； nor wives of husbands。 There is nothing
impossible with God。 The arm of grace is very long； and can reach those
who seem very far off。 The Holy Ghost can change any heart。 The blood
of Christ can cleanse away any sin。 Let us pray on； and hope on for
others； however unlikely their salvation may appear to be at present。
We shall see many in heaven whom we never expected to see there。 The
last may yet prove first； and the first last。 The famous Grimshaw； the
Apostle of Yorkshire； when he died； left his only son unconverted；
careless； thoughtless； and indifferent to religion。 The day came when
the young man's heart was changed； and he walked in the steps of his
father。 And when he lay upon his death…bed； one of his last words was；
〃What will my old father say when he sees me in heaven！〃
Let us learn not to sorrow 〃as those who have no hope；〃 when we part
from friends who are true Christians； and part； perhaps； for ever。 The
separations and goodbyes of this world are probably some of its most
painful things。 When the family circle is broken up； when the old nest
begins to lose its inmates； when the young man sets sail for Australia；
New Zealand； or the Fiji Islands； with no hope of returning for ten or
twelve years；when these things take place； it is a sore trial to
flesh and blood。 I have witnessed scenes on the landing…stage at
Liverpool； when the great steamships are about to start for America；
which might bring tears to the eyes of the most cold…hearted stranger。
The partings of this world are terrible things； but true faith in
Christ； and the resurrection to eternal life through Him； takes the
sting out of the worst of partings。 It enables a believer to look
beyond the things seen to the things unseen； to the ing of the
Saviour； and our gathering together unto Him。 Yes； it is a pleasant
thing to remember； as the great ship moves away； and we wave our last
adieus； 〃it is but a little time； and we shall see them all again to
part no more。〃 God's people shall e together from east and west； and
we shall all meet at last 〃in the kingdom of heaven；〃 and go out no
more。
III。 We have； thirdly； in our Lord Jesus Christ's words； the future
portion and reward of those who shall be finally saved。 It is written；
〃they shall sit down in the kingdom of heaven。〃
That expression； 〃sit down；〃 is a very pleasant and fortable one to
my mind。 Let us sift it； and examine it； and see what it contains。 In
the judgment day； believers shall STAND with boldness at the right hand
of Christ； and say； 〃Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's
elect。？ it is God that justifieth。 Who is he that condemneth？ It is
Christ that died； yea rather； that is risen again； who is even at the
right hand of God； who also maketh intercession for us〃 （Rom。 8：33…34）。
But when the judgment is passed and over； and the eternal kingdom
begins； they shall 〃SIT DOWN。〃
（a） Sitting down implies a sense of confidence and being at home。 If we
were in the presence of a stern judge； or of a king clothed in awful
majesty； we should not dare to sit down。 But there will be nothing to
make believers afraid in the kingdom of heaven。 The sins of their past
lives will not make them tremble and feel alarmed。 However many；
however great； and however black； they will all have been washed away
in Christ's precious blood； and not one spot will remain。 pletely
justified； pletely absolved； pletely forgiven； pletely
〃accepted in the Beloved；〃 they will be counted righteous before God
for the sake of Him who was 〃made sin for us； though He knew no sin 〃
（2 Cor。 5：21）。 Though the sins of their lives 〃were as scarlet； they
shall be made white as snow； and though red lik
