莱尔主教upper_room-第56章
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there will be an end of this state of things in the kingdom of heaven。
Those who are saved will find none there who have not been led by the
same Spirit； and gone through the same experience as themselves。 There
will not be a man or woman there who has not felt deeply the burden of
sin； mourned over it； confessed it； fought with it； and tried to
crucify it。 There will not be a man or woman there who has not fled to
Christ by faith； cast the whole weight of his soul upon Him； and
rejoiced in Him as his Redeemer。 There will not be a man or woman there
who has not delighted in the Word of God； poured out his soul in prayer
at the throne of grace； and striven to live a holy life。 In a word；
there will be none there who have not known something of repentance
toward God； faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ； and holiness of life
and conversation。 It is pleasant to meet a few people of this kind on
earth as we travel along the narrow way that leads to heaven。 It
refreshes us like a brook by the way； and is like a little peep within
the veil。 But what will it be when we see 〃a multitude； which no man
can number；〃 of saints pletely delivered from all sin； and not one
single unconverted person among them to mar the harmony！
What shall it be when we shall meet our own believing friends once
more； at last made perfect； and find that their besetting sins； and our
own besetting sins； have all passed away； and there is nothing left in
us but grace without corruption！ Yet all this is to e when we pass
within the veil。 The inhabitants are not to be a mixed multitude；
unable to understand one another。 They are all to be of one heart and
of one mind。 We are not to sit down amidst ignorant； godless； and
unconverted people； but 〃with Abraham； Isaac； and Jacob in the kingdom
of heaven。〃 Heaven itself would be no heaven if all sorts of characters
got there； as some people falsely teach。 There could be no order and no
happiness in such a heaven。 There must be 〃meetness for the inheritance
of the saints in light〃 （Col。 1：12）。
（1） And now； reader； before you lay down this paper； ask yourself
whether you shall be found among the many who shall 〃sit down in the
kingdom of heaven。〃 The question demands an answer。 I charge you to
give your soul no rest until you can answer it in a satisfactory way。
Time is passing quickly away； and the world is growing old。 The signs
of the times ought to set us all thinking。 〃The distress of nations
with perplexity〃 seems to increase every year。 The wisdom of statesmen
seems utterly unable to prevent wars and confusion in every direction。
The progress of art； and science； and civilization appear entirely
powerless to prevent the existence of enormous moral evils。 Nothing
will ever cure the diseases of human nature but the return of the Great
Physician； the Prince of Peace； the second ing of Jesus Christ
Himself。 And when He es； shall you be found among the 〃many〃 who
shall 〃sit down with Abraham； Isaac； and Jacob in the kingdom of
heaven〃？
Why should you not be found among the many？ I know no reason except
your own want of will； or your own indolence and laziness； or your own
determined love of sin and the world。 An open door is before you： why
not enter into it？ The Lord Jesus Christ is able and ready to save you：
why not mit your soul to Him； and lay hold on the hand which He
holds out from heaven？ I repeat that I know no reason why you should
not be found amongst the 〃many〃 at the last day。
You fancy there is time enough； and no need of hurry or immediate
decision。 You had better take care what you are saying。 It is not given
to all men and women to live to threescore years and ten； and then die
quietly in their beds。 The notice to quit this mortal body sometimes
es very suddenly； and men and women are summoned to go forth in a
moment into the unseen world。 You had better use time while you have
it； and not make shipwreck on that miserable rock； 〃a convenient
season。〃
Are you afraid that people will laugh at you； and mock you； if you
begin to care for your soul； and to seek a place in the kingdom of
heaven？ Cast the cowardly feeling behind your back； and resolve never
to be ashamed of religion。 Alas！ there are too many who will find at
last that they were laughed out of heaven； and laughed into hell。 Fear
not the reproach of man； who at most can only injure your body。 Fear
Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell。 Lay hold boldly
on Christ； and He will give you the victory over all that you now fear。
He that enabled the Apostle Peter； who once ran away and denied his
Master； to stand firm as a rock before the Jewish Council； and at
length to die for the gospel； is still living at the right hand of God；
and is able to save to the uttermost all who e to God by Him； and to
make you more than conqueror。
Do you think that you will not be happy if you seek to have your soul
saved； and to sit down in the kingdom of heaven？ Cast aside the
unworthy thought as a lying suggestion of the devil。 There are no
people so truly happy as true Christians。 Whatever a sneering world may
please to say； they have meat to eat which the world knows not； and
inward forts which the world cannot understand。 There is no
gloominess in true religion； and no religion in looking gloomy； sour；
or austere。 In spite of cross and conflict； the true Christian has an
inward peace pared to which the world has nothing to give； for it is
a peace which trouble； bereavement； sickness； and death itself cannot
take away。 The words of the Master are strictly true； 〃Peace I leave
with you； My peace I give unto you： not as the world giveth； give I
unto you。 Let not your heart be troubled； neither let it be afraid〃
（John 14：27）。 If men and women want to be truly happy； they should
strive to be amongst those who 〃shall sit down in the kingdom of
heaven。〃
（2） Last； but not least； let me wind up all by offering a word of
exhortation and encouragement to those who have reason to hope that
they are among the many who shall sit down in the kingdom of heaven。
Would you have much joy and peace in believing？ Try to do all the good
you can in the world。 There is always much to be done； and few to do
it。 There are always many living and dying in ignorance and sin； and no
one goes near them； and tries to save their souls。 We live in days when
there is much talk about High Churchism； and Low Churchism； and Broad
Churchism； and Ritualism； and Rationalism； and Scepticism； but little
real Christian work done to mend the evils of the times！ If all the
municants in all our churches laid themselves out to go among those
who are without God in the world； with the Bible in their hands； and
Christlike loving sympathy in their hearts； they would soon be far
happier than they are now； and the face of society would soon be
changed。 Idleness is one great cause of the low spirits of which so
many plain。 Too many； far too many Christians； seem quite content to
go to heaven alone； and to care nothing about bringing others into the
kingdom of God。
If you try to do good in the right way； you never need doubt that good
will be done。 Many a Sunday…school teacher es home on Sunday night
with a heavy heart； and fancies that his or her labour is all in vain。
Many a visitor returns from his rounds； and thinks he is producing no
effect。 Many a minister es down from his pulpit desponding and cast
down； imagining that his preaching is to no purpose。 But all this is
disgraceful unbelief。 There is often far more going on in hearts and
consciences than we see。 〃He that goeth forth weeping； but sowing
precious seed； shall e again with joy at the last day； and bring his
sheaves with him〃 （Ps。 126：6）。 There are more being converted and saved
than we suppose。 〃Many shall sit down in the kingdom of heaven〃 whom we
never expected
