莱尔主教upper_room-第89章
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unto His death〃 （Phil。 3：10）。 I want you to be able to say of Him； He
is my peace and my strength； my life and my consolation； my Physician
and my Shepherd； my Saviour and my God。
Why do I make such a point of this？ I do it because in Christ alone
〃all fulness dwells〃 （Col。 1：19）；because in Him alone there is full
supply of all that we require for the necessities of our souls。 Of
ourselves we are all poor； empty creatures；…empty of righteousness
and peace；empty of strength and fort； …empty of courage and
patience；…empty of power to stand； or go on； or make progress in this
evil world。 It is in Christ alone that all these things are to be
found； grace； peace； wisdom； righteousness； sanctification； and
redemption。 It is just in proportion as we bye upon Him； that we are
strong Christians。 It is only when self is nothing and Christ is all
our confidence； it is then only that we shall do great exploits。 Then
only are we armed for the battle of life； and shall overe。 Then only
are we prepared for the journey of life； and shall get forward。 To live
on Christ into draw all from Christ；to do all in the strength of
Christ；to be ever looking unto Christ；this is the true secret of
spiritual prosperity。 〃I can do all things；〃 says Paul； 〃through Christ
which strengtheneth me 〃 （Phil。 4：13）。
Young men； I set before you Jesus Christ this day； as the treasury of
your souls； and I invite you to begin by going to Him； if you would so
run as to obtain。 Let this be your first step；go to Christ。 Do you
want to consult friends？He is the best friend： 〃a friend that
sticketh closer than a brother〃 （Prov。 18：24）。 Do you feel unworthy
because of your sins？ Fear not： His blood cleanseth from all sin。 He
says； 〃Though your sins be as scarlet； they shall be as white as snow：
though they be red like crimson； they shall be as wool〃 （Isa。 1：18）。 Do
you feel weak； and unable to follow Him？Fear not： He will Eve you
power to bee sons of God。 He will give you the Holy Ghost to dwell
in you； and seal you for His own； a new heart will He give you； and a
new spirit will He put within you。 Are you troubled or beset with
peculiar infirmities？Fear not： there is no evil spirit that Jesus
cannot cast out；there is no disease of soul that He cannot heal。 Do
you feel doubts and fears？Cast them aside： 〃 e unto Me；〃 He says；
〃him that eth I will in no wise cast out。〃 He knows well the heart
of a young man。 He knows your trials and your temptations； your
difficulties and your foes。 In the days of His flesh He was like
yourselves；a young man at Nazareth。 He knows by experience a young
man's mind。 He can be touched with the feeling of your infirmities；…
for He suffered Himself； being tempted。 Surely you will be without
excuse if you turn away from such a Saviour and Friend as this。
Hear the request I make of you this day；…if you love life； seek to
bee acquainted with Jesus Christ。
（3） For another thing； never forget that nothing is so important as
your soul。
Your soul is eternal。 It will live for ever。 The world and all that it
contains shall pass away；firm； solid； beautiful； well…ordered as it
is； the world shall e to an end。 〃The earth and the works that are
therein shall be burned up〃 （2 Pet。 3：10）。 The works of statesmen；
writers； painters； architects； are all short…lived： your soul will
outlive them all。 The angel's voice shall proclaim one day； that 〃Time
shall be no longer〃 （Rev。 10：6）。But that shall never be said of your
souls。
Try； I beseech you； to realize the fact； that your soul is the one
thing worth living for。 It is the part of you which ought always to be
first considered。 No place； no employment is good for you； which
injures your soul。 No friend； no panion deserves your confidence；
who makes light of your soul's concerns。 The man who hurts your person；
your property； your character； does you but temporary harm。 He is the
true enemy who contrives to damage your soul。
Think for a moment what you were sent into the world for。 Not merely to
eat and drink； and indulge the desires of the flesh；not merely to
dress out your body； and follow its lusts whithersoever they may lead
you；not merely to work； and sleep； and laugh； and talk； and enjoy
yourselves； and think of nothing but time。 No！ you were meant for
something higher and better than this。 You were placed here to train
for eternity。 Your body was only intended to be a house for your
immortal spirit。 It is flying in the face of God's purposes to do as
many do；to make the soul a servant to the body； and not the body a
servant to the soul。 ＇28＇
Young men； God is no respecter of persons。 He regards no man's coat； or
purse； or rank； or position。 He sees not with man's eyes。 The poorest
saint that ever died in a workhouse is nobler in His sight than the
richest sinner that ever died in a palace。 God does not look at riches；
titles； learning； beauty； or anything of the kind。 One thing only God
does look at； and that is the immortal soul。 He measures all men by one
standard； one measure； one test； one criterion； and that is the state
of their souls。
Do not forget this。 Keep in view； morning； noon； and night； the
interests of your soul。 Rise up each day desiring that it may
prosper；lie down each evening inquiring of yourself whether it has
really got on。 Remember Zeuxis； the great painter of old。 When men
asked him why he laboured so intensely； and took such extreme pains
with every picture； his simple answer was； 〃I paint for eternity。〃 Do
not be ashamed to be like him。 Set your immortal soul before your
mind's eye； and when men ask you why you live as you do； answer them in
his spirit； 〃I live for my soul。〃 Believe me； the day is fast ing
when the soul will be the one thing men will think of； and the only
question of importance will be this； 〃Is my soul lost or saved？〃
（4） For another thing； remember it is possible to be a young man and
yet to serve God。
I fear the snares that Satan lays for you on this point。 I fear lest he
succeed in filling your minds with the vain notion； that to be a true
Christian in youth is impossible。 I have seen many carried away by this
delusion。 I have heard it said； 〃You are requiring impossibilities in
expecting so much religion from young people。 Youth is no time for
seriousness。 Our desires are strong； and it was never intended that we
should keep them under； as you wish us to do。 God meant us to enjoy
ourselves。 There will be time enough for religion by and by。〃 And this
kind of talk is only too much encouraged by the world。 The world is
only too ready to wink at youthful sins。 The world appears to think it
a matter of course that young men must 〃sow their wild oats。〃 The world
seems to take it for granted young people must be irreligious； and that
it is not possible for them to follow Christ。
Young men； I will ask you this simple question；Where will you find
anything of all this in the Word of God？ Where is the chapter or verse
in the Bible which will support this talking and reasoning of the
world？ Does not the Bible speak to old and young alike； without
distinction？ Is not sin； sin； whether mitted at the age of twenty or
fifty？ Will it form the slightest excuse； in the day of judgment； to
say； 〃I know I sinned； but then I was young〃？ Show your mon sense； I
beg of you； by giving up such vain excuses。 You are responsible and
accountable to God from the very moment that you know right and wrong。
I know well there are many difficulties in a young man's way； I allow
it fully。 But there are always difficulties in the way of doing right。
The path to heaven is always narrow； whether we be young or old。
There are difficulties；…but God will give you grace to overe them。
God is no hard master。 He will not； like Pharaoh； require you to make
bricks without straw。 He will take care the path of plain duty i
