莱尔主教holiness-第102章
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XVIII/
〃UNSEARCHABLE RICHES〃
〃Unto me； who am less than the least of all saints； is this grace
given； that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches
of Christ。〃 Ephesians iii。 8。
IF we heard that sentence read for the first time； I think we should
all feel it was a very remarkable one； even though we did not know by
whom it was written。 It is remarkable on account of the bold and
striking figures of speech which it contains。 〃Less than the least of
all saints；〃〃Unsearchable riches of Christ；〃these are indeed
〃thoughts that breathe and words that burn。〃
But the sentence is doubly remarkable when we consider the man who
wrote it。 The writer was none other than the great Apostle of the
Gentiles； St。 Paulthe leader of that noble little Jewish army which
went forth from Palestine nineteen centuries ago； and turned the world
upside downthat good soldier of Christ who left a deeper mark on
mankind than any born of woman； except his sinless Mastera mark which
abides to this very day。 Surely such a sentence from the pen of such a
man demands peculiar attention。
Let us fix our eyes steadily on this text； and notice in it three
things：
I。 First； what St。 Paul says of himself。 He says； 〃I am less than the
least of all saints。〃
II。 Secondly； what St。 Paul says of his ministerial office。 He says；
〃Grace is given unto me to preach。〃
III。 Thirdly； what St。 Paul says of the great subject of his preaching。
He calls it 〃the unsearchable riches of Christ。〃
I trust that a few words on each of these three points may help to
fasten down the whole text in memories； consciences； hearts； and minds。
I。 In the first place； let us notice what St。 Paul says of himself。
The language he uses is singularly strong。 The founder of famous
Churches； the writer of fourteen inspired epistles； the man who was
〃not behind the very chiefest apostles；〃 〃in labours more abundant； in
stripes above measure； in prisons more frequent； in deaths oft；〃the
man who 〃spent and was spent〃 for souls； and 〃counted all things but
loss for Christ；〃the man who could truly say； 〃To me to Eve is
Christ； and to die is gain；〃what do we find him saying of himself？ He
employs an emphatic parative and superlative。 He says； 〃I am less
than the least of all saints。〃 What a poor creature is the least saint！
Yet St。 Paul says； 〃I am less than that man。〃
Such language as this； I suspect； is almost unintelligible to many who
profess and call themselves Christians。 Ignorant alike of the Bible and
their own hearts； they cannot understand what a saint means when he
speaks so humbly of himself and his attainments。 〃It is a mere fashion
of speaking；〃 they will tell you； 〃it can only mean what St。 Paul used
to be； when he was a novice； and first began to serve Christ。〃 So true
it is that 〃the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of
God。〃 （1 Cor。 ii。 14。） The prayers； the praises； the conflicts； the
fears； the hopes； the joys； the sorrows of the true Christian； the
whole experience of the seventh of Romansall； all are 〃foolishness〃
to the man of the world。 Just as the blind man is no judge of a
Reynolds； or a Gainsborough； and the deaf cannot appreciate Handel's
Messiah； so the unconverted man cannot fully understand an apostle's
lowly estimate of himself。
But we may rest assured that what St。 Paul wrote with his pen； he
testily felt in his heart。 The language of our text does not stand
alone。 It is even exceeded in other places。 To the Philippians he says；
〃I have not attained； nor am I already perfect： I follow after。〃 To the
Corinthians he says； 〃I am the least of the apostles； which am not meet
to be called an apostle。〃 To Timothy he says； 〃I am chief of sinners。〃
To the Romans he cries； 〃Wretched man that I am I who shall deliver me
from the body of this death？〃 （Phil。 iii。 12； 1 Cor。 xv。 9； 1 Tim。 i。
15； Rom。 vii。 24。） The plain truth is that St。 Paul saw in his own
heart of hearts far more defects and infirmities than he saw in anyone
else。 The eyes of his understanding were so fully opened by the Holy
Spirit of God that he detected a hundred things wrong in himself which
the dull eyes of other men never observed at all。 In short； possessing
great spiritual light； he had great insight into his own natural
corruption； and was clothed from head to foot with humility； （1 Peter
v。 5。）
Now let us clearly understand that humility like St。 Paul's was not a
peculiar characteristic of the great apostle of the Gentiles。 On the
contrary； it is one leading mark of all the most eminent saints of God
in every age。 The more real grace men have in their hearts； the deeper
is their sense of sin。 The more light the Holy Ghost pours into their
souls； the more do they discern their own infirmities； defilements； and
darkness。 The dead soul feels and sees nothing； with life es clear
vision； a tender conscience and spiritual sensibility。 Observe what
lowly expressions Abraham； and Jacob； and Job； and David； and John the
Baptist； used about themselves。 Study the biographies of modern saints
like Bradford； and Hooker； and George Herbert； and Beveridge； and
Baxter； and McCheyne。 Mark how one mon feature of character belongs
to them alla very deep sense of sin。
Superficial and shallow professors in the warmth of their first love
may talk； if they will； of perfection。 The great saints； in every era
of Church history； from St。 Paul down to this day； have always been
〃clothed with humility。〃
He that desires to be saved； among the readers of this paper； let him
know this day that the first steps towards heaven are a deep sense of
sin and a lowly estimate of ourselves。 Let him cast away that weak and
silly tradition that the beginning of religion is to feel ourselves
〃good〃 Let him rather grasp that grand Scriptural principle； that we
must begin by feeling 〃bad〃； and that until we really feel 〃bad〃 we
know nothing of true goodness or saving Christianity。 Happy is he who
has learned to draw near to God with the prayer of the publican； 〃God
be merciful to me a sinner。〃 （Luke xviii。 13。）
Let us all seek humility。 No grace suits man so well What are we that
we should be proud？ Of all creatures born into the world； none is so
dependent as the child of Adam。 Physically looked at； what body
requires such care and attention； and is such a daily debtor to half
creation for food and clothing； as the body of man？ Mentally looked at；
how little do the wisest men know （and they are but few）； and how
ignorant the vast majority of mankind are； and what misery do they
create by their own folly！ 〃We are but of yesterday；〃 says the book of
Job； 〃and know nothing。〃 （Job viii。 9。） Surely there is no created
being on earth or in heaven that ought to be so humble as man。
Let us seek humility。 There is no grace which so befits an English
churchman。 Our matchless Prayer…book； from first to last； puts the
humblest language into the mouths of all who use it。 The sentences at
the beginning of morning and evening prayer； the General Confession；
the Litany； the munion Serviceall； all are replete with
lowly…minded and self…abasing expressions。 All； with one harmonious
voice； supply Church of England worshippers with clear teaching about
our right position in the sight of God。
Let us all seek more humility； if we know anything of it now。 The more
we have of it； the more Christlike we shall be。 It is written of our
blessed Master （though in Him there was no sin） that 〃being in the form
of God He thought it not robbery to be equal with God： but made Himself
of no reputation； and took upon Him the form of a servant； and was made
in the likeness of men： and being found in fashion as a man； He humbled
Himself； and became obedient unto death； even the death of the cross。〃
（Phil。 ii。 6…8。） And let us remember the words which precede t
