莱尔主教holiness-第28章
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Christ long before。 The experience of that eminent saint； Philip Henry；
does not stand alone。 In his last days he said to his family； 〃I take
you all to record that a life spent in the service of Christ is the
happiest life that a man can spend upon earth。〃 Surely this is good！
（f） The Christian's fight is a good fight； because it does good to the
world。 All other wars have a devastating； ravaging； and injurious
effect。 The march of an army through a land is an awful scourge to the
inhabitants。 Wherever it goes it impoverishes； wastes； and does harm。
Injury to persons； property； feelings； and morals invariably
acpanies it。 Far different are the effects produced by Christian
soldiers。 Wherever they live they are a blessing。 They raise the
standard of religion and morality。 They invariably check the progress
of drunkenness。 Sabbath…breaking； profligacy； and dishonesty。 Even
their enemies are obliged to respect them。 Go where you please； you
will rarely find that barracks and garrisons do good to the
neighbourhood。 But go where you please； you will find that the presence
of a few true Christians is a blessing。 Surely this is good！
（g） Finally； the Christian's fight is good； because it ends in a
glorious reward for all who fight it。 Who can tell the wages that
Christ will pay to all His faithful people？ Who can estimate the good
things that our Divine Captain has laid up for those who confess Him
before men？ A grateful country can give to her successful warriors
medals； Victoria Crosses； pensions； peerages； honours； and titles。 But
it can give nothing that will last and endure for ever； nothing that
can be carried beyond the grave。 Palaces like Blenheim and
Strathfieldsay can only be enjoyed for a few years。 The bravest
generals and soldiers must go down one day before the King of Terrors。
Better； far better； is the position of him who fights under Christ's
banner against sin； the world； and the devil。 He may get little praise
of man while he lives； and go down to the grave with little honour； but
he shall have that which is far better； because far more enduring。 He
shall have 〃a crown of glory that fadeth not away。〃 （1 Pet。 v。 4。）
Surely this is good！
Let us settle it in our minds that the Christian fight is a good
fightreally good； truly good； emphatically good。 We see only part of
it as yet。 We see the struggle； but not the end； we see the campaign；
but not the reward； we see the cross； but not the crown。 We see a few
humble； broken…spirited； penitent； praying people； enduring hardships
and despised by the world； but we see not the hand of God over them；
the face of God smiling on them； the kingdom of glory prepared for
them。 These things are yet to be revealed。 Let us not judge by
appearances。 There are more good things about the Christian warfare
than we see。
And now let me conclude my whole subject with a few words of practical
application。 Our lot is cast in times when the world seems thinking of
little else but battles and fighting。 The iron is entering into the
soul of more than one nation； and the mirth of many a fair district is
clean gone。 Surely in times like these a minister may fairly call on
men to remember their spiritual warfare。 Let me say a few parting words
about the great fight of the soul。
（1） It may be you are struggling hard for the rewards of this world。
Perhaps you are straining every nerve to obtain money； or place； or
power； or pleasure。 If that be your case； take care。 Your sowing will
lead to a crop of bitter disappointment。 Unless you mind what you are
about your latter end will be to lie down in sorrow。
Thousands have trodden the path you are pursuing； and have awoke too
late to find it end in misery and eternal ruin。 They have fought hard
for wealth； and honour； and office； and promotion； and turned their
backs on God； and Christ； and heaven； and the world to e。 And what
has their end been？ Often； far too often； they have found out that
their whole life has been a grand mistake。 They have tasted by bitter
experience the feelings of the dying statesman who cried aloud in his
last hours； 〃The battle is fought： the battle is fought： but the
victory is not won。〃
For your own happiness' sake resolve this day to join the Lord's side。
Shake off your past carelessness and unbelief。 e out from the ways
of a thoughtless； unreasoning world。 Take up the cross； and bee a
good soldier of Christ。 〃Fight the good fight of faith；〃 that you may
be happy as well as safe。
Think what the children of this world will often do for liberty；
without any religious principle。 Remember how Greeks； and Romans； and
Swiss； and Tyrolese； have endured the loss of all things； and even life
itself； rather than bend their necks to a foreign yoke。 Let their
example provoke you to emulation。 If men can do so much for a
corruptible crown； how much more should you do for one which is
incorruptible！ Awake to a sense of the misery of being a slave。 For
fife； and happiness； and liberty； arise and fight。
Fear not to begin and enlist under Christ's banner。 The great Captain
of your salvation rejects none that e to Him。 Like David in the cave
of Adullam； He is ready to receive all who apply to Him； however
unworthy they may feel themselves。 None who repent and believe are too
bad to be enrolled in the ranks of Christ's army。 All who e to Him
by faith are admitted； clothed； armed； trained； and finally led on to
plete victory。 Fear not to begin this very day。 There is yet room
for you。
Fear not to go on fighting； if you once enlist。 The more thorough and
whole…hearted you are as a soldier； the more fortable will you find
your warfare。 No doubt you will often meet with trouble； fatigue； and
hard fighting； before your warfare is acplished。 But let none of
these things move you。 Greater is He that is for you than all they that
be against you。 Everlasting liberty or everlasting captivity are the
alternatives before you。 Choose liberty； and fight to the last。
（2） It may be you know something of the Christian warfare； and are a
tried and proved soldier already。 If that be your case； accept a
parting word of advice and encouragement from a fellow…soldier。 Let me
speak to myself as well as to you。 Let us stir up our minds by way of
remembrance。 There are some things which we cannot remember too well。
Let us remember that if we would fight successfully we must put on the
whole armour of God； and never lay it aside till we die。 Not a single
piece of the armour can be dispensed with。 The girdle of truth； the
breastplate of righteousness； the shield of faith； the sword of the
Spirit； the helmet of hopeeach and all are needful。 Not a single day
can we dispense with any part of this armour。 Well says an old veteran
in Christ's army； who died 200 years ago； 〃In heaven we shall appear；
not in armour； but in robes of glory。 But here our arms are to be worn
night and day。 We must walk； work； sleep in them； or else we are not
true soldiers of Christ。〃 （Gurnall's Christian Armour。）
Let us remember the solemn words of an inspired warrior； who went to
his rest 1；800 years ago： 〃No man that warreth entangleth himself with
the affairs of this life； that he may please him who hath chosen him to
be a soldier。〃 （2 Tim。 ii。 4。） May we never forget that saying！
Let us remember that some have seemed good soldiers for a little
season； and talked loudly of what they would do； and yet turned back
disgracefully in the day of battle。
Let us never forget Balaam； and Judas； and Demas； and Lot's wife。
Whatever we are； and however weak； let us be real； genuine； true； and
sincere。
Let us remember that the eye of our loving Saviour is upon us； morning；
noon； and night。 He will never suffer us to be tempted above that we
are able to bear。 He can be touched with the feeling of our
infirmiti
