莱尔主教holiness-第41章
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〃at that time overflowed its banks in some places； but Mr。 Honest in
his lifetime had spoken to one Good Conscience to meet him there； the
which he also did； and lent him his hand； and so helped him over。〃 We
may be sure there is a mine of truth in that passage。
（c） Let us hear the Apostle once more。 He looks forward to the great
day of reckoning； and he does it without doubt。 Mark his words：
〃Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness； which the
Lord； the righteous Judge； shall give me at that day： and not to me
only； but unto all them also that love His appearing。〃〃A glorious
reward；〃 he seems to say； 〃is ready and laid up in store for meeven
that crown which is only given to the righteous。 In the great day of
judgment the Lord shall give this crown to me； and to all beside me who
have loved Him as an unseen Saviour； and longed to see Him face to
face。 My work on earth is over。 This one thing now remains for me to
look forward to； and nothing more。〃
Let us observe that the Apostle speaks without any hesitation or
distrust。 He regards the crown as a sure thing； as his own already。 He
declares with unfaltering confidence his firm persuasion that the
righteous Judge will give it to him。 Paul was no stranger to all the
circumstances and acpaniments of that solemn day to which he
referred。 The great white thronethe assembled worldthe open
booksthe revealing of all secretsthe listening angelsthe awful
sentencethe eternal separation of the lost and savedall these were
things with which he was well acquainted。 But none of these things
moved him。 His strong faith overleaped them all； and he only saw Jesus；
his all…prevailing Advocate； and the blood of sprinkling； and sin
washed away。 〃A crown；〃 he says； 〃is laid up for me。〃 〃The Lord Himself
shall give it to me。〃 He speaks as if he saw it all with his own eyes。
Such are the main things which these verses contain。 Of most of them I
shall not speak； because I want to confine myself to the special
subject of this paper。 I shall only try to consider one point in the
passage。 That point is the strong 〃assurance of hope；〃 with which the
Apostle looks forwards to his own prospects in the day of judgment。
I shall do this the more readily； because of the great importance which
attaches to the subject of assurance； and the great neglect with which；
I humbly conceive； it is often treated in this day。
But I shall do it at the same time with fear and trembling。 I feel that
I am treading on very difficult ground； and that it is easy to speak
rashly and unscripturally in this matter。 The road between truth and
error is here especially a narrow pass； and if I shall be enabled to do
good to some without doing harm to others； I shall be very thankful。
There are four things I wish to bring forward in speaking of the
subject of assurance； and it may clear our way if I name them at once。
I。 First； then； I will try to show that an assured hope； such as Paul
here expresses； is a true and Scriptural thing。
II。 Secondly； I will make this broad concessionthat a man may never
arrive at this assured hope； and yet be saved。
III。 Thirdly； I will give some reasons why an assured hope is
exceedingly to be desired。
IV。 Lastly； I will try to point out some causes why an assured hope is
so seldom attained。
I ask special attention of all who take an interest in the great
subject of this volume。 If I am not greatly mistaken； there is a very
close connection between true holiness and assurance。 Before I close
this paper I hope to show my readers the nature of that connection。 At
present； I content myself with saying； that where there is the most
holiness； there is generally the most assurance。
I。 First； then； I will try to show that an assured hope is a true and
Scriptural thing。
Assurance； such as Paul expresses in the verses which head this paper；
is not a mere fancy or feeling。 It is not the result of high animal
spirits； or a sanguine temperament of body。 It is a positive gift of
the Holy Ghost； bestowed without reference to men's bodily frames or
constitutions； and a gift which every believer in Christ ought to aim
at and seek after。
In matters like these； the first question is thisWhat saith the
Scripture？ I answer that question without the least hesitation。 The
Word of God appears to me to teach distinctly that a believer may
arrive at an assured confidence with regard to his own salvation。
I lay it down fully and broadly； as God's truth； that a true Christian；
a converted man； may reach such a fortable degree of faith in
Christ； that in general he shall feel entirely confident as to the
pardon and safety of his soulshall seldom be troubled with
doubtsseldom be distracted with fearsseldom be distressed by
anxious questioningsand； in short； though vexed by many an inward
conflict with sin； shall look forward to death without trembling； and
to judgment without dismay。 ＇19＇ This； I say； is the doctrine of the
Bible。
Such is my account of assurance。 I will ask my readers to mark it well。
I say neither less nor more than I have here laid down。
Now such a statement as this is often disputed and denied。 Many cannot
see the truth of it at all。
The Church of Rome denounces assurance in the most unmeasured terms。
The Council of Trent declares roundly that a 〃believer's assurance of
the pardon of his sins is a vain and ungodly confidence；〃 and Cardinal
Bellarmine； the well…known champion of Romanism； calls it 〃a prime
error of heretics。〃
The vast majority of the worldly and thoughtless Christians among
ourselves oppose the doctrine of assurance。 It offends and annoys them
to hear of it。 They do not like others to feel fortable and sure；
because they never feel so themselves。 Ask them whether their sins are
forgiven； and they will probably tell you they do not know！ That they
cannot receive the doctrine of assurance is certainly no marvel。
But there are also some true believers who reject assurance； or shrink
from it as a doctrine fraught with danger。 They consider it borders on
presumption。 They seem to think it a proper humility never to feel
sure； never to be confident； and to live in a certain degree of doubt
and suspense about their souls。 This is to be regretted； and does much
harm。
I frankly allow there are some presumptuous persons who profess to feel
a confidence for which they have no Scriptural warrant。 There are
always some people who think well of themselves when God thinks ill；
just as there are some who think ill of themselves when God thinks
well。 There always will be such。 There never yet was a Scriptural truth
without abuses and counterfeits。 God's electionman's
impotencesalvation by graceall are alike abused。 There will be
fanatics and enthusiasts as long as the world stands。 But； for all
this； assurance is a reality and a true thing； and God's children must
not let themselves be driven from the use of a truth； merely because it
is abused。 ＇20＇
My answer to all who deny the existence of real； well…grounded
assurance； is simply thisWhat saith the Scripture？ If assurance be
not there； I have not another word to say。
But does not Job say； 〃I know that my Redeemer liveth； and that He
shall stand at the latter day upon the earth； and though after my skin
worms destroy this body； yet in my flesh shall I see God〃？ （Job xix。
26； 26。）
Does not David say； 〃Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of
death； I will fear no evil： for Thou art with me； Thy rod and Thy staff
they fort me 〃？ （Psalm xxiii。 4。）
Does not Isaiah say； 〃Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is
stayed on Thee； because he trusteth in Thee〃？ （Isaiah xxvi。 3。）
And again； 〃The work of righteousness shall be peace； and the effect of
righteousness quietness； and assurance for ever。〃 （Isaiah
