莱尔主教holiness-第62章
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Jesus was not esteemed by His own people； the Jews。
Nor yet do I tell you that believers who do not linger； will； as a
matter of course； be the means of converting their families and
relatives。 David's children were； many of them； ungodly。 The Lord Jesus
was not believed on even by His own brethren。
But I do say it is almost impossible not to see some connection between
Lot's evil choice and Lot's lingeringand between Lot's lingering and
his unprofitableness to his family and the world。 I believe the Spirit
meant us to see it。 I believe the Spirit meant to make him a beacon to
all professing Christians。 And I am sure the lessons I have tried to
draw from the whole history deserve serious reflection。
And now let me speak a few parting words to all who read this paper；
and especially to all who call themselves believers in Christ。
I have no wish to make your hearts sad。 I do not want to give you a
gloomy view of the Christian course。 My only object is to give you
friendly warnings。 I desire your peace and fort。 I would fain see
you happy as well as safeand joyful； as well as justified。 I speak as
I have done for your good。
You live in days when a lingering； Lot…like religion abounds。 The
stream of profession is far broader than it once was； but far less deep
in many places。 A certain kind of Christianity is almost fashionable
now。 To belong to some party in the Church of England； and show a zeal
for its intereststo talk about the leading controversies of the
dayto buy popular religious books as fast as they e out； and lay
them on your tableto attend meetingsto subscribe to Societiesto
discuss the merits of preachersto be enthusiastic and excited about
every new form of sensational religion which crops upall these are
now paratively easy and mon attainments。 They no longer make a
person singular。 They require little or no sacrifice。 They entail no
cross。
But to walk closely with Godto be really spiritually…mindedto
behave like strangers and pilgrimsto be distinct from the world in
employment of time； in conversation； in amusements； in dressto bear a
faithful witness for Christ in all placesto leave a savour of our
Master in every societyto be prayerful； humble； unselfish；
good…tempered； quiet； easily pleased； charitable； patient； meekto be
jealously afraid of all manner of sin； and tremblingly alive to our
danger from the worldthese； these are still rare things！ They are not
mon among those who are called true Christians； and； worst of all；
the absence of them is not felt and bewailed as it should be。
In a day like this I venture to offer counsel to every believing reader
of this paper。 Do not turn away from it。 Do not be angry with me for
plain speaking。 I bid you 〃give diligence to make your calling and
election sure；〃 （2 Peter i。 10。） I bid you not to be slothfulnot to
be careless； not to be content with a small measure of gracenot be
satisfied with being a little better than the world。 I solemnly warn
you not to attempt doing what never can be doneI mean； to serve
Christ and yet keep in with the world。 I call upon you； and beseech you
to be a whole…hearted Christian； to follow after eminent holiness； to
aim at a high degree of sanctification； to live a consecrated life； to
present your body a 〃living sacrifice〃 unto God； to 〃walk in the
spirit。〃 （Rom。 xii。 1； Gal。 v。 25。） I charge you； and exhort youby
all your hopes of heaven and desires of glory； if you would be happy；
if you would be usefuldo not be a lingering soul。
Would you know what the times demand？The shaking of nationsthe
uprooting of ancient thingsthe overturning of kingdomsthe stir and
restlessness of men's mindswhat do they say？ They all cry
aloudChristian！ do not linger！
Would you be found ready for Christ at His second appearingyour loins
girdedyour lamp burningyourself bold； and prepared to meet Him？
Then do not linger！
Would you enjoy much sensible fort in your religionfeel the
witness of the Spirit within youknow whom you have believedand not
be a gloomy； plaining； sour； downcast； and melancholy Christian？
Then do not linger！
Would you enjoy strong assurance of your own salvation； in the day of
sickness； and on the bed of death？Would you see with the eye of faith
heaven opening and Jesus rising to receive you？ Then do not linger！
Would you leave great broad evidences behind you when you are
gone？Would you like us to lay you in the grave with fortable hope；
and talk of your state after death without a doubt？ Then do not linger！
Would you be useful to the world in your day and generation？Would you
draw men from sin to Christ； adorn your doctrine； and make your
Master's cause beautiful and attractive in their eyes？ Then do not
linger！
Would you help your children and relatives towards heaven； and make
them say； 〃We will go with you〃？and not make them infidels and
despisers of all religion？ Then do not linger！
Would you have a great crown in the day of Christ's appearing； and not
be the least and smallest star in glory； and not find yourself the last
and lowest in the kingdom of God？ Then do not linger！
Oh； let not one of us linger！ Time does notdeath does notjudgment
does notthe devil does notthe world does not。 Neither let the
children of God linger。
Does any reader of this paper feel that he is a lingerer？ Has your
heart felt heavy； and your conscience sore； while you have been reading
these pages？ Does something within you whisper； 〃I am the man〃？ Then
listen to what I am saying。It is not well with your soul。 Awake； and
try to do better。
If you are a lingerer； you must go to Christ at once and be cured。You
must use the old remedy； you must bathe in the old fountain。 You must
turn again to Christ and be healed。 The way to do a thing is to do it。
Do this at once！
Think not for a moment your case is past recovery。 Think not； because
you have been long living in a dry； sleepy； and heavy state of soul；
that there is no hope of revival。 Is not the Lord Jesus Christ an
appointed Physician for all spiritual ailments？ Did He not cure every
form of disease when He was upon earth？ Did He not cast out every kind
of devil？ Did He not raise poor backsliding Peter； and put a new song
in his mouth？ Oh； doubt not； but earnestly believe that He will yet
revive His work within you！ Only return from lingering； and confess
your folly； and ee at once to Christ。 Blessed are the words of
the prophet： 〃Only acknowledge thine iniquity。〃〃Return； ye
backsliding children； and I will heal your backsliding。〃 （Jerem。 iii。
13； 22。）
And let us all remember the souls of others； as well as our own。 If at
any time we see any brother or sister lingering； let us try to awaken
themtry to arouse themtry to stir them up。 Let us all 〃exhort one
another〃 as we have opportunity。 〃Let us provoke unto love and good
works。〃 （Heb。 iii。 13； x。 24。） Let us not be afraid to say to each
other； 〃Brother； or sister； have you forgotten Lot？ Awake！ and remember
Lot！Awake； and linger no more。〃
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X。
A WOMAN TO BE REMEMBERED
〃Remember Lot's Wife。〃Luke xvii。 32。
THERE are few warnings in Scripture more solemn than that which heads
this page。 The Lord Jesus Christ says to us； 〃Remember Lot's wife。〃
Lot's wife was a professor of religion： her husband was a 〃righteous
man。〃 （2 Peter ii。 8。） She left Sodom with him on the day when Sodom
was destroyed； she looked back towards the city from behind her
husband； against God's express mand； she was struck dead at once；
and turned into a pillar of salt。 And the Lord Jesus Christ holds her
up as a beacon to His Church： He says； 〃Remember Lot's wife。〃
It is a solemn warning； when we think of the person Jesus names。 He
does not bid us remember Abraham； or Isaac； or Jacob； or Sarah； or
