莱尔主教holiness-第71章
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wings and flee away。 Have you an inclination to begin praying？ Put it
in practice at once。 Have you an idea of beginning really to serve
Christ？ Set about it at once。 Are you enjoying any spiritual light？ See
that you live up to your light。 Trifle not with opportunities； lest the
day e when you will want to use them； and not be able。 Linger not；
lest you bee wise too late。
You may say； perhaps； 〃It is never too late to repent。〃 I answer〃That
is right enough： but late repentance is seldom true。 And I say further；
you cannot be certain if you put off repenting； you will repent at
all。〃
You may say； 〃Why should I be afraid？the penitent thief was saved。〃 I
answer〃That is true： but look again at the passage which tells you
that the other thief was lost。〃
III。 The third lesson we are meant to learn from these verses Is this：
The Spirit always leads saved souls in one way。
This is a point that deserves particular attention； and is often
overlooked。 Men look at the broad fact that the penitent thief was
saved when he was dying； and they look no further。
They do not consider the evidences this thief left behind him。 They do
not observe the abundant proof he gave of the work of the Spirit in his
heart。 And these proofs I wish to trace out。 I wish to show you that
the Spirit always works in one way； and thatwhether He converts a man
in an hour； as He did the penitent thief； or whether by slow degrees；
as He does othersthe steps by which He leads souls to heaven are
always the same。
Let me try to make this clear to everyone who reads this paper； I want
to put you on your guard。 I want you to shake off the mon notion
that there is some easy； royal road to heaven from a dying bed。 I want
you thoroughly to understand； that every saved soul goes through the
same experience； and that the leading principles of the penitent
thief's religion were just the same as those of the oldest saint that
ever lived。
（a） See then； for one thing； how strong was the faith of this man。
He called Jesus 〃Lord。〃 He declared his belief that He would have a
〃kingdom。〃 He believed that He was able to give him eternal life and
glory； and in this belief prayed to Him。 He maintained His innocence of
all the charges brought against Him。 〃This Man。〃 said he； he hath done
nothing amiss。〃 Others perhaps may have thought the Lord innocentnone
said so openly but this poor dying man。
And when did all this happen？ It happened when the whole nation had
denied Christshouting； 〃Crucify Him； crucify Him： we have no king but
Caesar；〃when the chief priests and Pharisees had condemned and found
Him 〃guilty of death；〃when even His own disciples had forsaken Him
and fledwhen He was hanging； faint； bleeding； and dying on the cross；
numbered with transgressors； and accounted accursed。 This was the hour
when the thief believed in Christ； and prayed to Him I Surely such
faith was never seen since the world began。 ＇44＇
The disciples had seen mighty signs and miracles。 They had seen the
dead raised with a wordand lepers healed with a touch the blind
receiving sightthe dumb made to speakthe lame made to walk。 They
had seen thousands fed with a few loaves and fishes。 They had seen
their Master walking on the water as on dry land。 They had all of them
heard Him speak as no man ever spake； and hold out promises of good
things yet to e。 They had some of them had a foretaste of His glory
in the mount of transfiguration。 Doubtless their faith was 〃the gift of
God；〃 but still they had much to help it。
The dying thief saw none of the things I have mentioned。 He only saw
our Lord in agony； and in weakness； in suffering； and in pain。 He saw
Him undergoing a dishonourable punishment； deserted； mocked； despised；
blasphemed。 He saw Him rejected by all the great； and wise； and noble
of His own peopleHis strength dried up like a potsherd； His life
drawing nigh to the grave。 （Ps。 xxii。 15； lxxxviii。 3。） He saw no
sceptre； no royal crown； no outward dominion； no glory； no majesty； no
power； no signs of might。 And yet the dying thief believed； and looked
forward to Christ's kingdom。
Would you know if you have the Spirit？ Then mark the question I put to
you this day。Where is your faith in Christ？
（b） See； for another thing； what a right sense of sin the thief had。 He
says to his panion； 〃We receive the due reward of our deeds。〃 He
acknowledges his own ungodliness； and the justice of his punishment。 He
makes no attempt to justify himself； or excuse his wickedness。 He
speaks like a man humbled and self…abased by the remembrance of past
iniquities。 This is what all God's children feel。 They are ready to
allow they are poor； hell…deserving sinners。 They can say with their
hearts as well as with their lips； 〃We have left undone the things that
we ought to have done； and we have done those things that we ought not
to have done； and there is no health in us。〃
Would you know if you have the Spirit？ Then mark my question。Do you
feel your sins？
（c） See； for another thing； what brotherly love the thief showed to his
panion。 He tried to stop his railing and blaspheming； and bring him
to a better mind。 〃Dost not thou fear God；〃 he says； 〃seeing thou art
in the same condemnation？〃 There is no surer mark of grace than this I
Grace shakes a man out of his selfishness； and makes him feel for the
souls of others。 When the Samaritan woman was converted； she left her
water…pot； and ran to the city； saying； 〃e； see a man that told me
all things that ever I did： is not this the Christ？〃 （John iv。 28； 29。）
When Saul was converted； immediately he went to the synagogue at
Damascus and testified to his brethren of Israel that 〃Christ was the
Son of God。〃 （Acts ix。 20。） Would you know if you have the Spirit？ Then
where is your charity and love to souls？
In one word； you see in the penitent thief a finished work of the Holy
Ghost。 Every part of the believer's character may be traced in him。
Short as his life was after conversion； he found time to leave abundant
evidence that he was a child of God。 His faith； his prayer； his
humility； his brotherly love； are unmistakable witnesses of the reality
of his repentance。 He was not a penitent in name only； but in deed and
m truth。
Let no man therefore think； because the penitent thief was saved； that
men can be saved without leaving any evidence of the Spirit's work。 Let
such an one consider well what evidences this man left behind； and take
care。
It is mournful to hear what people sometimes say about what they call
deathbed evidences。 It is perfectly fearful to observe how little
satisfies some persons； and how easily they can persuade themselves
that their friends have gone to heaven。 They will tell you when their
relative is dead and gone； that 〃he made such a beautiful prayer one
dayor that he talked so wellor that he was so sorry for his old
ways and intended to live so differently if he got betteror that he
craved nothing in this worldor that he liked people to read to him；
and pray with him。〃 And because they have this to go upon； they seem to
have a fortable hope that he is saved！ Christ may never have been
namedthe way of salvation may never have been in the least mentioned。
But it matters not； there was a little talk of religion； and so they
are content！
Now I have no desire to hurt the feelings of anyone who reads this
paper； but I must and will speak plainly upon this subject。
Once for all； let me say； that as a general rule； nothing is so
unsatisfactory as deathbed evidences。 The things that men say； and the
feelings they express when sick and frightened； are little to be
depended on。 Often； too often； they are the result of fear； and do not
spring from the ground of the heart。 Often； too often； they are things
said by rote； caught from the lips of ministers and anxious f
