莱尔主教holiness-第72章
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spring from the ground of the heart。 Often； too often； they are things
said by rote； caught from the lips of ministers and anxious friends；
but evidently not felt。 And nothing can prove all this more clearly
than the well…known fact； that the great majority of persons who make
promises of amendment on a sick bed； and then for the first time talk
about religion； if they recover； go back to sin and the world。
When a man has lived a life of thoughtlessness and folly； I want
something more than a few fair words and good wishes to satisfy me
about his soul； when he es to his deathbed。 It is not enough for me
that he will let me read the Bible to him； and pray by his
bedsidethat he says； 〃he has not thought so much as he ought of
religion； and he thinks he should be a different man if he got better。〃
All this does not content me： it does not make me feel happy about his
state。 It is very well as far as it goes； but it is not conversion。 It
is very well in its way； but it is not faith in Christ。 Until I see
conversion； and faith in Christ； I cannot and dare not feel satisfied。
Others may feel satisfied if they please； and after their friend's
death say； they hope he is gone to heaven。 For my part； I would rather
hold my tongue and say nothing。 I would be content with the least
measure of repentance and faith in a dying man； even though it be no
bigger than a grain of mustard seed。 But to be content with anything
less than repentance and faith； seems to me next door to infidelity。
What kind of evidence do you mean to leave behind as to the state of
your soul？ Take example by the penitent thief； and you will do well。
When we have carried you to your narrow bed； let us not have to hunt up
stray words； and scraps of religion； in order to make out that you were
a true believer。 Let us not have to say in a hesitating way one to
another； 〃I trust he is happy； he talked so nicely one day； and he
seemed so pleased with a chapter in the Bible on another occasion； and
he liked such a person； who is a good man。〃 Let us be able to speak
decidedly as to your condition。 Let us have some solid proof of your
repentance； your faith； and your holiness； so that none shall be able
for a moment to question your state。 Depend on it； without this； those
you leave behind can feel no solid fort about your soul。 We may use
the form of religion at your burial； and express charitable hopes。 We
may meet you at the churchyard gate and say； 〃Blessed are the dead that
die in the Lord。〃 But this will not alter your condition！ If you die
without conversion to Godwithout repentance； and without faithyour
funeral will only be the funeral of a lost soul； you had better never
have been born。
IV。 We are meant； in the next place； to learn from these verses； that
believers in Christ when they die are with the Lord。
This you may gather from our Lord's words to the penitent thief： 〃This
day shalt thou be with Me in paradise。〃 And you have an expression very
like it in the Epistle to the Philippians； where Paul says he has a
desire to 〃depart and be with Christ。〃 （Phil。 i。 23。）
I shall say but little on this subject。 I would simply lay it before
you； for your own private meditations。 To my own mind it is very full
of fort and peace。
Believers after death are 〃with Christ。〃 That answers many a difficult
question； which otherwise might puzzle man's busy； restless mind。 The
abode of dead saints； their joys； their feelings； their happiness； all
seem met by this simple expressionthey are 〃with Christ。〃
I cannot enter into full explanations about the separate state of
departed believers。 It is a high and deep subject； such as man's mind
can neither grasp nor fathom。 I know their happiness falls short of
what it will be when their bodies are raised again； in the resurrection
at the last day； and Jesus returns to earth。 Yet I know also they enjoy
a blessed rest； a rest from laboura rest from sorrowa rest from
painand a rest from sin。 But it does not follow because I cannot
explain these things； that I am not persuaded they are far happier than
they ever were on earth。 I see their happiness in this very passage；
〃They are with Christ；〃 and when I see that； I see enough。
If the sheep are with the Shepherdif the members are with the
Headif the children of Christ's family are with Him who loved them
and carried them all the days of their pilgrimage on earth； all must be
well； all must be right。
I cannot describe what kind of place paradise is； because I cannot
understand the condition of a soul separate from the body。 But I ask no
brighter view of paradise than thisthat Christ is there。 ＇45＇ All
other things in the picture which imagination draws of the state
between death and resurrection； are nothing in parison of this。 How
He is there； and in what way He is there； I know not。 Let me only see
Christ in paradise when my eyes close in death； and that sufficeth me。
Well does the Psalmist say； 〃In Thy presence is fulness of joy。〃 （Psa。
xvi。 11。） It was a true saying of a dying girl； when her mother tried
to fort her by describing what paradise would be。 〃There；〃 she said
to the child； 〃there you will have no pains； and no sickness； there you
will see your brothers and sisters who have gone before you； and will
be always happy。〃 〃Ah； mother！〃 was the reply； 〃but there is one thing
better than all； and that is； Christ will be there。〃
It may be you do not think much about your soul。 It may be you know
little of Christ as your Saviour； and have never tasted by experience
that He is precious。 And yet perhaps you hope to go to paradise when
you die。 Surely this passage is one that should make you think。
Paradise is a place where Christ is。 Then can it be a place that you
would enjoy？？
It may be you are a believer； and yet tremble at the thought of the
grave。 It seems cold and dreary。 You feel as if all before you was dark
and gloomy； and fortless。 Fear not； but be encouraged by this text。
You are going to paradise； and Christ will be there。
V。 The last thing we are meant to learn from these verses is this： The
eternal portion of every man's soul is close to him。
〃To…day；〃 says our Lord to the penitent thief； 〃to…day shalt thou be
with Me in paradise。〃 He names no distant periodHe does not talk of
His entering into a state of happiness as a thing 〃far away；〃 He speaks
of to…day〃this very day in which thou art hanging on the cross。〃
How near that seems！ How awfully near that word brings our everlasting
dwelling…place！ Happiness or miserysorrow or joythe presence of
Christ or the pany of devilsall are close to us。 〃There is but a
step；〃 says David； 〃between me and death。〃 （1 Sam。 xx。 3。） There is but
a step； we may say； between ourselves and either paradise or hell。
We none of us realize this as we ought to do。 It is high time to shake
off the dreamy state of mind in which we live on this matter。 We are
apt to talk and think； even about believers； as if death was a long
journeyas if the dying saint had embarked on a long voyage。 It is all
wrong； very wrong！ Their harbour and their home is close by； and they
have entered it。
Some of us know by bitter experience what a long and weary time it is
between the death of those we love； and the hour when we bury them out
of our sight。 Such weeks are the slowest； saddest； heaviest weeks in
all our lives。 But； blessed be God； the souls of departed saints are
free from the very moment their last breath is drawn。 While we are
weeping； and the coffin is preparing； and the mourning being provided；
and the last painful arrangements being made； the spirits of our
beloved ones are enjoying the presence of Christ。 They are freed for
ever from the burden of the flesh。 They are 〃where the wicked cease
from troubling； and the weary be at rest。〃 （Job iii。 17。）
The very moment tha
