莱尔主教holiness-第77章
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I know it is easy for a man to reply； 〃All this is very true； but k
does not excuse the fears of the disciples。 They had Jesus actually
with them。 They ought not to have been afraid。 I should never have been
so cowardly and faithless as they were！〃 I tell the man who argues in
that way； that he knows little of his own heart。 I tell him no one
knows the length and breadth of his own infirmities if he has not been
tempted。 No one can say how much weakness might appear in himself if he
was placed in circumstances to call it forth。
Does any reader of this paper think that he believes in Christ？ Do you
feel such love and confidence in Him that you cannot understand being
greatly moved by any event that could happen？ It is all well。 I am glad
to hear it。 But has this faith been tried？ Has this confidence been put
to the test？ If not； take heed of condemning these disciples hastily。
Be not high…minded； but fear。 Think not because your heart is in a
lively frame now； that such a frame will always last。 Say not； because
your feelings are warm and fervent to…day； 〃to…morrow shall be as
to…day； and much more abundant。〃 Say not； because your heart is lifted
up just now with a strong sense of Christ's mercy； 〃I shall never
forget Him as long as I live。〃 Oh； learn to abate something of this
flattering estimate of yourself。 You do not know yourself thoroughly。
There are more things in your inward man than you are at present aware
of。 The Lord may leave you as He did Hezekiah； to show you all that is
in your heart。 （2 Chron。 xxxii。 31。） Blessed is he that is 〃clothed
with humility。〃〃Happy is he that feareth always。〃 〃Let him that
thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall。〃 （1 Pet。 v。 5； Prov。
xxviii。 14； 1 Cor。 x。 12。）
Why do I dwell on this？ Do I want to apologize for the corruptions of
professing Christians； and excuse their sins？ God forbid！Do I want to
lower the standard of sanctification； and countenance anyone in being a
lazy； idle soldier of Christ？ God forbid！Do I want to wipe out the
broad line of distinction between the converted and the unconverted；
and to wink at inconsistencies？ Once more I say； God forbid！I hold
strongly that there is a mighty difference between the true Christian
and the false； between the believer and the unbeliever； between the
children of God and the children of the world。 I hold strongly that
this difference is not merely one of faith； but of lifenot only one
of profession； but of practice。 I hold strongly that the ways of the
believer should be as distinct from those of the unbeliever； as bitter
from sweet； light from darkness； heat from cold。
But I do want young Christians to understand what they must expect to
find in themselves。 I want to prevent their being stumbled and puzzled
by the discovery of their own weakness and infirmity。 I want them to
see that they may have true faith and grace； in spite of all the
devil's whispers to the contrary； though they feel within doubts and
fears。 I want them to observe that Peter； and James； and John； and
their brethren were true disciples； and yet not so spiritual but that
they could be afraid。 I do not tell them to make the unbelief of the
disciples an excuse for themselves。 But I do tell them that it shows
plainly； that so long as they are in the body they must not expect
faith to be above the reach of fear。
Above all； I want all Christians to understand what they must expect in
other believers。 You must not hastily conclude that a man has no grace
merely because you see in him some corruption…There are spots on the
face of the sun； and yet the sun shines brightly and enlightens the
whole world。 There is quartz and dross mixed up with many a lump of
gold that es from Australia； and yet who thinks the gold on that
account worth nothing at all？ There are flaws in some of the finest
diamonds in the world； and yet they do not prevent their being rated at
a priceless value。 Away with this morbid squeamishness which makes many
ready to exmunicate a man if he only has a few faults！ Let us be
more quick to see grace and more slow to see imperfections！ Let us know
that； if we cannot allow there is grace where there is corruption； we
shall find no grace in the world。 We are yet in the body。 The devil is
not dead。 We are not yet like the angels。 Heaven has not yet begun。 The
leprosy is not out of the walls of the house； however much we may
scrape them； and never will be till the house is taken down。 Our bodies
are indeed the temple of the Holy Ghost； but not a perfect temple until
they are raised or changed。 Grace is indeed a treasure； but a treasure
in earthen vessels。 It is possible for a man to forsake all for
Christ's sake； and yet to be overtaken occasionally with doubts and
fears。
I beseech every reader of this paper to remember this。 It is a lesson
worth attention。 The Apostles believed in Christ； loved Christ； and
gave up all to follow Christ。 And yet you see in this storm the
Apostles were afraid。 Learn to be charitable in your judgment of them。
Learn to be moderate in your expectations from your own heart。 Contend
to the death for the truth that no man is a true Christian who is not
converted； and is not a holy man。 But allow that a man may be
converted； have a new heart； and be a holy man； and yet be liable to
infirmity； doubts and fears。
IV。 Let us learn； in the fourth place； the power of the Lord Jesus
Christ。
You have a striking example of His power in the history upon which I am
now dwelling。 The waves were breaking into the ship where Jesus was。
The terrified disciples awoke Him； and cried for help。 〃He arose and
rebuked the wind； and said unto the sea； Peace； be still。 And the wind
ceased； and there was a great calm。〃 This was a wonderful miracle。 No
one could do this but one who was almighty。
Make the winds cease with a word！ Who does not know that it is a mon
saying； in order to describe an impossibility； 〃You might as well speak
to the wind！〃 Yet Jesus rebukes the wind and at once it ceases。 This
was power。
Calm the waves with a voice！ What reader of history does not know that
a mighty King of England tried in vain to stop the tide rising on the
shore？ Yet here is one who says to raging waves in a storm； 〃Peace； be
still；〃 and at once there was a calm。 Here was power。
It is good for all men to have clear views of the Lord Jesus Christ's
power。 Let the sinner know that the merciful Saviour to whom he is
urged to flee； and in whom he is invited to trust； is nothing less than
the Almighty； and has power over all flesh to eternal life。 （Rev。 i。 8；
John xvii。 2。） Let the anxious inquirer understand that if he will only
venture on Jesus； and take up the cross； he ventures on One who has all
power in heaven and earth。 （Matt。 xxviii。 18。） Let the believer
remember as he journeys through the wilderness； that his Mediator； and
Advocate； and Physician； and Shepherd； and Redeemer； is Lord of lords；
and King of kings； and that through Him all things may be done。 （Rev。
xvii。 14； Phil。 iv。 13。） Let all study the subject； for it deserves to
be studied。
（a） Study it in His works of creation。 〃All things were made by Him；
and without Him was not any thing made that was made。〃 （John i。 3。） The
heavens and all their glorious host of inhabitantsthe earth and all
that it containsthe sea and all that is in itall creation； from the
sun on high to the least worm below； was the work of Christ。 He spake
and they came into being。 He manded and they began to exist。 That
very Jesus； who was born of a poor woman at Bethlehem and lived in a
carpenter's house at Nazareth； had been the Former of all things。 Was
not this power？
（b） Study it in His works of providence； and the orderly continuance of
all things in the world。 〃By Him all things consist。〃 （Col。 i。 17。）
Sun； moon； and stars roll round i
