莱尔主教holiness-第86章
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ecclesiastical corporation。 Then all its privileges and immunities are
your own。 Do you belong to the one true； visible corporation？ That is
the grand question。
According to the other system； religion is eminently a personal
business between yourself and Christ。 It will not save your soul to be
an outward member of any ecclesiastical body whatever； however sound
that body may be。 Such membership will not wash away one sin； or give
you confidence in the day of judgment。 There must be personal faith in
Christpersonal dealings between yourself and Godpersonal felt
munion between your own heart and the Holy Ghost。 Have you this
personal faith？ Have you this felt work of the Spirit in your soul？
This is the grand question。 If not； you will be lost。
This last system is the system which those who are called Evangelical
ministers cleave to and teach。 They do so because they are satisfied
that it is the system of Holy Scripture。 They do so because they are
convinced that any other system is productive of most dangerous
consequences； and calculated to delude men fatally as to their actual
state。 They do so because they believe it to be the only system of
teaching which God will bless； and that no Church will flourish so much
as that in which repentance； faith； conversion； and the work of the
Spirit are the grand subjects of the minister's sermon。
Once more I say； let us often look carefully over the seven 〃Epistles
to the Churches。〃
II。 I ask my readers； in the second place； to observe that in every
epistle the Lord Jesus says； I know thy works。
That repeated expression is very striking。 It is not for nothing that
we read these words seven times over。
To one Church the Lord Jesus says； I know thy labour and patienceto
another； thy tribulation and povertyto a third； thy charity； and
service； and faith。 But to all； He uses the words I now dwell on： 〃I
know thy works。〃 It is not； 〃I know thy professionthy desiresthy
resolutionsthy wishes；〃but thy works。 〃I know thy works。〃
The works of a professing Christian are of great importance。 They
cannot save your soul。 They cannot justify you。 They cannot wipe out
your sins。 They cannot deliver you from the wrath of God。 But it does
not follow because they cannot save you； that they are of no
importance。 Take heed and beware of such a notion。 The man who thinks
so is fearfully deceived。
I often think I could willingly die for the doctrine of justification
by faith without the deeds of the law。 But I must earnestly contend； as
a general principle； that a man's works are the evidence of a man's
religion。 If you call yourself a Christian； you must show it in your
daily ways and daily behaviour。 Call to mind that the faith of Abraham
and of Rahab was proved by their works。 （James ii。 21…25。） Remember it
avails you and me nothing to profess we know God； if in works we deny
Him。 （Titus i。 16。） Remember the words of the Lord Jesus； 〃Every tree
is known by its own fruit。〃 （Luke vi。 44。）
But whatever the works of a professing Christian may be； Jesus says； 〃I
know them！〃 〃His eyes are in every place； beholding the evil and the
good。〃 （Prov。 xv。 3。） You never did an action； however private； but
Jesus saw it。 You never spoke a word； no； not even in a whisper； but
Jesus heard it。 You never wrote a letter； even to your dearest friend；
but Jesus read it。 You never thought a thought； however secret； but
Jesus was familiar with it。 His eyes are as a flaming fire。 The
darkness is no darkness with Him。 All things are open and manifest
before Him。 He says to every one； 〃I know thy works。〃
（a） The Lord Jesus knows the works of all impenitent and unbelieving
souls； and will one day punish them。 They are not forgotten in heaven；
though they may be upon earth。 When the great white throne is set； and
the books are opened； the wicked dead will be judged 〃according to
their works。〃
（b） The Lord Jesus knows the works of His own people； and weighs them。
〃By Him actions are weighed。〃 （1 Sam。 ii。 3。） He knows the why and the
wherefore of the deeds of all believers。 He sees their motives in every
step they take。 He discerns how much is done for His sake； and how much
is done for the sake of praise。 Alas！ not a few things are done by
believers which seem very good to you and me； but are rated very low by
Christ。
（c） The Lord Jesus knows the works of all His own people； and will one
day reward them。 He never overlooks a kind word or a kind deed done in
His name。 He will own the least fruit of faith； and declare it before
the world in the day of His appearing。 If you love the Lord Jesus and
follow Him； you may be sure your work and labour shall not be in vain
in the Lord。 The works of those that die in the Lord 〃shall follow
them。〃 （Rev。 xiv。 13。） They shall not go before them； nor yet by their
side； but they shall follow them； and be owned in the day of Christ's
appearing。 The parable of the pounds shall be made good。 〃Every man
shall receive his own reward； according to his own labour。〃 （1Cor。 iii。
8。） The world knows you not； for it knows not your Master。 But Jesus
sees and knows all。 〃I know thy works。〃
Think what a solemn warning there is here to all worldly and
hypocritical professors of religion。 Let all such read； mark； and
digest these words。 Jesus says to you； 〃I know thy works。〃 You may
deceive me or any other minister； it is easy to do so。 You may receive
the bread and wine from my hands； and yet be cleaving to iniquity in
your hearts。 You may sit under the pulpit of an Evangelical preacher；
week after week； and hear his words with a serious face； but believe
them not。 But remember this； you cannot deceive Christ。 He who
discovered the deadness of Sardis and the lukewarmness of Laodicea；
sees you through and through； and will expose you at the last day；
except you repent。
Oh！ believe me； hypocrisy is a losing game。 It will never answer to
seem one thing and be another； to have the name of Christian； and not
the reality。 Be sure； if your conscience smites you and condemns you in
this matterbe sure your sin will find you out。 The eye that saw Achan
steal the golden wedge and hide it； is upon you。 The book that recorded
the deeds of Gehazi； and Ananias； and Sapphira； is recording your ways。
Jesus mercifully sends you a word of warning to…day。 He says； 〃I know
thy works。〃 But think also what encouragement there is here for every
honest and true…hearted believer。 To you also Jesus says； 〃I know thy
works。〃 You see no beauty in any action that you do。 All seems
imperfect； blemished； and defiled。 You are often sick at heart of your
own short…ings。 You often feel that your whole life is one great
arrear； and that every day is either a blank or a blot。 But know now
that Jesus can see some beauty in everything that you do from a
conscientious desire to please Him。 His eye can discern excellence in
the least thing which is a fruit of His own Spirit。 He can pick out the
grains of gold from amidst the dross of your performances； and sift the
wheat from amidst the chaff； in all your doings。 Your tears are all put
into His bottle。 Your endeavours to do good to others； however feeble；
are written in His book of remembrance。 The least cup of cold water
given in His name shall not lose its reward。 He does not forget your
work and labour of love； however little the world may regard it。
It is very wonderful； but so it is。 Jesus loves to honour the work of
His Spirit in His people； and to pass over their frailties。 He dwells
on the faith of Rahab； but not on her lie。 He mends His Apostles for
continuing with Him in His temptations； and passes over their ignorance
and want of faith。 （Luke xxii。 28。） 〃Like as a father pitieth his
children； so the Lord pitieth them that fear Him。〃 （Ps。 ciii。 13。） And
as a father finds a pleasure in the least acts of his
