莱尔主教upper_room-第14章
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2：15）。
And thanks be to God； this blessed victory over death and the grave has
not been won by Christ for Himself alone。 For eighteen centuries He has
enabled thousands of Christian men and women； believing and trusting
themselves to Him； to face the king of terrors without fear； and to go
down the valley of the shadow of death in the sure and certain hope
that they will yet e forth victorious； and in the flesh see God。
Read the story of the deaths of the early Christians under heathen
persecutions。 Mark the dying experience of those who suffered at Oxford
and Smithfield； under Queen Mary； for Protestantism。 Find； if you can；
in the whole range of biography any death…beds of non…Christians which
will bear parison with the death…beds of Christians in the matter of
peace； and hope； and strong consolation。 You may search for ever and
not find them。 You will find yourself shut up to the conclusion that
the old Scriptural truth of Christ dying and rising again is exactly
the truth that fits human nature； and must have e down from God。
This； and this only； will enable natural man to meet the last enemy
without fear； and to say； 〃O death； where is thy sting？ O grave； where
is thy victory？〃 （1 Cor。 15：55）。
What shall we say to these things？ I know well that the human heart and
its necessities are a deep and intricate subject。 But； after studying
men's hearts attentively for many years； I have e to one decided
conviction。 That conviction is； that the true reason why St。 Paul
preached first and foremost what he preached at Corinth； is to be found
in his right knowledge of the nature； moral condition； and position of
man。 He was taught of God the Holy Ghost that it was the only medicine
that was suited to the disease。 What human nature requires is a
religion for dying sinners； a mighty remedial system and a personal
Redeemer； and the work of Christ is marvellously fitted to meet its
requirements。 We are sick of a deadly sickness； and our first want is a
living physician。
It would have been worse than useless if St。 Paul had begun his work at
Corinth by telling men to be virtuous and moral； while he kept back
Christ。 It is just as useless now。 It even does positive harm。 To
awaken human nature； and then not show it God's spiritual prescription；
may lead to most mischievous consequences。 I know no case so pitiable
as that of the man who sees clearly sin； sorrow； and death on one side；
and does not see clearly Christ dying for sins； and rising again for
sinners； on the other。 Such a man is just the person to sink into flat
despair； or to take refuge in the delusive theology of the Church of
Rome。 No doubt we may sleep the sleep of unconversion for many years；
and feel nothing of spiritual doubts and fears。 But once let a man's
conscience bee uneasy； and crave peace； and I know no medicine which
can cure him； and keep him from soul…ruining error； except the 〃first
things〃 which St。 Paul delivered at Corinth；I mean the two doctrines
of Christ's atoning death and resurrection。
And now let me wind up this paper with some words of advice to all who
read it。 It is advice which the times appear to me to demand。 Who can
tell but to some one it may be a word in season？
（a） Let me； then； advise you most strongly not to be ashamed of holding
decided views about the first things； the foundation truths of
religion。 Your lot is cast in a day of free thought； free handling； and
free inquiry。 There is a widespread dislike to doctrinal decision and
what is called dogmatism； and none perhaps are so exposed to its
influence as the yoking。 The natural generosity； unsuspiciousness； and
love of fair play； of a young man's heart； make him shrink from taking
up very positive theological views； and holding opinions which may even
seem to be narrow； party…spirited； or illiberal。 The temptation of the
present day is to be content with a vague earnestness； to abstain from
all sharply cut and distinct views； to be an honorary member of all
schools of thought； and to maintain that no man can be unsound in the
faith if he exhibits zeal and works hard。
（b） But； after all； your religion must have roots； if it is to live and
bear fruit in this cold world。 〃Earnestness；〃 and 〃zeal；〃 and 〃work〃
are brave words； but； like cut flowers stuck in a garden； they have no
power of continuance； if they have no hidden roots below。 Admitting to
the full that there are secondary things in religion； about which those
who are young may fairly suspend their judgment and wait for light； I
charge you to remember that there are first things about which you must
be decided and make up your minds。 You must； I say； if you want peace
within； and desire to be useful。 And among these first things stand
forth like mountains in a plain； the two great truths which are laid
down in the text which heads this paper； Christ's death for our sins；
and Christ's miraculous resurrection。 Grasp tightly these two great
truths。 Plant your feet firmly on them。 Feed your own soul on them。
Live on them。 Die on them。 Never let them go。 Strive to be able to say；
〃I know whom I believe；〃not what； but whom。 I live by faith in One
who died for me； and rose again。 Be decided about this at any cost； and
in due time all other truths shall be added to you。
（c） Some； it may be； into whose hands this paper may have fallen are
going forth from the quiet haven of a happy home into the battle and
conflict of busy life。 But wherever your lot may be cast； whether in
town or in country； whether among rich or poor； I hope you will try to
do good。 And remember one chief problem you will have to be continually
solving is how to help souls who are labouring under the burden of sin；
crushed down with sorrow； or oppressed with the fear of death。 And when
that time es； remember the word that I speak to you this day。The
only way to do good is to walk in St。 Paul's steps； and to tell men
first； foremost； continually； repeatedly； publicly； and from house to
house； that Jesus Christ died for their sins； rose again for their
justification； lives at the right hand of God to receive； to pardon；
and to preserve； and will soon e again to give them a glorious
resurrection。 These are the truths which the Holy Ghost has always
blessed； is blessing； and will bless until the Lord es。 These were
St。 Paul's 〃first things。〃 Resolve and determine that by God's grace
they shall be yours in this generation。 I knew a man of God who made a
great mark in his day； who said to me； thirty…five years ago； that
Jeremiah was pre…eminently a book for the latter days of England。 To
that opinion I entirely subscribe。 Holding that opinion； I ask my
readers to hear a few words about the text which I have chosen。 I
mend it to you as a text for the times。
__________________________________________________________________
＇4＇ The substance of these pages was originally delivered as a sermon
before the University of Oxford； in my turn as Select Preacher at St。
Mary's in the year 1830。
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CHAPTER V
Jer。 6：16。
THE GOOD WAY。
＇5＇
〃Thus saith the Lord； Stand ye in the ways； and see； and ask for the
old paths； where is the good way； and walk therein； and ye shall find
rest for your souls。〃 Jer。 6：16。
THE book of the prophet Jeremiah receives from most Christians far less
attention than it deserves。 It is a noteworthy fact that hardly any
portion of Holy Scripture is the subject of so few exhaustive
mentaries and expositions。
I fail to see the reason of this parative neglect。 The book was
written； under God's inspiration； by a Jewish priest； at a peculiar
crisis； in the last days of the kingdom of Judah。 Jeremiah was God's
messenger to a wicked king；a worldly aristocracy；a corrupt people；
in a rotten Church； and a dead formal
