莱尔主教upper_room-第23章
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which St。 John said was the distinction between the children of God and
the children of the devil？ Where is it； indeed？ Read in the newspapers
the frightfully violent language of opposing politicians。 Mark the
hideous bitterness of controversial theologians； both in the press and
on the platform。 Observe the fiendish delight with which anonymous
letter…writers endeavour to wound the feelings of opponents； and then
to pour vitriol into the wound。 Look at all this ghastly spectacle
which any observing eye may see any day in England。 And then remember
that this is the country in which men are reading the New Testament and
professing to follow Christ； and to believe that they are all of 〃one
blood。〃 Can anything more grossly inconsistent be conceived？ Can
anything be imagined more offensive to God？ Truly； it is astonishing
that such myriads should be so keen about Christian profession and
external worship； and yet so utterly careless about the simplest
elements of Christian practice。 Where there is no love there is no
spiritual life。 Without brotherly love； although baptized and
municants； men are dead in trespasses and sins。
I shall wind up all I have to say on the point of duty by reminding my
readers of the solemn words which St。 Matthew records to have been
spoken by our Lord in the twenty…fifth chapter of his Gospel。 In the
great and dreadful day of judgment； when the Son of man shall sit on
the throne of His glory； there are some to whom He will say； 〃Depart；
ye cursed； into everlasting fire； prepared for the devil and His
angels： for I was an hungered； and ye gave Me no meat： I was thirsty；
and ye gave Me no drink： I was a stranger； and ye took Me not in：
naked； and ye clothed Me not； sick； and in prison； and ye visited Me
not。 Then shall they also answer Him； saying； Lord； when saw we Thee an
hungered； or athirst； or a stranger； or naked； or sick； or in prison；
and did not minister unto Thee？ Then shall He answer them； saying；
Verily I say unto you； Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of
these； ye did it not to Me〃 （Matt。 25：41…46）。
I declare I know very few passages of Scripture more solemn and
heart…searching than this。 It is not charged against these unhappy lost
souls； that they had mitted murder； adultery； or theft； or that they
had not been church…goers or municants。 Oh； no！ nothing of the kind。
They had simply done nothing at all。 They had neglected love to others。
They had not tried to lessen the misery； or increase the happiness； of
this sin…burdened world。 They had selfishly sat still； done no good；
and had no eyes to see； or hearts to feel； for their brethren the
members of Adam's great family。 And so their end is everlasting
punishment！ If these words cannot set some people thinking when they
look at the state of the masses in some of our large towns； nothing
will。
And now I shall close this paper with three words of friendly advice；
which I mend to the attention of all who read it。 They are words in
season for the days in which we live； and I am sure they are worth
remembering。
（a） First and foremost； I charge you never to give up the old doctrine
of the plenary inspiration of the whole Bible。 Hold it fast； and never
let it go。 Let nothing tempt you to think that any part of the grand
old volume is not inspired； or that any of its narratives； and
especially in Genesis； are not to be believed。 Once take up that
ground； and you will find yourself on an inclined plane。 Well will it
be if you do not slip down into utter infidelity！ Faith's difficulties
no doubt are great； but the difficulties of scepticism are far greater。
（b） In the next place； I charge you never to give up the old doctrine
of the blood of Christ； the plete satisfaction which that atoning
blood made for sin； and the impossibility of being saved except by that
blood。 Let nothing tempt you to believe that it is enough to look at
the example of Christ； or to receive the sacrament which Christ
manded to be received； and which many nowadays worship like an idol。
When you e to your deathbed； you will want something more than an
example and a sacrament。 Take heed that you are found resting all your
weight on Christ's substitution for you on the cross； and His atoning
blood； or it will be better if you had never been born。
（c） Last but not least； I charge you never to neglect the duty of
brotherly love； and practical； active； sympathetic kindness towards
every one around you； whether high or low； or rich or poor。 Try daily
to do some good upon earth； and to leave the world a better world than
it was when you were born。 If you are really a child of God； strive to
be like your Father and your great elder Brother in heaven。 For
Christ's sake； do not be content to have religion for yourself alone。
Love； charity； kindness； and sympathy are the truest proofs that we are
real members of Christ； genuine children of God； and rightful heirs of
the kingdom of heaven。
Of 〃one blood〃 we were all born。 In 〃one blood〃 we all need to be
washed。 To all partakers of Adam's 〃one blood〃 we are bound； if we love
life； to be charitable； sympathizing； loving； and kind。 The time is
short。 We are going； going； and shall soon be gone to a world where
there is no evil to remedy； and no scope for works of mercy。 Then for
Christ's sake let us all try to do some good before we die； and to
lessen the sorrows of this sin…burdened world。
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＇6＇ The substance of this paper was preached as a sermon at the Chapel
Royal； St。 James's； London； on March 2； 1884。
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CHAPTER VII
John 7：37…38。
〃LET ANY MAN E。〃
＇7＇
〃In the last day； that great day of the feast； Jesus stood and cried；
saying； If any man thirst； let him e unto Me； and drink。 He that
believeth on Me； as the Scripture hath said； out of his belly shall
flow rivers of living water。〃John 7：37…38。
THE text which heads this paper contains one of those mighty sayings of
Christ which deserve to be printed in letters of gold。 All the stars in
heaven are bright and beautiful； yet even a child can see that 〃one
star differeth from another in glory〃 （1 Cor。 15：41）。 All Scripture is
given by inspiration of God； but that heart must indeed be cold and
dull which does not feel that some verses are peculiarly rich and full。
Of such verses this text is one。
In order to see the whole force and beauty of the text； we must
remember the place； the time； and occasion when it es in。
The place； then； was Jerusalem； the metropolis of Judaism； and the
stronghold of priests and scribes； of Pharisees and Sadducees。The
occasion was the feast of tabernacles； one of those great annual feasts
when every Jew； if he could； went up to the temple； according to the
law。The time was 〃the last day of the feast；〃 when all the ceremonies
were drawing to a close； when the water drawn from the fountain of
Siloam had been solemnly poured on the altar； and nothing remained for
worshippers but to return home。
At this critical moment our Lord Jesus Christ 〃stood〃 forward on a
prominent place； and spoke to the assembled crowds。 I doubt not He read
their hearts。 He saw them going away with aching consciences and
unsatisfied minds； having got nothing from their blind teachers the
Pharisees and Sadducees； and carrying away nothing but a barren
recollection of pompous forms。 He saw and pitied them； and cried aloud；
like a herald； 〃If any man thirst； let him e unto Me； and
drink。〃That this was all our Lord said on this memorable occasion I
take leave to doubt。 I suspect it is only the keynote of His address。
But this； I believe； was the first sentence that fell from His lips：
〃If any man thirst； let him e unto Me。〃 If any one wants living；
satisfy
