莱尔主教upper_room-第26章
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the saints and martyrs been in every era of Church history； but men who
came to Christ daily by faith； and found His flesh meat indeed and His
blood drink indeed？ （John 6：55）。 What have they all been but men who
lived the life of faith in the Son of God； and drank daily out of the
fulness there is in Him？ （Gal。 2：20）。 Here； at all events； the truest
and best Christians； who have made a mark on the world； have been of
one mind。 Holy Fathers and Reformers； holy Anglican divines and
Puritans； holy Episcopalians and Nonconformists； have all in their best
moments borne uniform testimony to the value of the Fountain of life。
Separated and contentious as they may sometimes have been in their
lives； in their deaths they have not been divided。 In their last
struggle with the King of Terrors they have simply clung to the cross
of Christ； and gloried in nothing but the 〃precious blood；〃 and the
Fountain open for all sin and uncleanness。
How thankful we ought to be that we live in a land where the great
remedy for spiritual thirst is known；…in a land of open Bibles；
preached gospel； and abundant means of grace；in a land where the
efficacy of Christ's sacrifice is still proclaimed； with more or less
fulness； in 20；000 pulpits every Sunday。 We do not realize the value of
our privileges。 The very familiarity of the manna makes us think little
of it； just as Israel loathed 〃the light bread〃 in the wilderness （Num。
21：5）。 But turn to the pages of a heathen philosopher like the
inparable Plato； and see how he moped after light like one
blindfold； and wearied himself to find the door。 The humblest peasant
who grasps the four 〃fortable words〃 of our beautiful munion
service； in the Prayer Book； knows more of the way of peace with God
than the Athenian sage。Turn to the accounts which trustworthy
travellers and missionaries give of the state of the heathen who have
never heard the gospel。 Read of the human sacrifices in Africa； and the
ghastly self…imposed tortures of the devotees of Hindostan； and
remember they are all the result of an unquenched 〃thirst〃 and a blind
and unsatisfied desire to get near to God。 And then learn to be
thankful that your lot is cast in a land like your own。
Alas； I fear God has a controversy with us for our un…thankfulness！
Cold indeed； and dead； must that heart be which can study the condition
of Africa； China； and Hindostan； and not thank God that he lives in
Christian England。
III。 I turn； in the last place； to the promise held met to all who e
to Christ。 〃He that believeth on Me； as the Scripture hath said； out of
his belly shall flow rivers of living water。〃
The subject of Scripture promises is a vast and most interesting one。 I
doubt whether it receives the attention which it deserves in the
present day。 Clarke's Scripture Promises； I suspect； is an old book；
which is far less studied than it was in the days of our fathers。 Few
Christians realize the number； and length； and breadth； and depth； and
height； and variety of the precious 〃shalls〃 and 〃wills〃 laid up in the
Bible for the special benefit and encouragement of all who will use
them。
Yet promise lies at the bottom of nearly all the transactions of man
with man in the affairs of this life。 The vast majority of Adam's
children in every civilized country are acting every day on the faith
of promises。 The labourer on the land works hard from Monday morning to
Saturday night； because he believes that at the end of the week he
shall receive his promised wages。 The soldier enlists in the army； and
the sailor enters his name on the ship's books in the navy； in the full
confidence that those under whom they serve will at some future time
give them their promised pay。 The humblest maid…servant in a family
works on from day to day at her appointed duties； in the belief that
her mistress will give her the promised wages。 In the business of great
cities； among merchants； and bankers； and tradesmen； nothing could be
done without incessant faith in promises。 Every man of sense knows that
cheques； and bills； and promissory notes； are the only means by which
the immense majority of mercantile affairs can possibly be carried on。
Men of business are pelled to act by faith and not by sight。 They
believe promises； and expect to be believed themselves。 In short；
promises； and faith in promises； and actions springing from faith in
promises； are the backbone of nine…tenths of all the dealings of man
with his fellow…creatures throughout Christendom。
Now promises in like manner； in the religion of the Bible； are one Hand
means by which God is pleased to approach the soul of man。 The careful
student of Scripture cannot fail to observe that God is continually
holding out inducements to man to listen to Him； obey Him； and serve
Him； and undertaking to do great things； if man will only attend and
believe。 In short； as St。 Peter says； 〃There are given to us exceeding
great and precious promises〃 （2 Pet。 1：4）。 He who has mercifully
caused。 all Holy Scripture to be written for our learning； has shown
His perfect knowledge of human nature； by spreading over the book a
perfect wealth of promises； suitable to every kind of experience and
every condition of life。 He seems to say； 〃Would you know what I
undertake to do for you？ Do you want to hear my terms？ Take up the
Bible and read。〃
But there is one grand difference between the promises of Adam's
children and the promises of God； which ought never to be forgotten。
The promises of man are not sure to be fulfilled。 With the best wishes
and intentions； he cannot always keep his word。 Disease and death may
step in like an armed man； and take away from this world him that
promises。 War； or pestilence； or famine； or failure of crops； or
hurricanes； may strip him of his property； and make it impossible for
him to fulfil his engagements。 The promises of God； on the contrary；
are certain to be kept。 He is almighty： nothing can prevent His doing
what He has said。 He never changes： He is always 〃of one mind；〃 and
with Him there is 〃no variableness or shadow of turning〃 （Job 23：13；
Jas。 1：17）。 He will always keep His word。 There is one thing which； as
a little girl once told her teacher； to her surprise； God cannot do：
〃It is impossible for God to lie〃 （Heb。 6：18）。 The most unlikely and
improbable things； when God has once said He will do them； have always
e to pass。 The destruction of the old world by a flood； and the
preservation of Noah in the Ark； the birth of Isaac； the deliverance of
Israel from Egypt； the raising of David to the throne of Saul； the
miraculous birth of Christ； the resurrection of Christ； the scattering
of the Jews all over the earth； and their continued preservation as a
distinct people； who could imagine events more unlikely and improbable
than these？ Yet God said they should be； and in due time they all came
to pass。 In short； with God it is just as easy to do a thing as to say
it。 Whatever He promises； He is certain to perform。
Concerning the variety and riches of Scripture promises； far more might
be said than it is possible to say in a short paper like this。 Their
name is legion。 The subject is almost inexhaustible。 There is hardly a
step in man's life； from childhood to old age； hardly any position in
which man can be placed； for which the Bible has not held out
encouragement to every one who desires to do right in the sight of God。
There are 〃shalls〃 and 〃wills〃 in God's treasury for every condition。
About God's infinite mercy and passion； about His readiness to
receive all who repent and believe； about His willingness to forgive；
pardon； and absolve the chief of sinners； about His power to change
hearts and alter our corrupt nature；about the encouragements to pray；
and hear the gospel； and draw near to the throne of grace； about
strength for duty； fort
