莱尔主教upper_room-第31章
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familiar words of our venerable Church Catechism；〃 I believe in God
the Father； who hath made me and all the world： I believe in God the
Son； who hath redeemed me and all mankind： I believe in God the Holy
Ghost； who sanctifieth me； and all the elect people of God。〃
II。 The second thing I will now ask my readers to notice in my text is；
the special mark which St。 John supplies of the man who is a true
Christian。 He says； 〃Whatsoever is born of God overeth the world。〃
In short； to use the words of that holy man Bishop Wilson； Bishop of
Sodor and Man； the Apostle teaches that 〃the only certain proof of
regeneration is victory。〃
We are all apt to flatter ourselves； that if we are duly enrolled
members of that great ecclesiastical corporation the Church of England；
our souls cannot be in much danger。 We secretly stifle the voice of
conscience with the fortable thought； 〃I am a Churchman； why should
I be afraid？〃
Yet mon sense and a little reflection might remind us that there are
no privileges without corresponding responsibilities。 Before we repose
in self…satisfied confidence on our Church membership； we shall do well
to ask ourselves whether we bear in our characters the marks of living
membership of Christ's mystical body。 Do we know anything of renouncing
the devil and all his works； and crucifying the flesh with its
affections and lusts？ And； to bring this matter to a point； as it is
set before us in our text； do we know anything of〃 overing the
world〃？
Of the three great spiritual enemies of man； it is hard to say which
does most harm to the soul。 The last day alone will settle that point。
But I venture boldly to say； that at no former period has 〃the world〃
been so dangerous； and so successful in injuring Christ's Church； as it
is just now。 Every age is said to have its own peculiar epidemic
disease。 I suspect that 〃worldliness〃 is the peculiar plague of
Christendom in our own era。 That same love of the world's good things
and good opinion；that same dread of the world's opposition and
blame；which proved so fatal to Judas Iscariot； and Demas； and many
more in the beginning of the gospel；each is just as powerful in the
nineteenth century as it was in the first； and a hundred times more。
Even in days of persecution； under heathen emperors； these spiritual
enemies slew their thousands； and in days of ease； and luxury； and free
thought； like our own； they slay their tens of thousands。 The subtle
influence of the world； nowadays； seems to infect the very air we
breathe。 It creeps into families like an angel of light； and leads
myriads captive； who never know that they are slaves。 The enormous
increase of English wealth； and consequent power of self…indulgence；
and the immense growth of a passionate taste for recreations and
amusements of all kinds； the startling rise and progress of a so…called
liberality of opinion； which refuses to say anybody is wrong； whatever
he does； and loudly asserts that； as in the days of the Judges； every
one should think and do what is right in his own eyes； and never be
checked； mall these strange phenomena of our age give the world an
amazing additional power； and make it doubly needful for Christ's
ministers to cry aloud； 〃Beware of the world！〃
In the face of this aggravated danger； we must never forget that the
word of the living God changes not。 〃Love not the world；〃〃 Be not
conformed to this world；〃…〃The friendship of the world is enmity with
God；〃these mighty sayings of God's statute…book remain still
unrepealed （1 John 2：15； Rom。 12：2； Jas。 4：4）。 The true Christian
strives daily to obey them； and proves the vitality of his religion by
his obedience。 It is as true now as it was eighteen hundred years ago；
that the man 〃born of God〃 will be a man who； more or less； resists and
overes the world。 Such a man does not 〃overe〃 by retiring into a
corner； and being a monk or a hermit； but by boldly meeting his foes
and conquering them。 He does not refuse to fill his place in society；
and do his duty in that position to which God has called him。 But
though 〃in〃 the world； he is not 〃of〃 the world。 He uses it； but does
not abuse it。 He knows when to say No； when to refuse pliance； when
to halt； when to say； 〃Hitherto have I gone； but I go no further。〃 He
is not wholly absorbed either in the business or the pleasures of life；
as if they were the sum total of existence。 Even in innocent things he
keeps the rein on his tastes and inclinations； and does not let them
run away with him。 He does not live as if life was made up of
recreation； or money…getting； or politics； or scientific pursuits； and
as if there were no life to e。 Everywhere； and in every condition；
in public and in private； in business or in amusements； he carries
himself like a 〃 citizen of a better country；〃 and as one who is not
entirely dependent on temporal things。 Like the noble Roman ambassador
before Pyrrhus； he is alike unmoved by the elephant or by the gold。 You
will neither bribe him； nor frighten him； nor allure him into
neglecting his soul。 This is one way in which the true Christian proves
the reality of his Christianity。 This is the way in which the man 〃born
of God〃 overes the world。
I am fully aware that； at first sight； the things I have just said may
appear 〃hard sayings。〃 The standard of true Christianity which I have
just raised may seem extravagant； and extreme； and unattainable in this
life。 I grant most freely that to 〃overe〃 in the fashion I have
described needs a constant fight and struggle； and that all such
fighting is naturally unpleasant to flesh and blood。 It is disagreeable
to find ourselves standing alone every now and then； and running
counter to the opinions of all around us。 We do not like to appear
narrow…minded； and exclusive； and uncharitable； and ungenial； and
ill…natured； and out of harmony with our fellows。 We naturally love
ease and popularity； and hate collisions in religion； and if we hear we
cannot be true Christians without all this fighting and warring； we are
tempted to say to ourselves； 〃I will give it up in despair。〃 I speak
from bitter experience。 I have known and felt all this myself。
To all who are tempted in this way；and none； I believe； are so much
tempted as the young；to all who are disposed to shrink back from any
effort to overe the world； as a thing impossible； rote all such I
offer a few words of friendly exhortation。 Before you turn your back on
the enemy； and openly confess that he is too strong for you；before
you bow down to the strong man； and let him place his foot on your
neck； let me put you in remembrance of some things which； perhaps； you
are forgetting。
Is not the world； then； one of the three great foes which you were
solemnly bound at baptism to resist？ Was it for nothing that these
words were read； 〃We sign him with the sign of the cross； in token that
hereafter he shall not be ashamed to confess the faith of Christ
crucified； and manfully to fight under His banner against sin； THE
WORLD； and the devil； and to continue Christ's soldier and servant unto
his life's end〃？ And is it really e to this； that you mean to
renounce your obligations； and retire from your Master's service； to
desert your colours； to slink away to the rear； and refuse to fight？
Again； is it not true that myriads of men and women； no stronger than
yourself； have fought this battle with the world； and won it？ Think of
the mighty hosts of Christian soldiers who have walked in the narrow
way in the last eighteen centuries； and proved more than conquerors。
The same Divine Captain； the same armour； the same helps and aids by
which they overcame； are ready for you。 Surely if they got the victory；
you may hope to do the same。
Again； is it not true that this fight with the world is a thing of
absolute necessity？ Does not our Master
