莱尔主教upper_room-第38章
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sheer nonsense to tell us that any other smaller miracle in the Bible
is incredible or impossible。
（d）：Learn； for one thing more； a lesson of encouragement to faith from
St。 Paul's doings at Athens。 If we preach the gospel； we may preach
with perfect confidence that it will do good。 That solitary Jew of
Tarsus who stood up alone on Mars' Hill appeared at the time to do
little or nothing。 He passed on his way； and seemed to have made a
failure。 The Stoics and Epicureans probably laughed and sneered as if
the day was their own。 But that solitary Jew was lighting a candle that
has never since been put out。 The Word that he proclaimed in Athens
grew and multiplied； and became a great tree。 That little leaven
ultimately leavened the whole of Greece。 The gospel that Paul preached
triumphed over idolatry。 The empty Parthenon stands； to this day； a
proof that Athenian theology is dead and gone。 Yes； if we sow good
seed； we may sow it in tears； but we shall yet 〃e again with joy；
bringing our sheaves with us〃 （Ps。 126：6）。
I draw towards a conclusion。 I pass from the consideration of what St。
Paul saw； and tilt； and did at Athens； to points of practical
importance。 I ask every reader of this paper what ought we to see； to
feel； and to do？
（1） What ought we to see？ It is an age of sightseeing and excitement。
〃The eye is not satisfied with seeing〃 （Eccles。 1：8）。 The world is mad
after running to and fro； and the increase of knowledge。 The wealth；
the arts； the inventions of man are continually gathering myriads into
great Exhibitions。 Thousands and tens of thousands are annually rushing
about and gazing at the work of men's hands。
But ought not the Christian to look at the map of the world？ Ought not
the man who believes the Bible to gaze with solemn thoughts on the vast
spaces in that map which are yet spiritually black； dead； and without
the gospel？ Ought not our eyes to look at the fact that half the
population of the earth is yet ignorant of God and Christ； and yet
sitting still in sin and idolatry； and that myriads of our own
fellow…countrymen in our great cities are practically little better
than heathen； because Christians do so little for souls？
The eyes of God see these things； and our eyes ought to see them too。
（2） What aught we to feel？ Our hearts； if they are right in the sight
of God； ought to be affected by the sight of irreligion and heathenism。
Many indeed are the feelings which the aspect of the world ought to
call up in our hearts。
Thankfulness we ought to feel for our own countless privileges。 Little
indeed do the bulk of English people know the amount of their own daily
unpaid debt to Christianity。 Well would it be for some if they could be
pelled to dwell for a few weeks every year in a heathen land。
Shame and humiliation we ought to feel when we reflect how little the
Church of England has done for the spread of Christianity hitherto。 God
has indeed done great things for us since the days when Cranmer；
Ridley； and Latimer went to the stake；has preserved us through many
trials； has enriched us with many blessings。 But how little return we
have made Him！ How few of our 15；000 parishes do anything worthy of the
cause of missions at home or abroad！ How little zeal some congregations
show for the salvation of souls！ These things ought not so to be！
passion we ought to feel when we think of the wretched state of
unconverted souls； and the misery of all men and women who live and die
without Christ。 No poverty like this poverty！ No disease like this
disease！ No slavery like this slavery！ No death like this； death in
idolatry； irreligion； and sin！ Well may we ask ourselves； Where is the
mind of Christ； if we do not feel for the lost？ I lay it down boldly；
as a great principle； that the Christianity which does not make a man
feel for the state of unconverted people is not the Christianity which
came down from heaven 1800 years ago； and is embalmed in the New
Testament。 It is a mere empty name。 It is not the Christianity of St。
Paul。
（3） Finally； what ought we to do？ This； after all； is the point to
which I want to bring your mind。 Seeing and feeling are well； but doing
is the life of religion。 Passive impressions which do not lead to
action have a tendency to harden the conscience； and do us positive
harm。 What ought we to do？ We ought to do much more than we have ever
done yet。 We might all probably do more。 The honour of the gospel； the
state of the missionary field abroad； the condition of our overgrown
cities at home； all call upon us to do more。
Need we stand still； and be ashamed of the weapons of our warfare？ Is
the gospel； the old Evangelical creed； unequal to the wants of our day？
I assert boldly that we have no cause to be ashamed of the gospel at
all。 It is not worn out。 It is not effete。 It is not behind the times。
We want nothing new； nothing added to the gospel； nothing taken away。
We want nothing but 〃the old paths；〃 the old truths fully； boldly；
affectionately proclaimed。 Only preach the gospel fully； the same
gospel which St。 Paul preached； and it is still 〃the power of God unto
salvation to every one that believeth；〃 and nothing else called
religion has any real power at all。 （Rom。 1：16。）
Need we stand still and be ashamed of the results of preaching the
gospel？ Shall we hang down our heads； and plain that 〃the faith once
delivered to the saints〃 has lost its power； and does no good？ We have
no cause to be ashamed at all。 I am bold to say that no religious
teaching on earth can point to any results worth mentioning except that
which is called doctrinal； dogmatic theology。 What deliverance on earth
have all the modern schoolswhich scorn dogmatic teachingwhat
deliverance have they wrought？ What overgrown and semi…heathen parishes
in the metropolis； in our great seaports； our manufacturing towns； our
colliery districts； have they evangelized and civilized？ What New
Zealand； what Red River； what Sierra…Leone； what Tinnevelly can the
high…sounding systems of this latter day point to as a fruit of their
system？ No！ if the question； 〃What is truth？〃 is to be solved by
reference to results and fruits； the religion of the New Testament； the
religion whose principles are summarized； condensed； and embalmed in
our Articles； Creeds； and Prayer Book； has no cause to be ashamed。
What can we do now bug humble ourselves for the past； and endeavour； by
God's help； to do more for time to e？ Let us open our eyes more； and
see。 Let us open our hearts more； and 。fed。 Let us stir up ourselves to
do more work ruby self…denying gifts； by zealous co…operation； by bold
advocacy； by fervent prayer。 Let us do something worthy of our cause。
The cause for which Jesus left heaven and came down to earth deserves
the best that we can do。
And now； let me close this paper by returning to the thought with which
it began。 Perhaps your lot is cast in a city or town。 The population of
our rural districts is annually decreasing。 The dwellers in towns are
rapidly outnumbering the dwellers in country parishes。 If you are a
dweller in a town； accept the parting words of advice which I am about
to offer。 Give me； your best attention while I speak to you about your
soul。
（1） Remember； for one thing； that you are placed in a position of
peculiar spiritual danger。 From the days of Babel downwards； wherever
Adam's children have been assembled in large numbers； they have always
drawn one another to the utmost extremities of sin and wickedness。 The
great towns have always been Satan's seat。 It is the town where the
young man sees abounding examples of ungodliness； and； if he is
determined to live in sin； will always find plenty of panions。 It is
the town where the theatre and the casino； the dancing room and the
drinking bar； are continually crowded。 It is the town whe
