莱尔主教upper_room-第44章
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men； the sons of parents who never dreamed of such things； forsake the
banner under which they were enrolled； and bee mere nothingarians；
or believers in nothing？ Let none of these things move you。 Set your
face as a flint towards Jerusalem。 Set your foot down firmly in the old
paths； the good and tried way to the celestial city。
What fruit have the deserters to show pared to the followers of
Peter； James； and John？ What increase of inward peace and outward
usefulness？ What rest of conscience？ What fort in trial？ No！ while
many go away from Christ； do you cleave to Him with purpose of heart。
Cleave to your old habits of daily prayer and daily Bible reading； and
regular attendance on means of grace。 Better a thousand times to be on
Christ's side with a few； and be laughed at and despised for a season；
than to have the praise of the many for a few short years； and then
awake too late to find that without Christ you are without peace； or
hope； or heaven。
II。 In the second place； let us consider the question which Peter asked
in reply to his Master's appeal； 〃Will ye also go away？〃 〃Lord；〃 cries
the warm…hearted and impulsive Apostle。 〃Lord； to whom shall we go？〃
That question； no doubt； like hundreds in the Bible； was equivalent to
a strong affirmation。 〃There is none beside Thee to whom we can go。〃 It
is like the saying of David； 〃Whom have I in heaven but Thee？ and there
is none on earth that I desire beside Thee〃 （Ps。 73：25）。
When we think of the age when Peter lived； we cannot help feeling that
he had abundant cause to ask that question。 In his days； at the end of
4000 years； 〃the world by wisdom knew not God〃 （1 Cor。 1：21）。 Egypt；
Assyria； Greece； and Rome； the very nations which attained the highest
excellence in secular things； in the things of religion were sunk in
gross darkness。 The fellow…countrymen of matchless historians；
tragedians； poets； orators； and architects； worshipped idols； and bowed
down to the work of their own hands。 The ablest philosophers of Greece
and Rome groped after truth like blind men； and wearied themselves in
vain to find the door。 The whole earth was defiled with spiritual
ignorance and immorality； and the wisest men could only confess their
need of light； like the Greek philosopher Plato； and groan and sigh for
a deliverer。 Peter might well cry； 〃Lord； if we leave Thee； to whom
shall we go？〃
Where； indeed； could the Apostle have turned for peace of heart； for
satisfaction of conscience； for hope in a world to e； if he had gone
away from the synagogue of Capernaum with the deserters； and left
Christ 1854 years ago！ Would he have found what he wanted among the
formal Pharisees； or the sceptical Sadducees； or the worldly Herodians；
or the ascetic Essenes； or the philosophical schools of Athens；
Alexandria； or Rome？ Would Gamaliel； or Caiaphas； or Stoics； or
Epicureans； or Platonists； have quenched his spiritual thirst； or fed
his soul？ It is waste of time to ask such questions。 All these
pretended fountains of knowledge had long been proved to be man…made
cisterns； broken cisterns； which could hold no water。 They satisfied no
anxious mind。 He that drank of these waters soon thirsted again。
But the question which Peter asked is one which true Christians may
always ask boldly； when they are tempted to go away from Christ。 At
this very day； when men tell us that Christianity is an effete and
worn…out thing； we may safely challenge them to show us anything
better。 They may ply us； if they will； with objections to revealed
religion； and say many things to which we can offer no reply。 But；
after all； we may confidently defy them to show us 〃a more excellent
way；〃 and more solid ground than that which is occupied by the man who
simply believes all the Bible； and follows Christ。
Grant for a moment； that in an hour of weakness we listen to the
temptation to go away from Christ。 Grant that we close our Bibles；
reject all dogmas； and with a sublime contempt for the fossilized
theology of our forefathers； content ourselves with a polished
nothingarianism； or a few scraps of cold formality。 In what respect
shall we find that we have increased our happiness or usefulness？ What
solid thing shall we get to replace what we have left？ Once turn your
back on Christ； and where will you find peace for your conscience；
strength for duty； power against temptation； fort in trouble；
support in the hour of death； hope in looking forward to the grave？ You
may well ask。 Nothingarianism can give no answer。 These things are only
found by those who live the life of faith in a crucified and risen
Christ。
To whom； indeed； shall we go for help； strength； and fort； if we
turn our backs on Christ？ We live in a world of troubles； whether we
like it or not。 You can no more stave off and prevent them than king
Canute could prevent the tide rising and rudely swelling round the
royal chair。 Our bodies are liable to a thousand ailments； and our
hearts to a thousand sorrows。 No creature on earth is so vulnerable；
and so capable of intense physical as well as mental suffering； as man。
Sickness； and death； and funerals； and partings； and separations； and
losses； and failures； and disappointments； and private family trials；
which no mortal eye sees； will break in upon us from time to time； and
human nature imperatively demands help； help； help to meet them！ Alas；
where will thirsty； wailing human nature find such help if we leave
Christ？
The plain truth is； that nothing but an almighty personal Friend will
ever meet the legitimate wants of man's soul。 Metaphysical notions；
philosophical theories； abstract ideas； vague speculations about 〃the
unseen； the infinite； the inner light；〃 and so forth； may satisfy a
select few for a time。 But the vast majority of mankind； if they have
any religion at all； will never be content with a religion which does
not supply them with a Person to whom they may look and trust。 It is
just this craving after a person which gives the Mariolatry of Rome its
curious power。 And this principle once admitted； where will you find
one so perfectly fitted to satisfy man as the Christ of the Bible？ Look
round the world； and point out； if you can； any object of faith fit to
be pared with this blessed Son of God； set forth before our eyes in
the Gospels。 In face of a dying world we want positives and not
negatives。 〃To whom shall we go； if we go away from Christ？〃
Men may tell us； if they please； that our old fountain of living waters
is drying up； and that the nineteenth century needs a new theology。 But
I fail to see evidence to confirm this assertion。 I see multitudes of
men and women all over the world； after 1800 years； continuing to drink
at this fountain； and none who honestly stoop to drink； plain that
their thirst is not relieved。 And all this time； those who profess to
despise the good old fountain can show us nothing whatever to take its
place。 The mental freedom and higher light they promise are as
deceptive as the mirage of the African desert； and as unreal as a
dream。 A substitute for the old fountain exists nowhere but in man's
imagination。 He that leaves it will find that he must return； or perish
of thirst。 Perhaps some of my younger readers may secretly think that
the difficulties of revealed religion are inexplicable； and are trying
to persuade themselves that they know not 〃where to go 〃 in these dark
and cloudy days。 I entreat them to consider that the difficulties of
unbelief are far greater than the difficulties of faith。 When men have
said all they can to depreciate the old paths of the Bible； and draw
you away from Christ； when they have piled up the ancient； stale
objections of various readings； doubtful authorship； inconsistent
statements； and supposed incredible miracles； they can still offer no
substitute for the Scripture；
