莱尔主教upper_room-第48章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
very best； latent dislike of trouble； secret desire to please man and
keep in with the world； carelessness about our private Bible…reading
and our prayers； envy and jealousy of others； laziness about doing
good； selfishness and desire to have our own way； forgetfulness of the
wishes of others； and want of watchfulness over our own besetting sins。
All these things are often lying hid within us； and below the surface
of our hearts。 The holiest saint may find to his cost some day that
they are all there alive； and ready to show themselves。 No wonder that
our Lord Jesus said to the three Apostles in the garden； 〃Watch and
pray； lest ye enter into temptation。 The spirit truly is ready； but the
flesh is weak〃 （Mark 14：38）。 I have no doubt that St。 Paul had the
heart in view； when he wrote those words； 〃Hold fast。〃 〃Let us
therefore hold fast our profession〃
（b） For another thing； the world is a source of immense danger to the
Christian soul From the day that we are converted； we are living in a
most unhealthy atmosphere for religion。 We live and move and have our
being in the midst of a vast multitude of people who are utterly
without vital Christianity。 In every rank of life we meet with hundreds
who； however moral and respectable； seem to care for nothing but such
things as these；What shall I eat？ What shall I drink？ What can I get？
What can I spend？ How shall I employ my time？ What profit can I make？
What amusement can I have？ What pleasant pany can I enjoy！ As for
God； and Christ； and the Holy Ghost； and the Bible； and prayer； and
repentance； and faith； and holy living； and doing good in the world；
and death； and resurrection； and judgment； and heaven and hell； they
are subjects which never appear to e across them except in sickness；
or at a funeral。 Now to live constantly in the midst of such people； as
a Christian must do； is sure to be a great trial to him； and requires
constant watchfulness to prevent his getting harm。 We are incessantly
tempted to give way about little things； and to make promises and
concessions。 We naturally dislike giving offence to others； and having
frictions and collisions with relatives； friends； and neighbours。 We do
not like to be laughed at and ridiculed by the majority； and to feel
that we are always in a minority in every pany into which we go。 I
fear that too many are laughed out of heaven and laughed into hell。 It
is a true saying of Solomon； 〃The fear of man bringeth a snare〃 （Prov。
29：25）。 I once knew a brave sergeant of a cavalry regiment； who； after
living to the age of fifty without any religion； became for the last
few years of his life a decided Christian。 He told me that when he
first began to think about his soul； and to pray； some months passed
away before he dare tell his wife that he said his prayers； and that he
used to creep upstairs without his boots at evening； that his wife
might not hear him； and find out what he was doing！
The plain truth is； that 〃the whole world lieth in wickedness〃 （1 John
5：19）； and it is vain to ignore the danger that the world causes to the
believer's soul。 The spirit of the world； and the tone of the world；
and the tastes of the world； and the air of the world； and the breath
of the world； are continually about him every day that he lives；
drawing him down and pulling him back。 If he does not keep his faith in
lively exercise； he is sure to catch infection； and take damage； like
the travellers through the Campagna at Rome； who take a fever without
being aware of it at the time。 The most mischievous and unsanitary gas
is that which our bodily senses do not detect。 We have reason to pray
continually for an increase of that faith of which St。 John says； 〃that
it gives us the victory over the world〃 （1 John 5：4）。 Happy； indeed； is
that Christian who can be in the world and yet not of the world； who
can do his duty in it； and yet not be conformed to it； who can pass
through it unmoved by its smiles or its frowns； its flattery or its
enmity； its open opposition or its playful ridicule； its sweets or its
bitters； its gold or its sword！ When I think what the world is； and see
what harm it has done and is doing to souls； I do not wonder that St。
Paul says； 〃Hold fast。〃 〃Let us hold fast our profession。〃
（e） For one thing more； the devil is a constant enemy to the
Christian's soul。 That great； sleepless； and unwearied foe is always
labouring to do us harm。 It is his constant object to wound； hurt； vex；
injure； or weaken； if he cannot kill and destroy。 He is an unseen enemy
who is always near us； 〃about our path； and about our bed；〃 and spying
out all our ways； prepared to suit his temptations to the special weak
points of every man。 He knows us far better than we know ourselves。 He
has been studying one book for 6000 years； the book of fallen human
nature； and he is a spirit of almost boundless subtlety and cunning；
and of boundless malice。 The best of saints has little idea how many
vile suggestions in his heart e from the devil； and what a restless
adversary stands at his right hand。
This is he who tempted Eve at the beginning； and persuaded her that she
might disobey God； eat the forbidden fruit and not die。 m This is he
who tempted David to number the people； and to cause the death of
70；000 of his subjects by pestilence in three days。This is he who
tried to tempt our Lord in the wilderness immediately after His
baptism； and even quoted Scripture to gain his end。 This is he who
opposed our Lord all throughout His three years' ministry； sometimes by
possessing the bodies of unhappy men and women in a most mysterious
manner； and at last by putting it into the heart of one of His Apostles
to betray Him。This is he who constantly opposed the Apostles after
our Lord's ascension； and tried to stop the progress of the
gospel。This is he of whom St。 Paul testifies that even 〃Satan is
transformed into an angel of light；〃 and that false teachers are his
agents （2 Cor。 11：14）。
Does any reader of this paper foolishly suppose that the devil is
asleep； or dead； or less mischievous now than in old time？ Nothing of
the kind！ He is still 〃 walking about like a roaring lion； seeking whom
he may devour。〃 He is still 〃going to and fro in the earth； and walking
up and down in it〃 （1 Pet。 5：8； Job 1：7）。 It is he who goes among
heathen nations and persuades them to shed oceans of blood in the
worship of idols； or murderous wars。 It is he who goes to and fro
amongst fallen Churches； persuading them to throw aside the Bible； and
satisfy people with formal worship or grovelling superstitions。It is
he who walks up and down in Protestant countries； and stirs up party
spirit； and bitter political strife； setting class against class； and
subjects against rulers； in order to distract men's minds from better
things。It is he who is continually going to the ears of intellectual
and highly educated men； persuading them that the old Bible is not
true； and advising them to be content with Atheism； Theism；
Agnosticism； Secularism； and a general contempt for the world to e。
It is he； above all； who persuades foolish people that there is no such
person as a devil； and no future judgment after death； and no hell。 In
all this fearful list of things I firmly believe that the devil lies at
the bottom； and is the true root； reason； and cause。 Can we suppose for
a moment that he will let true Christians go quietly to heaven； and not
tempt them by the way？
Away with the silly thought！ We have need to pray against the devil； as
well as against the world and the flesh。 In the great trinity of
enemies which the believer should daily remember； the devil perhaps is
the greatest because he is the least seen。 Nothing delights him so much
（if； indeed； he can be delighted at all） as to injure a true Christian；
and make him bring discredit on his religion。
