莱尔主教upper_room-第51章
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into the heavens； and through Him it is possible not only to begin； but
to 〃hold fast〃 our profession。
I will now conclude this paper by addressing a few words of direct
practical exhortation to every reader into whose hands it may happen to
fall。
（a） Do you belong to that huge class of so…called Christians who make
no profession of religion at all？ Alas！ it is a pity this class should
be so large； but it is vain to shut our eyes to the fact that it is
very large。 These of whom I speak are not atheists or infidels； they
would not for a moment like to be told they are not Christians。 They go
to places of worship； they think Christianity a very proper thing for
baptisms； weddings； and funerals。 They say grace before and after
dinner； they like their children to have some religion in their
education。 But they never seem to get any further； they shrink from
making a 〃profession。〃 It is useless to tell them to 〃hold fast；〃
because they have nothing to hold。
I ask such persons； in all affection and kindness； to consider how
unreasonable and inconsistent their position is。 Most of them believe
the Apostles' Creed。 They believe there is a God； and a world to e
after death； and a resurrection； and a judgment； and a life
everlasting。 But what can be more senseless than to believe all these
vast realities； and yet to travel on towards the grave without any
preparation for the great future？ You will not deny that you will have
to meet the Lord Jesus Christ； the Judge of all； when the last trumpet
sounds； and you will stand before the great white throne。 But where
will you be in that awful day； if you have never professed faith； love；
and obedience to that Judge during the time of your life upon earth？
How can you possibly expect Him to confess and own you in that hour； if
you have been afraid or ashamed to confess Him； and to declare yourself
boldly upon His side； while you are upon earth？
Think of these things； I beseech you； and change your plan of life。
Cast aside vain excuses and petty reasons for delay。 Resolve by the
grace of God to lay firm hold on Jesus Christ； and to enlist like a man
under HIS banners。 That blessed Saviour will receive you just as you
are； however unworthy you may feel yourself。 Wait for nothing； and wait
for nobody。 Begin to pray this very day； and to pray real； lively；
fervent prayers； such as the penitent thief prayed upon the cross。 Take
down your long…neglected Bible； and begin to read it。 Break off every
known bad habit。 Seek the pany and friendship of thoroughgoing
Christians。 Give up going to places where your soul can get nothing but
harm。 In one word； begin to make 〃a profession；〃 fearing neither the
laughter nor the scorn of man。 The word of the Lord Jesus is for you as
well as another： 〃Him that eth to Me I will in no wise cast out〃
（John 6：37）。 I have seen many people on their death…beds； but I never
met with one who said he was sorry he had made a 〃profession〃 of
religion。
（b） In the last place； do you belong to that much smaller class of
persons who really profess Christian faith； and Christian obedience；
and are trying； however weakly； to follow Christ in the midst of an
evil world。 I think I know something of what goes on in your hearts。
You sometimes feel that you will never persevere to the end； and will
be obliged some day to give up your profession。 You are sometimes
tempted to write bitter things against yourself； and to fancy you have
got no grace at all。 I am afraid there are myriads of true Christians
in this condition； who go trembling and doubting toward heaven； with
Despondency； and Much…Afraid； and Fearing in the Pilgrim's Progress；
and fear they will never get to the Celestial City at all。 But oddly
enough； in spite of all their groans and doubts and fears； they do not
turn back to the city from which they came （Heb。 11：15）。 They press on；
though faint； yet pursuing； and； as John Wesley used to say of his
people； 〃they end well。〃
Now； my advice to all such persons； if any of them are reading this
paper； is very simple。 Say every morning and evening of your life；
〃Lord； increase my faith。〃 Cultivate the habit of fixing your eye more
simply on Jesus Christ； and try to know more of the fulness there is
laid up in Him for every one of His believing people。 Do not be always
poring down over the imperfections of your own heart； and dissecting
your own besetting sins。 Look up。 Look more to your risen Head in
heaven； and try to realize more than you do that the Lord Jesus not
only died for you； but that He also rose again； and that He is ever
living at God's right hand as your Priest； your Advocate； and your
Almighty Friend。 When the Apostle Peter 〃walked upon the waters to go
to Jesus；〃 he got on very well as long as his eye was fixed upon his
Almighty Master and Saviour。 But when he looked away to the winds and
waves； and reasoned； and considered his own strength； and the weight of
his body； he soon began to sink； and cried； 〃Lord； save me。〃 No wonder
that our gracious Lord； while grasping his hand and delivering him from
a watery grave； said； 〃O thou of little faith； wherefore didst thou
doubt？〃 Alas！ many of us are very like Peter；…we look away from Jesus；
and then our hearts faint； and we feel sinking （Matt。 14：28…31）。
Think； last of all； how many millions of men and women like yourself
have got safe home during the last eighteen hundred years。 Like you；
they have had their battles and their conflicts； their doubts and their
fears。 Some of them have had very little 〃joy and peace in believing；〃
and were almost surprised when they woke up in Paradise。 Some of them
enjoyed full assurance； and strong consolation； and have entered the
haven of eternal life； like a gallant ship in full sail And who are
these last that have done so？ Those who have not only held their
profession between finger and thumb； but have grasped it firmly with
both hands； and have been ready to die for Christ； rather than not
confess Him before men。 Take courage； believer。 The bolder and more
decided you are； the more fort you will have in Christ。 You cannot
have two heavens； one here； and the other hereafter。 You are yet in the
world； and you have a body； and there is always near you a busy devil。
But great faith shall always have great peace。 The happiest person in
religion will always be that man or woman who can say； with a true
heart； like St。 Paul； 〃The life that I live in the flesh； I live by the
faith of the Son of God； who loved me； and gave Himself for me。〃 In
myself I see nothing； but I keep ever looking to Jesus； and by His
grace I hold fast my profession （Gal。 2：20）。
And now I cannot leave this great and solemn subject without offering
to all who read it a parting word of warning about the times in which
we live。 I will try to explain briefly what I mean。
I believe； then； that for three centuries there has not been an age in
which it has been so needful to urge professing Christians to 〃hold
fast〃 as it is at this time。 No doubt there is plenty of religion of a
certain sort in these days。 There are many more attendants on public
worship all over the land than there were thirty years ago。 But it may
well be doubted whether there is any increase of vital Christianity。 I
am greatly mistaken if there is not a growing tendency to 〃hold fast〃
nothing in religion； and a disposition to hold everything as loosely as
possible。 〃：Nothing fast！ Everything loose！〃 seems the order of the
day。
How is it in matters of faith and doctrine？ It used to be thought
important to hold clear and distinct views about such points as the
inspiration of the Scriptures； the atonement； the work of the Spirit；
the personality of the devil； the reality of future punishment。 It is
not thought so now。 The old order of things has passed away。 You may
believe any
