莱尔主教upper_room-第61章
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Who can tell the fort of this threefold wall of inclosure！ Believers
are inclosed by election； inclosed by washing and intercession；
inclosed by calling and regeneration。 Great is the consolation of these
threefold bands of love around us； the love of God the Father； the love
of God the Son； the love of God the Holy Ghost！ A threefold cord is not
easily broken。
Does any reader suppose for a moment that all this was not needed？ I
believe that nothing short of this threefold inclosure could save the
Lord's garden from utter ruin。 Without election； intercession； and
regeneration； there is not one soul who would get to heaven。 The wild
boar out of the wood would break in and devour； the roaring lion would
e in and trample all under his feet。 The devil would soon lay the
Lord's garden level with the ground。
Blessed be God for this； that we are 〃a garden inclosed！〃 Blessed be
God； our final safety hangs not on anything of our own；not on our
graces and feelings； not on our degree of sanctification；not on our
perseverance in well…doing；not on our love；not on our growth in
grace；not on our prayers and Bible…readings； not even on our faith。
It hangs on nothing else but the work of Father； Son； and Holy Ghost。
If this three…fold work inclose us； who shall overthrow our hope？ If
God be for us； who can be against us？
Adam had a heart free from sin。 Adam was strong in innocency； and
undefiled by contact with bad examples and corrupt neighbours。 Adam was
on vantage ground； a thousand times higher than we now occupy； and yet
Adam fell before temptation。 There was no inclosure round him； no wall
to keep Satan out； no barrier round the first flower of the Lord's
garden；and see how Adam fell！
Let believers open their sleepy eyes； and try to understand the value
of their privileges！ This is the most blessed part of the Lord's
garden。 It is a 〃garden inclosed。〃 I believe if there was no election；
there would be no salvation。 I never saw a man who would be saved if it
depended in any wise on himself。 Let us all thank the Lord Jesus； every
day； and thank Him from our hearts； that His people are a chosen and
guarded people； and that His garden is nothing less than 〃a garden
inclosed。〃
III。 The Lord's garden is not empty： it is always full of flowers。 It
has had many in time past； it has many at the time present。 Believers
are the flowers that fill the Lord's garden。
I will mention two things about the flowers in the garden of the Lord
Jesus。 In some things they are all exactly like one another。 In some
things they are as various and diverse as the flowers in the gardens of
this world。
（a） In some things they are all alike。
（1） They have all been transplanted。 Not one of the Lord's flowers grew
naturally in His garden。 They were all born children of wrath； even as
others。 No man is born with grace in his heart。 Every believer among
the Lord's people was at one time at enmity with Him； and in a state of
condemnation。 It was the grace of God that first called him out of the
world。 It was the Spirit of Christ who made him what he is； and planted
him in the garden of the Lord。 In this the Lord's people are all alike：
they are all transplanted flowers。
（2） The Lord's flowers are all alike in their root。 In outward things
they may differ； but underneath they are all the same。 They are all
rooted and grounded on Jesus Christ。 Believers may worship in different
places； and belong to different churches； but their foundation is the
same；the cross and the blood。
（3） The Lord's flowers are all at their beginning weak。 They do not
e to full maturity at once。 They are at first like new…born babes；
tender and delicate； and needing to be fed with milk； and not with
strong meat。 They are soon checked and thrown back。 All begin in this
way。
（4） The Lord's flowers all need the light of the sun。 Flowers cannot
live without light。 Believers cannot live fortably unless they see
much of the face of Jesus Christ。 To be ever looking on Him； feeding on
Him； muning with Him；this is the hidden spring of the life of God
in man's soul。
（5） The Lord's flowers all need the dews of the Spirit。 Flowers wither
without moisture。 Believers need daily； hourly； to be renewed by the
Holy Ghost in the spirit of their minds。 We cannot Live on old grace；
if we would be fresh； living； real Christians。 We must be daily more
filled with the Spirit。 Every chamber in the inward temple must be
filled。
（6） The Lord's flowers are all in danger of weeds。 Flower…beds need
constant weeding。 Believers need daily to search and see that they do
not let besetting sins grow on undisturbed。 These are the things that
choke the actings of grace； and chill the influences of the Spirit。 All
are in peril of this； all should beware。
（7） The Lord's flowers all require pruning and digging。 Flowers left
alone soon dwindle and grow small。 No careful gardener leaves his roses
alone all the year round。 Just so believers need stirring； shaking；
mortifying； or else they bee sleepy； and incline like Lot to settle
down by Sodom。 And if they are slow about the work of pruning； God will
often take it in hand for them。
（8） The Lord's flowers all grow。 None but hypocrites and wolves in
sheep's clothing； and painted Christians； stand still True believers
are never long the same。 It is their desire to go on from grace to
grace； strength to strength； knowledge to knowledge； faith to faith；
holiness to holiness。 Visit a border of the Lord's garden after two or
three years' absence； and you will see this。 If you see it not； you may
well suppose there is a worm at the root。 Life grows； but death stands
still and decays。
（b） But while the Lord's flowers are all alike in some things； they are
various and diverse in others； even as the flowers in our own gardens。
Let us consider this point a little。
Believers have many things in mon； one Lord； one faith； one baptism
of the Spirit； one hope； one foundation； one reverence for the Word；
one delight in prayer； one newness of heart。 And yet there are some
things in which they are not one。 Their general experience is the same；
and their title to heaven the same： and yet there are varieties in
their specific experience。 There are shades of diversity in their views
and feeling。 They are not so altogether and pletely one that they
can quite understand each other in all things； at all times； and in all
points。 Very important is it to bear this in mind！ Believers are one in
genus； but not one in species； one in great principles； not one in all
particulars； one in reception of the whole truth； not one in the
proportion they give to the parts of truth； one in the root； but not
one in the flower； one in the part that only the Lord Jesus sees； not
one in the part that is seen of the world。
You cannot understand your brother or sister in some things。 You could
not do as they do； speak as they speak； act as they act； laugh as they
laugh； admire what they admire。 Oh； be not hasty to condemn them！ Make
them not offenders for a word。 Set them not down in a low place because
they and you have little sympathy； few harmonizing and responding
strings in your hearts；because you soon e to a standstill in
muning with them； and discover that they and you have only a limited
extent of ground in mon！ Write it down on the tablets of your heart；
that there are many schools； orders； classes； diversities of
Christians。 You may all be in the Lord's garden； and be united on grand
doctrines； and yet for all that； the Lord's garden is made up of
various sorts of flowers。 All His flowers are useful： none must be
despised。 And yet His garden contains widely different sorts。
（1） Some that grow in the Lord's garden are like the flowers which are
brilliant and showy in colour； but not sweet。 You see them afar off；
