莱尔主教upper_room-第93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！
Him out； or prevent HIS seeing。 〃All things are naked and open unto the
eyes of Him with whom we have to do〃 （Heb。 4：13）。 Well did young Joseph
understand this when his mistress tempted him。 There was no one in the
house to see them；no human eye to witness against him；but Joseph
was one who lived as seeing Him that is invisible： 〃How can I do this
great wickedness；〃 said he； 〃and sin against God？〃 （Gen。 39：9）。
Young men； I ask you all to read Ps。 139。 I advise you all to learn it
by heart。 Make it the test of all your dealings in this world's
business： say to yourself often； 〃Do I remember that God sees me？〃
Live as in the sight of God。 This is what Abraham did；he walked
before Him。 This is what Enoch did；…he walked with Him。 This is what
heaven itself will be；the eternal presence of God。 Do nothing you
would not like God to see。 Say nothing you would not like God to hear。
Write nothing you would not like God to read。 Go to no place where you
would not like God to find you。 Read no book of which you would not
like God to say； 〃Show it Me。〃 Never spend your time in such a way that
you would not like to have God say； 〃What art thou doing？〃
（4） For another thing； be diligent in the use of all public means of
grace。
Be regular in going to the house of God； whenever it is open for prayer
and preaching； and it is in your power to attend。 Be regular in keeping
the Lord's day holy； and determine that God's day out of the seven
shall henceforth always be given to its rightful owner。
I would not leave any false impression on your minds。 Do not go away
and say I told you that keeping your church made up the whole of
religion。 I tell you no such thing。 I have no wish to see you grow up
formalists and Pharisees。 If you think the mere carrying your body to a
certain house； at certain times； on a certain day in the week； will
make you a Christian； and prepare you to meet God； I tell you flatly
you are miserably deceived。 All services without heart…service are
unprofitable and vain。 They only are true worshippers who 〃 worship God
in spirit and in truth： the Father seeketh such to worship Him〃 （John
4：23）。
But means of grace are not to be despised because they are not
saviours。 Gold is not food；you cannot eat it； but you would not
therefore say it is useless； and throw it away。 Your soul's eternal
well…doing most certainly does not depend on means of grace； but it is
no less certain that without them； as a general rule； your soul will
not do well。 God might take all who are saved to heaven in a chariot of
fire； as He did Elijah； but He does not do so。 He might teach them all
by visions； and dreams； and miraculous interpositions； without
requiring them to read or think for themselves； but He does not do so。
And why not？ Because He is a God that works by means； and it is His law
and will that in all man's dealings with him means shall be used。 None
but a fool or enthusiast would think of building a house without
ladders and scaffolding； and just so no wise man will despise means
I dwell the more on this point； because Satan will try hard to fill
your minds with arguments against means。
He will draw your attention to the numbers of persons who use them and
are no better for the using。 〃See there；〃 he will whisper； 〃do you not
observe those who go to church are no better than those who stay away？〃
But do not let this move you。 It is never fair to argue against a thing
because it is improperly used。 It does not follow that means of grace
can do no good because many attend on them and get no good from them。
Medicine is not to be despised because many take it and do not recover
their health。 No man would think of giving up eating and drinking
because others choose to eat and drink improperly； and so make
themselves ill。 The value of means of grace； like other things；
depends； in a great measure； on the manner and spirit in which we use
them。
I dwell on this point too； because of the strong anxiety I feel that
every young man should regularly hear the preaching of Christ's gospel。
I cannot tell you how important I think this is。 By God's blessing； the
ministry of the gospel might be the means of converting your soul；…of
leading you to a saving knowledge of Christ； of making you a child of
God in deed and in truth。 This would be cause for eternal thankfulness
indeed。 This would be an event over which angels would rejoice。 But
even if this were not the case； there is a restraining power and
influence in the ministry of the gospel； under which I earnestly desire
every young man to be brought。 There are thousands whom it keeps back
from evil； though it has not yet turned them unto God；it has made
them far better members of society； though it has not yet made them
true Christians。 There is a certain kind of mysterious power in the
faithful preaching of the gospel； which tells insensibly on multitudes
who listen to it without receiving it into their hearts。 To hear sin
cried down； and holiness cried up； to hear Christ exalted； and the
works of the devil denounced；… to hear the kingdom of heaven and its
blessedness described； and the world and its emptiness exposed； to hear
this week after week； Sunday after Sunday； is seldom without good
effect to the soul。 It makes it far harder afterwards to run into any
excess of riot and profligacy。 It acts as a wholesome check upon a
man's heart。 This； I believe； is one way in which that promise of God
is made good； 〃My word shall not return unto Me void〃 （Isa。 55：11）。
There is much truth in that strong saying of Whitefield； 〃The gospel
keeps many a one from the gaol and gallows； if it does not keep him
from hell。〃
Let me here name another point which is closely connected with this
subject。 Let nothing ever tempt you to bee a Sabbath…breaker。 I
press this on your attention。 Make conscience of giving all your
Sabbath to God。 A spirit of disregard for this holy day is growing up
amongst us with fearful rapidity； and not least among young men。 Sunday
travelling by railways and steamboats； Sunday visiting； Sunday
excursions； are being every year more mon than they were； and are
doing infinite harm to souls。
Young men； be jealous on this point。 Whether you live in town or
country； take up a decided line； resolve not to profane your Sabbath。
Let not the plausible argument of 〃needful relaxation for your
body；〃let not the example of all around you；let not the invitation
of panions with whom you may be thrown；let none of these things
move you to depart from this settled rule； that God's day shall be
given to God。
Once give over caring for the Sabbath； and in the end you will give
over caring for your soul。 The steps which lead to this conclusion are
easy and regular。 Begin with not honouring God's day； and you will soon
not honour God's house；cease to honour God's house； and you will soon
cease to honour God's book； cease to honour God's book； and by and by
you will give God no honour at all。 Let a man lay the foundation of
having no Sabbath； and I am never surprised if he finishes with the
top…stone of no God。 It is a remarkable saying of Judge Hale； 〃Of all
the persons who were convicted of capital crimes while he was upon the
bench； he found only a few who would not confess； on inquiry； that they
began their career of wickedness by a neglect of the Sabbath。〃
Young men； you may be thrown among panions who forget the honour of
the Lord's day； but resolve； by God's help； that you will always
remember to keep it holy。 Honour it by a regular attendance at some
place where the gospel is preached。 Settle down under a faithful
ministry； and once settled； let your place in church never be empty。
Believe me； you will find a special blessing following you： 〃If you
call the Sabbath a delight； the holy of the Lord； honourable； and shalt
honour Him；
