莱尔主教upper_room-第95章
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of every kind for spreading truth exists； but there are not hands to
work it。
Money is more easily got for doing good than men。 Ministers are wanted
for new churches； missionaries are wanted for new stations； visitors
are wanted for neglected districts； teachers are wanted for new
schools； many a good cause is standing still merely for want of
agents。 The supply of godly； faithful； trustworthy men； for posts like
those I have named； is far below the demand。
Young men of the present day； you are wanted for God。 This is
peculiarly an age of activity。 We are shaking off some of our past
selfishness。 Men no longer sleep the sleep of apathy and indifference
about others； as their forefathers did。 They are beginning to be
ashamed of thinking； like Cain；〃 Am I my brother's keeper？〃 A wide
field of usefulness is open before you； if you are only willing to
enter upon it。 The harvest is great； and the labourers are few。 Be
zealous of good works。 e； e to the help of the Lord against the
mighty。 ＇31＇
This is； in some sort； to be like God； not only 〃good； but doing good〃
（Ps。 119：68）。 This is the way to follow the steps of your Lord and
Saviour： 〃He went about doing good〃 （Acts 10：38）。
This is to live as David did； he 〃served his own generation〃 （Acts
13：36）。
And who can doubt that this is the path which most bees an immortal
soul？ Who would not rather leave this world like Josiah； lamented by
all； than depart like Jehoram； 〃without being desired〃？ （2 Chron。
21：20）。 Whether is it better to be an idle； frivolous； useless cumberer
of the ground； to live for your body； your selfishness； your lusts； and
your pride；or to spend and be spent in the glorious cause of
usefulness to your fellow…men；…to be like Wilberforce or Lord
Shaftesbury； a blessing to your country and the world；to be like
Howard； the friend of the prisoner and the captive；to be like
Schwartz； the spiritual father of hundreds of immortal souls in heathen
lands；to be like that man of God； Robert M'Cheyne； a burning and a
shining light； an epistle of Christ； known and read of all men； the
quickener of every Christian heart that es across your path？ Oh； who
can doubt？ Who can for one moment doubt？
Young men； consider your responsibilities。 Think of the privilege and
luxury of doing good。 Resolve this day to be useful。 At once give your
hearts to Christ。
Think； lastly； of the happiness that will e to your own soul； if you
serve God；happiness by the way； as you travel through life；and
happiness in the end； when the journey is over。 Believe me； whatever
vain notions you may have heard； believe me； there is a reward for the
righteous even in this world。 Godliness has indeed the promise of this
life； as well as of that which is to e。 There is a solid peace in
feeling that God is your friend。 There is a real satisfaction in
knowing that however great your unworthiness； you are plete in
Christ；that you have an enduring portion；that you have chosen that
good part which shall not be taken from you。
The backslider in heart may well be filled with his own ways； but 〃a
good man shall be satisfied from himself〃 （Prov。 14：14）。 The path of
the worldly man grows darker and darker every year that he lives；the
path of the Christian is as a shining light； brighter and brighter to
the very end。 His sun is just rising when the sun of the worldly is
setting for ever；his best things are all beginning to blossom and
bloom for ever； when those of the worldly are all slipping out of his
hands； and passing away。
Young men； these things are true。 Suffer the word of exhortation。 Be
persuaded。 Take up the cross。 Follow Christ。 Yield yourselves unto God。
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＇21＇ Archias the Theban。
＇22＇ Hannibal。
＇23＇ Rome
＇24＇ See Buckland's Bridgewater Treatise； vol。 ii。 plate 26。
＇25＇ 〃Pleasure；〃 says Adams on Second Peter； 〃must first have the
warrant； that it be without sin；then the measure； that it be without
excess。〃
＇26＇ Secretary Walsingham。
＇27＇ See Faber's Difficulties of Infidelity on this subject。
＇28＇ The Assembly's Larger Catechism begins with this admirable
question and answer。 〃 What is the chief and highest end of man？〃 〃To
glorify God； and fully to enjoy Him for ever。〃
＇29＇ Juvenal
＇30＇ There is an old fable； that the butterfly once asked the owl how
she should deal with the fire； which had singed her wings； and the owl
counselled her； in reply； not to behold so much as its smoke。
＇31＇ The Church of England Young Men's Society for Aiding Missions at
Home and Abroad； and the Young Men's Christian Association； in London；
deserve the support of all true Christians。 It is one of the few
cheering signs in an evil day； that such institutions have been formed。
I rejoice to see that kindred societies have been established at other
places。 I trust that God will abundantly bless them。
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CHAPTER XX
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE LORD'S SUPPER
THE paper which begins at this page requires a few words of prefatory
explanation。 It consists of fifty…one questions about the Lord's
Supper； with special reference to points which are the subject of much
dispute and controversy in the present day。 It supplies fifty…one
answers to these questions； chiefly drawn from the New Testament； and
the Articles； munion Service； and Catechism of the Church of
England。 It contains； in addition； some valuable extracts from the
writings of standard English divines。
It is a painful fact； and one which it is impossible to deny； that the
principal cause of differences among Churchmen at this moment is the
Sacrament of the Lord's Supper。 Whether that blessed ordinance is to be
regarded as a sacrifice or not； whether the Lord's Table is an altar or
not； whether the officiating clergyman is a sacrificing priest or
not；whether there is a corporal； material presence of Christ's body
and blood in the consecrated elements of bread and wine or
not；whether these elements and the Lord's Table ought to be regarded
with as much lowly reverence and honour as if Christ was bodily present
or not；all these are questions which are continually ing to the
front。 To speak plainly； they seem likely to divide the English clergy
into two distinct parties； and to rain the Church of England！
Nor is this all。 It is another painful and dangerous fact that the
great majority of English lay Churchmen seem utterly unable to
understand the very serious nature of the question which is dividing
the clergy； and the doctrinal consequences which are bound up with it。
Most lay Churchmen can only see that the service in some churches is
more ornamental and musical than in others； and that in some there is
more importance attached to the Lord's Table； and to flowers；
decorations； gestures； dress； and postures； than in others。 But they
can see no further。 They cannot； or will not； perceive that the
ceremonial actions in administering the Lord's Supper； about which the
clergy disagree； are not mere ornamental trifles； as some suppose。 So
far from being 〃trifles；〃 they are the outward and visible expressions
of a most mischievous doctrine； which strikes at one of the first
principles of the Reformed Church of England。 They think all earnest；
eloquent； zealous； hard…working clergymen cannot be far wrong。 And when
you tell them that there is an avowed determination among many
clergymen to unprotestantize the Established Church； to get behind the
Reformation； and to bring back the Romish Mass and the Confessional；
you are too often smiled at as an alarmist； and are not believed。 It is
my deliberate conviction that unless English lay Churchmen can be
awakened to see the real nature of the existing differences about the
Lord's Supper； there
