莱尔主教holiness-第101章
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describe the feelings with which every thirsting one who es to
Christ will enter heaven。 The summit of the narrow way will at length
be ours。 We shall cease from our weary journeyings； and sit down in the
kingdom of God。 We shall look back on all the way of our lives with
thankfulness； and see the perfect wisdom of every step in the steep
ascent by which we were led。 We shall forget the toil of the upward
journey in the glorious rest。 Here； in this world； our sense of rest in
Christ at best is feeble and partial： we hardly seem at times to taste
fully 〃the living water。〃 But when that which is perfect is e； then
that which is imperfect shall be done away。 〃When we awake up after His
likeness we shall be satisfied。〃 （Psalm xvii。 15。） We shall drink out
of the river of His pleasures and thirst no more。
NOTE
THERE is a passage in an old writer which throws so much light on some
points mentioned in this paper； that I make no excuse for giving it to
the reader in its entirety。 It es from a work which is little known
and less read。 It has done me good； and I think it may do good to
others。
〃When a man is awakened； and brought to that that all must be brought
to； or to worse； What shall I do to be saved？' （Acts xvi。 30； 31）； we
have the apostolic answer to it： Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ； and
thou shalt be saved； and thy house。' This answer is so old that with
many it seems out of date。 But it is still and will ever be fresh； and
new； and savoury； and the only resolution of this grand case of
conscience； as long as conscience and the world lasts。 No wit or art of
man will ever find a crack or flaw in it； or devise another or a better
answer； nor can any but this alone heal rightly the wound of an
awakened conscience。
〃Let us set this man to seek resolution and relief in this case of some
masters in our Israel。 According to their principles they must say to
him； Repent； and mourn for your known sins； and leave them and loath
them； and God will have mercy on you。' Alas！' （saith the poor man）； my
heart is hard； and I cannot repent aright： yea； I find my heart more
hard and vile than when I was secure in sin。' If you speak to this man
of qualifications for Christ； he knows nothing of them； if of sincere
obedience； his answer is native and ready： Obedience is the work of a
living man； and sincerity is only in a renewed soul。' Sincere obedience
is； therefore； as impossible to a dead unrenewed sinner as perfect
obedience is。 Why should not the right answer be given to the awakened
sinner： Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ； and you shall be saved'？ Tell
him what Christ is； what He hath done and suffered to obtain eternal
redemption for sinners； and that according to the will of God and His
Father。 Give him a plain downright narrative of the Gospel salvation
wrought out by the Son of God； tell him the history and mystery of the
Gospel plainly。 It may be the Holy Ghost will work faith thereby； as He
did m those first fruits of the Gentiles。 （Acts x。 44。）
〃If he ask； What warrant he hath to believe on Jesus Christ？ tell him
that he hath utter indispensable necessity for it； for without
believing on Him； he must perish eternally。 Tell him that he hath God's
gracious offer of Christ and all His redemption； with a promise； that
upon accepting the offer by faith； Christ and salvation with Him is
his。 Tell him that he hath God's express mandment （1 John iii。 23）
to believe on Christ's name； and that he should make conscience of
obeying it； as well as any mand in the moral law。 Tell him of
Christ's ability and good…will to save； that no man was ever rejected
by Him that cast himself upon Him； that desperate cases are the
glorious triumphs of His art of saving。 Tell him that there is no midst
（or medium） between faith and unbelief； that there is no excuse for
neglecting the one and continuing in the other； that believing on the
Lord Jesus for salvation is more pleasing to God than all obedience to
His law； and that unbelief is the most provoking to God； and the most
damning to man； of all sins。 Against the greatness of his sins； the
curse of the law； and the severity of God as Judge； there is no relief
to be held forth to him； but the free and boundless grace of God in the
merit of Christ's satisfaction by the sacrifice of Himself。
〃If he should say； What is it to believe on Jesus Christ？ As to this； I
find no such question in the Word； but that all did some way understand
the notion of it： the Jews that did not believe on Him （John vi。
28…30）； the chief priests and Pharisees （John vii。 48）； the blind man。
（John ix。 35。） When Christ asked him； Believest thou on the Son of God？
he answered； Who is He； Lord； that I may believe on Him？ Immediately；
when Christ had told him （verse 37）； he saith not； What is it to
believe on Him？ but； Lord； I believe； and worshipped Him： and so both
professed and acted faith in Him。 So the father of the lunatic （Mark
ix。 23； 24） and the eunuch （Acts viii。 37）； they all； both Christ's
enemies and His disciples； knew that faith in Him was a believing that
the Man Jesus of Nazareth was the Son of God； the Messiah； and Saviour
of the world； so as to receive and look for salvation in His name。
（Acts iv。 12。） This was the mon report； published by Christ and His
apostles and disciples； and known by all that heard it。
〃If he yet ask； What he is to believe？ you tell him； that he is not
called to believe that he is in Christ； and that his sins are pardoned；
and he a justified man； but that he is to believe God's record
concerning Christ； （1 John v。 10…12。） And this record is； that God
giveth （that is； offereth） to us eternal Life in His Son Jesus Christ；
and that all that with the heart believe this report； and rest their
souls on these glad tidings； shall be saved。 （Rom。 x。 9…11。） And thus
he is to believe； that he may be justified。 （Gal。 ii。 16。）
〃If he still say that this believing is hard； this is a good doubt； but
easily resolved。 It bespeaks a man deeply humbled。 Anybody may see his
own impotence to obey the law of God fully； but few find the difficulty
of believing。 For his relief and resolution ask him； What it is he
finds makes believing difficult to him？ Is it unwillingness to be
justified and saved？ Is it unwillingness to be so saved by Jesus
Christ； to the praise of God's grace in Him； and to the voiding of all
boasting in himself？ This he will surely deny。 Is it a distrust of the
truth of the Gospel record？ This he dare not own。 Is it a doubt of
Christ's ability or good…will to save？ This is to contradict the
testimony of God in the Gospel。 Is it because he doubts of an interest
in Christ and His redemption？ You tell him that believing on Christ
makes up the interest in Him。
〃If he say that he cannot believe on Jesus Christ because of the
difficulty of the acting this faith； and that a Divine power is needful
to draw it forth； which he finds not； you must tell him that believing
in Jesus Christ is no work； but a resting on Jesus Christ。 You must
tell him that this pretence is as unreasonable as if a man； wearied
with a journey and not able to go one step further； should argue； I am
so tired； that I am not able to lie down；' when indeed he can neither
stand nor go。 The poor wearied sinner can never believe on Jesus Christ
till he finds he can do nothing for himself； and in his first believing
doth always apply himself to Christ for salvation； as a man hopeless
and helpless in himself。 And by such reasonings with him from the
Gospel； the Lord will （as He hath often done） convey faith； and joy and
peace by believing。〃Robert Traill's works； 1696。 Vol。 I； 266…269。
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XVIII/
〃UNSEARCHABLE RICHES〃
〃Unto me； who am less than the least of all saints； is this grace
given； that I should pr
