莱尔主教holiness-第105章
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and nothing more； but to the true Christian each title； if beaten out
and developed； will be found to have within its bosom a wealth of
blessed truth。
（e） Set down； lastly； in your minds that there are unsearchable riches
in the characteristic qualities； attributes； dispositions； and
intentions of Christ's mind towards man； as we find them revealed in
the New Testament。 In Him there are riches of mercy； love； and
passion for sinnersriches of power to cleanse； pardon； forgive； and
to save to the uttermostriches of willingness to receive all who e
to Him repenting and believingriches of ability to change by His
Spirit the hardest hearts and worst charactersriches of tender
patience to bear with the weakest believerriches of strength to help
His people to the end； notwithstanding every foe without and
withinriches of sympathy for all who are cast down and bring their
troubles to Himand last； but not least； riches of glory to reward；
when He es again to raise the dead and gather His people to be with
Him in His kingdom。 Who can estimate these riches？ The children of this
world may regard them with indifference； or turn away from them with
disdain； but those who feel the value of their souls know better。 They
will say with one voice； 〃There are no riches like those which are laid
up in Christ for His people。〃
For； best of all； these riches are unsearchable。 They are a mine which；
however long it may be worked； is never exhausted。 They are a fountain
which； however many draw its waters； never runs dry。 The sun in heaven
has been shining for thousands of years； and giving light； and life；
and warmth； and fertility to the whole surface of the globe。 There is
not a tree or a flower in Europe； Asia； Africa； or America which is not
a debtor to the sun。 And still the sun shines on for generation after
generation； and season after season； rising and setting with unbroken
regularity； giving to all； taking from none； and to all ordinary eyes
the same in light and heat that it was in the day of creation； the
great mon benefactor of mankind。 Just so it is； if any illustration
can approach the reality； just so it is with Christ。 He is still 〃the
Sun of righteousness〃 to all mankind。 （Malachi iv。 2。） Millions have
drawn from Him in days gone by； and looking to Him have lived with
fort； and with fort died。 Myriads at this moment are drawing from
Him daily supplies of mercy； grace； peace； strength； and help； and find
〃all fulness〃 dwelling in Him。 And yet the half of the riches laid up
in Him for mankind； I doubt not； is utterly unknown！ Surely the Apostle
might well use that phrase； 〃the unsearchable riches of Christ。〃
Let me now conclude this paper with three words of practical
application。 For convenience sake I shall put them in the form of
questions； and I invite each reader of this volume to examine them
quietly and try to give them an answer。
（1） First； then； let me ask you what you think of yourself？ What St。
Paul thought of himself you have seen and heard。 Now； what are your
thoughts about yourself？ Have you found out that grand foundation…truth
that you are a sinner； a guilty sinner in the sight of God？
The cry for more education in this day is loud and incessant。 Ignorance
is universally deplored。 But； you may depend； there is no ignorance so
mon and so mischievous as ignorance of ourselves。 Yes： men may know
all arts； and sciences； and languages； and political economy； and
state…craft； and yet be miserably ignorant of their own hearts and
their own state before God。
Be very sure that self…knowledge is the first step towards heaven。 To
know God's unspeakable perfection； and our own immense imperfectionto
see our own unspeakable defectiveness and corruption； is the A B C in
saving religion。 The more real inward light we have； the more humble
and lowly…minded we shall be； and the more we shall understand the
value of that despised thing； the Gospel of Christ。 He that thinks
worst of himself and his own doings is perhaps the best Christian
before God。 Well would it be for many if they would pray； night and
day； this simple prayer〃Lord； show me myself。〃
（2） Secondly； what do you think of the ministers of Christ？ Strange as
that question may seem； I verily believe that the kind of answer a man
would give to it； if he speaks honestly； is very often a fair test of
the state of his heart。
Observe； I am not asking what you think of an idle； worldly；
inconsistent clergymana sleeping watchman and faithless shepherd。 No！
I ask what you think of the faithful minister of Christ； who honestly
exposes sin； and pricks your conscience。 Mind how you answer that
question。 Too many； nowadays； like only those ministers who prophesy
smooth things and let their sins alone； who flatter their pride and
amuse their intellectual taste； but who never sound an alarm； and never
tell them of a wrath to e。 When Ahab saw Elijah； he said； 〃Hast thou
found me； O mine enemy？〃 （1 Kings xxi。 20。） When Micaiah was named to
Ahab； he cried； 〃I hate him because he doth not prophesy good of me；
but evil。〃 （1 Kings xxii。 8。） Alas； there are many like Ahab in the
nineteenth century！ They like a ministry which does not make them
unfortable； and send them home ill at ease。 How is it with you？ Oh；
believe me； he is the best friend who tells you the most truth！ It is
an evil sign in the Church when Christ's witnesses are silenced； or
persecuted； and men hate him who reproveth。 （Isaiah xxix。 21。） It was a
solemn saying of the prophet to Amaziah： 〃Now I know that God hath
determined to destroy thee； because thou has done this； and not
hearkened to my counsel。〃 （2 Chron。 xxv。 16。）
（3） Last of all； what do you think of Christ Himself？ Is He great or
little in your eyes？ Does He e first or second in your estimation？
Is He before or behind His Church； His ministers； His sacraments； His
ordinances？ Where is He in your heart and your mind's eye？
After all； this is the question of questions！ Pardon； peace； rest of
conscience； hope in death； heaven itselfall hinge upon our answer。 To
know Christ is life eternal。 To be without Christ is to be without God。
〃He that hath the Son hath life； and he that hath not the Son of God
hath not life。〃 （1 John v。 12。） The friends of purely secular
education； the enthusiastic advocates of reform and progress； the
worshippers of reason； and intellect； and mind； and science； may say
what they please； and do all they can to mend the world。 But they will
find their labour in vain if they do not make allowance for the fall of
man； if there is no place for Christ in their schemes。 There is a sore
disease at the heart of mankind； which will baffle all their efforts；
and defeat all their plans； and that disease is sin。 Oh； that people
would only see and recognize the corruption of human nature； and the
uselessness of all efforts to improve man which are not based on the
remedial system of the Gospel！ Yes： the plague of sin is in the world；
and no waters will ever heal that plague except those which flow from
the fountain for all sina crucified Christ。
But； to wind up all； where is boasting？ As a great divine said on his
death…bed； 〃We are all of us only half awake。〃 The best Christian among
us knows but little of his glorious Saviour； even after he had learned
to believe。 We see through a glass darkly。 We do not realize the
〃unsearchable riches〃 there are in Him。 When we wake up after His
likeness in another world； we shall be amazed that we knew Him so
imperfectly； and loved Him so little Let us seek to know Him better
now； and live in closer munion with Him。 So living； we shall feel no
need of human priests and earthly confessionals。 We shall feel 〃I have
all and abound： I want nothing more。 Christ dying for me on the
crossChrist ever interceding for me at God's right handChrist
dwellin
