莱尔主教holiness-第110章
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righteousness exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees； ye
shall in no case enter the kingdon of heaven。〃 （Matt。 v。 20。） Alas；
that text is rarely used！Last； but not least； we need to study more
closely the latter part of nearly all St。 Paul's Epistles to the
Churches。 They are far too much slurred over and neglected。 Scores of
Bible readers； I am afraid； are well acquainted with the first eleven
chapters of the Epistle to the Romans； but know paratively little of
the five last。 When Thomas Scott expounded the Epistle to the Ephesians
at the old Lock Chapel； he remarked that the congregations became much
smaller when he reached the practical part of that blessed book！ Once
more I say you may think my remendations very simple。 I do not
hesitate to affirm that attention to them would by God's blessing be
most useful to Christ's cause。 I believe it would raise the standard of
English Christianity about such matters as home religion； separation
from the world； diligence in the discharge of relative duties；
unselfishness； good temper； and general spiritual…mindedness； to a
pitch which it seldom attains now。
There is a mon plaint in these latter days that there is a want
of power in modern Christianity； and that the true Church of Christ；
the body of which He is the Head； does not shake the world in the
twentieth century as it used to do in former years。 Shall I tell you in
plain words what is the reason？ It is the low tone of life which is so
sadly prevalent among professing believers。 We want more men and women
who walk with God and before God； like Enoch and Abraham。 Though our
numbers at this date far exceed those of our Evangelical forefathers； I
believe we fall far short of them in our standard of Christian
practice。 Where is the self…denial； the redemption of time； the absence
of luxury and self…indulgence； the unmistakable separation from earthly
things； the manifest air of being always about our Master's business；
the singleness of eye； the simplicity of home life； the high tone of
conversation in society； the patience； the humility； the universal
courtesy which marked so many of our forerunners seventy or eighty
years ago？ Yes： where is it indeed？ We have inherited their principles
and we wear their armour； but I fear we have not inherited their
practice。 The Holy Ghost sees it； and is grieved； and the world sees
it； and despises us。 The world sees it； and cares little for our
testimony。 It is life； lifea heavenly； godly； Christ…like
lifedepend on it； which influences the world。 Let us resolve； by
God's blessing； to shake off this reproach。 Let us awake to a clear
view of what the times require of us in this matter。 Let us aim at a
much higher standard of practice。 Let the time past suffice us to have
been content with a half…and…half holiness。 For the time to e； let
us endeavour to walk with God； to be 〃thorough〃 and unmistakable in our
daily life； and to silence； if we cannot convert； a sneering world。
V。 In the fifth and last place； the times require of us more regular
and steady perseverance in the old ways of getting good for our souls。
I think no intelligent Englishman can fail to see that there has been
of late years an immense increase of what I must call； for want of a
better phrase； public religion in the land。 Services of all sorts are
strangely multiplied。 Places of worship are thrown open for prayer and
preaching and administration of the Lord's Supper； at least ten times
as much as they were fifty years ago。 Services in cathedral naves；
meetings in large public rooms like the Agricultural Hall and Mildmay
Conference Building； Mission Services carried on day after day and
evening after eveningall these have bee mon and familiar
things。 They are； in fact； established institutions of the day； and the
crowds who attend them supply plain proof that they are popular。 In
short； we find ourselves face to face with the undeniable fact that the
last quarter of the nineteenth century is an age of an immense amount
of public religion。
Now I am not going to find fault with this。 Let no one suppose that for
a moment。 On the contrary； I thank God for the revival of the old
apostolic plan of 〃aggressiveness〃 in religion； and the evident spread
of a desire 〃by all means to save some。〃 （1 Cor。 ix。 22。） I thank God
for shortened services； home missions； and evangelistic movements like
that of Moody and Sankey。 Anything is better than torpor； apathy； and
inaction。 〃If Christ is preached I rejoice； yea； and will rejoice。〃
（Phil。 i。 18。） Prophets and righteous men in England once desired to
see those things； and never saw them。 If Whitfield and Wesley had been
told in their day that a time would e when English Archbishops and
Bishops would not only sanction mission services but take an active
part in them； I can hardly think they would have believed it。 Rather； I
suspect； they would have been tempted to say； like the Samaritan
nobleman in Elisha's time； 〃If the Lord would make windows in heaven；
might this thing be。〃 （2 Kings vii。 2。）
But while we are thankful for the increase of public religion； we must
never forget that； unless it is acpanied by private religion； it is
of no real solid value； and may even produce most mischievous effects。
Incessant running after sensational preachers； incessant attendance at
hot； crowded meetings； protracted to late hours； incessant craving
after fresh excitement and highly…spiced pulpit noveltiesall this
kind of thing is calculated to produce a very unhealthy style of
Christianity； and； in many cases； I am afraid； the end is utter ruin of
soul。 For； unhappily； those who make public religion everything； are
often led away by mere temporary emotions； after some grand display of
ecclesiastical oratory； into professing far more than they really feel。
After this； they can only be kept up to the mark； which they imagine
they have reached； by a constant succession of religious excitements。
By and by； as with opium…eaters and dram…drinkers； there es a time
when their dose loses its power； and a feeling of exhaustion and
discontent begins to creep over their minds。 Too often； I fear； the
conclusion of the whole matter is a relapse into utter deadness and
unbelief； and a plete return to the world。 And all results from
having nothing but a public religion！ Oh； that people would remember
that it was not the wind； or the fire； or the earthquake； which showed
Elijah the presence of God； but 〃the still； small voice。〃 （1 Kings xix。
12。）
Now I desire to lift up a warning voice on this subject。 I want to see
no decrease of public religion； remember： but I do want to promote an
increase of that religion which is privateprivate between each man
and his God。 The root of a plant or tree makes no show above ground。 If
you dig down to it and examine it； it is a poor； dirty； coarse…looking
thing； and not nearly so beautiful to the eye as the fruit； or leaf； or
flower。 But that despised root； nevertheless； is the true source of all
the life； health； vigour and fertility which your eyes see； and without
it the plant or tree would soon die。 Now private religion is the root
of all vital Christianity。 Without it； we may make a brave show in the
meeting or on the platform； and sing loud； and shed many tears； and
have a name to live and the praise of man。 But without it we have no
wedding garment； and are 〃dead before God。〃 I tell my readers plainly
that the times require of us all more attention to our private
religion。
（a） Let us pray more heartily in private； and throw our whole souls
more into our prayers。 There are live prayers and there are dead
prayersprayers that cost us nothing and prayers which often cost us
strong crying and tears。 What are yours？ When great professors
backslide in public； and the Church is surprised and shocked； the trut
