莱尔主教holiness-第116章
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The praise of the Lord Jesus will be the eternal song of all the
inhabitants of heaven。 They will say with a loud voice； 〃Worthy is the
Lamb that was slain。 Blessing； and honour； and glory； and power； be to
Him that sitteth on the throne； and to the Lamb for ever and ever。〃
（Rev。 v。 12。 13。）
The service of the Lord Jesus will be one eternal occupation of all the
inhabitants of heaven。 We shall 〃serve Him day and night in His
temple。〃 （Rev。 vii。 13。） Blessed is the thought that we shall at length
attend on Him without distraction； and work for Him without weariness。
The presence of Christ Himself shall be one everlasting enjoyment of
the inhabitants of heaven。 We shall 〃see His face；〃 and hear His voice；
and speak with Him as friend with friend。 （Rev。 xxii。 4。） Sweet is the
thought that whosoever may be wanting at the marriage supper； the
Master Himself will be there。 His presence will satisfy all our wants。
（Ps。 xvii。 15。）
What a sweet and glorious home heaven will be to those who have loved
the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity！ Here we live by faith in Him； and
find peace； though we see Him not。 There we shall see Him face to face；
and find He is altogether lovely。 〃Better〃 indeed will be the 〃sight of
the eyes than the wandering of the desire！〃 （Eccles。 vi。 9。）
But alas； how little fit for heaven are many who talk of 〃going to
heaven〃 when they die； while they manifestly have no saving faith； and
no real acquaintance with Christ。 You give Christ no honour here。 You
have no munion with Him。 You do not love Him。 Alas！ what could you
do in heaven？ It would be no place for you。 Its joys would be no joys
for you。 Its happiness would be a happiness into which you could not
enter。 Its employments would be a weariness and a burden to your heart。
Oh； repent and change before it be too late！
I trust I have shown how deep are the foundations of that little
expression； 〃Christ is all。〃
I might easily add to the things I have said； if space permitted。 The
subject is not exhausted。 I have barely walked over the surface of it。
There are mines of precious truth connected with it which I have left
unopened。
I might show how Christ ought to be all in a visible Church。 Splendid
religious buildings； numerous religious services； gorgeous ceremonies；
troops of ordained men； all； all are nothing in the sight of God； if
the Lord Jesus Himself in all His offices is not honoured； magnified；
and exalted。 That Church is but a dead carcase in which Christ is not
〃all。〃
I might show how Christ ought to be all in a ministry。 The great work
which ordained men are intended to do； is to lift up Christ。 We are to
be like the pole on which the brazen serpent was hung。 We are useful so
long as we exalt the great object of faith； but useful no further。 We
are to be ambassadors to carry tidings to a rebellious world about the
King's Son； and if we teach men to think more about us and our office
than about Him； we are not fit for our place。 The Spirit will never
honour that minister who does not testify of Christwho does not make
Christ 〃all。〃
I might show how language seems exhausted in the Bible； in describing
Christ's various offices。 I might describe how figures seem endless
which are employed in unfolding Christ's fulness。 The High Priest； the
Mediator； the Redeemer； the Saviour； the Advocate； the Shepherd； the
Physician； the Bridegroom； the Head； the Bread of Life； the Light of
the World； the Way； the Door； the Vine； the Rock； the Fountain； the Sun
of Righteousness； the Forerunner； the Surety； the Captain； the Prince
of Life； the Amen； the Almighty； the Author and Finisher of Faith； the
Lamb of God； the King of Saints； the Wonderful； the Mighty God； the
Counsellor； the Bishop of Soulsall these； and many more； are names
given to Christ in Scripture。 Each is a fountain of instruction and
fort for everyone who is willing to drink of it。 Each supplies
matter for useful meditation。
But I trust I have said enough to throw light on the point I want to
impress on the minds of all who read this paper。 I trust I have said
enough to show the immense importance of the practical conclusions with
which I now desire to finish the subject。
（1） Is Christ all？ Then let us learn the utter uselessness of a
christless religion。
There are only too many baptized men and women who practically know
nothing at all about Christ。 Their religion consists in a few vague
notions and empty expressions。 〃They trust they are no worse than
others。 They keep to their church。 They try to do their duty。 They do
nobody any harm。 They hope God will be merciful to them。 They trust the
Almighty will pardon their sins； and take them to heaven when they
die。〃 This is about the whole of their religion！
But what do these people know practically about Christ？ Nothing：
nothing at all！ What experimental acquaintance have they with His
offices and work； His blood； His righteousness； His mediation； His
priesthood； His intercession？ None： none at all！ Ask them about a
saving faithask them about being born again of the Spiritask them
about being sanctified in Christ Jesus。 What answer will you get？ You
are a barbarian to them。 You have asked them simple Bible questions。
But they know no more about them experimentally than a Buddhist or a
Turk。 And yet this is the religion of hundreds and thousands of people
who are called Christians； all over the world！
If any reader of this paper is a man of this kind； I warn him plainly
that such Christianity will never take him to heaven。 It may do very
well in the eye of man。 It may pass muster very decently at the
vestry…meeting； in the place of business； in the House of mons； or
in the streets。 But it will never fort you。 It will never satisfy
your conscience。 It will never save your soul。
I warn you plainly that all notions and theories about God being
merciful without Christ； and excepting through Christ； are baseless
delusions and empty fancies。 Such theories are as purely an idol of
man's invention as the idol of Juggernaut。 They are all of the earth；
earthy。 They never came down from heaven。 The God of heaven has sealed
and appointed Christ as the one only Saviour and way of life； and all
who would be saved must be content to be saved by Him； or they will
never be saved at all。
Let every reader take notice。 I give you fair warning this day。 A
religion without Christ will never save your soul。
（2） Let me say another thing。 Is Christ all？ Then LEARN THE ENORMOUS
FOLLY OF JOINING ANYTHING WITH CHRIST IN THE MATTER OF SALVATION。
There are multitudes of baptized men and women who profess to honour
Christ； but in reality do Him great dishonour。 They give Christ a
certain place in their system of religion； but not the place which God
intended Him to fill。 Christ alone is not 〃all in all〃 to their
souls。No！ It is either Christ and the Churchor Christ and the
sacramentsor Christ and His ordained ministersor Christ and their
own repentanceor Christ and their own goodnessor Christ and their
own prayersor Christ and their own sincerity and charity； on which
they practically rest their souls。
If any reader of this paper is a Christian of this kind； I warn him
also plainly； that his religion is an offence to God。 You are changing
God's plan of salvation into a plan of your own devising。 You are in
effect deposing Christ from His throne； by giving the glory due to Him
to another。
I care not who it is that teaches such religion and on whose word you
build。 Whether he be Pope or Cardinal； Archbishop or Bishop； Dean or
Archdeacon； Presbyter or Deacon； Episcopalian or Presbyterian； Baptist
or Independent； Wesleyan or Plymouth brother； whosoever adds anything
to Christ teaches you wrong。
I care not what it is that you add to Christ。 Whether it be the
necessity of joi
