莱尔主教holiness-第24章
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It is of this warfare that St。 Paul spoke to Timothy； when he wrote
those burning words； 〃Fight the good fight of faith； lay hold on
eternal life。〃 It is of this warfare that I propose to speak in this
paper。 I hold the subject to be closely connected with that of
sanctification and holiness。 He that would understand the nature of
true holiness must know that the Christian is 〃a man of war。〃 If we
would be holy we must fight。
I。 The first thing I have to say is this： True Christianity is a fight。
True Christianity！ Let us mind that word 〃true。〃 There is a vast
quantity of religion current in the world which is not true； genuine
Christianity。 It passes muster； it satisfies sleepy consciences； but it
is not good money。 It is not the real thing which was called
Christianity eighteen hundred years ago。 There are thousands of men and
women who go to churches and chapels every Sunday； and call themselves
Christians。 Their names are in the baptismal register。 They are
reckoned Christians while they live。 They are married with a Christian
marriage service。 They mean to be buried as Christians when they die。
But you never see any 〃fight〃 about their religion！ Of spiritual
strife； and exertion； and conflict； and self…denial； and watching； and
warring； they know literally nothing at all。 Such Christianity may
satisfy man； and those who say anything against it may be thought very
hard and uncharitable； but it certainly is not the Christianity of the
Bible。 It is not the religion which the Lord Jesus founded； and His
Apostles preached。 It is not the religion which produces real holiness。
True Christianity is 〃a fight。〃
The true Christian is called to be a soldier； and must behave as such
from the day of his conversion to the day of his death。 He is not meant
to live a life of religious ease； indolence； and security。 He must
never imagine for a moment that he can sleep and doze along the way to
heaven； like one travelling in an easy carriage。 If he takes his
standard of Christianity from the children of this world； he may be
content with such notions； but he will find no countenance for them in
the Word of God。 If the Bible is the rule of his faith and practice； he
will find his course laid down very plainly in this matter。 He must
〃fight。〃
With whom is the Christian soldier meant to fight？ Not with other
Christians。 Wretched indeed is that man's idea of religion who fancies
that it consists in perpetual controversy！ He who is never satisfied
unless he is engaged in some strife between church and church； chapel
and chapel； sect and sect； faction and faction； party and party； knows
nothing yet as he ought to know。 No doubt it may be absolutely needful
sometimes to appeal to law courts； in order to ascertain the right
interpretation of a Church's Articles； and rubrics； and formularies。
But； as a general rule； the cause of sin is never so much helped as
when Christians waste their strength in quarrelling with one another；
and spend their time in petty squabbles。
No； indeed！ The principal fight of the Christian is with the world； the
flesh； and the devil。 These are his never…dying foes。 These are the
three chief enemies against whom he must wage war。 Unless he gets the
victory over these three； all other victories are useless and vain。 If
he had a nature like an angel； and were not a fallen creature； the
warfare would not be so essential。 But with a corrupt heart； a busy
devil； and an ensnaring world； he must either 〃fight〃 or be lost。
He must fight the flesh。 Even after conversion he carries within him a
nature prone to evil； and a heart weak and unstable as water。 That
heart will never be free from imperfection in this world； and it is a
miserable delusion to expect it。 To keep that heart from going astray；
the Lord Jesus bids us 〃watch and pray。〃 The spirit may be ready； but
the flesh is weak。 There is need of a daily struggle and a daily
wrestling in prayer。 〃I keep under my body；〃 cries St。 Paul； 〃and bring
it into subjection。〃'〃I see a law in my members warring against the
law of my mind； and bringing me into captivity。〃〃O wretched man that
I am； who shall deliver me from the body of this death？〃〃They that
are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and
lusts。〃〃Mortify your members which are upon the earth。〃 （Mark xiv。
38； 1 Cor。 ix。 27； Rom。 vii。 23； 24； Gal。 v。 24； Coloss。 iii。 5。）
He must fight the world。 The subtle influence of that mighty enemy must
be daily resisted； and without a daily battle can never be overe。
The love of the world's good thingsthe fear of the world's laughter
or blamethe secret desire to keep in with the worldthe secret wish
to do as others in the world do； and not to run into extremesall
these are spiritual foes which beset the Christian continually on his
way to heaven； and must be conquered。 〃The friendship of the world is
enmity with God： whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is
the enemy of God。〃〃If any man love the world； the love of the Father
is not in him。〃〃The world is crucified to Me； and I unto the
world。〃〃Whatsoever is born of God overeth the world。〃〃Be not
conformed to this world。〃 （James iv。 4； 1 John ii。 15； Gal。 vi。 14； 1
John v。 4； Rom。 xii。 2。）
He must fight the devil。 That old enemy of mankind is not dead。 Ever
since the fall of Adam and Eve he has been 〃going to and fro in the
earth； and walking up and down in it；〃 and striving to pass one
great endthe ruin of man's soul。 Never slumbering and never sleeping；
he is always 〃going about as a lion seeking whom he may devour。〃 An
unseen enemy； he is always near us； about our path and about our bed；
and spying out all our ways。 A 〃murderer and a liar〃 from the
beginning； he labours night and day to cast us down to hell。 Sometimes
by leading into superstition； sometimes by suggesting infidelity；
sometimes by one kind of tactics and sometimes by another； he is always
carrying on a campaign against our souls。 〃Satan hath desired to have
you； that he may sift you as wheat。〃 This mighty adversary must be
daily resisted if we wish to be saved。 But 〃this kind goeth not out〃
but by watching and praying； and fighting； and putting on the whole
armour of God。 The strong man armed will never be kept out of our
hearts without a daily battle。 （Job i。 7； 1 Peter v。 8； John viii。 44；
Luke xxii。 31； Ephes。 vi。 11。）
Some men may think these statements too strong。 You fancy that I am
going too far； and laying on the colours too thickly。 You are secretly
saying to yourself； that men and women in England may surely get to
heaven without all this trouble and warfare and fighting。 Listen to me
for a few minutes and I will show you that I have something to say on
God's behalf。 Remember the maxim of the wisest General that ever lived
in England〃In time of war it is the worst mistake to underrate your
enemy； and try to make a little war。〃 This Christian warfare is no
light matter。 Give me your attention and consider what I say。 What
saith the Scripture？〃Fight the good fight of faith。 Lay hold on
eternal life。〃Endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus
Christ。〃〃Put on the whole armour of God； that ye may be able to stand
against the wiles of the devil。 For we wrestle not against flesh and
blood； but against principalities； against powers； against the ruler of
the darkness of this world； against spiritual wickedness in high
places。 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God； that you may
be able to withstand in the evil day； and having done all to
stand。〃〃Strive to enter in at the strait gate。〃〃Labour for the meat
that endureth unto everlasting life。〃〃Think not that I came to send
peace on the earth： I came not to send peace but a sword。〃〃He that
hath no sword let him sell his garment and buy one。〃〃Watch ye； stand
fast in the faith： quit you like men； be strong。〃〃War a g
