莱尔主教holiness-第38章
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graceand that is regular and habitual munion with the Lord Jesus。
In saying this； let no one suppose for a minute that I am referring to
the Lord's Supper。 I mean nothing of the kind。 I mean that daily habit
of intercourse between the believer and his Saviour； which can only be
carried on by faith； prayer； and meditation。 It is a habit； I fear； of
which many believers know little。 A man may be a believer and have his
feet on the rock； and yet live far below his privileges。 It is possible
to have 〃union〃 with Christ； and yet to have little if any 〃munion〃
with Him。 But； for all that； there is such a thing。
The names and offices of Christ； as laid down in Scripture； appear to
me to show unmistakably that this 〃munion〃 between the saint and his
Saviour is not a mere fancy； but a real true thing。 Between the
〃Bridegroom〃 and his bridebetween the 〃Head〃 and His membersbetween
the 〃Physician〃 and His patientsbetween the 〃Advocate〃 and His
clientsbetween the 〃Shepherd〃 and His sheepbetween the 〃Master〃 and
His scholarsthere is evidently implied a habit of familiar
intercourse； of daily application for things needed； of daily pouring
out and unburdening our hearts and minds。 Such a habit of dealing with
Christ is clearly something more than a vague general trust in the work
that Christ did for sinners。 It is getting close to Him； and laying
hold on Him with confidence； as a loving； personal Friend。 Tins is what
I mean by munion。
Now I believe that no man will ever grow in grace who does not know
something experimentally of the habit of 〃munion。〃 We must not be
content with a general orthodox knowledge that justification is by
faith and not by works； and that we put our trust in Christ。 We must go
further than this。 We must seek to have personal intimacy with the Lord
Jesus； and to deal with Him as a man deals with a loving friend。 We
must realize what it is to turn to Him first in every need； to talk to
Him about every difficulty； to consult Him about every step； to spread
before Him all our sorrows； to get Him to share in all our joys； to do
all as in His sight； and to go through every day leaning on and looking
to Him。 This is the way that St。 Paul lived： 〃The life which I now live
in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God。〃 〃To me to live is
Christ。〃 （Gal。 ii。 20； Phil。 i。 21。） It is ignorance of this way of
living that makes so many see no beauty in the book of Canticles。 But
it is the man who lives in this way； who keeps up constant munion
with Christthis is the man； I say emphatically； whose soul will grow。
I leave the subject of growth in grace here。 Far more might be said
about it； if time permitted。 But I have said enough； I hope； to
convince my readers that the subject is one of vast importance。Let me
wind up all with some practical applications。
（1） This book may fall into the hands of some who know nothing whatever
about growth in grace。 They have little or no concern about religion。 A
little proper Sunday church…going or chapel…going makes up the sum and
substance of their Christianity。 They are without spiritual life； and
of course they cannot at present grow。 Are you one of these people？ If
you are； you are in a pitiable condition。
Years are slipping away and time is flying。 Graveyards are filling up
and families are thinning。 Death and judgment are getting nearer to us
all。 And yet you live like one asleep about your soul！ What madness！
What folly！ What suicide can be worse than this？
Awake before it be too late； awake； and arise from the dead； and live
to God。 Turn to Him who is sitting at the right hand of God； to be your
Saviour and Friend。 Turn to Christ； and cry mightily to Him about your
soul。 There is yet hope！ He that called Lazarus from the grave is not
changed。 He that manded the widow's son at Nain to arise from his
bier can do miracles yet for your soul。 Seek Him at once： seek Christ；
if you would not be lost for ever。 Do not stand still talking； and
meaning； and intending； and wishing； and hoping。 Seek Christ that you
may live； and that living you may grow。
（2） This book may fall into the hands of some who ought to know
something of growth in grace； but at present know nothing at all。 They
have made little or no progress since they were first converted。 They
seem to have 〃settled on their lees。〃 （Zep。 i。 12。） They go on from
year to year content with old grace； old experience； old knowledge； old
faith； old measure of attainment； old religious expressions； old set
phrases。 Like the Gibeonites； their bread is always mouldy； and their
shoes are patched and clouted。 They never appear to get on。 Are you one
of these people？ If you are； you are living far below your privileges
and responsibilities。 It is high time to examine yourself。
If you have reason to hope that you are a true believer and yet do not
grow in grace； there must be a fault； and a serious fault somewhere。 It
cannot be the will of God that your soul should stand still。 〃He giveth
more grace。〃 He 〃takes pleasure in the prosperity of His servants。〃
（James iv。 6； Ps。 xxxv。 27。） It cannot be for your own happiness or
usefulness that your soul should stand still。 Without growth you will
never rejoice in the Lord。 （Phil。 iv。 4。） Without growth you will never
do good to others。 Surely this want of growth is a serious matter！ It
should raise in you great searchings of heart。 There must be some
〃secret thing。〃 （Job xv。 11。） There must be some cause。
Take the advice I give you。 Resolve this very day that you will find
out the reason of your standstill condition。 Probe with a faithful and
firm hand every corner of your soul。 Search from one end of the camp to
the other； till you find out the Achan who is weakening your hands。
Begin with an application to the Lord Jesus Christ； the great Physician
of souls； and ask Him to heal the secret ailment within you； whatever
it may be。 Begin as if you had never applied to Him before； and ask for
grace to cut off the right hand and pluck out the right eye。 But never；
never be content； if your soul does not grow。 For your peace sake； for
your usefulness sake； for the honour of your Maker's cause； resolve to
find out the reason why。
（3） This book may fall into the hands of some who are really growing in
grace； but are not aware of it； and will not allow it。 Their very
growth is the reason why they do not see their growth！ Their continual
increase in humility prevents them feeling that they get on。 ＇18＇ Like
Moses； when he came down from the mount from muning with God； their
faces shine。 And yet； like Moses； they are not aware of it。 （Ex。 xxxiv。
29。） Such Christians； I grant freely； are not mon。 But here and
there such are to be found。 Like angels' visits； they are few and far
between。 Happy is the neighbourhood where such growing Christians live！
To meet them and see them and be in their pany； is like meeting and
seeing a bit of 〃heaven upon earth。〃
Now what shall I say to such people？ What can I say？ What ought I to
say？ Shall I bid them awake to a consciousness of their growth and be
pleased with it？ I will do nothing of the kind。Shall I tell them to
plume themselves on their own attainments； and look at their own
superiority to others？ God forbid！ I will do nothing of the kind。To
tell them such things would do them no good。 To tell them such things；
above all； would be useless waste of time。 If there is any one feature
about a growing soul which specially marks him； it is his deep sense of
his own unworthiness。 He never sees anything to be praised in himself。
He only feels that he is an unprofitable servant and the chief of
sinners。 It is the righteous； in the picture of the judgment…day； who
say； 〃Lord； when saw we Thee an hungred； and fed Thee？〃 （Matt。 xxv。
37。） Extremes do indeed meet strangely sometimes。 The
conscience…hardened sinn
