莱尔主教holiness-第47章
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and hereby we know that we are of the truth； and shall assure our
hearts before Him。〃 （1 John iii。 18； 19。）
〃Hereby we do know that we know Him； if we keep His mandments。〃 （1
John ii。 3。）
Paul was a man who exercised himself to have always a conscience void
of offence toward God and toward man。 （Acts xxiv。 16。） He could say
with boldness； 〃I have fought the good fight； I have kept the faith。〃 I
do not therefore wonder that the Lord enabled him to add with
confidence； 〃Henceforth there is a crown laid up for me； and the Lord
shall give it me at that day。〃
If any believer in the Lord Jesus desires assurance； and has not got
it； let him think over this point also。 Let him look at his own heart；
look at his own conscience； look at his own life； look at his own ways；
look at his own home。 And perhaps when he has done that； he will be
able to say； 〃There is a cause why I have no assured hope。〃
I leave the three matters I have just mentioned to the private
consideration of every reader of this paper。 I am sure they are worth
examining。 May we examine them honestly。 And may the Lord give us
understanding in all things。
（1） And now in closing this important inquiry； let me speak first to
those readers who have not yet given themselves to the Lord； who have
not yet e out from the world； chosen the good part； and followed
Christ。
I ask you then to learn from this subject； the privileges and forts
of a true Christian。
I would not have you judge of the Lord Jesus Christ by His people。 The
best of servants can give you but a faint idea of that glorious Master。
Neither would I have you judge of the privileges of His kingdom； by the
measure of fort to which many of His people attain。 Alas； we are
most of us poor creatures！ We e short； very short； of the
blessedness we might enjoy。 But； depend upon it； there are glorious
things in the city of our God； which they who have an assured hope
taste； even in their lifetime。 There are lengths and breadths of peace
and consolation there； which it has not entered into your heart to
conceive。 There is bread enough and to spare in our Father's house；
though many of us certainly eat but little of it； and continue weak。
But the fault must not be laid to our Master's charge： it is all our
own。
And； after all； the weakest child of God has a mine of forts within
him； of which you know nothing。 You see the conflicts and tossings of
the surface of his heart； but you see not the pearls of great price
which are hidden in the depths below。 The feeblest member of Christ
would not change conditions with you。 The believer who possesses the
least assurance is far better off than you are。 He has a hope； however
faint； but you have none at all。 He has a portion that will never be
taken from him； a Saviour that will never be taken from him； a Saviour
that will never forsake him； a treasure that fadeth not away； however
little he may realize it all at present。 But； as for you； if you die as
you are； your expectations will all perish。 Oh； that you were wise！ Oh；
that you understood these things！ Oh； that you would consider your
latter end！
I feel deeply for you in these latter days of the world； if I ever did。
I feel deeply for those whose treasure is all on earth； and whose hopes
are all on this side of the grave。 Yes！ when I see old kingdoms and
dynasties shaking to the very foundationwhen I see； as we all saw a
few years ago； kings and princes and rich men and great men fleeing for
their fives； and scarce knowing where to hide their headswhen I see
property dependent on public confidence melting like snow in the
spring； and public stocks and funds losing their valuewhen I see
these things； I feel deeply for those who have no better portion than
this world can give them； and no place in that kingdom which cannot be
removed。 ＇38＇
Take advice of a minister of Christ this very day。 Seek durable
richesa treasure that cannot be taken from youa city which hath
lasting foundations。 Do as the Apostle Paul did。 Give yourself to the
Lord Jesus Christ； and seek that incorruptible crown He is ready to
bestow。 Take His yoke upon you； and learn of Him。 e away from a
world which will never really satisfy you； and from sin which will bite
like a serpent； if you cleave to it； at last。 e to the Lord Jesus as
lowly sinners； and He will receive you； pardon you； give you His
renewing Spirit； fill you with peace。 This shall give you more real
fort than the world has ever done。 There is a gulf in your heart
which nothing but the peace of Christ can fill。 Enter in and share our
privileges。 e with us； and sit down by our side。
（2） Lastly； let me turn to all believers who read these pages； and
speak to them a few words of brotherly counsel。
The main thing that I urge upon you is thisif you have not got an
assured hope of your own acceptance in Christ； resolve this day to seek
it。 Labour for it。 Strive after it。 Pray for it。 Give the Lord no rest
till you 〃know whom you have believed。〃
I feel； indeed； that the small amount of assurance in this day； among
those who are reckoned God's children； is a shame and a reproach。 〃It
is a thing to be heavily bewailed；〃 says old Traill； 〃that many
Christians have lived twenty or forty years since Christ called them by
His grace； yet doubting in their life。〃 Let us call to mind the earnest
〃desire〃 Paul expresses； that 〃every one〃 of the Hebrews should seek
after full assurance； and let us endeavour； by God's blessing； to roll
this reproach away。 （Heb。 vi。 11。）
Believing reader； do you really mean to say that you have no desire to
exchange hope for confidence； trust for persuasion； uncertainty for
knowledge？ Because weak faith will save you； will you therefore rest
content with it？ Because assurance is not essential to your entrance
into heaven； will you therefore be satisfied without it upon earth？
Alas； this is not a healthy state of soul to be in； this is not the
mind of the Apostolic day！ Arise at once and go forward。 Stick not at
the foundations of religion： go on to perfection。 Be not content with a
day of small things。 Never despise it in others； but never be content
with it yourself。
Believe me； believe me； assurance is worth the seeking。 You forsake
your own mercies when you rest content without it。 The things I speak
are for your peace。 If it is good to be sure in earthly things； how
much better is it to be sure in heavenly things！ Your salvation is a
fixed and certain thing。 God knows it。 Why should not you seek to know
it too？ There is nothing unscriptural in this。 Paul never saw the Book
of Life； and yet Paul says； 〃I know and am persuaded。〃
Make it then your daily prayer that you may have an increase of faith。
According to your faith will be your peace。 Cultivate that blessed root
more； and sooner or later； by God's blessing； you may hope to have the
flower。 You may not perhaps attain to full assurance all at once。 It is
good sometimes to be kept waiting： we do not value things which we get
without trouble。 But though it tarry； wait for it。 Seek on； and expect
to find。
There is one thing； however； of which I would not have you
ignorant：You must not be surprised if you have occasional doubts；
after you have got assurance。 You must not forget you are on earth； and
not in heaven。 You are still in the body； and have indwelling sin： the
flesh will lust against the spirit to the very end。 The leprosy will
never be out of the walls of the old house till death takes it down。
And there is a devil； too； and a strong devil： a devil who tempted the
Lord Jesus； and gave Peter a fall； and he will take care you know it。
Some doubts there always will be。 He that never doubts has nothing to
lose。 He that never fears possesses nothing truly valuable。 He that is
never jealous knows little of deep love。 Be not
