莱尔主教holiness-第54章
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among the first （if not the very first） in all the land of Egypt。
Let us think； for a moment； how great this temptation was。
Here was a man of like passions with ourselves。 He might have had as
much greatness as earth can well give。 Rank； power； place； honour；
titles； dignitiesall were before him； and within his grasp。 These are
the things for which many men are continually struggling。 These are the
prizes which there is an incessant race in the world around us to
obtain。 To be somebody； to be looked up to； to raise themselves in the
scale of society； to get a handle to their namesthese are the very
things for which many sacrifice time； and thought； and health； and life
itself。 But Moses would not have them as a gift。 He turned his back
upon them。 He refused them。 He gave them up！
（2） And more than thishe refused pleasure。
Pleasure of every kind； no doubt； was at his feet； if he had liked to
take it upsensual pleasure； intellectual pleasure； social
pleasurewhatever could strike his fancy。 Egypt was a land of artists；
a residence of learned men； a resort of everyone who had skill； or
science of any description。 There was nothing which could feed the
〃lust of the flesh； the lust of the eye； or the pride of life；〃 which
one in the place of Moses might not easily have manded and possessed
as his own。 （1 John ii。 16。）
Let us think again； how great was this temptation also。
Pleasure； be it remembered； is the one thing for which millions live。
They differ； perhaps； in their views of what makes up real pleasure；
but all agree in seeking first and foremost to obtain it。 Pleasure and
enjoyment in the holidays is the grand object to which a schoolboy
looks forward。 Pleasure and satisfaction in making himself independent
is the mark on which the young man in business fixes his eye。 Pleasure
and ease in retiring from business with a fortune is the aim which the
merchant sets before him。 Pleasure and bodily fort at his own home
is the sum of the poor man's wishes。 Pleasure and fresh excitement in
politics； in travelling； in amusements； in pany； in booksthis is
the goal towards which the rich man is straining。 Pleasure is the
shadow which all alike are huntinghigh and low； rich and poor； old
and young； one with anothereach； perhaps； pretending to despise his
neighbour for seeking iteach in his own way seeking it for
himselfeach secretly wondering that he does not find iteach firmly
persuaded that somewhere or other it is to be found。 This was the cup
that Moses had before his lips。 He might have drunk as deeply as he
liked of earthly pleasure； but he would not have it。 He turned his back
upon it。 He refused it。 He gave it up！
（3） And more than thishe refused riches。
〃The treasures in Egypt〃 is an expression that seems to tell of
boundless wealth which Moses might have enjoyed； had he been content to
remain with Pharaoh's daughter。 We may well suppose these 〃treasures〃
would have been a mighty fortune。 Enough is still remaining in Egypt to
give us some faint idea of the money at its King's disposal。 The
pyramids； and obelisks； and temples； and statues are still standing
there as witnesses。 The ruins at Carnac； and Luxor； and Denderah； and
many other places； are still the mightiest buildings in the world。 They
testify to this day that the man who gave up Egyptian wealth； gave up
something which even our English minds would find it hard to reckon up
and estimate。
Let us think once more； how great was this temptation。
Let us consider； for a moment； the power of moneythe immense
influence that 〃the love of money〃 obtains over men's minds。 Let us
look around us and observe how men covet it； and what amazing pains and
trouble they will go through to obtain it。 Tell them of an island many
thousand miles away； where something may be found which may be
profitable； if imported； and at once a fleet of ships will be sent to
get it。 Show them a way to make 1 per cent； more of their money； and
they will reckon you among the wisest of menthey will almost fall
down and worship you。 To possess money seems to hide defectsto cover
over faultsto clothe a man with virtues。 People can get over much； if
you are rich！ But here is a man who might have been rich； and would
not。 He would not have Egyptian treasures。 He turned his back upon
them。 He refused them。 He gave them up！
Such were the things that Moses refusedrank； pleasure； riches； all
three at once。
Add to all this that he did it deliberately。 He did not refuse these
things in a hasty fit of youthful excitement。He was forty years old。
He was in the prime of life。 He knew what he was about。 He was a highly
educated man； 〃learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians。〃 （Acts vii。
22。） He could weigh both sides of the question。
Add to it that he did not refuse them because he was obliged。 He was
not like the dying man； who tells us 〃he craves nothing more in this
world；〃 and why？Because he is leaving the world； and cannot keep it。
He was not like the pauper； who makes a merit of necessity； and says
〃he does not want riches〃； and why？Because he cannot get them。 He was
not like the old man who boasts that 〃he has laid aside worldly
pleasures；〃 and why？Because he is worn out； and cannot enjoy them。
No！ Moses refused what he might have enjoyed。 Rank； pleasure； and
riches did not leave him； but he left them。
And then judge whether I am not right in saying that his was one of the
greatest sacrifices mortal man ever made。 Others have refused much； but
none； I think； so much as Moses。 Others have done well in the way of
self…sacrifice and self…denial； but he excels them all。
II。 And now let me go on to the second thing I wish to consider。 I will
speak of what Moses chose。
I think his choices as wonderful as his refusals。 He chose three things
for his soul's sake。 The road to salvation led through them； and he
followed it； and in so doing he chose three of the last things that man
is ever disposed to take up。
（1） For one thing he chose suffering and affliction。
He left the ease and fort of Pharaoh's court； and openly took part
with the children of Israel。 They were an enslaved and persecuted
peoplean object of distrust； suspicion； and hatred； and anyone who
befriended them was sure to taste something of the bitter cup they were
daily drinking。
To the eye of sense there seemed no chance of their deliverance from
Egyptian bondage； without a long and doubtful struggle。 A settled home
and country for them must have appeared a thing never likely to be
obtained； however much desired。 In fact； if ever man seemed to be
choosing pain； trials； poverty； want； distress； anxiety； perhaps even
death； with his eyes open； Moses was that man。
Let us think how wonderful was this choice。
Flesh and blood naturally shrink from pain。 It is in us all to do so。
We draw back by a kind of instinct from suffering； and avoid it if we
can。 If two courses of action are set before us； which both seem right；
we generally take that which is the least disagreeable to flesh and
blood。 We spend our days in fear and anxiety when we think affliction
is ing near us； and use every means to escape it。 And when it does
e； we often fret and murmur under the burden of it； and if we can
only bear it patiently； we count it a great matter。
But look here！ Here is a man of like passions with ourselves； and he
actually chooses affliction！ Moses saw the cup of suffering that was
before him if he left Pharaoh's court； and he chose it； preferred it；
and took it up。
（2） But he did more than this； he chose the pany of a despised
people。
He left the society of the great and wise； among whom he had been
brought up； and joined himself to the Children of Israel。 He who had
lived from infancy in the midst of rank； and riches； and luxury； came
down from his h
