莱尔主教holiness-第56章
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cut the ties that bind us to the world。
Faith told Moses that the despised Israelites were the chosen people of
God。 He believed that to them belonged the adoption； and the covenant；
and the promises； and the glory； that of them the seed of the woman was
one day to be born； who should bruise the serpent's head； that the
special blessing of God was upon them； that they were lovely and
beautiful in His eyesand that it was better to be a doorkeeper among
the people of God than to reign in the palaces of wickedness。
Faith told Moses that all the reproach and scorn poured out on him was
〃the reproach of Christ〃；that it was honourable to be mocked and
despised for Christ's sakethat whoso persecuted Christ's people was
persecuting Christ Himselfand that the day must e when His enemies
would bow before Him and lick the dust。 All this； and much more； of
which I cannot speak particularly； Moses saw by faith。 These were the
things he believed； and believing； did what he did。 He was persuaded of
them； and embraced themhe reckoned them as certaintieshe regarded
them as substantial veritieshe counted them as sure as if he had seen
them with his own eyeshe acted on them as realitiesand this made
him the man that he was。 He had faith。 He believed。
Marvel not that he refused greatness； riches； and pleasure。He looked
far forward。 He saw with the eye of faith kingdoms crumbling into
dustriches taking to themselves wings and fleeing awaypleasures
leading on to death and judgmentand Christ only and His little flock
enduring for ever。
Wonder not that he chose affliction； a despised people； and
reproach。He beheld things below the surface。 He saw with the eye of
faith affliction lasting but for a momentreproach rolled away； and
ending in everlasting honourand the despised people of God reigning
as kings with Christ in glory。
And was he not right？ Does he not speak to us； though dead； this very
day？ The name of Pharaoh's daughter has perished； or at any rate is
extremely doubtful。The city where Pharaoh reigned is not known。The
treasures in Egypt are gone。But the name of Moses is known wherever
the Bible is read； and is still a standing witness that 〃whoso liveth
by faith； happy is he。〃
IV。 And now let me wind up all by trying to set forth in order some
practical lessons； which appear to me to follow； as legitimate
consequences； from this history of Moses。
What has all this to do with us？ some men will say。 We do not live in
Egyptwe have seen no miracleswe are not Israeliteswe are weary of
the subject。
Stay a little； if this be the thought of your heart； and by God's help
I will show you that all may learn here； and all may be instructed。 He
that would live a Christian life； and be a really holy man； let him
mark the history of Moses and get wisdom。
（1） For one thing； if you would ever be saved； you must make the choice
that Moses madeyou must choose God before the world。
Mark well what I say。 Do not overlook this； though all the rest be
forgotten。 I do not say that the statesman must throw up his office；
and the rich man forsake his property。 Let no one fancy that I mean
this。 But I say； if a man would be saved； whatever be his rank in life；
he must be prepared for tribulation。 He must make up his mind to choose
much which seems evil； and to give up and refuse much which seems good。
I dare say this sounds strange language to some who read these pages。 I
know well you may have a certain form of religion； and find no trouble
in your way。 There is a mon； worldly kind of Christianity in this
day； which many have； and think they have enougha cheap Christianity
which offends nobody； and is worth nothing。 I am not speaking of
religion of this kind。
But if you really are in earnest about your soulif your religion is
something more than a mere fashionable Sunday cloakif you are
determined to live by the Bibleif you are resolved to be a New
Testament Christian； then； I repeat； you will soon find you must carry
a cross。You must endure hard things； you must suffer on behalf of
your soul； as Moses did； or you cannot be saved。
The world in the nineteenth century is what it always was。 The hearts
of men are still the same。 The offence of the cross is not ceased。
God's true people are still a despised little flock。 True Evangelical
religion still brings with it reproach and scorn。 A real servant of God
will still be thought by many a weak enthusiast and a fool。
But the matter es to this。 Do you wish your soul to be saved？ Then
remember； you must choose whom you will serve。 You cannot serve God and
mammon。 You cannot be on two sides at once。 You cannot be a friend of
Christ and a friend of the world at the same time。 You must e out
from the children of this world； and be separate； you must put up with
much ridicule； trouble； and opposition； or you will be lost for ever。
You must be willing to think and do things which the world considers
foolish； and to hold opinions which are only held by a few。 It will
cost you something。 The stream is strong； and you have to stem it。 The
way is narrow and steep； and it is no use saying it is not。 But depend
on it； there can be no saving religion without sacrifices and
self…denial。
Now are you making any sacrifices？ Does your religion cost you
anything？ I put it to your conscience in all affection and
tenderness。Are you； like Moses； preferring God to the world； or not？
I beseech you not to take shelter under that dangerous word 〃we〃： 〃we
ought；〃 and 〃we hope；〃 and 〃we mean；〃 and the like。 I ask you plainly；
What are you doing yourself？ Are you willing to give up anything which
keeps you back from God？ or are you clinging to the Egypt of the world；
and saying to yourself； 〃I must have it； I must have it： I cannot tear
myself away〃？ Is there any cross in your Christianity？ Are there any
sharp corners in your religion； anything that ever jars and es in
collision with the earthly…mindedness around you？ or is all smooth and
rounded…off； and fortably fitted into custom and fashion？ Do you
know anything of the afflictions of the Gospel？ Is your faith and
practice ever a subject of scorn and reproach？ Are you thought a fool
by anyone because of your soul？ Have you left Pharaoh's daughter； and
heartily joined the people of God？ Are you venturing all on Christ？
Search and see。
These are hard inquiries and rough questions。 I cannot help it。 I
believe they are founded on Scripture truths。 I remember it is written；
〃There went great multitudes with Jesus； and He turned； and said unto
them； If any man e to Me and hate not his father； and mother； and
wife； and children； and brethren； and sisters； yea and his own life；
also； he cannot be my disciple。 And whosoever doth not bear his cross；
and e after Me； cannot be my disciple。〃 （Luke xiv。 25…27。） Many； I
fear； would like glory； who have no wish for grace。 They would fain
have the wages； but not the work； the harvest； but not the labour； the
reaping； but not the sowing； the reward； but not the battle。 But it may
not be。 As Bunyan says； 〃the bitter must go before the sweet。〃 If there
is no cross； there will be no crown。
（2） The second thing I say is thisnothing mil ever enable you to
choose God before the world； except faith。
Nothing else will do it。 Knowledge will not； feeling will not； a
regular use of outward forms will not； good panions will not。 All
these may do something； but the fruit they produce has no power of
continuance： it will not last。 A religion springing from such sources
will only endure so long as there is no 〃tribulation of persecution
because of the Word〃； but as soon as there is any； it will dry up。 It
is a clock without mainspring or weights； its face may be beautiful；
you may turn its fingers round； but it will not go。 A religion that is
to stand must have a living founda
