莱尔主教holiness-第57章
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you may turn its fingers round； but it will not go。 A religion that is
to stand must have a living foundation； and there is none other but
faith。
There must be a real heartfelt belief that God's promises are sure and
to be depended on； a real belief that what God says in the Bible is all
true； and that every doctrine contrary to this is false； whatever
anyone may say。 There must be a real belief that all God's words are to
be received； however hard and disagreeable to flesh and blood； and that
His way is right and all others wrong。 This there must be； or you will
never e out from the world； take up the cross； follow Christ； and be
saved。
You must learn to believe promises better than possessions； things
unseen better than things seen； things in heaven out of sight better
than things on earth before your eyes； the praise of the invisible God
better than the praise of visible man。 Then； and then only； you will
make a choice like Moses； and prefer God to the world。
Now I ask every reader of this paper； have you got this faith？ If you
have； you will find it possible to refuse seeming good； and choose
seeming evil。You will think nothing of to…day's losses； in the hope
of to…morrow's gains。You will follow Christ in the dark； and stand by
Him to the very last。 If you have not； I warn you； you will never war a
good warfare； and 〃so run as to obtain。〃You will soon be offended and
turn back to the world。
Above all this there must be a real abiding faith in the Lord Jesus
Christ。 The life that you live in the flesh you must live by faith of
the Son of God。 There must be a settled habit of continually leaning on
Jesus； looking unto Jesus； drawing out of Jesus； and using Him as the
manna of your soul。 You must strive to be able to say； 〃To me to live
is Christ。〃 〃I can do all things through Christ which strengthened me。〃
（Philip。 i。 21； iv。 13。）
This was the faith by which the old saints obtained a good report。 This
was the weapon by which they overcame the world。 This made them what
they were。
This was the faith that made Noah go on building Ms ark； while the
world looked on and mockedand Abraham give the choice of the land to
Lot； and dwell on quietly in tentsand Ruth cleave to Naomi； and turn
away from her country and her godsand Daniel continue in prayer；
though he knew the lions' den was preparedand the three children
refuse to worship idols； though the fiery furnace was before their
eyesand Moses forsake Egypt； not fearing the wrath of Pharaoh。 All
these acted as they did because they believed。 They saw the
difficulties and troubles of this course。 But they saw Jesus by faith
above them all； and they pressed on。 Well may the Apostle Peter speak
of faith as 〃precious faith。〃 （2 Peter i。 1。）
（3） The third thing I say is thisthe true reason why so many are
worldly and ungodly persons is that they have no faith。
We must be aware that multitudes of professing Christians would never
think for a moment of doing as Moses did。 It is useless to speak smooth
things； and shut your eyes to the fact。 That man must be blind who does
not see thousands around him who are daily preferring the world to
Godplacing the things of time before the things of eternity； and the
things of the body before the things of the soul。 We may not like to
admit this； and we try hard to blink the fact。 But so it is。
And why do they do so？ No doubt they will all give us reasons and
excuses。 Some will talk of the snares of the worldsome of the want of
timesome of the peculiar difficulties of their positionsome of the
cares and anxieties of life； some of the strength of temptationsome
of the power of passionssome of the effects of bad panions。 But
what does it e to after all？ There is a far shorter way to account
for the state of their soulsthey do not believe。 One simple sentence；
like Aaron's rod； will swallow up all their excusesthey have no
faith。
They do not really think what God says is true。 They secretly flatter
themselves with the notion； 〃It will surely not be fulfilledthere
must surely be some other way to heaven beside that which ministers
speak ofthere cannot surely be so much danger of being lost。〃 In
short； they do not put implicit confidence in the words that God has
written and spoken； and so do not act upon them。 They do not thoroughly
believe hell； and so do not flee from itnor heaven； and so do not
seek itnor the guilt of sin； and so do not turn from itnor the
holiness of God； and so do not fear Himnor their need of Christ； and
so do not trust in Him； nor love Him。 They do not feel confidence in
God； and so venture nothing for Him。 Like the boy Passion； in Pilgrim's
Progress； they must have their good things now。 They do not trust God；
and so they cannot wait。
Now how is it with ourselves？ Do we believe all the Bible？ Let us ask
ourselves that question。 Depend on it； it is a much greater thing to
believe all the Bible than many suppose。 Happy is the man who can lay
his hand on his heart and say； 〃I am a believer。〃
We talk of infidels sometimes as if they were the rarest people in the
world。 And I grant that open avowed infidelity is happily not very
mon now。 But there is a vast amount of practical infidelity around
us； for all that； which is as dangerous in the end as the principles of
Voltaire and Paine。 There are many who Sunday after Sunday repeat the
creed； and make a point of declaring their belief in all that the
Apostolic and Nicene forms contain。 And yet these very persons will
live all the week as if Christ had never died； and as if there were no
judgment； and no resurrection of the dead； and no life everlasting at
all。 There are many who will say； 〃Oh； we know it all；〃 when spoken to
about eternal things and the value of their souls。 And yet their lives
show plainly they know not anything as they ought to know； and the
saddest part of their state is that they think they do！
It is an awful truth； and worthy of all consideration； that knowledge
not acted upon； in God's sight； is not merely useless and unprofitable。
It is much worse than that。 It will add to our condemnation and
increase our guilt in the judgment day。 A faith that does not influence
a man's practice is not worthy of the name。 There are only two classes
in the Church of Christthose who believe and those who do not。 The
difference between the true Christian and the mere outward professor
just lies in one wordthe true Christian is like Moses； 〃He has
faith〃； the mere outward professor has none。 The true Christian
believes； and therefore lives as he does； the mere professor does not
believe； and therefore is what he is。 Oh； where is our faith？ Let us
not be faithless； but believing。
（4） The last thing I say is thisthe true secret of doing great things
for God is to have great faith。
I believe that we are all apt to err on this point。 We think too much；
and talk too much； about graces； and gifts； and attainments； and do not
sufficiently remember that faith is the root and mother of them all。 In
walking with God； a man will go just as far as he believes； and no
further。 His life will always be proportioned to his faith。 His peace；
his patience； his courage； his seal； his worksall will be according
to his faith。
You read the lives of eminent Christians； of such men as Wesley； or
Whitefield； or Venn； or Martyn； of Bickersteth； or Simeon； or M'Cheyne。
And you are disposed to say； 〃What wonderful gifts and graces these men
had！〃 I answer； you should rather give honour to the mother…grace which
God puts forward in the eleventh chapter of the Epistle to the
Hebrewsyou should give honour to their faith。 Depend on it； faith was
the mainspring in the character of each and all。
I can fancy someone saying； 〃They were so prayerfulthat made them
what they were。〃 I answer； why did they pray much？S
