莱尔主教holiness-第68章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
keeps back nothing that God has revealed。 You may call it stern and
harsh； you may tell us that to frighten people is not the way to do
them good。 But you are forgetting that the grand object of the Gospel
is to persuade men to 〃flee from the wrath to e；〃 and that it is
vain to expect men to flee unless they are afraid。 Well would it be for
many professing Christians if they were more afraid about their souls
than they now are！
If you desire to be a healthy Christian； consider often what your own
end will be。 Will it be happiness； or will it be misery？ Will it be the
death of the righteous； or will it be a death without hope； like that
of Lot's wife？ You cannot live always： there must be an end one day。
The last sermon will one day be heard； the last prayer will one day be
prayed； the last chapter in the Bible will one day be readmeaning；
wishing； hoping； intending； resolving； doubting； hesitatingall will
at length be over。 You will have to leave this world and to stand
before a holy God。 Oh； that you would be wise！ Oh； that you would
consider your latter end！
You cannot trifle for ever： a time will e when you must be serious。
You cannot put off your soul's concerns for ever： a day will e when
you must have a reckoning with God。 You cannot be always singing； and
dancing； and eating； and drinking； and dressing； and reading； and
laughing； and jesting； and scheming； and planning； and money…making。
The summer insects cannot always sport in the sunshine； the cold chilly
evening will e at last； and stop their sport for ever。 So will it be
with you。 You may put off religion now； and refuse the counsel of God's
ministers： but the cool of the day is drawing on； when God will e
down to speak with you。 And what will your end be？ Will it be a
hopeless one； like that of Lot's wife？
I beseech you； by the mercies of God； to look this question fairly in
the face。 I entreat you not to stifle conscience by vague hopes of
God's mercy； while your heart cleaves to the world。 I implore you not
to drown convictions by childish fancies about God's love； while your
daily ways and habits show plainly that 〃the love of the Father is not
in you。〃 There is mercy in God； like a riverbut it is for the
penitent believer in Christ Jesus。 There is a love in God towards
sinners which is unspeakable and unsearchablebut it is for those who
〃hear Christ's voice and follow Him。〃 Seek to have an interest in that
love。 Break off every known sin； e out boldly from the world； cry
mightily to God in prayer； cast yourself wholly and unreservedly on the
Lord Jesus for time and eternity； lay aside every weight。 Cling to
nothing； however dear； which interferes with your soul's salvation；
give up everything； however precious； which es between you and
heaven。 This old shipwrecked world is fast sinking beneath your feet：
the one thing needful is to have a place in the lifeboat and get safe
to shore。 Give diligence to make your calling and election sure。
Whatever happens to your house and property； see that you make sure of
heaven。 Oh； better a million times be laughed at and thought extreme in
this world than go down to hell from the midst of the congregation and
end like Lot's wife！
And now； let me conclude this paper by offering to all who read it； a
few questions to impress the subject on their consciences。 You have
seen the history of Lot's wifeher privileges； her sin； and her end。
You have been told of the uselessness of privileges without the gift of
the Holy Ghost； of the danger of worldliness； and of the reality of
hell。 Suffer me to wind up all by a few direct appeals to your own
heart。 In a day of much light； and knowledge； and profession； I desire
to set up a beacon to preserve souls from shipwreck。 I would fain moor
a buoy in the channel of all spiritual voyagers； and paint upon it；
〃Remember Lot's wife。〃
（a） Are you careless about the second Advent of Christ？ Alas； many are！
They live like the men of Sodom； and the men of Noah's day： they eat；
and drink； and plant； and build； and marry； and are given in marriage；
and behave as if Christ was never going to return。 If you are such an
one； I say to you this day； Take care： 〃Remember Lot's wife。〃
（b） Are you lukewarm； and cold in your Christianity？ Alas； many are！
They try to serve two masters： they labour to keep friends both with
God and mammon。 They strive to be a kind of spiritual bat； neither one
thing nor the other： not quite a thorough…going Christian； but not
quite men of the world。 If you are such an one； I say to you this day；
Take care： 〃Remember Lot's wife。〃
（c） Are you halting between two opinions； and disposed to go back to
the world？ Alas； many are！ They are afraid of the cross： they secretly
dislike the trouble and reproach of decided religion。 They are weary of
the wilderness and the manna； and would fain return to Egypt； if they
could。 If you are such an one； I say to you this day； Take care：
〃Remember Lot's wife。〃
（d） Are you secretly cherishing some besetting sin？ Alas； many are！
They go far in a profession of religion； they do many things that are
right； and are very like the people of God。 But there is always some
darling evil habit； which they cannot tear from their heart。 Hidden
worldliness； or covetousness； or lust； sticks to them like their skin。
They are willing to see all their idols broken； but this one。 If you
are such an one； I say to you this day； Take care： 〃Remember Lot's
wife。〃
（e） Are you trifling with little sins？ Alas； many are！ They hold the
great essential doctrines of the Gospel。 They keep clear of all gross
profligacy； or open breach of God's law； but they are painfully
careless about little inconsistencies； and painfully ready to make
excuses for them。 〃It is only a little temper； or a little levity； or a
little thoughtlessness； or a little forgetfulness〃they tell us： 〃God
does not take account of such little matters。 We are none of us
perfect： God will never require it。〃If you are such an one； I say to
you this day； Take care： 〃Remember Lot's wife。〃
（f） Are you resting on religious privileges？ Alas； many do！ They enjoy
the opportunity of hearing the Gospel regularly preached； and of
attending many ordinances； and means of grace： and they settle down on
their lees。 They seem to be 〃rich； and increased with goods； and have
need of nothing〃 （Rev。 iii。 17）； while they have neither faith； nor
grace； nor spiritual…mindedness nor meetness for heaven。 If you are
such an one； I say to you this day； Take care： 〃Remember Lot's wife。〃
（g） Are you trusting to your religious knowledge？ Alas； many do！ They
are not ignorant； as other men： they know the difference between true
doctrine and false。 They can dispute； they can reason； they can argue；
they can quote texts； but all this time they are not converted； and
they are yet dead in trespasses and sins。 If you are such an one； I say
to you this day； Take care： 〃Remember Lot's wife。〃
（h） Are you making some profession of religion； and yet clinging to the
world？ Alas； many do！ They aim at being thought Christians。 They like
the credit of being serious； steady； proper； regular； church…going
people； yet all the while their dress； their tastes； their panions；
their entertainments tell plainly they are of the world。 If you are
such an one； I say to you this day； Take care： 〃Remember Lot's wife。〃
（i） Are you trusting that you will have a death…bed repentance？ Alas；
many do so！ They know they are not what they ought to be： they are not
yet born again； and fit to die。 But they flatter themselves that when
their last illness es they shall have time to repent and lay hold on
Christ； and go out of the world pardoned； sanctified； and meet for
heaven。 They forget that people often die very suddenly； and that as
they live they generally die。 If you are such an one； I say
