莱尔主教holiness-第70章
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What though your evil habits have grown with your growth； and
strengthened with your strength？ What though you have hitherto hated
good； and loved evil； all the days of your life？ These things are sad
indeed； but there is hope； even for you。 Christ can heal you： Christ
can raise you from your low estate。 Heaven is not shut against you。
Christ is able to admit you； if you will humbly mit your soul into
His hands。
Are your sins forgiven？ If not； I set before you this day a full and
free salvation。 I invite you to follow the steps of the penitent thief：
e to Christ and live。 I tell you that Jesus is very pitiful； and of
tender mercy。 I tell you He can do everything that your soul requires。
Though your sins be as scarlet； He can make them white as snow； though
they be red like crimson； they shall be as wool。 Why should you not be
saved as well as another？ e unto Christ and live。
Are you a true believer？ If you are； you ought to glory in Christ。
Glory not in your own faith； your own feelings； your own knowledge；
your own prayers； your own amendment； your own diligence。 Glory in
nothing but Christ。 Alas！ The best of us know but little of that
merciful and mighty Saviour。 We do not exalt Him and glory in Him
enough。 Let us pray that we may see more of the fulness there is in
Him。
Do you ever try to do good to others？ If you do； remember to tell them
about Christ。 Tell the young； tell the poor； tell the aged； tell the
ignorant； tell the sick； tell the dyingtell them all about Christ。
Tell them of His power； and tell them of His love； tell them of His
doings； and tell them of His feelings； tell them what He has done for
the chief of sinners； tell them what He is willing to do to the last
day of time： tell it them over and over again。 Never be tired of
speaking of Christ。 Say to them broadly and fully； freely and
unconditionally； unreservedly and undoubtingly； 〃e unto Christ； as
the penitent thief did： e unto Christ； and you shall be saved。〃
II。 The second lesson we are meant to learn from this passage is
this。If some are saved in the very hour of death； others are not。
This is a truth that never ought to be passed over； and I dare not
leave it unnoticed。 It is a truth that stands out plainly in the sad
end of the other malefactor； and is only too often forgotten。 Men
forget that there were 〃two thieves。〃
What became of the other thief who was crucified？ Why did he not turn
from his sin； and call upon the Lord？ Why did he remain hardened and
impenitent？ Why was he not saved？ It is useless to try to answer such
questions。 Let us be content to take the fact as we find it； and see
what it is meant to teach us。。
We have no right whatever to say this thief was a worse man than his
panion： there is nothing to prove it。 Both plainly were wicked men；
both were receiving the due reward of their deeds； both hung by the
side of our Lord Jesus Christ； both heard Him pray for His murderers；
both saw Him suffer patiently。 But while one repented； the other
remained hardened； while one began to pray； the other went on railing；
while one was converted in his last hours； the other died a bad man； as
he had lived； while one was taken to paradise； the other went to his
own placethe place of the devil and his angels。
Now these things are written for our warning。 There is warning； as well
as fort in these verses； and that is a very solemn warning too。
They tell me loudly； that though some may repent and be converted on
their deathbeds； it does not at all follow that all will。 A deathbed is
not always a saving time。
They tell me loudly； that two men may have the same opportunities of
getting good for their souls； may be placed in the same position； see
the same things； and hear the same thingsand yet only one of the two
shall take advantage of them； repent； believe and be saved。
They tell me； above all； that repentance and faith are the gifts of God
and are not in a man's own power； and that if anyone flatters himself
he can repent at his own time； choose his own season； seek the Lord
when he pleases； and； like the penitent thief； be saved at the very
lasthe may find at length he is greatly deceived。
And it is good and profitable to bear this in mind。 There is an immense
amount of delusion in the world on this very subject。 I see many
allowing life to slip away； quite unprepared to die。 I see many
allowing that they ought to repent； but always putting off their own
repentance。 And I believe one grand reason is； that most men suppose
they can turn to God just when they like！ They wrest the parable of the
labourer in the vineyard； which speaks of the eleventh hour； and use it
as it never was meant to be used。 They dwell on the pleasant part of
the verses I am now considering； and forget the rest。 They talk of the
thief that went to paradise； and was saved； and they forget the one who
died as he had livedand was lost。 ＇43＇
I entreat every man of mon sense who reads this paper； to take heed
that he does not fall into this mistake。
Look at the history of men in the Bible； and see how often these
notions I have been speaking of are contradicted。 Mark well how many
proofs there are that two men may have the same light offered them； and
only one use it； and that no one has a right to take liberties with
God's mercy； and presume he will be able to repent just when he likes。
Look at Saul and David。 They lived about the same time； they rose from
the same rank in life； they were called to the same position in the
world； they enjoyed the ministry of the same prophet； Samuel； they
reigned the same number of years！Yet one was saved； and the other
lost。
Look at Sergius Paulus and Gallio。 They were both Roman governors； they
were both wise and prudent men in their generation； they both heard the
Apostle Paul preach！ But one believed and was baptisedthe other
〃cared for none of those things。〃 （Acts xviii。 17。）
Look at the world around you。 See what is going on continually under
your eyes。 Two sisters will often attend the same ministry； listen to
the same truths； hear the same sermons； and yet only one shall be
converted unto God； while the other remains totally unmoved。 Two
friends often read the same religious book： one is so moved by it； that
he gives up all for Christ； the other sees nothing at all in it； and
continues the same as before。 Hundreds have read Doddridge's Rise and
Progress without profit： with Wilberforce it was one of the beginnings
of spiritual life。 Thousands have read Wilberforce's Practical View of
Christianity and laid it down again unaltered： from the time Legh
Richmond read it he became another man。 No man has any warrant for
saying； 〃Salvation is in my own power。〃
I do not pretend to explain these things。 I only put them before you as
great facts； and I ask you to consider them well。
You must not misunderstand me。 I do not want to discourage you。 I say
these things in all affection； to give you warning of danger。 I do not
say them to drive you back from heaven。I say them rather to draw you
on； and bring you to Christ； while He can be found。
I want you to beware of presumption。 Do not abuse God's mercy and
passion。 Do not continue in sin； I beseech you； and think you can
repent； and believe； and be saved； just when you like； when you please；
when you will； and when you choose。 I would always set before you an
open door。 I would always say； 〃While there is life there is hope。〃 But
if you would be wise； put nothing off that concerns your soul。
I want you to beware of letting slip good thoughts and godly
convictions； if you have them。 Cherish them and nourish them； lest you
lose them for ever。 Make the most of them； lest they take to themselves
wings and flee away。 Have you an inclination to begin praying？ Put it
in practice at once。 Have you an i
