莱尔主教holiness-第76章
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thing e out of Nazareth？〃 （John i。 46。） He was esteemed a
carpenter's son。 He preached in a borrowed boat； rode into Jerusalem on
a borrowed ass； and was buried in a borrowed tomb。
（b） Are you alone in the world； and neglected by those who ought to
love you？ So also was Jesus。 He came unto His own； and they received
Him not。 He came to be a Messiah to the lost sheep of the house of
Israel； and they rejected Him。 The princes of this world would not
acknowledge Him。 The few that followed Him were publicans and
fishermen。 And even these at the last forsook Him； and were scattered
every man to his own place。
（c） Are you misunderstood； misrepresented； slandered； and persecuted？
So also was Jesus。 He was called a glutton and a wine…bibber； a friend
of publicans； a Samaritan； a madman； and a devil。 His character was
belied。 False charges were laid against Him。 An unjust sentence was
passed upon Him； and； though innocent； He was condemned as a
malefactor； and as such died on the cross。
（d） Does Satan tempt you； and offer horrid suggestions to your mind？ So
also did he tempt Jesus。 He bade Him to distrust God's fatherly
providence。 〃mand these stones to be made bread。〃 He proposed to Him
to tempt God by exposing Himself to unnecessary danger。 〃Cast Thyself
down〃 from the pinnacle of the temple。 He suggested to Him to obtain
the kingdoms of the world for His own； by one little act of submission
to himself。 〃All these things will I give Thee； if Thou wilt fall down
and worship me。〃 （Matt。 iv。 1…10。）
（e） Do you ever feel great agony and conflict of mind？ Do you feel in
darkness as if God had left you？ So did Jesus。 Who can tell the extent
of the sufferings of mind He went through in the garden？ Who can
measure the depth of His soul's pain when He cried； 〃My God！ my God！
why hast Thou forsaken me？〃 （Matt。 xxvii。 46。）
It is impossible to conceive a Saviour more suited to the wants of
man's heart than our Lord Jesus Christsuited not only by His power；
but by His sympathysuited not only by His divinity； but by His
humanity。 Labour； I beseech you； to get firmly impressed on your mind
that Christ； the refuge of souls； is Man as well as God。 Honour Him as
King of kings； and Lord of lords。 But while you do this； never forget
that He had a body and was a Man。 Grasp this truth and never let it go。
The unhappy Socinian errs fearfully when he says that Christ was only
Man； and not God。 But let not the rebound from that error make you
forget that while Christ was very God He was also very Man。
Listen not for a moment to the wretched argument of the Roman Catholic
when he tells you that the Virgin Mary and the saints are more
sympathizing than Christ。 Answer him that such an argument springs from
ignorance of the Scriptures and of Christ's true nature。 Answer him；
that you have not so learned Christ as to regard Him only as an austere
Judge and a being to be feared。 Answer him； that the four Gospels have
taught you to regard Him as the most loving and sympathizing of
friends； as well as the mightiest and most powerful of Saviours。 Answer
him； that you want no fort from saints and angels； from the Virgin
Mary or from Gabriel； so long as you can repose your weary soul on THE
MAN CHRIST JESUS。
III。 Let us learn； in the third place； that there may be much weakness
and infirmity； even in a true Christian。
You have a striking proof of this in the conduct of the disciples here
recorded； when the waves broke over the ship。 They awoke Jesus in
haste。 They said to Him； in fear and anxiety； 〃Master； carest Thou not
that we perish？ 〃
There was impatience。 They might have waited till their Lord thought
fit to arise from His sleep。
There was unbelief。 They forgot that they were in the keeping of One
who had all power in His hand。 〃We perish。〃
There was distrust。 They spoke as if they doubted their Lord's care and
thoughtfulness for their safety and well…being。 〃Carest Thou not that
we perish？〃
Poor faithless men！ What business had they to be afraid？ They had seen
proof upon proof that all must be well so long as the Bridegroom was
with them。 They had witnessed repeated examples of His love and
kindness towards them； sufficient to convince them that He would never
let them e to real harm。 But all was forgotten in the present
danger。 Sense of immediate peril often makes men have a bad memory。
Fear is often unable to reason from past experience。 They heard the
winds。 They saw the waves。 They felt the cold waters beating over them。
They fancied death was close at hand。 They could wait no longer in
suspense。 〃Carest Thou not；〃 said they； 〃that we perish？〃
But； after all； let us understand this is only a picture of what is
constantly going on among believers in every age。 There are too many
disciples； I suspect； at this very day； like those who are here
described。
Many of God's children get on very well so long as they have no trials。
They follow Christ very tolerably in the time of fair weather。 They
fancy they are trusting Him entirely。 They flatter themselves they have
cast every care on Him。 They obtain the reputation of being very good
Christians。
But suddenly some unlooked…for trial assails them。 Their property makes
itself wings and flies away。 Their own health fails。 Death es up
into their house。 Tribulation or persecution ariseth； because of the
word。 And where now is their faith？ Where is the strong confidence they
thought they had？ Where is their peace； their hope； their resignation？
Alas； they are sought for and not found。 They are weighed in the
balances and found wanting。 Fear； and doubt； and distress； and anxiety；
break in upon them like a flood； and they seem at their wits' end。 I
know that this is a sad description。 I only put it to the conscience of
every real Christian； whether it is not correct and true。
The plain truth is that there is no literal and absolute perfection
among true Christians； so long as they are in the body。 The best and
brightest of God's saints is but a poor mixed being。 Converted；
renewed； and sanctified though he be； he is still passed with
infirmity。 There is not a just man upon earth that always doeth good
and sinneth not。 In many things we offend all。 A man may have true
saving faith； and yet not have it always close at hand； and ready to be
used。 （Eccles。 vii。 20； James iii。 2。）
Abraham was the father of the faithful。 By faith he forsook his country
and his kindred； and went out according to the mand of God； to a
land he had never seen。 By faith he was content to dwell in the land as
a stranger； believing that God would give it to him for an inheritance。
And yet this very Abraham was so far overe by unbelief； that he
allowed Sarah to be called his sister； and not his wife； through the
fear of man。 Here was great infirmity。 Yet there have been few greater
saints than Abraham。
David was a man after God's own heart。 He had faith to go out to battle
with the giant Goliath when he was but a youth。 He publicly declared
his belief that the Lord who delivered him from the paw of the lion and
bear； would deliver him from this Philistine。 He had faith to believe
God's promise that he should one day be King of Israel； though he was
owned by few followersthough Saul pursued him like a partridge on the
mountains and there often seemed but a step between him and death。 And
yet this very David at one time was so far overtaken by fear and
unbelief that he said； 〃I shall one day perish by the hand of Saul。〃 （1
Sam。 xxvii。 1。） He forgot the many wonderful deliverances he had
experienced at God's hand。 He only thought of his present danger； and
took refuge among the ungodly Philistines。 Surely here was great
infirmity。 Yet there have been few stronger believers than David。
I know it is easy for a man to reply； 〃All this is very true； but
