莱尔主教holiness-第79章
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heart cling to them； though they saw their Lord with their eyes； and
touched Him with their hands； even then some doubted。 So weak were they
in faith！ So slow of heart were they to 〃believe all that the prophets
had spoken。〃 （Luke xxiv。 25。） So backward were they in understanding
the meaning of our Lord's words； and actions； and life； and death。
But what do you see in our Lord's behaviour towards these disciples all
through His ministry？ You see nothing but unchanging pity； passion；
kindness； gentleness； patience； long…suffering； and love。 He does not
cast them off for their stupidity。 He does not reject them for their
unbelief。 He does not dismiss them for ever for cowardice。 He teaches
them as they are able to bear。 He leads them on step by step； as a
nurse does an infant when it first begins to walk。 He sends them kind
messages as soon as He is risen from the dead。 〃Go；〃 He said to the
women； 〃Go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee； and there they
shall see Me。〃 （Matt。 xxviii。 10。） He gathers them round Himself once
more。 He restores Peter to his place； and bids him 〃feed His sheep。〃
（John xxi。 17。） He condescends to sojourn with them forty days before
He finally ascends。 He missions them to go forth as His messengers；
and preach the Gospel to the Gentiles。 He blesses them in parting； and
encourages them with that gracious promise； 〃I am with you always； even
unto the end of the world。〃 （Matt。 xxviii。 20。） Truly this was a love
that passeth knowledge。 This is not the manner of man。
Let all the world know that the Lord Christ is very pitiful； and of
tender mercy。 He will not break the bruised reed； nor quench the
smoking flax。 As a father pitieth his children； so He pitieth them that
fear Him。 As one whom his mother forteth； so will He fort His
people。 （James v。 11； Matt。 xii。 20； Ps。 ciii。 13； Isa。 lxvi。 13。） He
cares for the lambs of His flock as well as for the old sheep。 He cares
for the sick and feeble ones of His fold as well as for the strong。 It
is written that He will carry them in His bosom； rather than let one of
them be lost。 （Isaiah xl。 11。） He cares for the least members of His
body； as well as for the greatest。 He cares for the babes of His family
as well^as the grownup men。 He cares for the tenderest little plants in
His garden as well as for the cedar of Lebanon。 All are in His book of
life； and all are under His charge。 All are given to Him in an
everlasting covenant； and He has undertaken； in spite of all
weaknesses； to bring every one safe home。 Only let a sinner lay hold on
Christ by faith and then； however feeble； Christ's word is pledged to
him； 〃I will never leave thee nor forsake thee。〃 He may correct him
occasionally in love。 He may gently reprove him at times。 But He will
never； never give him up。 The devil shall never pluck him from Christ's
hand。
Let all the world know that the Lord Jesus will not cast away His
believing people because of shortings and infirmities。 The husband
does not put away his wife because he finds failings in her。 The mother
does not forsake her infant because it is weak； feeble and ignorant。
And the Lord Christ does not cast off poor sinners who have mitted
their souls into His hands because He sees in them blemishes and
imperfections。 Oh； no！ It is His glory to pass over the faults of His
people； and heal their backslidingsto make much of their weak graces
and to pardon their many faults。 The eleventh of Hebrews is a wonderful
chapter。 It is marvellous to observe how the Holy Ghost speaks of the
worthies whose names are recorded in that chapter。 The faith of the
Lord's people is there brought forward and had in remembrance。 But the
faults of many a one； which might easily have been brought up also； are
left alone； and not mentioned at all。
Who is there now among the readers of this paper that feels desires
after salvation； but is afraid to bee decided； lest by…and…by he
should fall away？ Consider； I beseech you； the tenderness and patience
of the Lord Jesus and be afraid no more。 Fear not to take up the cross
and e out boldly from the world。 That same Lord and Saviour who bore
with the disciples is ready and willing to bear with you。 If you
stumble； He will raise you。 If you err； He will gently bring you back。
If you faint； He will revive you。 He will not lead you out of Egypt；
and then suffer you to perish in the wilderness。 He will conduct you
safe into the promised land。 Only mit yourself to His guidance； and
then； my soul for yours； He shall carry you safe home。 Only hear
Christ's voice； and follow Him； and you shall never perish。
Who is there among the readers of this paper that has been converted
and desires to do his Lord's will？ Take example； this day； by your
Master's gentleness and long…suffering； and learn to be tender…hearted
and kind to others。 Deal gently with young beginners。 Do not expect
them to know everything and understand everything all at once。 Take
them by the hand。 Lead them on and encourage them。 Believe all things；
and hope all things； rather than make that heart sad which God would
not have made sad。 Deal gently with backsliders。 Do not turn your back
on them as if their case was hopeless。 Use every lawful means to
restore them to their former place。 Consider yourself； and your often
infirmities； and do as you would be done by。 Alas； there is a painful
absence of the Master's mind among many of His disciples。 There are few
churches； I fear； in the present day； which would have received Peter
into munion again for many a long year； after denying His Lord。
There are few believers ready to do the work of Barnabaswilling to
take young converts by the hand； and encourage them at their first
beginnings。 Verily we want an outpouring of the Spirit upon believers
almost as much as upon the world。
And now； I have only to ask my readers to make a practical use of the
lessons I have brought before them。 You have heard this day five
things。
First。 That Christ's service will not secure you against troubles。 The
holiest saints are liable to them。
Second。 That Christ is very Man as well as God。
Third。 That believers may have much weakness and infirmity； and yet be
true believers。
Fourth。 That Christ has all power： and
Fifth。 That Christ is full of patience and kindness towards His people。
Remember these five lessons； and you will do well。
Bear with me a few moments while I say a few words to impress the
things you have been reading more deeply on your heart。
（1） This paper will very likely be read by some who know nothing of
Christ's service by experience； or of Christ Himself。
There are only too many who take no interest whatever in the things
about which I have been writing。 Their treasure is all below。 They are
wholly taken up with the things of the world。 They care nothing about
the believer's conflict； and struggles； and infirmities； and doubts；
and fears。
They care little whether Christ did miracles or not。 It is all a matter
of words； and names； and forms； about which they do not trouble
themselves。 They are without God in the world。
If perchance you are such a man as this； I can only warn you solemnly
that your present course cannot last。 You will not live for ever。 There
must be an end。 Grey hairs； age； sickness； infirmities； deathall； all
are before you； and must be met one day。 What will you do when that day
es？
Remember my words this day。 You will find no fort when sick and
dying； unless Jesus Christ is your friend。 You will； discover； to your
sorrow and confusion； that however much men may talk and boast； they
cannot do without Christ when they e to their deathbed。 You may send
for ministers； and get them to read prayers； and give you the
sacrament。 You may go through every form and ceremony of Christianity。
But if you persist in living a car
