莱尔主教holiness-第80章
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sacrament。 You may go through every form and ceremony of Christianity。
But if you persist in living a careless and worldly life； and despising
Christ in the morning of your days； you must not be surprised if Christ
leaves you to yourself in your latter end。 Alas！ these are solemn
words； and are often sadly fulfilled： 〃I will laugh at your calamity； I
will mock when your fear eth。〃 （Prov。 i。 26。）
e then； this day； and be advised by one who loves your soul。 Cease
to do evil。 Learn to do well。 Forsake the foolish； and go in the path
of understanding。 Cast away that pride which hangs about your heart；
and seek the Lord Jesus while He may be found。 Cast away that spiritual
sloth which is palsying your soul； and resolve to take trouble about
your Bible； your prayers； and your Sundays。 Break off from a world
which can never really satisfy you； and seek that treasure which alone
is truly incorruptible。 Oh； that the Lord's own words might find a
place in your conscience！ 〃How long； ye simple ones； will ye love
simplicity？ and the scorners delight in their scorning； and fools hate
knowledge？ Turn you at my reproof： behold I will pour out my Spirit
unto you； I will make known my words unto you。〃 （Prov。 i。 22； 23。） I
believe the crowning sin of Judas Iscariot was that he would not seek
pardon and turn again to his Lord。 Beware； lest that be your sin also。
（2） This paper will probably fall into the hands of some who love the
Lord Jesus； and believe in Him； and yet desire to love Him better。
If you are such a man； suffer the word of exhortation and apply it to
your heart。
For one thing； keep before your mind； as an ever…present truth； that
the Lord Jesus is an actual； living Person； and deal with Him as such。
I fear the personality of our Lord is sadly lost sight of by many
professors in the present day。 Their talk is more about salvation than
about the Saviourmore about redemption than about the Redeemermore
about justification than about Jesusmore about Christ's work than
about Christ's person。 This a great fault； and one that fully accounts
for the dry and sapless character of the religion of many professors。
As ever； you would grow in grace and have joy and peace in believing；
beware of falling into this error。 Cease to regard the Gospel as a mere
collection of dry doctrines。 Look at it rather as the revelation of a
mighty； living Being in whose sight you are daily to live。 Cease to
regard it as a mere set of abstract propositions and abstruse
principles and rules。 Look at it as the introduction to a glorious；
personal Friend。 This is the kind of Gospel that the Apostles preached。
They did not go about the world telling men of love； and mercy； and
pardon； in the abstract。 The leading subject of all their sermons was
the loving heart of an actual living Christ。 This is the kind of Gospel
which is most calculated to promote sanctification and meetness for
glory。 Nothing； surely； is so likely to prepare us for that heaven
where Christ's personal presence will be all； and that glory where we
shall meet Christ face to face； as to realize munion with Christ； as
an actual living Person here on earth。 There is all the difference in
the world between an idea and a person。
For another thing； try to keep before your mind； as an ever…present
truth； that the Lord Jesus is utterly unchanged。
That Saviour； in whom you trust； is the same yesterday； to…day； and for
ever。 He knows no variableness； nor shadow of turning。 Though high in
heaven at God's right hand； He is just the same in heart that He was
1900 years ago on earth。 Remember this and you will do well。
Follow Him all through Pits journeys to and fro in Palestine。 Mark how
He received all that came to Him and cast out none。 Mark how He had an
ear to listen to every tale of sorrow； a hand to help every case of
distress； a heart to feel for all who needed sympathy。 And then say to
yourself； 〃This same Jesus is He who is my Lord and Saviour。 Place and
time have made no difference in Him。 What He was； He is； and will be
for evermore。〃
Surely this thought will give life and reality to your daily religion。
Surely this thought will give substance and shape to your expectation
of good things to e。 Surely it is matter for joyful reflection； that
He who was thirty…three years upon earth； and whose life we read in the
Gospels； is the very Saviour in whose presence we shall spend eternity。
The last word of this paper shall be the same as the first。 I want men
to read the four Gospels more than they do。 I want men to bee better
acquainted with Christ。 I want unconverted men to know Jesus； that they
may have eternal life through Him。 I want believers to know Jesus
better； that they may bee more happy； more holy； and more meet for
the inheritance of the saints in light。 He will be the holiest man who
learns to say with St。 Paul； 〃To me to live is Christ。〃 （Phil。 i。 21。）
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XIII。
THE CHURCH WHICH CHRIST BUILDS
〃Upon this rock I will build my church； and the gates of hell shall not
prevail against it。〃Matt。 xvi。 18。
DO we belong to the Church which is built upon a rock？ Are we members
of the only Church in which our souls can be saved？These are serious
questions。 They deserve serious consideration。 I ask the attention of
all who read this paper； while I try to show the one true； holy；
Catholic Church； and to guide men's feet into the only safe fold。 〃What
is this Church？ What is it like？ What are its marks？ Where is it to be
found？〃 On all these points I have something to say。 I am going to
unfold the words of our Lord Jesus Christ； which stand at the head of
this page。 He declares； 〃Upon this rock I will build my Church； and the
gates of hell shall not prevail against it。〃
There are five things in these famous words which demand our
attention：
I。 A Building： 〃My Church。〃
II。 A Builder： Christ says； 〃I will build my Church。〃
III。 A Foundation： 〃Upon this rock I will build my Church。〃
IV。 Perils Implied： 〃The gates of hell。〃
V。 Security Asserted： 〃The gates of hell shall not prevail against it。〃
The whole subject demands special attention in the present day。
Holiness； we must never forget； is the prominent characteristic of all
who belong to the one true Church。
I。 We have； firstly； a Building mentioned in the text。 The Lord Jesus
Christ speaks of 〃my Church。〃
Now what is this Church？ Few inquiries can be made of more importance
than this。 For want of due attention to this subject； the errors that
have crept into the world are neither few nor small。
The Church of our text is no material building。 It is no temple made
with hands of wood； or brick； or stone； or marble。 It is a pany of
men and women。It is no particular visible Church on earth。 It is not
the Eastern Church or the Western Church。 It is not the Church of
England or the Church of Scotland。Above all； it certainly is not the
Church of Rome。 The Church of our text is one that makes far less show
than any visible Church in the eyes of man； but is of far more
importance in the eyes of God。
The Church of our text is made up of all true believers in the Lord
Jesus Christ； of all who are really holy and converted people。 It
prehends all who have repented of sin； and fled to Christ by faith；
and been made new creatures in Him。 It prises all God's elect； all
who have received God's grace； all who have been washed in Christ's
blood； all who have been clothed in Christ's righteousness； all who
have been born again and sanctified by Christ's Spirit。 All such； of
every name； and rank； and nation； and people； and tongue； pose the
Church of our text。 This is the body of Christ。 This is the flock of
Christ。 This is the bride。 This is the Lamb's wife。 This is 〃the holy
Catholic and Apostolic C
