莱尔主教holiness-第95章
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laid； which is Jesus Christ。〃 （1 Cor。 iii。 11。） He that buildeth on
this cornerstone 〃shall not be confounded。〃 About this hope there is
reality。 It will bear looking at and handling。 It will meet every
enquiry。 Search it through and through； and you will find no flaw
whatever in it。 All other hopes besides this are worthless。 Like
summer…dried fountains； they fail man just when his need is the sorest。
They are like unsound ships； which look well so long as they lie quiet
in harbour； but when the winds and the waves of the ocean begin to try
them； their rotten condition is discovered； and they sink beneath the
waters。 There is no such thing as a good hope without Christ； and
〃without Christ〃 is to have 〃no hope。〃 （Eph。 ii。 12。）
（d） For another thing； to be without Christ is to be without heaven。 In
saying this I do not merely mean that there is no entrance into heaven；
but that 〃without Christ〃 there could be no happiness in being there。 A
man without a Saviour and Redeemer could never feel at home in heaven。
He would feel that he had no lawful right or title to be there：
boldness and confidence and ease of heart would be impossible。 Amidst
pure and holy angels； under the eyes of a pure and holy God； he could
not hold up his head： he would feel confounded and ashamed。 It is the
very essence of all true views of heaven that Christ is there。
Who art thou that dreamest of a heaven in which Christ has no place？
Awake to know thy folly。 Know that in every description of heaven which
the Bible contains； the presence of Christ is one essential feature。
〃In the midst of the throne；〃 says St； John； 〃stood a Lamb as it had
been slain。〃 The very throne of heaven is called the 〃throne of God and
of the Lamb。〃〃The Lamb is the light of heaven； and the temple of
it。〃The saints who dwell in heaven are to be 〃fed by the Lamb；〃 and
〃led to living fountains of waters。〃 The meeting of the saints in
heaven is called； 〃the marriage supper of the Lamb。〃 （Rev。 v。 6； xxii。
3； xxi。 22； 23； vii。 17； xix。 9。） A heaven without Christ would not be
the heaven of the Bible。 To be 〃without Christ〃 is to be without
heaven。
I might easily add to these things。 I might tell you that to be without
Christ is to be without fife； without strength； without safety； without
foundation； without a friend in heaven； without righteousness。 None so
badly off as those that are without Christ！
What the ark was to Noah； what the passover lamb was to Israel in
Egypt； what the manna； the smitten rock； the brazen serpent； the pillar
of cloud and fire； the scapegoat； were to the tribes in the wilderness；
all this the Lord Jesus is meant to be to man's soul。 None so destitute
as those that are without Christ！
What the root is to the branches； what the air is to our lungs； what
food and water are to our bodies； what the sun is to creation； all this
and much more Christ is intended to be to us。 None so helpless； none so
pitiable as those that are without Christ！
I grant that； if there were no such things as sickness and deathif
men and women never grew old； and lived on this earth for everthe
subject of this paper would be of no importance。 But you must know that
sickness； death； and the grave are sad realities。
If this life were allif there were no judgment； no heaven； no hell；
no eternityit would be mere waste of time to trouble yourself with
such inquiries as this tract suggests。 But you have got a conscience。
You know well that there is a reckoning…day beyond the grave。 There is
a judgment yet to e。
Surely the subject of this paper is no light matter。 It is not a small
thing； and one that does not signify。 It demands the attention of every
sensible person。 It lies at the very root of that all…important
question； the salvation of our souls。 To be 〃without Christ〃 is to be
most miserable。
（1） And now I ask every one who has read this paper through to examine
himself and find out his own precise condition。 Are you without Christ？
Do not allow life to pass away without some serious thoughts and
self…inquiry。 You cannot always go on as you do now。 A day must e
when eating； and drinking； and sleeping； and dressing； and making
merry； and spending money； will have an end。 There will be a day when
your place will be empty and you will be only spoken of as one dead and
gone。 And where will you be then^ if you have lived and died without
thought about your soul； without God； and without Christ？ Oh； remember；
it is better a thousand times to be without money； and health； and
friends； and pany； and good cheer； than to be without Christ！
（2） If you have lived without Christ hitherto； I invite you in all
affection to change your course without delay。 Seek the Lord Jesus
while He may be found。 Call upon Him while He is near。 He is sitting at
God's right hand； able to save to the uttermost everyone who es to
Him； however sinful and careless he may have been。 He is sitting at
God's right hand； willing to hear the prayer of every one who feels
that his past life has been all wrong； and wants to be set right。 Seek
Christ； seek Christ without delay。 Acquaint yourself with Him。 Do not
be ashamed to apply to Him。 Only bee one of Christ's friends this
year； and you will say one day it was the happiest year that you ever
had。
（3） If you have bee one of Christ's friends already； I exhort you to
be a thankful man。 Awake to a deeper sense of the infinite mercy of
having an Almighty Saviour； a title to heaven； a home that is eternal；
a Friend that never dies！ A few more years and all our family
gatherings will be over。 What a fort to think that we have in Christ
something that we can never lose！
Awake to a deeper sense of the sorrowful state of those who are
〃without Christ。〃 We are often reminded of the many who are without
food； or clothing； or school； or church。 Let us pity them； and help
them； as far as we can。 But let us never forget that there are people
whose state is far more pitiable。 Who are they？ The people 〃without
Christ！〃
Have we relatives 〃without Christ〃？ Let us feel for them； pray for
them； speak to the King about them； strive to remend the Gospel to
them。 Let us leave no stone unturned in our efforts to bring them to
Christ。
Have we neighbours 〃without Christ〃？ Let us labour in every way for
their souls' salvation。 The night eth when none can work。 Happy is
he who lives under the abiding conviction that to be 〃in Christ〃 is
peace； safety； and happiness； and that to be 〃without Christ〃 is to be
on the brink of destruction。
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XVII。
THIRST RELIEVED
〃In the last day； that great day of the feast； Jesus stood and cried；
saying； If any man thirst； let him e unto Me； and drink。 He that
believeth on Me； as the Scripture hath said； out of his belly shall
flow rivers of living water。〃John vii。 37。 38。
THE text which heads this chapter contains one of those mighty sayings
of Christ which deserve to be printed in letters of gold。 All the stars
in heaven are bright and beautiful； yet even a child can see that one
star excelleth another in glory。 All Scripture is given by inspiration
of God； but that heart must indeed be cold and dull which does not feel
that some verses are peculiarly rich and full。 Of such verses this text
is one。
In order to see the whole force and beauty of the text； we must
remember the place； the time； and the occasion when it es in。
The place； then； was Jerusalem； the metropolis of Judaism； and the
stronghold of priests and scribes； of Pharisees and Sadducees。The
occasion was the Feast of Tabernacles； one of those great annual feasts
when every Jew； if he could； went up to the temple； according to the
law。The time was 〃the last day of the feast；〃 when all the ceremonies
were drawing to a close； when the wa
