莱尔主教holiness-第97章
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towards heaven。 Who taught thee that thou wast naked？ Whence came this
inward light？ Who opened thine eyes and made thee see and feel？ Know
this day that flesh and blood hath not revealed these things unto thee；
but our Father which is in heaven。 Universities may confer degrees； and
schools may impart knowledge of all mysteries； but they cannot make men
feel sin。 To realise our spiritual need； and feel true spiritual
thirst； is the A B C in saving Christianity。
It is a great saying of Elihu； in the book of Job〃God looketh upon
men； and if any say； I have sinned； and perverted that which was right；
and it profited me not； He will deliver his soul from death； and his
life shall see the light。〃 （Job xxxiii。 27； 28。） Let him that knows
anything of spiritual 〃thirst〃 not be ashamed。 Rather let him lift up
his head and begin to hope。 Let him pray that God would carry on the
work He has begun； and make him feel more。
II。 I pass from the case supposed to the remedy proposed。 〃If any man
thirst；〃 says our blessed Lord Jesus Christ； 〃let him e unto Me； and
drink。〃
There is a grand simplicity about this little sentence which cannot be
too much admired。 There is not a word in it of which the literal
meaning is not plain to a child。 Yet； simple as it appears； it is rich
in spiritual meaning。 Like the Koh…i…noor diamond； which you may carry
between finger and thumb； it is of unspeakable value。 It solves that
mighty problem which all the philosophers of Greece and Rome could
never solve〃How can man have peace with God？ 〃Place it in your memory
side by side with six other golden sayings of your Lord。 〃I am the
Bread of life： he that eth unto me shall never hunger； and he that
believeth on me shall never thirst。〃〃I am the Light of the world： he
that followeth me shall not walk in darkness； but shall have the light
of life。〃〃I am the Door： by me if any man enter in； he shall be
saved。〃〃I am the Way； the Truth； and the Life： no man eth unto the
Father but by me。〃〃e unto me； all ye that labour and are heavy
laden； and I will give you rest。〃〃 Him that eth to me I will in no
wise cast out。〃Add to these six texts the one before you to…day。 Get
the whole seven by heart。 Rivet them down in your mind； and never let
them go。 When your feet touch the cold river； on the bed of sickness
and in the hour of death； you will find these seven texts above all
price。 （John vi。 35； viii。 12； x。 9； xiv。 6； Matt。 xi。 28； John vi。
37。）
For what is the sum and substance of these simple words？ It is this。
Christ is that Fountain of living water which God has graciously
provided for thirsting souls。 From Him； as out of the rock smitten by
Moses； there flows an abundant stream for all who travel through the
wilderness of this world。 In Him； as our Redeemer and Substitute；
crucified for our sins and raised again for our justification； there is
an endless supply of all that men can needpardon； absolution； mercy；
grace； peace； rest； relief； fort； and hope。
This rich provision Christ has bought for us at the price of His own
precious blood。 To open this wondrous fountain He suffered for sin； the
just for the unjust； and bore our sins in His own body on the tree。 He
was made sin for us； who knew no sin； that we might be made the
righteousness of God in Him。 （1 Peter ii。 24； iii。 18； 2 Cor。 v。 21。）
And now He is sealed and appointed to be the Reliever of all who are
labouring and heavy laden； and the Giver of living water to all who
thirst。 It is His office to receive sinners。 It is His pleasure to give
them pardon； life； and peace。 And the words of the text are a
proclamation He makes to all mankind〃If any man thirst； let him e
unto Me； and drink。〃
The efficacy of a medicine depends in great measure on the manner in
which it is used。 The best prescription of the best physician is
useless if we refuse to follow the directions which acpany it。
Suffer the word of exhortation； while I offer some caution and advice
about the Fountain of living water。
（a） He that thirsts and wants relief must e to Christ Himself。 He
must not be content with ing to His Church and His ordinances； or to
the assemblies of His people for prayer and praise。 He must not stop
short even at His holy table； or rest satisfied with privately opening
his heart to His ordained ministers。 Oh； no！ he that is content with
only drinking these waters 〃shall thirst again。〃 （John iv。 13。） He must
go higher； further； much further than this。 He must have personal
dealings with Christ Himself： all else in religion is worthless without
Him。 The King's palace； the attendant servants； the richly furnished
banqueting house； the very banquet itselfall are nothing unless we
speak with the King。 His hand alone can take the burden off our backs
and make us feel free。 The hand of man may take the stone from the
grave and show the dead； but none but Jesus can say to the dead； 〃e
forth and live。〃 （John xi。 41…43。） We must deal directly with Christ。
（b） Again： he that thirsts and wants relief from Christ must actually
e to Him。 It is not enough to wish； and talk； and mean； and intend；
and resolve； and hope。 Hell； that awful reality； is truly said to be
paved with good intentions。 Thousands are yearly lost in this fashion；
and perish miserably just outside the harbour。 Meaning and intending
they live； meaning and intending they die。 Oh； no！ we must 〃arise and
e！〃 If the prodigal son had been content with saying； 〃How many
hired servants of my father have bread enough and to spare； and I
perish with hunger！ I hope some day to return home；〃 he might have
remained for ever among the swine。 It was when he arose and came to his
father that his father ran to meet him； and said； 〃Bring forth the best
robe and put it on him。Let us eat and be merry。〃 （Luke xv。 20…23。）
Like him； we must not only 〃e to ourselves〃 and think； but we must
actually e to the High Priest； to Christ。 We must e to the
Physician。
（c） Once again： he that thirsts and wants to e to Christ must
remember that simple faith is the one thing required。 By all means let
him e with a penitent； broken and contrite heart； but let him not
dream of resting on that for acceptance。 Faith is the only hand that
can carry the living water to our lips。 Faith is the hinge on which all
turns in the matter of our justification。 It is written again and again
that 〃whosoever believeth shall not perish； but have eternal life。〃
（John iii。 15； 16。） 〃To him that worketh not； but believeth on Him that
justifieth the ungodly； his faith is counted for righteousness。〃 （Rom。
iv。 5。） Happy is he that can lay hold on the principle laid down in
that matchless hymn
Just as I am！ without one plea
But that Thy blood was shed for me；
And that Thou bidst me e to Thee
O Lamb of God； I e！
How simple this remedy for thirst appears！ But oh； how hard it is to
persuade some persons to receive it！ Tell them to do some great thing；
to mortify their bodies； to go on pilgrimage； to give all their goods
to feed the poor； and so to merit salvation； and they will try to do as
they are bid。 Tell them to throw overboard all idea of merit； working；
or doing； and to e to Christ as empty sinners； with nothing in their
hands； and； like Naaman； they are ready to turn away in disdain。 （2
Kings v。 12。） Human nature is always the same in every age。 There are
still some people just like the Jews； and some like the Greeks。 To the
Jews Christ crucified is still a stumbling…block； and to the Greeks
foolishness。 Their succession； at any rate； has never ceased！ Never did
our Lord say a truer word than that which He spoke to the proud scribes
in the Sanhedrim〃ye will not e unto Me that ye might have life。〃
（John v。 40。）
But； simple as this remedy for thirst appears； it is the only cure for
man's spiritual disease； and the only bridge from ea
