友情提示:如果本网页打开太慢或显示不完整,请尝试鼠标右键“刷新”本网页!阅读过程发现任何错误请告诉我们,谢谢!! 报告错误
热门书库 返回本书目录 我的书架 我的书签 TXT全本下载 进入书吧 加入书签

莱尔主教holiness-第103章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页,按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页,按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
————未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!



   Jesus seems far more within reach of their understanding。 That He loved
   them even to His death; and that they ought to love Him in return; is a
   creed which meets the span of their minds。 How true it is that 〃out of
   the mouths of babes and sucklings Thou hast perfected praise!〃 (Matt。
   xxi。 16。) There are myriads of Christians who know every article of the
   Athanasian; Nicene; and Apostolic Creeds; and yet know less of real
   Christianity than a little child who only knows that he loves Christ。

   (d) Love to Christ is the mon meeting…point of believers of every
   branch of Christ's Church on earth。 Whether Episcopalian or
   Presbyterian; Baptist or Independent; Calvinist or Arminian; Methodist
   or Moravian; Lutheran or Reformed; Established or Freehere; at least;
   they are agreed。 About forms and ceremonies; about Church government
   and modes of worship; they often differ widely。 But on one point; at
   any rate; they are united。 They have all one mon feeling towards Him
   on whom they build their hope of salvation。 They 〃love the Lord Jesus
   Christ in sincerity。〃 (Ephes。 vi。 24。) Many of them; perhaps; are
   ignorant of systematic divinity and could argue but feebly in defence
   of their creed。 But they all know what they feel toward Him who died
   for their sins。〃I cannot speak much for Christ; sir;〃 said an old;
   uneducated Christian woman to Dr。 Chalmers; 〃but if I cannot speak for
   Him; I could die for Him!〃

   (e) Love to Christ will be the distinguishing mark of all saved souls
   in heaven。 The multitude which no man can number will all be of one
   mind。 Old differences will be merged in one mon feeling。 Old
   doctrinal peculiarities; fiercely wrangled for upon earth; will be
   covered over by one mon sense of debt to Christ。 Luther and Zwingle
   will no longer dispute。 Wesley and Toplady will no longer waste time in
   controversy。 Churchmen and Dissenters will no longer bite and devour
   one another。 All will find themselves joining with one heart and voice
   in that hymn of praise; 〃Unto Him that loved us; and washed us from our
   sin in His own blood; and hath made us kings and priests unto God and
   his Father; to Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever。 Amen。〃
   (Rev。 i。 5…6。)

   The words which John Bunyan puts in the mouth of Mr。 Standfast as he
   stood in the river of death are very beautiful。 He said; 〃This river
   has been a terror to many; yea; the thoughts of it also have often
   frightened me。 But now methinks I stand easy: my foot is fixed upon
   that on which the priests that bear the ark stood while Israel went
   over Jordan。 The waters indeed are to the palate bitter; and to the
   stomach cold; yet the thoughts of what I am going to; and of the convoy
   that waits for me on the other side; lie as a glowing coal at my heart。
   I see myself now at the end of my journey; my toilsome days are ended。
   I am going to see that Head which was crowned with thorns; and that
   Face which was spit upon for me。 I have formerly lived by hearing and
   faith; but now I go where I shall live by sight; and be with Him in
   whose pany I delight myself。 I have loved to hear my Lord spoken of;
   and wherever I have seen the print of His shoe in the earth; there I
   have coveted to set my foot too。 His name has been to me a civet…box;
   yea; sweeter than all perfumes! His voice to me has been most sweet;
   and His countenance I have more desired than they that have desired the
   light of the sun!〃 Happy are they that know something of this
   experience! He that would be in tune for heaven must know something of
   love to Christ。 He that dies ignorant of that love had better never
   have been born。

   II。 Let me show; in the second place; the peculiar marks by which love
   to Christ makes itself known。

   The point is one of vast importance。 If there is no salvation without
   love to Christif he that does not love Christ is in peril of eternal
   condemnation; it bees us all to find out very distinctly what we
   know about this matter。 Christ is in heaven; and we are upon earth。 In
   what way shall the man be discerned that loves Him?

   Happily the point is one which it is not very hard to settle。 How do we
   know whether we love any person here upon earth? In what way and manner
   does love show itself between people in this worldbetween husband and
   wifebetween parent and childbetween brother and sisterbetween
   friend and friend? Let these questions be answered by mon sense and
   observations; and I ask no more。 Let these questions be honestly
   answered; and the knot before us is untied。 How does affection show
   itself among ourselves?

   (a) If we love a person; we like to think about him。 We do not need to
   be reminded of him。 We do not forget his name; or his appearance; or
   his character; or his opinions; or his tastes; or his position; or his
   occupation。 He es up before our mind's eye many a time in the day。
   Though perhaps far distant; he is often present in our thoughts。 Well;
   it is just so between the true Christian and Christ! Christ 〃dwells in
   his heart;〃 and is thought of more or less every day。 (Ephes。 iii。 17。)
   The true Christian does not need to be reminded that he has a crucified
   Master。 He often thinks of Him。 He never forgets that He has a day; a
   cause; and a people; and that of His people he is one。 Affection is the
   real secret of a good memory in religion。 No worldly man can think much
   about Christ; unless Christ is pressed upon his notice; because he has
   no affection for Him。 The true Christian has thoughts about Christ
   every day that he lives; for this one simple reason; that he loves Him。

   (b) If we love a person; we like to bear about him。 We find a pleasure
   in listening to those who speak of him。 We feel an interest in any
   report which others make of him。 We are all attention when others talk
   about him and describe his ways; his sayings; his doings; and his
   plans。 Some may hear him mentioned with utter indifference; but our own
   hearts bound within us at the very sound of his name。 Well; it is just
   so between the true Christian and Christ! The true Christian delights
   to hear something about his Master。 He likes those sermons best which
   are full of Christ。 He enjoys that society most in which people talk of
   the things which are Christ's。 I have read of an old Welsh believer who
   used to walk several miles every Sunday to hear an English clergyman
   preach; though she did not understand a word of English。 She was asked
   why she did so。 She replied that this clergyman named the name of
   Christ so often in his sermons that it did her good。 She loved even the
   name of her Saviour。

   (c) If we love a person; we like to read about him。 What intense
   pleasure a letter from an absent husband gives to a wife; or a letter
   from an absent son to his mother。 Others may see little worth notice in
   the letter。 They can scarcely take the trouble to read it through。 But
   those who love the writer see something in the letter which no one e
返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 0 0
未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!
温馨提示: 温看小说的同时发表评论,说出自己的看法和其它小伙伴们分享也不错哦!发表书评还可以获得积分和经验奖励,认真写原创书评 被采纳为精评可以获得大量金币、积分和经验奖励哦!