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莱尔主教holiness-第113章

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   to do a thing as to say it。 Whatever He promises; He is certain to
   perform。

   Concerning the variety and riches of Scripture promises; far more might
   be said than it is possible to say in a short paper like this。 Their
   name is legion。 The subject is almost inexhaustible。 There is hardly a
   step in man's life; from childhood to old age; hardly any position in
   which man can be placed; for which the Bible has not held out
   encouragement to everyone who desires to do right in the sight of God。
   There are 〃shalls〃 and 〃wills〃 in God's treasury for every condition。
   About God's infinite mercy and passionabout His readiness to
   receive all who repent and believeabout His willingness to forgive;
   pardon; and absolve the chief of sinnersabout His power to change
   hearts and alter our corrupt natureabout the encouragements to pray;
   and hear the Gospel; and draw near to the throne of graceabout
   strength for duty; fort in trouble; guidance in perplexity; help in
   sickness; consolation in death; support under bereavement; happiness
   beyond the grave; reward in gloryabout all these things there is an
   abundant supply of promises in the Word。 No one can form an idea of its
   abundance unless he carefully searches the Scriptures; keeping the
   subject steadily in view。 If anyone doubts it; I can only say; 〃e
   and see。〃 Like the Queen of Sheba at Solomon's Court; you will soon
   say; 〃The half was not told me。〃 (1 Kings x。 7。)

   The promise of our Lord Jesus Christ which heads this paper is somewhat
   peculiar。 It is singularly rich in encouragement to all who feel
   spiritual thirst; and e to Him for relief; and therefore it deserves
   peculiar attention。 Most of our Lord's promises refer specially to the
   benefit of the person to whom they are addressed。 The promise before us
   takes a far wider range: it seems to refer to many others beside those
   to whom He spoke。 For what says He?〃He that believeth on Me; as the
   Scripture hath said〃 (and everywhere teaches); 〃out of his belly shall
   flow rivers of living water。 But this spake He of the Spirit; which
   they that believe on Him should receive。〃 Figurative undoubtedly are
   these wordsfigurative; like the earlier words of the
   sentencefigurative; like 〃thirst〃 and 〃drinking。〃 But all the figures
   of Scripture contain great truth; and what the figure before us was
   meant to convey I will now try to show。

   (1) For one thing; then; I believe our Lord meant that he who es to
   Him by faith shall receive an abundant supply of everything that he can
   desire for the relief of his own soul's wants。 The Spirit shall convey
   to him such an abiding sense of pardon; peace and hope; that it shall
   be in his inward man like a well…spring; never dry。 He shall feel so
   satisfied with 〃the things of Christ;〃 which the Spirit shall show him
   (John xvi。 15); that he shall rest from spiritual anxiety about death;
   judgment; and eternity。 He may have his seasons of darkness and doubt;
   through his own infirmities or the temptations of the devil。 But;
   speaking generally; when he has once e to Christ by faith; he shall
   find in his heart of hearts an unfailing fountain of consolation。 This;
   let us understand; is the first thing which the promise before us
   contains。 〃Only e to Me; poor anxious soul;〃 our Lord seems to
   say〃Only e to Me; and thy spiritual anxiety shall be relieved。 I
   will place in thy heart; by the power of the Holy Spirit; such a sense
   of pardon and peace; through My atonement and intercession; that thou
   shalt never pletely thirst again。 Thou mayest have thy doubts; and
   fears; and conflicts; while thou art in the body。 But once having e
   to Me; and taken Me for thy Saviour; thou shalt never feel thyself
   entirely hopeless。 The condition of thine inward man shall be so
   thoroughly changed that thou shalt feel as if there were within thee an
   ever…flowing spring of water。〃

   What shall we say to these things? I declare my own belief that
   whenever a man or woman really es to Christ by faith; he finds this
   promise fulfilled。 He may possibly be weak in grace; and have many
   misgivings about his own condition。 He may possibly not dare to say
   that he is converted; justified; sanctified; and meet for the
   inheritance of the saints in light。 But; for all that; I am bold to
   say; the humblest and feeblest believer in Christ has got something
   within him which he would not part with; though he may not yet fully
   understand it。 And what is that 〃something〃? It is just that 〃river of
   living water〃 which begins to run in the heart of every child of Adam
   as soon as he es to Christ and drinks。 In this sense I believe this
   wonderful promise of Christ is always fulfilled。

   (2) But is this all that is contained in the promise which heads this
   paper? By no means。 There yet remains much behind。 There is more to
   follow。 I believe our Lord meant us to understand that he who es to
   Him by faith shall not only have an abundant supply of everything which
   he needs for his own soul; but shall also bee a source of blessing
   to the souls of others。 The Spirit who dwells in him shall make him a
   fountain of good to his fellow…men; so that at the last day there shall
   be found to have flowed from him 〃rivers of living water。〃

   This is a most important part of our Lord's promise; and opens up a
   subject which is seldom realized and grasped by many Christians。 But it
   is one of deep interest; and deserves far more attention than it
   receives。 I believe it to be a truth of God。 I believe that just as 〃no
   man liveth unto himself〃 (Rom。 xiv。 7); so also no man is converted
   only for himself; and that the conversion of one man or woman always
   leads on; in God's wonderful providence; to the conversion of others。 I
   do not say for a moment that all believers know it。 I think it far more
   likely that many live and die in the faith; who are not aware that they
   have done good to any soul。 But I believe the resurrection morning and
   the judgment day; when the secret history of all Christians is
   revealed; will prove that the full meaning of the promise before us has
   never failed。 I doubt if there will be a believer who will not have
   been to some one or other a 〃river of living water〃a channel through
   whom the Spirit has conveyed saving grace。 Even the penitent thief;
   short as his time was after he repented; has been a source of blessing
   to thousands of souls!

   (a) Some believers are 〃rivers of living water〃 while they live。 Their
   words; their conversation; their preaching; their teaching; are all
   means by which the water of life has flowed into the hearts of their
   fellow…men。 Such; for example; were the Apostles; who wrote no
   Epistles; and only preached the Word。 Such were Luther; and Whitefield;
   and Wesley; and Berridge; and Rowlands; and thousands of others; of
   whom I cannot now speak particularly。

   (b) Some believers are 〃rivers of living water〃 when they die。 Their
   courage in facing the king of 
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