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莱尔主教holiness-第114章

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   whom I cannot now speak particularly。

   (b) Some believers are 〃rivers of living water〃 when they die。 Their
   courage in facing the king of terrors; their boldness in the most
   painful sufferings; their unswerving faithfulness to Christ's truth
   even at the stake; their manifest peace on the edge of the graveall
   this has set thousands thinking; and led hundreds to repent and
   believe。 Such; for example; were the primitive martyrs whom the Roman
   Emperors persecuted。 Such were John Huss; and Jerome of Prague。 Such
   were Cranmer; Ridley; Latimer; Hooper; and the noble army of Marian
   martyrs。 The work that they did at their deaths; like Samson; was far
   greater than the work done in their lives。

   (c) Some believers are 〃rivers of living water〃 long after they die。
   They do good by their books and writings in every part of the world;
   long after the hands which held the pen are mouldering in the dust。
   Such men were Bunyan; and Baxter; and Owen; and George Herbert; and
   Robert M'Cheyne。 These blessed servants of God do more good probably by
   their books at this moment; than they did by their tongues when they
   were alive。 〃Being dead they yet speak。〃 (Heb。 xi。 4。)

   (d) Finally; there are some believers who are 〃rivers of living water〃
   by the beauty of their daily conduct and behaviour。 There are many
   quiet; gentle; consistent Christians who make no show and no noise in
   the world; and yet insensibly exercise a deep influence for good on all
   around them。 They 〃win without the Word。〃 (1 Peter iii。 1。) Their love;
   their kindness; their sweet temper; their patience; their
   unselfishness; tell silently on a wide circle; and sow seeds of thought
   and self…inquiry in many minds。 It was a fine testimony of an old lady
   who died in great peace; saying that under God she owed her salvation
   to Mr。 Whiteneld:〃It was not any sermon that he preached; it was not
   anything that he ever said to me。 It was the beautiful consistency and
   kindness of his daily life; in the house where he was staying; when I
   was a little girl。 I said to myself; if I ever have any religion; Mr。
   Whitefield's God shall be my God。〃

   Let us all lay hold on this view of our Lord's promise; and never
   forget it。 Think not for a moment that your own soul is the only soul
   that will be saved if you e to Christ by faith and follow Him。 Think
   of the blessedness of being a 〃river of living water〃 to others。 Who
   can tell that you may not be the means of bringing many others to
   Christ? Live; and act; and speak; and pray; and work; keeping this
   continually in view。 I knew a family; consisting of a father; mother;
   and ten children; in which true religion began with one of the
   daughters; and when it began she stood alone; and all the rest of the
   family were in the world。 And yet; before she died; she saw both her
   parents and all her brothers and sisters converted to God; and all
   this; humanly speaking; began from her influence! Surely; in the face
   of this; we need not doubt that a believer may be to others a 〃river of
   living water。〃 Conversions may not be in your time; and you may die
   without seeing them。 But never doubt that conversion generally leads to
   conversions; and that few go to heaven alone。 When Grimshaw; of
   Haworth; the apostle of the north; died; he left his son graceless and
   godless。 Afterwards the son was converted; never having forgotten his
   father's advice and example。 And his last words were; 〃What will my old
   father say when he sees me in heaven?〃 Let us take courage and hope on;
   believing Christ's promise。

   (1) And now; before I close this paper; let me ask you a plain
   question。 Do you know anything of spiritual thirst? Have you ever felt
   anything of genuine deep concern about your soul?I fear that many
   know nothing about it。 I have learned; by the painful experience of the
   third of a century; that people may go on for years attending God's
   house and yet never feel their sins; or desire to be saved。 The cares
   of this world; the love of pleasure; the 〃lust of other things〃 choke
   the good seed every Sunday; and make it unfruitful。 They e to church
   with hearts as cold as the stone pavement on which they walk。 They go
   away as thoughtless and unmoved as the old marble busts which look down
   on them from the monuments on the walls。 Well; it may be so; but I do
   not despair of anyone; so long as he is alive。 That grand old bell in
   St。 Paul's Cathedral; London; which has struck the Hours for so many
   years; is seldom heard by many during the business hours of the day。
   The roar and din of traffic in the streets have a strange power to
   deaden its sound; and prevent men hearing it。 But when the daily work
   is over; and desks are locked; and doors are closed; and books are put
   away; and quiet reigns in the great city; the case is altered。 As the
   old bell at night strikes eleven; and twelve; and one; and two; and
   three; thousands hear it who never heard it during the day。 And so I
   hope it will be with many an one in the matter of his soul。 Now; in the
   plenitude of health and strength; in the hurry and whirl of business; I
   fear the voice of your conscience is often stifled; and you cannot hear
   it。 But the day may e when the great bell of conscience will make
   itself heard; whether you like it or not。 The time may e when; laid
   aside in quietness; and obliged by illness to sit still; you may be
   forced to look within; and consider your soul's concerns。 And then;
   when the great bell of awakened conscience is sounding in your ears; I
   trust that many a man who reads this paper may hear the voice of God
   and repent; may learn to thirst; and learn to e to Christ for
   relief。 Yes; I pray God you may be taught to feel before it be too
   late!

   (2) But do you feel anything at this very moment? Is your conscience
   awake and working? Are you sensible of spiritual thirst; and longing
   for relief? Then hear the invitation which I bring you in my Master's
   name this day:〃If any man;〃 no matter who he may beif any man; high
   or low; rich or poor; learned or unlearned〃if any man thirst; let him
   e to Christ and drink。〃 Hear and accept that invitation without
   delay。 Wait for nothing。 Wait for nobody。 Who can tell that you may not
   wait for 〃a convenient season〃 till it be too late? The hand of a
   living Redeemer is now held out from heaven; but it may be withdrawn。
   The Fountain is open now; but it may soon be closed for ever。 〃If any
   man thirst; let him e and drink〃 without delay。 Though you have been
   a great sinner; and have resisted warnings; counsel; and sermons; yet
   e。Though you have sinned against light and knowledge; against a
   father's advice; and a mother's tears; though you have lived for years
   without a Sabbath; and without prayer; yet e。Say not that you know
   not how to e; that you do not understand what it is to believe; that
   you must wait for more light。 Will a tired man say that he is too tired
   to lie down? or a drowni
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