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！
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