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！
in every parishfound them in darkness and left them in parative
lightfound them priest…ridden and left them enjoying the liberty
which Christ bestowsfound them strangers to the blood of atonement；
to faith and grace and real holiness； and left them with the key to
these things in their handsfound them blind and left them
seeingfound them slaves and left them free。 For ever let us thank God
for the Reformation！ It lighted a candle which we ought never to allow
to be extinguished or to burn dim。 Surely I have a right to say that
the times require of us a renewed sense of the evils of Romanism； and
of the enormous value of the Protestant Reformation！
IV。 In the fourth place； the times require of us a higher standard of
personal holiness； and an increased attention to practical religion in
daily life。
I must honestly declare my conviction that； since the days of the
Reformation； there never has been so much profession of religion
without practice； so much talking about God without walking with Him；
so much hearing God's words without doing them； as there is in England
at this present date。 Never were there so many empty tubs and tinkling
cymbals！ Never was there so much formality and so little reality。 The
whole tone of men's minds on what constitutes practical Christianity
seems lowered。 The old golden standard of the behaviour which bees a
Christian man or woman appears debased and degenerated。 You may see
scores of religious people （so…called） continually doing things which
in days gone by would have been thought utterly inconsistent with vital
religion。 They see no harm in such things as card…playing；
theatre…going； dancing； incessant novel…reading； and Sunday…travelling；
and they cannot in the least understand what you mean by objecting to
them！ The ancient tenderness of conscience about such things seems
dying away and being extinct； like the dodo； and when you venture to
remonstrate with young municants who indulge in them； they only
stare at you as an old…fashioned； narrow…minded； fossilized person and
say； 〃Where is the harm？〃 In short； laxity of ideas among young men；
and 〃fastness〃 and levity among young women； are only too mon
characteristics of the rising generation of Christian professors。
Now in saying all this I would not be mistaken。 I disclaim the
slightest wish to remend an ascetic religion。 Monasteries；
nunneries； plete retirement from the world； and refusal to do our
duty in it； all these I hold to be unscriptural and mischievous
nostrums。 Nor can I ever see my way clear to urging on men an ideal
standard of perfection for which I find no warrant in God's Word； a
standard which is unattainable in this life； and hands over the
management of the affairs of society to the devil and the wicked。 No： I
always wish to promote a genial； cheerful； manly religion； such as men
may carry everywhere and yet glorify Christ。
The pathway to a higher standard of holiness which I mend to the
attention of my readers is a very simple one； so simple that I can
fancy many smiling at it with disdain。 But； simple as it is； it is a
path sadly neglected and overgrown with weeds； and it is high time to
direct men into it。 We need then to examine more closely our good old
friends the ten mandments。 Beaten out； and properly developed as
they were by Bishop Andrews and the Puritans； the two tables of God's
law are a perfect mine of practical religion。 I think it an evil sign
of our day that many clergymen neglect to have the mandments put up
in their new； or restored； churches； and coolly tell you 〃they are not
wanted now！〃 I believe they never were wanted so much！We need to
examine more closely such portions of our Lord Jesus Christ's teaching
as the Sermon on the Mount。 How rich is that wonderful discourse in
food for thought！ What a striking sentence that is； 〃Except your
righteousness exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees； ye
shall in no case enter the kingdon of heaven。〃 （Matt。 v。 20。） Alas；
that text is rarely used！Last； but not least； we need to study more
closely the latter part of nearly all St。 Paul's Epistles to the
Churches。 They are far too much slurred over and neglected。 Scores of
Bible readers； I am afraid； are well acquainted with the first eleven
chapters of the Epistle to the Romans； but know paratively little of
the five last。 When Thomas Scott expounded the Epistle to the Ephesians
at the old Lock Chapel； he remarked that the congregations became much
smaller when he reached the practical part of that blessed book！ Once
more I say you may think my remendations very simple。 I do not
hesitate to affirm that attention to them would by God's blessing be
most useful to Christ's cause。 I believe it would raise the standard of
English Christianity about such matters as home religion； separation
from the world； diligence in the discharge of relative duties；
unselfishness； good temper； and general spiritual…mindedness； to a
pitch which it seldom attains now。
There is a mon plaint in these latter days that there is a want
of power in modern Christianity； and that the true Church of Christ；
the body of which He is the Head； does not shake the world in the
twentieth century as it used to do in former years。 Shall I tell you in
plain words what is the reason？ It is the low tone of life which is so
sadly prevalent among professing believers。 We want more men and women
who walk with God and before God； like Enoch and Abraham。 Though our
numbers at this date far exceed those of our Evangelical forefathers； I
believe we fall far short of them in our standard of Christian
practice。 Where is the self…denial； the redemption of time； the absence
of luxury and self…indulgence； the unmistakable separation from earthly
things； the manifest air of being always about our Master's business；
the singleness of eye； the simplicity of home life； the high tone of
conversation in society； the patience； the humility； the universal
courtesy which marked so many of our forerunners seventy or eighty
years ago？ Yes： where is it indeed？ We have inherited their principles
and we wear their armour； but I fear we have not inherited their
practice。 The Holy Ghost sees it； and is grieved； and the world sees
it； and despises us。 The world sees it； and cares little for our
testimony。 It is life； lifea heavenly； godly； Christ…like
lifedepend on it； which influences the world。 Let us resolve； by
God's blessing； to shake off this reproach。 Let us awake to a clear
view of what the times require of us in this matter。 Let us aim at a
much higher standard of practice。 Let the time past suffice us to have
been content with a half…and…half holiness。 For the time to e； let
us endeavour to walk with God； to be 〃thorough〃 and unmistakable in our
daily life； and to silence； if we cannot convert； a sneering world。
V。 In the fifth and last place； the t