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莱尔主教holiness-第30章

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   It must never be forgotten that faith admits of degrees。 All men do not
   believe alike; and even the same person has his ebbs and flows of
   faith; and believes more heartily at one time than another。 According
   to the degree of his faith the Christian fights well or ill; wins
   victories; or suffers occasional repulses; es off triumphant; or
   loses a battle。 He that has most faith will always be the happiest and
   most fortable soldier。 Nothing makes the anxieties of warfare sit so
   lightly on a man as the assurance of Christ's love and continual
   protection。 Nothing enables him to bear the fatigue of watching;
   struggling; and wrestling against sin; like the indwelling confidence
   that Christ is on his side and success is sure。 It is the 〃shield of
   faith〃 which quenches all the fiery darts of the wicked one。It is the
   man who can say; 〃I know whom I have believed〃who can say in time of
   suffering; 〃I am not ashamed。〃He who wrote those glowing words; 〃We
   faint not;〃〃Our light affliction which endureth but for a moment
   worketh in us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory〃was
   the man who wrote with the same pen; 〃We look not at the things which
   are seen; but at the things which are not seen; for the things which
   are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are
   eternal。〃It is the man who said; 〃I live by the faith of the Son of
   God;〃 who said; in the same Epistle; 〃the world is crucified unto me;
   and I unto the world。〃It is the man who said; 〃To me to live is
   Christ;〃 who said; in the same Epistle; 〃I have learned in whatsoever
   state I am therewith to be content。〃〃I can do all things through
   Christ。〃The more faith the more victory! The more faith the more
   inward peace! (Eph。 vi。 16; 2 Tim。 i。 12; 2 Cor。 iv。 17; 18; Gal。 ii。
   20; vi。 14; Phil。 i。 21; iv。 11; 13。)

   I think it impossible to overrate the value and importance of faith。
   Well may the Apostle Peter call it 〃precious。〃 (2 Pet。 i。 1。) Time
   would fail me if I tried to recount a hundredth part of the victories
   which by faith Christian soldiers have obtained。

   Let us take down our Bibles and read with attention the eleventh
   chapter of the Epistle to the Hebrews。 Let us mark the long list of
   worthies whose names are thus recorded; from Abel down to Moses; even
   before Christ was born of the Virgin Mary; and brought life and
   immortality into full light by the Gospel。 Let us note well what
   battles they won against the world; the flesh; and the devil。 And then
   let us remember that believing did it all。 These men looked forward to
   the promised Messiah。 They saw Him that is invisible。 〃By faith the
   elders obtained a good report。〃 (Heb。 xi。 2…27。)

   Let us turn to the pages of early Church history。 Let us see how the
   primitive Christians held fast their religion even unto death; and were
   not shaken by the fiercest persecutions of heathen Emperors。 For
   centuries there were never wanting men like Polycarp and Ignatius; who
   were ready to die rather than deny Christ。 Fines; and prisons; and
   torture; and fire; and sword; were unable to crush the spirit of the
   noble army of martyrs。 The whole power of imperial Rome; the mistress
   of the world; proved unable to stamp out the religion which began with
   a few fishermen and publicans in Palestine! And then let us remember
   that believing in an unseen Jesus was the Church's strength。 They won
   their victory by faith。

   Let us examine the story of the Protestant Reformation。 Let us study
   the lives of its leading championsWycliffe; and Huss; and Luther; and
   Ridley; and Latimer; and Hooper。 Let us mark how these gallant soldiers
   of Christ stood firm against a host of adversaries; and were ready to
   die for their principles。 What battles they fought! What controversies
   they maintained! What contradiction they endured I What tenacity of
   purpose they exhibited against a world in arms! And then let us
   remember that believing in an unseen Jesus was the secret of their
   strength。 They overcame by faith。

   Let us consider the men who have made the greatest marks in Church
   history in the last hundred years。 Let us observe how men like Wesley;
   and Whitfield; and Venn; and Romaine; stood alone in their day and
   generation; and revived English religion in the face of opposition from
   men high in office; and in the face of slander; ridicule; and
   persecution from nine…tenths of professing Christians in our land。 Let
   us observe how men like William Wilberforce; and Havelock; and Hedley
   Vicars; have witnessed for Christ in the most difficult positions; and
   displayed a banner for Christ even at the regimental mess…table; or on
   the floor of the House of mons。 Let us mark how these noble
   witnesses never flinched to the end; and won the respect even of their
   worst adversaries。 And then let us remember that believing in an unseen
   Christ is the key to all their characters。 By faith they lived; and
   walked; and stood; and overcame。

   Would anyone live the life of a Christian soldier? Let him pray for
   faith。 It is the gift of God; and a gift which those who ask shall
   never ask for in vain。 You must believe before you do。 If men do
   nothing in religion; it is because they do not believe。 Faith is the
   first step toward heaven。

   Would anyone fight the fight of a Christian soldier successfully and
   prosperously? Let him pray for a continual increase of faith。 Let him
   abide in Christ; get closer to Christ; tighten his hold on Christ every
   day that he lives。 Let his daily prayer be that of the
   disciples〃Lord; increase my faith。〃 (Luke xvii。 5。) Watch jealously
   over your faith; if you have any。 It is the citadel of the Christian
   character; on which the safety of the whole fortress depends。 It is the
   point which Satan loves to assail。 All lies at his mercy if faith is
   overthrown。 Here; if we love life; we must especially stand on our
   guard。

   III。 The last thing I have to say is this: True Christianity is a good
   fight。

   〃Good〃 is a curious word to apply to any warfare。 All worldly war is
   more or less evil。 No doubt it is an absolute necessity in many
   casesto procure the liberty of nations; to prevent the weak from
   being trampled down by the strongbut still it is an evil。 It entails
   an awful amount of bloodshed and suffering。 It hurries into eternity
   myriads who are pletely unprepared for their change。 It calls forth
   the worst passions of man。 It causes enormous waste and destruction of
   property。 It fills peaceful homes with mourning widows and orphans。 It
   spreads far and wide poverty; taxation; and national distress。 It
   disarranges all the order of society。 It interrupts the work of the
   Gospel and the growth of Christian missions。 In short; war is an
   immense and incalculable evil; and every praying man should cry night
   and day; 〃Give peace in our time。〃 And yet there is one warfare which
   is emphatically 〃good;〃 and one fight in which there is no evil。 That
   warfare 
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