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莱尔主教holiness-第33章

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   are able to bear。 He can be touched with the feeling of our
   infirmities; for He suffered Himself being tempted。 He knows what
   battles and conflicts are; for He Himself was assaulted by the Prince
   of this world。 Having such a High Priest; Jesus the Son of God; let us
   hold fast our profession。 (Heb。 iv。 14。)

   Let us remember that thousands of soldiers before us have fought the
   same battle that we are fighting; and e off more than conquerors
   through Him that loved them。 They overcame by the blood of the Lamb;
   and so also may we。 Christ's arm is quite as strong as ever; and
   Christ's heart is just as loving as ever。 He that saved men and women
   before us is one who never changes。 He is 〃able to save to the
   uttermost all who e unto God by Him。〃 Then let us cast doubts and
   fears away。 Let us 〃follow them who through faith and patience inherit
   the promises;〃 and are waiting for us to join them。 (Heb。 vii。 25; vi。
   12。)

   Finally; let us remember that the time is short; and the ing of the
   Lord draweth nigh。 A few more battles and the last trumpet shall sound;
   and the Prince of Peace shall e to reign on a renewed earth。 A few
   more struggles and conflicts; and then we shall bid an eternal good…bye
   to warfare; and to sin; to sorrow; and to death。 Then let us fight on
   to the last; and never surrender。 Thus saith the Captain of our
   salvation〃He that overeth shall inherit all things; and I will be
   his God; and he shall be my son。〃 (Rev。 xxi。 7。)

   Let me conclude all with the words of John Bunyan; in one of the most
   beautiful parts of Pilgrim's Progress。 He is describing the end of one
   of his best and holiest pilgrims:

   〃After this it was noised abroad that Mr。 Valiant…for…truth was sent
   for by a summons; by the same party as the others。 And he had this word
   for a token that the summons was true; The pitcher was broken at the
   fountain。' (Eccl。 xii。 6。) When he understood it; he called for his
   friends; and told them of it。 Then said he; I am going to my Father's
   house; and though with great difficulty I have got hither; yet now I do
   not repent me of all the troubles I have been at to arrive where I am。
   My sword I give to him that shall succeed me in my pilgrimage; and my
   courage and skill to him that can get it。 My marks and scars I carry
   with me; to be a witness for me that I have fought His battles; who
   will now be my rewarder。' When the day that he must go home was e;
   many acpanied him to the river…side; into which; as he went down; he
   said; O death where is thy sting?' And as he went down deeper; he
   cried; O grave; where is thy victory?' So he passed over; and all the
   trumpets sounded for him on the other side。〃

   May our end be like this! May we never forget that without fighting
   there can be no holiness while we live; and no crown of glory when we
   die!
     __________________________________________________________________

V。
THE COST

   〃Which of you; intending to build a house; sitteth not down first and
   couneth the cost?〃Luke xiv。 28。

   THE text which heads this page is one of great importance。 Few are the
   people who are not often obliged to ask themselves〃What does it
   cost?〃

   In buying property; in building houses; in furnishing rooms; in forming
   plans; in changing dwellings; in educating children; it is wise and
   prudent to look forward and consider。 Many would save themselves much
   sorrow and trouble if they would only remember the question〃What does
   it cost?〃

   But there is one subject on which it is specially important to 〃count
   the cost。〃 That subject is the salvation of our souls。 What does it
   cost to be a true Christian? What does it cost to be a really holy man?
   This; after all; is the grand question。 For want of thought about this;
   thousands; after seeming to begin well; turn away from the road to
   heaven; and are lost for ever in hell。 Let me try to say a few words
   which may throw light on the subject。

   I。 I will show; firstly; what it costs to be a true Christian。

   II。 I will explain; secondly; why it is of such great importance to
   count the cost。

   III。 I will give; in the last place; some hints which may help men to
   count the cost rightly。

   We are living in strange times。 Events are hurrying on with singular
   rapidity。 We never know 〃what a day may bring forth〃; how much less do
   we know what may happen in a year!We live in a day of great religious
   profession。 Scores of professing Christians in every part of the land
   are expressing a desire for more holiness and a higher degree of
   spiritual life。 Yet nothing is more mon than to see people receiving
   the Word with joy; and then after two or three years falling away; and
   going back to their sins。 They had not considered 〃what it costs〃 to be
   a really consistent believer and holy Christian。 Surely these are times
   when we ought often to sit down and 〃count the cost;〃 and to consider
   the state of our souls。 We must mind what we are about。 If we desire to
   be truly holy; it is a good sign。 We may thank God for putting the
   desire into our hearts。 But still the cost ought to be counted。 No
   doubt Christ's way to eternal life is a way of pleasantness。 But it is
   folly to shut our eyes to the fact that His way is narrow; and the
   cross es before the crown。

   I。 I have; first; to show what it costs to be a true Christian。

   Let there be no mistake about my meaning。 I am not examining what it
   costs to save a Christian's soul。 I know well that it costs nothing
   less than the blood of the Son of God to provide an atonement; and to
   redeem man from hell。 The price paid for our redemption was nothing
   less than the death of Jesus Christ on Calvary。 We 〃are bought with a
   price。〃 〃Christ gave Himself a ransom for all。〃 (1 Cor。 vi。 20; 1 Tim。
   ii。 6。) But all this is wide of the question。 The point I want to
   consider is another one altogether。 It is what a man must be ready to
   give up if he wishes to be saved。 It is the amount of sacrifice a man
   must submit to if he intends to serve Christ。 It is in this sense that
   I raise the question; 〃What does it cost?〃 And I believe firmly that it
   is a most important one。

   I grant freely that it costs little to be a mere outward Christian。 A
   man has only got to attend a place of worship twice on Sunday; and to
   be tolerably moral during the week; and he has gone as far as thousands
   around him ever go in religion。 All this is cheap and easy work: it
   entails no self…denial or self…sacrifice。 If this is saving
   Christianity; and will take us to heaven when we die; we must alter the
   description of the way of life; and write; 〃Wide is the gate and broad
   is the way that leads to heaven!〃

   But it does cost something to be a real Christian; according to the
   standard of the Bible。 There are enemies to be overe; battles to be
   fought; sacrifices to be made; an Egypt to be forsaken; a wilderness to
   be passed through; a cross to be carried; a race to be 
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