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！
the care of a Christian。 When a tree begins to decay at root or heart；
the mischief is first seen at the extreme end of the little branches。
〃He that despiseth little things；〃 says an uninspired writer； 〃shall
fall by little and little。〃 That witness is true。 Let others despise
us； if they like； and call us precise and over…careful。 Let us
patiently hold on our way； remembering that 〃we serve a precise God；〃
that our Lord's example is to be copied in the least things as well as
the greatest； and that we must 〃take up our cross daily〃 and hourly；
rather than sin。 We must aim to have a Christianity which； like the sap
of a tree； runs through every twig and leaf of our character； and
sanctifies all。 This is one way to grow！
（d） Another thing which is essential to growth in grace is caution
about the pany we keep and the friendships we form。 Nothing perhaps
affects a man's character more than the pany he keeps。 We catch the
ways and tone of those we live and talk with； and unhappily get harm
far more easily than good。 Disease is infectious； but health is not。
Now if a professing Christian deliberately chooses to be intimate with
those who are not friends of God and who cling to the world； his soul
is sure to take harm。 It is hard enough to serve Christ under any
circumstances in such a world as this。 But it is doubly hard to do it
if we are friends of the thoughtless and ungodly。 Mistakes in
friendship or marriage…engagements are the whole reason why some have
entirely ceased to grow。 〃Evil munications corrupt good manners。〃
〃The friendship of the world is enmity with God。〃 （1 Cor。 xv。 33； James
iv。 4。） Let us seek friends that will stir us up about our prayers； our
Bible…reading； and our employment of timeabout our souls； our
salvation； and a world to e。 Who can tell the good that a friend's
word in season may do； or the harm that it may stop？ This is one way to
grow。 ＇17＇
（e） There is one more thing which is absolutely essential to growth in
graceand that is regular and habitual munion with the Lord Jesus。
In saying this； let no one suppose for a minute that I am referring to
the Lord's Supper。 I mean nothing of the kind。 I mean that daily habit
of intercourse between the believer and his Saviour； which can only be
carried on by faith； prayer； and meditation。 It is a habit； I fear； of
which many believers know little。 A man may be a believer and have his
feet on the rock； and yet live far below his privileges。 It is possible
to have 〃union〃 with Christ； and yet to have little if any 〃munion〃
with Him。 But； for all that； there is such a thing。
The names and offices of Christ； as laid down in Scripture； appear to
me to show unmistakably that this 〃munion〃 between the saint and his
Saviour is not a mere fancy； but a real true thing。 Between the
〃Bridegroom〃 and his bridebetween the 〃Head〃 and His membersbetween
the 〃Physician〃 and His patientsbetween the 〃Advocate〃 and His
clientsbetween the 〃Shepherd〃 and His sheepbetween the 〃Master〃 and
His scholarsthere is evidently implied a habit of familiar
intercourse； of daily application for things needed； of daily pouring
out and unburdening our hearts and minds。 Such a habit of dealing with
Christ is clearly something more than a vague general trust in the work
that Christ did for sinners。 It is getting close to Him； and laying
hold on Him with confidence； as a loving； personal Friend。 Tins is what
I mean by munion。
Now I believe that no man will ever grow in grace who does not know
something experimentally of the habit of 〃munion。〃 We must not be
content with a general orthodox knowledge that justification is by
faith and not by works； and that we put our trust in Christ。 We must go
further than this。 We must seek to have personal intimacy with the Lord
Jesus； and to deal with Him as a man deals with a loving friend。 We
must realize what it is to turn to Him first in every need； to talk to
Him about every difficulty； to consult Him about every step； to spread
before Him all our sorrows； to get Him to share in all our joys； to do
all as in His sight； and to go through every day leaning on and looking
to Him。 This is the way that St。 Paul lived： 〃The life which I now live
in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God。〃 〃To me to live is
Christ。〃 （Gal。 ii。 20； Phil。 i。 21。） It is ignorance of this way of
living that makes so many see no beauty in the book of Canticles。 But
it is the man who lives in this way； who keeps up constant munion
with Christthis is the man； I say emphatically； whose soul will grow。
I leave the subject of growth in grace here。 Far more might be said
about it； if time permitted。 But I have said enough； I hope； to
convince my readers that the subject is one of vast importance。Let me
wind up all with some practical applications。
（1） This book may fall into the hands of some who know nothing whatever
about growth in grace。 They have little or no concern about religion。 A
little proper Sunday church…going or chapel…going makes up the sum and
substance of their Christianity。 They are without spiritual life； and
of course they cannot at present grow。 Are you one of these people？ If
you are； you are in a pitiable condition。
Years are slipping away and time is flying。 Graveyards are filling up
and families are thinning。 Death and judgment are getting nearer to us
all。 And yet you live like one asleep about your soul！ What madness！
What folly！ What suicide can be worse than this？
Awake before it be too late； awake； and arise from the dead； and live
to God。 Turn to Him who is sitting at the right hand of God； to be your
Saviour and Friend。 Turn to Christ； and cry mightily to Him about your
soul。 There is yet hope！ He that called Lazarus from the grave is not
changed。 He that manded the widow's son at Nain to arise from his
bier can do miracles yet for your soul。 Seek Him at once： seek Christ；
if you would not be lost for ever。 Do not stand still talking； and
meaning； and intending； and wishing； and hoping。 Seek Christ that you
may live； and that living you may grow。
（2） This book may fall into the hands of some who ought to know
something of growth in grace； but at present know nothing at all。 They
have made little or no progress since they were first converted。 They
seem to have 〃settled on their lees。〃 （Zep。 i。 12。） They go on from
year to year content with old grace； old experience； old knowledge； old
faith； old measure of attainment； old religious expressions； old set
phrases。 Like the Gibeonites； their bread is always mouldy； and their
shoes are patched and clouted。 They never appear to get on。 Are you one
of these people？ If you are； you are living far below your privileges
and responsibilities。 It is high time to examine yourself。
If you have reason to hope that you are a true believer and yet do not
grow in grace； there must be a fault； and a s