莱尔主教holiness-第32部分
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his cross and e after Me； cannot be My disciple。〃 （Luke xiv。 25…27。）
I must plainly say； that I cannot reconcile this passage with the
proceedings of many modern religious teachers。 And yet； to my mind； the
doctrine of it is as clear as the sun at noon…day。 It shows us that we
ought not to hurry men into professing discipleship； without warning
them plainly to 〃count the cost。〃
Does any one ask what the practice of the eminent and best preachers of
the Gospel has been in days gone by？ I am bold to say that they have
all with one mouth borne testimony to the wisdom of our Lord's dealing
with the multitudes to which I have just referred。 Luther； and Latimer；
and Baxter； and Wesley； and Whitfield； and Berridge； and Rowland Hill；
were all keenly alive to the deceitfulness of man's heart。 They knew
full well that all is not gold that glitters； that conviction is not
conversion； that feeling is not faith； that sentiment is not grace；
that all blossoms do not e to fruit。 〃Be not deceived；〃 was their
constant cry。 〃Consider well what you do。 Do not run before you are
called。 Count the cost。〃
If we desire to do good； let us never be ashamed of walking in the
steps of our Lord Jesus Christ。 Work hard if you will； and have the
opportunity； for the souls of others。 Press them to consider their
ways。 pel them with holy violence to e in； to lay down their
arms； and to yield themselves to God。 Offer them salvation； ready；
free； full； immediate salvation。 Press Christ and all His benefits on
their acceptance。 But in all your work tell the truth； and the whole
truth。 Be ashamed to use the vulgar arts of a recruiting serjeant。 Do
not speak only of the uniform； the pay； and the glory； speak also of
the enemies； the battle； the armour； the watching； the marching； and
the drill。 Do not present only one side of Christianity。 Do not keep
back 〃the cross〃 of self…denial that must be carried； when you speak of
the cross on which Christ died for our redemption。 Explain fully what
Christianity entails。 Entreat men to repent and e to Christ； but bid
them at the same time to 〃count the cost。〃
III。 The third and last thing which I propose to do； is to give some
hints which may help men to 〃count the cost〃 rightly。
Sorry indeed should I be if I did not say something on this branch of
my subject。 I have no wish to discourage any one； or to keep any one
back from Christ's service。 It is my heart's desire to encourage every
one to go forward and take up the cross。 Let us 〃count the cost〃 by all
means； and count it carefully。 But let us remember； that if we count
rightly； and look on all sides； there is nothing that need make us
afraid。
Let us mention some things which should always enter into our
calculations in counting the cost of true Christianity。 Set down
honestly and fairly what you will have to give up and go through； if
you bee Christ's disciple。 Leave nothing out。 Put it all down。 But
then set down side by side the following sums which I am going to give
you。 Do this fairly and correctly； and I am not afraid for the result。
（a） Count up and pare； for one thing； the profit and the loss； if
you are a true…hearted and holy Christian。 You may possibly lose
something in this world； but you will gain the salvation of your
immortal soul。 It is written〃What shall it profit a man； if he shall
gain the whole world； and lose his own soul？〃 （Mark viii。 36。）
（b） Count up and pare； for another thing； the praise and the blame；
if you are a true…hearted and holy Christian。 You may possibly be
blamed by man； but you will have the praise of God the Father； God the
Son； and God the Holy Ghost。 Your blame will e from the lips of a
few erring； blind； fallible men and women。 Your praise will e from
the King of kings and Judge of all the earth。 It is only those whom He
blesses who are really blessed。 It is written〃Blessed are ye when men
shall revile you； and persecute you； and say all manner of evil against
you falsely； for my sake。 Rejoice and be exceeding glad； for great is
your reward in heaven。〃 （Matt。 v。 11； 12。）
（c） Count up and pare； for another thing； the friends and the
enemies； if you are a true…hearted and holy Christian。 On the one side
of you is the enmity of the devil and the wicked。 On the other； you
have the favour and friendship of the Lord Jesus Christ。 Your enemies；
at most； can only bruise your heel。 They may rage loudly； and pass
sea and land to work your ruin； but they cannot destroy you。 Your
Friend is able to save to the uttermost all them that e unto God by
Him。 None shall ever pluck His sheep out of His hand。 It is
written〃Be not afraid of them that kill the body； and after that have
no more that they can do。 But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear：
Fear Him； which after He hath killed hath power to cast into hell； yea；
I say unto you； fear Him。〃 （Luke xii。 5。）
（d） Count up and pare； for another thing； the life that now is and
the life to e； if you are a true…hearted and holy Christian。 The
time present； no doubt； is not a time of ease。 It is a time of watching
and praying； fighting and struggling； believing and working。 But it is
only for a few years。 The time future is the season of rest and
refreshing。 Sin shall be cast out。 Satan shall be bound。 And； best of
all； it shall be a rest for ever。 It is written〃Our light affliction；
which is but for a moment； worketh for us a far more exceeding and
eternal weight of glory； while 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 arc not seen are eternal。〃 （2
Cor。 iv。 17； 18。）
（e） Count up and pare； for another thing； the pleasures of sin and
the happiness of God's service； if you are a true…hearted and holy
Christian； The pleasures that the worldly man gets by his ways are
hollow； unreal； and unsatisfying。 They are like the fire of thorns；
flashing and crackling for a few minutes； and then quenched for ever。
The happiness that Christ gives to His people is something solid；
lasting； and substantial。 It is not dependent on health or
circumstances。 It never leaves a man； even in death。 It ends in a crown
of glory that fadeth not away。 It is written〃The joy of the hypocrite
is but for a moment。〃〃As the crackling of thorns under a pot； so is
the laughter of the fool。〃 （Job xx。 5； Eccl。 vii。 6。） But it is also
written〃Peace I leave with you； my peace give I unto you： not as the
world giveth； give I unto you。 Let not your heart be troubled； neither
let it be afraid。〃 （John xiv。 27。）
（f） Count up and pare； for another thing； the trouble that true
Christianity entails； and the troubles that are in store for the wicked
beyond the grave。 Grant for a moment that Bible…reading； and praying；
and repenting； and believing； and holy living； require pains and
self…denial。 It is all nothing pared to that 〃wrath to e〃 which
is stored up for the impenitent and unbelieving。 A single day in hell
will be worse than a whole life spent in carrying the cross。 The 〃worm
that never dies； and the fire that is not quenched；〃 are things which
it passes man's power to conceive fully or describe。 It is
written〃Son； remember that thou in thy life…time receivedst thy good
things； and likewise Lazarus evil things； but now he is forted and
thou art tormented。〃 （Luke xvi。 25。）
（g） Count up and pare； in the last place； the number of those who
turn from sin and the world and serve Christ； and the number of those
who forsake Christ and return to the world。 On the one side you will
find thousandson the other you will find none。 Multitudes are every
year turning out of the broad way and entering the narrow。 None who
really enter the narrow way grow tired ot it and return to the broad。
The footsteps in the downward road are often to be seen turning out of
it。 The
