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！
foe。 When our souls are departing； there is no cordial like the strong
wine of assurance。
There is a beautiful expression in the Prayer…book service for the
Visitation of the Sick： 〃The Almighty Lord； who is a most strong tower
to all them that put their trust in Him； be now and evermore thy
defence； and make thee know and feel that there is none other name
under heaven； through whom thou mayest receive health and salvation；
but only the name of our Lord Jesus Christ。〃 The pilers of that
service showed great wisdom there。 They saw that when the eyes grow
dim； and the heart grows faint； and the spirit is on the eve of
departing； there must then be knowing and feeling what Christ has done
for us； or else there cannot be perfect peace。 ＇31＇
（2） Let us remember； for another thing； that assurance is to be
desired； because it tends to make a Christian an active working
Christian。
None； generally speaking； do so much for Christ on earth as those who
enjoy the fullest confidence of a free entrance into heaven； and trust
not in their own works； but in the finished work of Christ。 That sounds
wonderful； I dare say； but it is true。
A believer who lacks an assured hope； will spend much of his time in
inward searchings of heart about his own state。 Like a nervous；
hypochondriacal person； he will be full of his own ailments； his own
doubtings and questionings； his own conflicts and corruptions。 In
short； you will often find he is so taken up with his internal warfare
that he has little leisure for other things； and little time to work
for God。
But a believer； who has； like Paul； an assured hope； is free from these
harassing distractions。 He does not vex his soul with doubts about his
own pardon and acceptance。 He looks at the everlasting covenant sealed
with blood； at the finished work； and never…broken word of his Lord and
Saviour； and therefore counts his salvation a settled thing。 And thus
he is able to give an undivided attention to the work of the Lord； and
so in the long run to do more。 ＇32＇
Take； for an illustration of this； two English emigrants； and suppose
them set down side by side in New Zealand or Australia。 Give each of
them a piece of land to clear and cultivate。 Let the portions allotted
to them be the same both in quantity and quality。 Secure that land to
them by every needful legal instrument； let it be conveyed as freehold
to them and theirs for ever； let the conveyance be publicly registered；
and the property made sure to them by every deed and security that
man's ingenuity can devise。
Suppose then that one of them shall set to work to clear his land and
bring it into cultivation； and labour at it day after day without
intermission or cessation。
Suppose in the meanwhile that the other shall be continually leaving
his work； and going repeatedly to the public registry to ask whether
the land really is his ownwhether there is not some mistakewhether
after all there is not some flaw in the legal instruments which
conveyed it to him。
The one shall never doubt his title； but just work diligently on。 The
other shall hardly ever feel sure of his title； and spend half his time
in going to Sydney or Melbourne or Auckland； with needless inquiries
about it。
Which now of these two men will have made most progress in a year's
time？ Who will have done the most for his land； got the greatest
breadth of soil under tillage； have the best crops to show； be
altogether the most prosperous？
Any one of mon sense can answer that question。 I need not supply an
answer。 There can only be one reply。 Undivided attention will always
attain the greatest success。
It is much the same in the matter of our title to 〃mansions in the
skies。〃 None will do so much for the Lord who bought him as the
believer who sees his title clear； and is not distracted by unbelieving
doubts； questionings； and hesitations。 The joy of the Lord will be that
man's strength。 〃Restore unto me；〃 says David； 〃the joy of Thy
salvation； then will I teach transgressors Thy ways。〃 （Psalm li。 12。）
Never were there such working Christians as the Apostles。 They seemed
to live to labour。 Christ's work was truly their meat and drink。 They
counted not their lives dear to themselves。 They spent and were spent。
They laid down ease； health； worldly fort； at the foot of the cross。
And one grand cause of this； I believe； was their assured hope。 They
were men who could say； 〃We know that we are of God； and the whole
world lieth in wickedness。〃 （1 John v。 19。）
（3） Let us remember； for another thing； that assurance is to be
desired； because it tends to make a Christian a decided Christian。
Indecision and doubt about our own state in God's sight is a grievous
evil； and the mother of many evils。 It often produces a wavering and
unstable walk in following the Lord。 Assurance helps to cut many a
knot； and to make the path of Christian duty clear and plain。
Many of whom we feel hopes that they are God's children； and have true
grace； however weak； are continually perplexed with doubts in points of
practice。 〃Should we do such and such a thing？ shall we give up this
family custom？ Ought we to go into that pany？ How shall we draw the
line about visiting？ What is to be the measure of our dressing and our
entertainments？ Are we never； under any circumstances； to dance； never
to touch a card； never to attend parties of pleasure？〃 These are a kind
of question which seem to give them constant trouble。 And often； very
often； the simple root of their perplexity is； that they do not feel
assured they are themselves children of God。 They have not yet settled
the point； which side of the gate they are on。 They do not know whether
they are inside the ark or not。
That a child of God ought to act in a certain decided way； they quite
feel； but the grand question is； 〃Are they children of God themselves？〃
If they only felt they were so； they would go straightforward； and take
a decided line。 But not feeling sure about it； their conscience is for
ever hesitating and ing to a deadlock。 The devil whispers； 〃Perhaps
after all you are only a hypocrite： what right have you to take a
decided course？ Wait till you are really a Christian。〃 And this whisper
too often turns the scale； and leads on to some miserable promise or
wretched conformity to the world！
I believe we have here one chief reason why so many in this day are
inconsistent； trimming； unsatisfactory； and half…hearted in their
conduct about the world。 Their faith fails。 They feel no assurance that
they are Christ's； and so feel a hesitancy about breaking with the
world。 They shrink from laying aside all the ways of the old man；
because they are not quite confident they have put on the new。 In
short； I have little doubt that one secret cause of 〃halting between
two opinions〃 is want of assurance。 When people can say decidedly； 〃The
Lord； He is the God；〃 their course bees very clear。 （1 Kings xviii。
39。）
（4） Let us remember； finally； that assurance is to be desired； because
it tends to make the holiest Christians。
This； too； sounds wonderful and strange； and yet it is true。 It is one
of the paradoxes of the Gospel； contrary at first sight to reason and
mon sense； and yet it is a fact。 Cardinal Bellarmine was seldom more
wide of the truth than when he said； 〃Assurance tends to carelessness
and sloth。〃 He that is freely forgiven by Christ will always do much
for Christ's glory； and he that enjoys the fullest assurance of this
forgiveness will ordinarily keep up the closest walk with God。 It is a
faithful saying and worthy to be remembered by all believers； 〃He that
hath this hope in Him purifieth himself； even as He is pure。〃 （1 John
iii。 3。） A hope that does not purify is a mockery； a delusion； and a
snare。 ＇33＇
None are so likely to maintain a watchful guard over their own hearts
and lives as those who know the fort of living in close munion
with God。 They feel their privilege； and will fear losing it。 They will
dread falling from the high estate； and marring their own forts； by
bringing clouds between themselves and Christ。 He that goes on a
journey with little money about him takes little thought of danger； and
cares little how late he travels。 He； on the contrary； that carries
gold and jewels will be a cautious traveller。 He will look well to his
roads； his lodgings； and his pany； and run no risks。 It is an old
saying； however unscientific it may be； that the fixed stars are those
which tremble most。 The man that most fully enjoys the light of God's
reconciled countenance； will be a man tremblingly afraid of losing its
blessed consolations； and jealously fearful of doing anything to grieve
the Holy Ghost。
I mend these four points to the serious consideration of all
professing Christians。 Would you like to feel the Everlasting Arms
around you； and to hear the voice of Jesus daily drawing nigh to your
soul； and saying； 〃I am thy salvation〃？Would you like to be a useful
labourer in the vineyard in your day and generation？Would you be
known of all men as a bold； firm； decided； single…eyed； unpromising
follower of Christ？Would you be eminently spiritually…minded and
holy？I doubt not some readers will say； 〃These are the very things
our hearts desire。 We long for them。 We pant after them： but they seem
far from us。〃
Now； has it never struck you that your neglect of assurance may
possibly be the main secret of all your failuresthat the low measure
of faith which satisfies you may be the cause of your low degree of
peace？ Can you think it a strange thing that your graces are faint and
languishing； when faith； the root and mother of them all； is allowed to
remain feeble and weak？
Take my advice this day。 Seek an increase of faith。 Seek an assured
hope of salvation like the Apostle Paul's。 Seek to obtain a simple；
childlike confidence in God's promises。 Seek to be able to say with
Paul； 〃I know whom I have believed： I am persuaded that He is mine； and
I am His。〃
You have very likely tried other ways and methods and pletely
failed。 Change your plan。 Go upon another tack。 Lay aside your doubts。
Lean more entirely on the Lord's arm。 Begin with implicit trusting。
Cast aside your faithless backwardness to take the Lord at His word。
e and roll yourself； your soul； and your sins； upon your gracious
Saviour。 Begin with simple believing； and all other things shall soon
be added to you。 ＇34＇
IV。 I e now to the last thing of which I spoke。 I promised to point
out some probable causes why an assured hope is so seldom attained。 I
will do it very shortly。
This is a very serious question； and ought to raise in all of us great
searchings of heart。 Few； certainly； of Christ's people seem to reach
up to this blessed spirit of assurance。 Many paratively believe； but
few are persuaded。 Many paratively have saving faith； but few that
glorious confidence which shines forth in the language of St。 Paul。
That such is the case； I think we must all allow。
Now； why is this so？Why is a thing which two Apostles have strongly
enjoined us to seek after； a thing of which few believers have any
experimental knowledge in these fitter days？ Why is an assured hope so
rare？
I desire to offer a few suggestions on this point； with all humility。 I
know that many have never attained assurance； at whose feet I would
gladly sit both in earth and heaven。 Perhaps the Lord sees something in
the natural temperament of some of His children； which makes assurance
not good for them。 Perhaps； in order to be kept in spiritual health；
they need to be kept very low。 God only knows。 Still； after every
allowance； I fear there are many believers without an assured hope；
w