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fort for everyone who is willing to drink of it。 Each supplies
matter for useful meditation。
But I trust I have said enough to throw light on the point I want to
impress on the minds of all who read this paper。 I trust I have said
enough to show the immense importance of the practical conclusions with
which I now desire to finish the subject。
（1） Is Christ all？ Then let us learn the utter uselessness of a
christless religion。
There are only too many baptized men and women who practically know
nothing at all about Christ。 Their religion consists in a few vague
notions and empty expressions。 〃They trust they are no worse than
others。 They keep to their church。 They try to do their duty。 They do
nobody any harm。 They hope God will be merciful to them。 They trust the
Almighty will pardon their sins； and take them to heaven when they
die。〃 This is about the whole of their religion！
But what do these people know practically about Christ？ Nothing：
nothing at all！ What experimental acquaintance have they with His
offices and work； His blood； His righteousness； His mediation； His
priesthood； His intercession？ None： none at all！ Ask them about a
saving faithask them about being born again of the Spiritask them
about being sanctified in Christ Jesus。 What answer will you get？ You
are a barbarian to them。 You have asked them simple Bible questions。
But they know no more about them experimentally than a Buddhist or a
Turk。 And yet this is the religion of hundreds and thousands of people
who are called Christians； all over the world！
If any reader of this paper is a man of this kind； I warn him plainly
that such Christianity will never take him to heaven。 It may do very
well in the eye of man。 It may pass muster very decently at the
vestry…meeting； in the place of business； in the House of mons； or
in the streets。 But it will never fort you。 It will never satisfy
your conscience。 It will never save your soul。
I warn you plainly that all notions and theories about God being
merciful without Christ； and excepting through Christ； are baseless
delusions and empty fancies。 Such theories are as purely an idol of
man's invention as the idol of Juggernaut。 They are all of the earth；
earthy。 They never came down from heaven。 The God of heaven has sealed
and appointed Christ as the one only Saviour and way of life； and all
who would be saved must be content to be saved by Him； or they will
never be saved at all。
Let every reader take notice。 I give you fair warning this day。 A
religion without Christ will never save your soul。
（2） Let me say another thing。 Is Christ all？ Then LEARN THE ENORMOUS
FOLLY OF JOINING ANYTHING WITH CHRIST IN THE MATTER OF SALVATION。
There are multitudes of baptized men and women who profess to honour
Christ； but in reality do Him great dishonour。 They give Christ a
certain place in their system of religion； but not the place which God
intended Him to fill。 Christ alone is not 〃all in all〃 to their
souls。No！ It is either Christ and the Churchor Christ and the
sacramentsor Christ and His ordained ministersor Christ and their
own repentanceor Christ and their own goodnessor Christ and their
own prayersor Christ and their own sincerity and charity； on which
they practically rest their souls。
If any reader of this paper is a Christian of this kind； I warn him
also plainly； that his religion is an offence to God。 You are changing
God's plan of salvation into a plan of your own devising。 You are in
effect deposing Christ from His throne； by giving the glory due to Him
to another。
I care not who it is that teaches such religion and on whose word you
build。 Whether he be Pope or Cardinal； Archbishop or Bishop； Dean or
Archdeacon； Presbyter or Deacon； Episcopalian or Presbyterian； Baptist
or Independent； Wesleyan or Plymouth brother； whosoever adds anything
to Christ teaches you wrong。
I care not what it is that you add to Christ。 Whether it be the
necessity of joining the Church of Rome； or of being an Episcopalian；
or of being a Free Churchman； or of giving up the Liturgy； or of
being dippedwhatever you may practically add to Christ in the matter
of salvation； you do Christ an injury。
Take heed what you are doing。 Beware of giving to Christ's servants the
honour due to none but Christ。 Beware of giving the Lord's ordinances
the honour due unto the Lord。 Beware of resting the burden of your soul
on anything but Christ； and Christ alone。
（3） Let me say another thing。 Is Christ all？ Then LET ALL WHO WANT TO
BE SAVED； APPLY DIRECT TO CHRIST。
There are many who hear of Christ with the ear and believe all they are
told about Him。 They allow that there is no salvation excepting in
Christ。 They acknowledge that Jesus alone can deliver them from hell
and present them faultless before God。
But they seem never to get beyond this general acknowledgment。 They
never fairly lay hold on Christ for their own souls。 They stick fast in
a state of wishing； and wanting； and feeling； and intending； and never
get any further。 They see what we mean： they know it is all true。 They
hope one day to get full benefit of it： but at present they get no
benefit whatever。 The world is their 〃all。〃 Politics are their 〃all。〃
Pleasure is their 〃all。〃 Business is their 〃all。〃 But Christ is not
their all。
If any reader of this paper is a man of this kind； I warn him also
plainly； he is in a bad state of soul。 You are as truly in the way to
hell in your present condition； as Judas Iscariot； or Ahab； or Cain。
Believe me； there must be actual faith in Christ； or else Christ died
in vain so far as you are concerned。 It is not looking at the bread
that feeds the hungry man but the actual eating of it。 It is not gazing
on the lifeboat that saves the shipwrecked sailor； but actually getting
into it。 It is not knowing and believing that Christ is a Saviour that
can save your soul； unless there are actual transactions between you
and Christ。 You must be able to say； 〃Christ is my Saviour； because I
have e to Him by faith； and taken Him for my own。〃〃Much of
religion；〃 said Luther； 〃turns on being able to use possessive
pronouns。 Take from me the word my。' and you take from me God！〃
Hear the advice I give you this day； and act upon it at once。 Stand
still no longer； waiting for some imaginary frames and feelings which
will never e。 Hesitate no longer under the idea that you must first
of all obtain the Spirit and then e to Christ。 Arise and e to
Christ just as you are。 He waits for you； and is as willing to save as
He is mighty。 He is the appointed Physician for sin…sick souls。 Deal
with Him as you would with your doctor about the cure of a disease of
your body。 Make a direct application to Him and tell Him all your
wants。 Take with you words this day； and cry mightily to the Lord Jesus
for pardon and peace； as the thief did on the cross。 Do as that man
did： cry； 〃Lord； remember me。〃 （Luke xxiii。 42。） Tell Him you have
heard that He receives sinners； and that you are such。 Tell Him you
want to be saved and ask Him to save you。 Rest not till you have
actually tasted for yourself that the Lord is gracious。 Do this and you
shall find； sooner or later； if you are really in earnest； that 〃Christ
is all。〃
（4） One more thing let me add。 Is Christ all？ Then LET ALL HIS
CONVERTED PEOPLE DEAL WITH HIM AS IF THEY REALLY BELIEVED IT。 LET THEM
LEAN ON HlM AND TRUST HIM FAR MORE THAN THEY HAVE EVER DONE YET。
Alas； there are many of the Lord's people who live far below their
privileges！ There are many truly Christian souls who rob themselves of
their own peace； and forsake their own mercies。 There are many who
insensibly join their own faith； or the work of the Spirit in their own
hearts； to Christ； and so miss the fullness of Gospel peace。 There are
many who make little progress in their pursuit of holiness； and shine
with a very dim light。 And why is all this？ Simply because in nineteen
cases out of twenty men do not make Christ all in all。
Now I call on every reader of this paper who is a believer； I beseech
him for his own sake； to make sure that Christ is really and thoroughly
his all in all。 Beware of allowing yourself to mingle anything of your
own with Christ。
Have you faith？ It is a priceless blessing。 Happy indeed are they who
are willing and ready to trust Jesus。 But take heed you do not make a
Christ of your faith。 Rest not on your own faith； but on Christ。
Is the work of the Spirit in your soul？ Thank God for it。 It is a work
that shall never be overthrown。 But oh； beware； lest； unaware to
yourself； you make a Christ of the work of the Spirit！ Rest not on the
work of the Spirit； but on Christ。
Have you any inward feelings of religion and experience of grace。 Thank
God for it。 Thousands have no more religious feeling than a cat or dog。
But oh； beware lest you make a Christ of your feelings and sensations！
They are poor； uncertain things and sadly dependent on our bodies and
outward circumstances。 Rest only on Christ。
Learn； I entreat you； to look more and more at the great object of
faith； Jesus Christ； and to keep your mind dwelling on Him。 So doing
you would find faith； and all the other graces； grow； though the growth
at the time might be imperceptible to yourself。 He that would prove a
skilful archer must not look at the arrow； but at the mark。
Alas； I fear there is a great piece of pride and unbelief still
sticking in the hearts of many believers！ Few seem to realize how much
they need a Saviour。 Few seem to understand how thoroughly they are
indebted to Him。 Few seem to prehend how much they need Him every
day。 Few seem to feel how simply and like a child they ought to hang
their souls on Him。 Few seem to be aware how full of love He is to His
poor； weak people； and how ready to help them！ And few therefore seem
to know the peace； and joy； and strength； and power to live a godly
life； which is to be had in Christ。
Change you plan； reader； if your conscience tells you you are guilty：
change your plan； and learn to trust Christ more。 Physicians love to
see patients ing to consult them： it is their office to receive the
sickly and； if possible； to effect cures。 The advocate loves to be
employed： it is his calling。 The husband loves his wife to trust him
and lean upon him： it is his delight to cherish her and promote her
fort。 And Christ loves His people to lean on Him； to rest in Him； to
call on Him； to abide in Him。
Let us all learn and strive to do so more and more。 Let us live on
Christ。 Let us live in Christ。 Let us live with Christ。 Let us live to
Christ。 So doing； we shall prove that we fully realize that 〃Christ is
all。〃 So doing； we shall feel great peace； and attain more of that
〃holiness without which no man shall see the Lord。〃 （Heb。 xii。 14。）
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XXI
EXTRACTS FROM OLD WRITERS
THE passages I append from Traill and Brooks on the subject of Holiness
appear to me so valuable that I make no apology for introducing them。
They are the product of an age when； I am obliged to say； experimental
religion was more deeply studied and far better understood than it is
now。
（I。） Reverend Robert Trail； sometime Minister of Cranbrook； Kent。 1696。
〃Concerning sanctification； there are three things that I would speak
to。
〃I。 What sanctification is。
〃II。 Wherein it agrees with justification。
〃III。 Wherein it differs from justification。
〃I。 What is sanctification？ It is a great deal better to feel it than
to express it；
〃Sanctification is the same with regeneration； the same with the
renovation of the whole man。 Sanctification is the forming and the