lecture19-第4节
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＇312＇ Ibid。； p。 126。
＇313＇ Op。 cit。； p。 383； abridged。
When the supplies came in but slowly； Muller always considered
that this was for the trial of his faith and patience When his
faith and patience had been sufficiently tried； the Lord would
send more means。 〃And thus it has proved；〃I quote from his
diary〃for to…day was given me the sum of 2050 pounds； of which
2000 are for the building fund ＇of a certain house＇； and 50 for
present necessities。 It is impossible to describe my joy in God
when I received this donation。 I was neither excited nor
surprised； for I LOOK out for answers to my prayers。 I BELIEVE
THAT GOD HEARS ME。 Yet my heart was so full of joy that I could
only SIT before God； and admire him； like David in 2 Samuel vii。
At last I cast myself flat down upon my face and burst forth in
thanksgiving to God and in surrendering my heart afresh to him
for his blessed service。〃＇314＇
＇314＇ Ibid。； p。 323
George Muller's is a case extreme in every respect； and in no
respect more so than in the extraordinary narrowness of the man's
intellectual horizon。 His God was； as he often said； his
business partner。 He seems to have been for Muller little more
than a sort of supernatural clergyman interested in the
congregation of tradesmen and others in Bristol who were his
saints； and in the orphanages and other enterprises； but
unpossessed of any of those vaster and wilder and more ideal
attributes with which the human imagination elsewhere has
invested him。 Muller； in short； was absolutely unphilosophical。
His intensely private and practical conception of his relations
with the Deity continued the traditions of the most primitive
human thought。＇315＇ When we compare a mind like his with such a
mind as； for example； Emerson's or Phillips Brooks's； we see the
range which the religious consciousness covers。
＇315＇ I cannot resist the temptation of quoting an expression of
an even more primitive style of religious thought； which I find
in Arber's English Garland； vol。 vii。 p。 440。 Robert Lyde； an
English sailor； along with an English boy； being prisoners on a
French ship in 1689； set upon the crew； of seven Frenchmen；
killed two； made the other five prisoners； and brought home the
ship。 Lyde thus describes how in this feat he found his God a
very present help in time of trouble：
〃With the assistance of God I kept my feet when they three and
one more did strive to throw me down。 Feeling the Frenchman
which hung about my middle hang very heavy； I said to the boy；
'Go round the binnacle； and knock down that man that hangeth on
my back。' So the boy did strike him one blow on the head which
made him fall。 。 。 。 Then I looked about for a marlin spike or
anything else to strike them withal。 But seeing nothing； I said；
'LORD！ what shall I do？' Then casting up my eye upon my left
side； and seeing a marlin spike hanging； I jerked my right arm
and took hold； and struck the point four times about a quarter of
an inch deep into the skull of that man that had hold of my left
arm。 ＇One of the Frenchmen then hauled the marlin spike away
from him。＇ But through GOD'S wonderful providence！ it either
fell out of his hand； or else he threw it down； and at this time
the Almighty GOD gave me strength enough to take one man in one
hand； and throw at the other's head： and looking about again to
see anything to strike them withal； but seeing nothing； I said；
'LORD！ what shall I do now？' And then it pleased GOD to put me
in mind of my knife in my pocket。 And although two of the men
had hold of my right arm； yet GOD Almighty strengthened me so
that I put my right hand into my right pocket； drew out the knife
and sheath； 。 。 。 put it between my legs and drew it out； and
then cut the man's throat with it that had his back to my breast：
and he immediately dropt down； and scarce ever stirred after。〃I
have slightly abridged Lyde's narrative。
There is an immense literature relating to answers to petitional
prayer。 The evangelical journals are filled with such answers；
and books are devoted to the subject；＇316＇ but for us Muller's
case will suffice。
＇316＇ As； for instance； In Answer to Prayer； by the Bishop of
Ripon and others； London； 1898； Touching Incidents and Remarkable
Answers to Prayer； Harrisburg； Pa。； 1898 （？）； H。 L。 Hastings：
The Guiding Hand； or Providential Direction； illustrated by
Authentic Instances； Boston； 1898（？）。
A less sturdy beggar…like fashion of leading the prayerful life
is followed by innumerable other Christians。 Persistence in
leaning on the Almighty for support and guidance will； such
persons say； bring with it proofs； palpable but much more subtle；
of his presence and active influence。 The following description
of a 〃led〃 life； by a German writer whom I have already quoted；
would no doubt appear to countless Christians in every country as
if transcribed from their own personal experience。 One finds in
this guided sort of life； says Dr。 Hilty
〃That books and words （and sometimes people） come to one's
cognizance just at the very moment in which one needs them； that
one glides over great dangers as if with shut eyes； remaining
ignorant of what would have terrified one or led one astray；
until the peril is pastthis being especially the case with
temptations to vanity and sensuality； that paths on which one
ought not to wander are； as it were； hedged off with thorns； but
that on the other side great obstacles are suddenly removed； that
when the time has come for something； one suddenly receives a
courage that formerly failed； or perceives the root of a matter
that until then was concealed； or discovers thoughts； talents；
yea； even pieces of knowledge and insight； in one's self； of
which it is impossible to say whence they come； finally； that
persons help us or decline to help us； favor us or refuse us； as
if they had to do so against their will； so that often those
indifferent or even unfriendly to us yield us the greatest
service and furtherance。 （God takes often their worldly goods；
from those whom he leads； at just the right moment； when they
threaten to impede the effort after higher interests。）
〃Besides all this； other noteworthy things come to pass； of which
it is not easy to give account。 There is no doubt whatever that
now one walks continually through 'open doors' and on the easiest
roads； with as little care and trouble as it is possible to
imagine。
〃Furthermore one finds one's self settling one's affairs neither
too early nor too late； whereas they were wont to be spoiled by
untimeliness； even when the preparations had been well laid。 In
addition to this； one does them with perfect tranquillity of
mind； almost as if they were matters of no consequence； like
errands done by us for another person； in which case we usually
act more calmly than when we act in our own concerns。 Again； one
finds that one can WAIT for everything patiently； and that is one
of life's great arts。 One finds also that each thing comes duly；
one thing after the other； so that one gains time to make one's
footing sure before advancing farther。 And then every thing
occurs to us at the right moment； just what we ought to do； etc。；
and often in a very striking way； just as if a third person were
keeping watch over those things which we are in easy danger of
forgetting。
〃Often； too； persons are sent to us at the right time； to offer
or ask for what is needed； and what we should never have had the
courage or resolution to undertake of our own accord。
〃Through all these experiences one finds that one is kindly and
tolerant of other people； even of such as are repulsive；
negligent； or ill…willed； for they also are instruments of good
in God's hand； and often most efficient ones。 Without these
thoughts it would be hard for even the best of us always to keep
our equanimity。 But with the consciousness of divine guidance；
one sees many a thing in life quite differently from what would
otherwise be possible。
〃All these are things that every human being KNOWS； who has had
experience of them； and of which the most speaking examples could
be brought forward。 The highest resources of worldly wisdom are
unable to attain that which； un
