莱尔主教holiness-第24节
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remember that believing in an unseen Jesus was the secret of their
strength。 They overcame by faith。
Let us consider the men who have made the greatest marks in Church
history in the last hundred years。 Let us observe how men like Wesley；
and Whitfield； and Venn； and Romaine； stood alone in their day and
generation； and revived English religion in the face of opposition from
men high in office； and in the face of slander； ridicule； and
persecution from nine…tenths of professing Christians in our land。 Let
us observe how men like William Wilberforce； and Havelock； and Hedley
Vicars； have witnessed for Christ in the most difficult positions； and
displayed a banner for Christ even at the regimental mess…table； or on
the floor of the House of mons。 Let us mark how these noble
witnesses never flinched to the end； and won the respect even of their
worst adversaries。 And then let us remember that believing in an unseen
Christ is the key to all their characters。 By faith they lived； and
walked； and stood； and overcame。
Would anyone live the life of a Christian soldier？ Let him pray for
faith。 It is the gift of God； and a gift which those who ask shall
never ask for in vain。 You must believe before you do。 If men do
nothing in religion； it is because they do not believe。 Faith is the
first step toward heaven。
Would anyone fight the fight of a Christian soldier successfully and
prosperously？ Let him pray for a continual increase of faith。 Let him
abide in Christ； get closer to Christ； tighten his hold on Christ every
day that he lives。 Let his daily prayer be that of the
disciples〃Lord； increase my faith。〃 （Luke xvii。 5。） Watch jealously
over your faith； if you have any。 It is the citadel of the Christian
character； on which the safety of the whole fortress depends。 It is the
point which Satan loves to assail。 All lies at his mercy if faith is
overthrown。 Here； if we love life； we must especially stand on our
guard。
III。 The last thing I have to say is this： True Christianity is a good
fight。
〃Good〃 is a curious word to apply to any warfare。 All worldly war is
more or less evil。 No doubt it is an absolute necessity in many
casesto procure the liberty of nations； to prevent the weak from
being trampled down by the strongbut still it is an evil。 It entails
an awful amount of bloodshed and suffering。 It hurries into eternity
myriads who are pletely unprepared for their change。 It calls forth
the worst passions of man。 It causes enormous waste and destruction of
property。 It fills peaceful homes with mourning widows and orphans。 It
spreads far and wide poverty； taxation； and national distress。 It
disarranges all the order of society。 It interrupts the work of the
Gospel and the growth of Christian missions。 In short； war is an
immense and incalculable evil； and every praying man should cry night
and day； 〃Give peace in our time。〃 And yet there is one warfare which
is emphatically 〃good；〃 and one fight in which there is no evil。 That
warfare is the Christian warfare。 That fight is the fight of the soul。
Now what are the reasons why the Christian fight is a 〃good fight〃？
What are the points in which his warfare is superior to the warfare of
this world？ Let me examine this matter； and open it out in order。 I
dare not pass the subject and leave it unnoticed。 I want no one to
begin the life of a Christian soldier without counting the cost。 I
would not keep back from anyone that if he would be holy and see the
Lord he must fight； and that the Christian fight though spiritual is
real and severe。 It needs courage； boldness； and perseverance。 But I
want my readers to know that there is abundant encouragement； if they
will only begin the battle。 The Scripture does not call the Christian
fight 〃a good fight〃 without reason and cause。 Let me try to show what
I mean。
（a） The Christian's fight is good because fought under the best of
generals。 The Leader and mander of all believers is our Divine
Saviour； the Lord Jesus Christa Saviour of perfect wisdom； infinite
love； and almighty power。 The Captain of our salvation never fails to
lead His soldiers to victory。 He never makes any useless movements；
never errs in judgment； never mits any mistake。 His eye is on all
His followers； from the greatest of them even to the least。 The
humblest servant in His army is not forgotten。 The weakest and most
sickly is cared for； remembered； and kept unto salvation。 The souls
whom He has purchased and redeemed with His own blood are far too
precious to be wasted and thrown away。 Surely this is good！
（b） The Christian's fight is good； because fought with the best of
helps。 Weak as each believer is in himself； the Holy Spirit dwells in
him； and his body is a temple of the Holy Ghost。 Chosen by God the
Father； washed in the blood of the Son； renewed by the Spirit； he does
not go a warfare at his own charges； and is never alone。 God the Holy
Ghost daily teaches； leads； guides； and directs him。 God the Father
guards him by His almighty power。 God the Son intercedes for him every
moment； like Moses on the mount； while he is fighting in the valley
below。 A threefold cord like this can never be broken！ His daily
provisions and supplies never fail。 His missariat is never
defective。 His bread and his water are sure。 Weak as he seems in
himself； like a worm； he is strong in the Lord to do great exploits。
Surely this is good！
（c） The Christian fight is a good fight； because fought with the best
of promises。 To every believer belong exceeding great and precious
promisesall Yea and Amen in Christpromises sure to be fulfilled；
because made by One who cannot lie； and has power as well as will to
keep His word。 〃Sin shall not have dominion over you。〃〃The God of
peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly。〃〃He that has begun
a good work will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ。〃〃When thou
passeth through the waters I will be with thee； and through the floods；
they shall not overflow thee。〃〃My sheep shall never perish； neither
shall anyone pluck them out of my hand。〃〃Him that eth unto Me！
will in no wise cast out。〃〃I will never leave thee； nor forsake
thee。〃〃I am persuaded that neither death； nor life； nor things
present； nor things to e； shall be able to separate us from the love
of God； which is in Christ Jesus。〃 （Rom。 vi。 14； Rom。 xvi。 20； Philip。
i。 6； Isa。 xliii。 2； John x。 28； John vi。 37； Heb。 xiii。 5； Rom。 viii。
38。） Words like these are worth their weight in gold！ Who does not know
that promises of ing aid have cheered the defenders of besieged
cities； like Lucknow； and raised them above their natural strength？
Have we never heard that the promise of 〃help before night〃 had much to
say to the mighty victory of Waterloo？ Yet all such promises are as
nothing pared to the rich treasure of believers； the eternal
promises of God。 Surely this is good！
（d） The Christian's fight is a good fight； because fought with the best
of issues and results。 No doubt it is a wa薄n which there an；
tremendous struggles； agonizing conflicts； wounds； bruises； watchings；
fastings； and fatigue。 But still every believer； without exception； is
〃more than conqueror through Him that loved him。〃 （Rom。 viii。 37。） No
soldiers of Christ are ever lost； missing； or left dead on the
battlefield。 No mourning will ever need to be put on； and no tears to
be shed for either private or officer in the army of Christ。 The muster
roll； when the last evening es； will be found precisely the same
that it was in the morning。 The English Guards marched out of London to
the Crimean campaign a magnificent body of men； but many of the gallant
fellows laid their bones in a foreign grave； and never saw London
again。 Far different shall be the arrival of the Christian army in 〃the
city which hath foundations； whose builder and maker is God。〃 （Heb。 xi。
10。） Not one shall be found lacking。 The words of our great Captain
shall be found true： 〃Of them which Thou hast given Me I have lost
none。〃 （John xviii。 9。） Surely this is good！
（e） The Christian's fight is good； because it does good to the soul of
him that fights it。 All other wars have a bad； lowering； and
demoralising tendency。 They call forth the worst passions of the human
mind。 They harden the conscience； and sap the foundations of religion
and morality。 The Christian warfare alone tends to call forth the best
things that are left in man。 It promotes humility and charity； it
lessens selfishness and worldliness； it induces men to set their
affections on things above。 The old； the sick； the dying； are never
known to repent of fighting Christ's battles against sin； the world；
and the devil。 Their only regret is that they did not begin to serve
Christ long before。 The experience of that eminent saint； Philip Henry；
does not stand alone。
