莱尔主教upper_room-第40节
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their thirst is not relieved。 And all this time； those who profess to
despise the good old fountain can show us nothing whatever to take its
place。 The mental freedom and higher light they promise are as
deceptive as the mirage of the African desert； and as unreal as a
dream。 A substitute for the old fountain exists nowhere but in man's
imagination。 He that leaves it will find that he must return； or perish
of thirst。 Perhaps some of my younger readers may secretly think that
the difficulties of revealed religion are inexplicable； and are trying
to persuade themselves that they know not 〃where to go 〃 in these dark
and cloudy days。 I entreat them to consider that the difficulties of
unbelief are far greater than the difficulties of faith。 When men have
said all they can to depreciate the old paths of the Bible； and draw
you away from Christ； when they have piled up the ancient； stale
objections of various readings； doubtful authorship； inconsistent
statements； and supposed incredible miracles； they can still offer no
substitute for the Scripture； or answer the question； 〃To whom shall we
go？〃 There still remains the great； broad fact that the leading
evidences of revelation have never been overthrown； that we are weak
creatures in a sorrowful world； and need a helping hand； which Christ
alone holds out； and which millions for eighteen centuries have found；
and are finding； sufficient。 The great argument of probability is
entirely on our side。 Surely it is wiser to cling to Christ and
Christianity； with all its alleged difficulties； than to launch on an
ocean of uncertainties； and travel towards the grave hopeless；
fortless； and professing to know nothing at all about the unseen
world。
And； after all； departure from Christ on account of the supposed
hardness of certain doctrines will secure no immunity from mental
conflicts。 The problems of Christianity may seem great and deep； but
the problems of unbelief are greater and deeper still And not the least
problem is the impossibility of answering the question； 〃Shall I find
elsewhere any real peace or rest of soul； if I leave Christ？ To whom
shall I go？ Where in all the world shall I find a more excellent way
than that of faith in Jesus？ Where is the personal friend who will
supply His place？〃 Give me a thousand times rather the old Evangelical
Christianity； with all its difficult facts and doctrines； the
incarnation； the atonement； the resurrection； the ascension； than the
cold； barren creed of the Socinian or the Deist； or the cheerless
negations of modern unbelief。 Give me the religion of texts and hymns
and simple faith； which satisfies thousands； rather than the dreary
void of speculative philosophy； which thoroughly satisfies none。
III。 Let us consider； lastly； the noble declaration which Simon 。Peter
makes in our text。 〃 Thou hast the words of eternal life。〃
I do not for a moment suppose that the Apostle fully grasped the
meaning of the words which he here used。 It would be inconsistent with
all that we read of his knowledge； before our Lord's resurrection； to
suppose that he did。 It may well be doubted whether he meant more than
this： 〃Thou art the true Messiah； Thou art the promised Prophet like
unto Moses； of whom it is written； I will put My words in His mouth；
and He shall speak unto them all that I shall mand Him〃 （Deut。
18：18）。 I believe that well…known text was in Peter's mind； though he
did not yet realize its wealth of meaning。
But of one thing we may be very sure。 That expression 〃eternal life〃
must have been very familiar to him and all the twelve； while Jesus
went in and out among them I suspect that there were few days when they
did not hear it fall from His lips； and they caught it up if they did
not fully understand it。 In the brief record of our Lord's teaching；
contained in the four Gospels； you have it twenty…five times。 In St。
John's Gospel alone it occurs seventeen times。 In this very sixth
chapter we read it five times over。 No doubt it was ringing in Peter's
ears when he spoke。
But though Peter 〃knew not what he said〃 that day； there came a day
when his understanding was opened； after his Lord's resurrection； and
he saw heights and depths in the 〃words of eternal life〃 which before
the crucifixion he only saw 〃through a glass darkly。〃 And we； in the
full light of the Acts and Epistles； need feel no doubt whatever as to
the things which this mighty phrase； which our Lord so often used；
included。
Christ's words of eternal life were words about the nature of that life
which He came into the world to proclaim； a life begum in the soul by
faith while we live； and perfected in glory when we die。They were
words about the way in which this eternal life is provided for sinful
man； even the way of His atoning death； as our Substitute； on the
cross。They were words about the terms on which this eternal life is
made our own； if we feel our need of it； even the terms of simple
faith。 As Latimer said； it is but 〃believe and have。〃They were words
about 〃the training and discipline on the way to eternal life； which
are so much needed by man and so richly provided； even the renewing and
sanctifying grace of the Holy Ghost。 They were words about the forts
and encouragements by the way； laid up for all who believe to life
everlasting； even Christ's daily help； sympathy； and watchful care。 All
this and much more； of which I cannot nosy speak particularly； is
contained in that little phrase； 〃Words of eternal life。〃 No wonder
that our Lord says in a certain place； 〃I am e that they might have
life； and have it more abundantly；〃 〃I have given them the words that
Thou gavest Me〃 （John 10：10； 17：8）。
Let us consider for a moment what vast numbers of men and women； in
these last eighteen centuries； have found these 〃words of eternal life〃
not merely 〃words；〃 but solid realities。 They have been persuaded of
them； and embraced them； and found them meat and drink to their souls。
We are passed about with a great cloud of witnesses； who in the
faith of these words have lived happy and useful lives； and died
glorious deaths。 Where is he that will dare to deny this？ Where shall
we find such lives and deaths without Christ？
It was faith in Christ's 〃words of eternal life〃 which made Peter and
John stand up boldly before the Jewish council； and confess their
Master without fear of consequences； saying； 〃There is none other name
given under heaven among men whereby we can be saved〃 （Acts 4：12）。
It was faith in Christ's 〃words of eternal life〃 which made Paul e
out from Judaism； spend his life in preaching the gospel； and say on
the brink of the grave； 〃I know whom I have believed； and that He is
able to keep that which I have mitted to Him against that day〃 （2
Tim。 1：12）。
It was faith in Christ's 〃words of eternal life〃 which made Bishop
Hooper go boldly to the stake at Gloucester； after saying； 〃Life is
sweet； and death is bitter； but eternal life is more sweet； and eternal
death more bitter。〃
It was faith in Christ's 〃words of eternal life〃 which made Nicholas
Ridley and Hugh Latimer endure a fiery death in Broad Street； Oxford；
rather than deny the principles of the Reformation。
It was faith in Christ's 〃words of eternal life〃 which made Henry
Martyn turn his back on ease and distinction at Cambridge； go forth to
a tropical climate； and die a solitary death as a missionary。
It was faith in Christ's 〃words of eternal life〃 which made that
honourable woman； Catherine Tait； as recorded in a most touching
biography； resign five children in five weeks to the grave； in the full
assurance that Christ would keep His word； take care of them both in
body and soul； and bring them with Him to meet her at the last day。
What a fearful contrast to such facts as these appears in the lives and
deaths of those who turn their backs on Christ； and seek other masters！
What fruits can the advocates of non…Christian theories； and ideas； and
principles； point to with all their cleverness？ What holy； loving；
peaceful quietness of spirit have they exhibited？ What victories have
they won over darkness； immorality； superstition； and sin？ What
successful missions have they carried on？ What seas have they crossed？
What countries have they civilized or moralized？ What neglected home
populations have they improved？ What self…denying labours have they
gone through？ What deliverance have they wrought in the earth？ You may
well ask； you will get no answer。 No wonder our Lord said of false
prophets； 〃By their fruits ye shall know them 〃 （Matt。 7：15…16）。 It is
only those who can say with Peter； 〃Thou hast the words of eternal
life；〃 who make a mark on mankind while they live； and say； 〃 O death；
where is thy sting？〃 when they die。
（a） In conclusion； I entreat every one who read
