莱尔主教upper_room-第84节
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prayed on a mountain； Isaac prayed in the fields； Hezekiah turned his
face to the wall as he lay upon his bed； Daniel prayed by the
river…side； Peter； the Apostle； on the house…top。 I have heard of young
men praying in stables and hay…lofts。 All that I contend for is this；
you must know what it is to 〃enter into your closet〃 （Matt。 6：6）。 There
must be stated times when you must speak to God face to face；you must
every day have your seasons for prayer。 You must pray。
Without this； all advice and counsel is useless。 This is that piece of
spiritual armour which Paul names last in his catalogue； in Eph。 6。；
but it is in truth first in value and importance。 This is that meat
which you must daily eat； if you would travel safely through the
wilderness of this life。 It is only in the strength of this that you
will get onward towards the mount of God。 I have heard it said that the
needle…grinders of Sheffield sometimes wear a magnetic mouthpiece at
their work； which catches all the fine dust that flies around them；
prevents it entering their lungs； and so saves their lives。 Prayer is
the mouthpiece that you must wear continually； or else you will never
work on uninjured by the unhealthy atmosphere of this sinful world。 You
must pray。
Young men； be sure no time is so well spent as that which a man spends
upon his knees。 Make time for this； whatever your employment may be。
Think of David； king of Israel： what does he say？ 〃Evening； and
morning； and at noon will I pray and cry aloud； and He shall hear my
voice〃 （Ps。 55：17）。 Think of Daniel He had all the business of a
kingdom on his hands； yet he prayed three times a day。 See there the
secret of his safety in wicked Babylon。 Think of Solomon。 He begins his
reign with prayer for help and assistance； and hence his wonderful
prosperity。 Think of Nehemiah。 He could find time to pray to the God of
heaven； even when standing in the presence of his master； Artaxerxes。
Think of the example these godly men have left you； and go and do
likewise。
Oh that the Lord may give you all the spirit of grace and supplication！
〃Wilt thou not from this time cry unto God； My Father； Thou art the
guide of my youth？〃 （Jer。 3：4）。 Gladly would I consent that all this
address should be forgotten； if only this doctrine of the importance of
prayer might be impressed on your hearts。
V。 Conclusion。
And now I hasten towards a conclusion。 I have said things that many
perhaps will not like； and not receive； but I appeal to your
consciences； Are they not true？
Young men； you have all consciences。 Corrupt and ruined by the fall as
we are； each of us has a conscience。 In a corner of each heart there
sits a witness for God；a witness who condemns when we do wrong； and
approves when we do right。 To that witness I make my appeal this day；
Are not the things that I have been saying true？
Go then； young men； and resolve this day to remember your Creator in
the days of your youth。 Before the day of grace is past；… before your
conscience has bee hardened by age； and deadened by repeated
trampling under foot；… while you have strength； and time； and
opportunities； go and join yourself to the Lord in an everlasting
covenant not to be forgotten。 The Spirit will not always strive。 The
voice of conscience will bee feebler and fainter every year you
continue to resist it。 The Athenians said to Paul； 〃We will hear thee
again of this matter；〃 but they had heard him for the last time （Acts
17：32）。 Make haste； and delay not。 Linger and hesitate no more。
Think of the unspeakable fort you will give to parents； relations；
and friends； if you take my counsel。 They have expended time； money；
and health to rear you； and make you what you are。 Surely they deserve
some consideration at your hands。 Who can reckon up the joy and
gladness which young people have it in their power to occasion？ Who can
tell the anxiety and sorrow that sons like Esau； and Hophni； and
Phinehas； and Absalom may cause？ Truly indeed does Solomon say； 〃A wise
son maketh a glad father； but a foolish son is the heaviness of his
mother〃 （Prov。 10：1）。 Oh； consider these things； and give God your
heart！ Let it not be said of you at last； as it is of many； that your
〃youth was a blunder； your manhood a struggle； and your old age a
regret。〃
Think of the good you may be the instruments of doing to the world。
Almost all the most eminent saints of God sought the Lord early。 Moses；
Samuel； David； Daniel； all served God from their youth。 God seems to
delight in putting special honour upon young servants；remember the
honour He placed upon our own young king； Edward the Sixth。 And what
might we not confidently expect； if young men in our own day would
consecrate the spring…time of their lives to God？ Agents are wanted now
in almost ever）〃 great and good cause； and cannot be found。 Machinery
of every kind for spreading truth exists； but there are not hands to
work it。
Money is more easily got for doing good than men。 Ministers are wanted
for new churches； missionaries are wanted for new stations； visitors
are wanted for neglected districts； teachers are wanted for new
schools； many a good cause is standing still merely for want of
agents。 The supply of godly； faithful； trustworthy men； for posts like
those I have named； is far below the demand。
Young men of the present day； you are wanted for God。 This is
peculiarly an age of activity。 We are shaking off some of our past
selfishness。 Men no longer sleep the sleep of apathy and indifference
about others； as their forefathers did。 They are beginning to be
ashamed of thinking； like Cain；〃 Am I my brother's keeper？〃 A wide
field of usefulness is open before you； if you are only willing to
enter upon it。 The harvest is great； and the labourers are few。 Be
zealous of good works。 e； e to the help of the Lord against the
mighty。 ＇31＇
This is； in some sort； to be like God； not only 〃good； but doing good〃
（Ps。 119：68）。 This is the way to follow the steps of your Lord and
Saviour： 〃He went about doing good〃 （Acts 10：38）。
This is to live as David did； he 〃served his own generation〃 （Acts
13：36）。
And who can doubt that this is the path which most bees an immortal
soul？ Who would not rather leave this world like Josiah； lamented by
all； than depart like Jehoram； 〃without being desired〃？ （2 Chron。
21：20）。 Whether is it better to be an idle； frivolous； useless cumberer
of the ground； to live for your body； your selfishness； your lusts； and
your pride；or to spend and be spent in the glorious cause of
usefulness to your fellow…men；…to be like Wilberforce or Lord
Shaftesbury； a blessing to your country and the world；to be like
Howard； the friend of the prisoner and the captive；to be like
Schwartz； the spiritual father of hundreds of immortal souls in heathen
lands；to be like that man of God； Robert M'Cheyne； a burning and a
shining light； an epistle of Christ； known and read of all men； the
quickener of every Christian heart that es across your path？ Oh； who
can doubt？ Who can for one moment doubt？
Young men； consider your responsibilities。 Think of the privilege and
luxury of doing good。 Resolve this day to be useful。 At once give your
hearts to Christ。
Think； lastly； of the happiness that will e to your own soul； if you
serve God；happiness by the way； as you travel through life；and
happiness in the end； when the journey is over。 Believe me； whatever
vain notions you may have heard； believe me； there is a reward for the
righteous even in this world。 Godliness has indeed the promise of this
life； as well as of that which is to e。 There is a solid peace in
feeling that God is your friend。 There is a real satisfaction in
knowing that however great your unworthiness； you are plete in
Christ；that you have an enduring portion；that you have chosen that
good part which shall not be taken from you。
The backslider in heart may well be filled with his own ways； but 〃a
good man shall be satisfied from himself〃 （Prov。 14：14）。 The path of
the worldly man grows darker and darker every year that he lives；the
path of the Christian is as a shining light； brighter and brighter to
the very end。 His sun is just rising when the sun of the worldly is
setting for ever；his best things are all beginning to blossom and
bloom for ever； when those of the worldly are all slipping out of his
hands； and passing away。
Young men； these things are true。 Suffer the word of exhortation。 Be
persuaded。 Take up the cross。 Follow Christ。 Yield yourselves unto God。
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＇21＇ Archias the Theban。
＇22＇ Hannibal。
＇23＇ Rome
＇24＇ See Buckland's Bridgewater Treatise； vol。 ii。 plate 26。
＇25＇ 〃Pleasure；〃 says Adams on Second Peter； 〃must first have the
warrant； th
