Mr. Macdonald asked the inhabitants of[25] the island of St. Kilda how a man must be saved. An old man replied, "We shall be saved if we repent3, and forsake4 our sins, and turn to God." "Yes," said a middle-aged5 female, "and with a true heart too." "Ay," rejoined a third, "and with prayer"; and, added a fourth, "It must be the prayer of the heart." "And we must be diligent6 too," said a fifth, "in keeping the commandments." Thus, each having contributed his mite7, feeling that a very decent creed8 had been made up, they all looked and listened for the preacher's approbation9; but they had aroused his deepest pity: he had to begin at the beginning, and preach Christ to them. The carnal mind always maps out for itself a way in which self can work and become great; but the Lord's way is quite the reverse. The Lord Jesus puts it very compactly in Mark xvi. 16: "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved." Believing and being baptized are no matters of merit to be gloried in; they are so simple that boasting is excluded, and free grace bears the palm. This way of salvation is chosen that it might be seen to be of grace alone. It may be that the reader is unsaved: what is the reason? Do you think the way of salvation, as laid down in the text we have[26] quoted, to be dubious10? Do you fear that you would not be saved if you followed it? How can that be, when God has pledged his own word for its certainty? How can that fail which God prescribes, and concerning which he gives a promise? Do you think it very easy? Why, then, do you not attend to it? Its ease leaves those without excuse who neglect it. If you would have done some great thing, be not so foolish as to neglect the little thing. To believe is to trust, or lean upon Christ Jesus; in other words, to give up self-reliance, and to rely upon the Lord Jesus. To be baptized is to submit to the ordinance11 which our Lord fulfilled at Jordan, to which the converted ones submitted at Pentecost, to which the jailer yielded obedience12 on the very night of his conversion13. It is the outward confession14 which should always go with inward faith. The outward sign saves not; but it sets forth15 to us our death, burial, and resurrection with Jesus, and, like the Lord's Supper, it is not to be neglected.
The great point is to believe in Jesus, and confess your faith. Do you believe in Jesus? Then, dear friend, dismiss your fears; you shall be saved. Are you still an unbeliever? Then remember, there is but one door, and[27] if you will not enter by it, you must perish in your sins. The door is there; but unless you enter by it, what is the use of it to you? It is of necessity that you obey the command of the gospel. Nothing can save you if you do not hear the voice of Jesus, and do his bidding indeed and of a truth. Thinking and resolving will not answer the purpose; you must come to real business; for only as you actually believe will you truly live unto God.
I heard of a friend who deeply desired to be the means of the conversion of a young man, and one said to him, "You may go to him, and talk to him, but you will get him no further; for he is exceedingly well acquainted with the plan of salvation." It was eminently16 so; and therefore, when our friend began to speak with the young man, he received for an answer, "I am much obliged to you, but I do not know that you can tell me much, for I have long known and admired the plan of salvation by the substitutionary sacrifice of Christ." Alas17! he was resting in the plan, but he had not believed in the Person. The plan of salvation is most blessed, but it can avail us nothing unless we personally believe in the Lord Jesus Christ himself. What is the comfort of a plan of a house if you do not[28] enter the house itself? The man in our cut, who is sitting out in the rain, is not deriving18 much comfort from the plans which are spread out before him. What is the good of a plan of clothing if you have not a rag to cover you? Have you never heard of the Arab chief at Cairo, who was very ill, and went to the missionary19, and the missionary said he could give him a prescription20? He did so; and a week after he found the Arab none the better. Did you take my prescription?" he asked. "Yes, I ate every morsel21 of the paper." He dreamed that he was going to be cured by devouring22 the physician's writing, which I may call the plan of the medicine. He should have had[29] the prescription made up, and then it might have wrought23 him good, if he had taken the draught24: it could do him no good to swallow the recipe. So is it with salvation: it is not the plan of salvation which can save, it is the carrying out of that plan by the Lord Jesus in his death on our behalf, and our acceptance of the same. Under the Jewish law, the offerer brought a bullock, and laid his hands upon it: it was no dream, or theory, or plan. In the victim for sacrifice he found something substantial, which he could handle and touch: even so do we lean upon the real and true work of Jesus, the most substantial thing under heaven. We come to the Lord Jesus by faith, and say, "God has provided an atonement here, and I accept it. I believe in the fact accomplished25 on the cross; I am confident that sin was put away by Christ, and I rest on him." If you would be saved, you must get beyond the acceptance of plans and doctrines27 to a resting in the divine person and finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ. Dear reader, will you have Christ now?
Jesus invites all those who labour and are heavy laden28 to come to him, and he will give them rest. He does not promise this to their merely dreaming about him. They must come; and they must come TO HIM, and[30] not merely to the Church, to baptism, or to the orthodox faith, or to anything short of his divine person. When the brazen29 serpent was lifted up in the wilderness30, the people were not to look to Moses, nor to the Tabernacle, nor to the pillar of cloud, but to the brazen serpent itself. Looking was not enough unless they looked to the right object: and the right object was not enough unless they looked. It was not enough for them to know about the serpent of brass31; they must each one look to it for himself. When a man is ill, he may have a good knowledge of medicine, and yet he may die if he does not actually take the healing draught. We must receive Jesus; for "to as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God." Lay the emphasis on two words: We must receive HIM, and we must RECEIVE him. We must open wide the door, and take Christ Jesus in; for "Christ in you" is "the hope of glory." Christ must be no myth, no dream, no phantom32 to us, but a real man, and truly God; and our reception of him must be no forced and feigned33 acceptance, but the hearty34 and happy assent35 and consent of the soul that he shall be the all in all of our salvation. Will we not at once come to him, and make him our sole trust?
The dove is hunted by the hawk36, and finds no security from its restless enemy. It has learned that there is shelter for it in the cleft37 of the rock, and it hastens there with gladsome wing. Once wholly sheltered within its refuge, it fears no bird of prey38. But if it did not hide itself in the rock, it would be seized upon by its adversary39. The rock would be of no use to the dove, if the dove did not enter its cleft. The whole body must be hidden in the rock. What if ten thousand other birds found a fortress40 there, yet that fact would not save the one dove which is now pursued by the hawk! It must put its whole self into the shelter, and bury itself within its refuge, or its life will be forfeited41 to the destroyer.
"Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in thee."
The dove is out of sight: the rock alone is seen. So does the guilty soul dart42 into the riven side of Jesus by faith, and is buried in him out of sight of avenging43 justice. But there must be this personal application to Jesus for shelter; and this it is that so many put off from day to day, till it is to be feared that they will "die in their sins." What an awful word is that! It is what our Lord said to the unbelieving Jews; and he says the same to us at this hour: "If ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins." It makes one's heart quiver to think that even one who shall read these lines may yet be of the miserable44 company who will thus perish. The Lord prevent it of his great grace!
I saw, the other day, a remarkable45 picture, which I shall use as an illustration of the way of salvation by faith in Jesus. An offender46 had committed a crime for which he must die, but it was in the olden time, when churches were considered to be sanctuaries47 in which criminals might hide themselves, and so escape from death. See the transgressor48! He rushes towards the church, the[33] guards pursue him with their drawn49 swords, athirst for his blood! They follow him even to the church door. He rushes up the steps, and just as they are about to overtake him, and hew50 him in pieces on the threshold of the church, out comes the Bishop51, and holding up the cross, he cries, "Back, back! Stain not the precincts of God's house with blood! Stand back!" The fierce soldiers at once respect the emblem52, and retire, while the poor fugitive53 hides himself behind the robes of the Bishop. It is even so with Christ. The guilty sinner flies straight away to Jesus; and though Justice pursues him, Christ lifts up his wounded hands, and cries to Justice, "Stand back! I shelter this sinner; in the secret place of my tabernacle do I hide him; I will not suffer him to perish, for he puts his trust in me." Sinner, fly to Christ! But you answer, "I am too vile54." The viler55 you are, the more will you honour him by believing that he is able to protect even you. "But I am so great a sinner." Then the more honour shall be given to him if you have faith to confide26 in him, great sinner though you are. If you have a little sickness, and you tell your physician—"Sir, I am quite confident in your skill to heal," there is no[34] great compliment in your declaration. Anybody can cure a finger-ache, or a trifling56 sickness. But if you are sore sick with a complication of diseases which grievously torment57 you, and you say—"Sir, I seek no better physician; I will ask no other advice but yours; I trust myself joyfully58 with you;" what an honour have you conferred on him, that you can trust your life in his hands while it is in extreme and immediate59 danger! Do the like with Christ; put your soul into his care: do it deliberately60, and without a doubt. Dare to quit all other hopes: venture all on Jesus; I say "venture" though there is nothing really venturesome in it, for he is abundantly able to save. Cast yourself simply on Jesus; let nothing but faith be in your soul towards Jesus; believe him, and trust in him, and you shall never be made ashamed of your confidence. "He that believeth on him shall not be confounded" (1 Peter ii. 6).
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
salvation
|
|
| n.（尤指基督）救世，超度，拯救，解困 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
doctrine
|
|
| n.教义；主义；学说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
repent
|
|
| v.悔悟，悔改，忏悔，后悔 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
forsake
|
|
| vt.遗弃，抛弃；舍弃，放弃 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
middle-aged
|
|
| adj.中年的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
diligent
|
|
| adj.勤勉的，勤奋的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
mite
|
|
| n.极小的东西；小铜币 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
creed
|
|
| n.信条；信念，纲领 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
approbation
|
|
| n.称赞；认可 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
dubious
|
|
| adj.怀疑的，无把握的；有问题的，靠不住的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
ordinance
|
|
| n.法令；条令；条例 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
obedience
|
|
| n.服从，顺从 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
conversion
|
|
| n.转化，转换，转变 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
confession
|
|
| n.自白，供认，承认 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
forth
|
|
| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
eminently
|
|
| adv.突出地；显著地；不寻常地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
alas
|
|
| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
deriving
|
|
| v.得到( derive的现在分词 )；（从…中）得到获得；源于；（从…中）提取 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
missionary
|
|
| adj.教会的，传教(士)的；n.传教士 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
prescription
|
|
| n.处方，开药；指示，规定 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
morsel
|
|
| n.一口，一点点 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
devouring
|
|
| 吞没( devour的现在分词 )； 耗尽； 津津有味地看； 狼吞虎咽地吃光 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
wrought
|
|
| v.引起；以…原料制作；运转；adj.制造的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
draught
|
|
| n.拉，牵引，拖；一网（饮，吸，阵)；顿服药量，通风；v.起草，设计 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
accomplished
|
|
| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
confide
|
|
| v.向某人吐露秘密 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
doctrines
|
|
| n.教条( doctrine的名词复数 )；教义；学说；（政府政策的）正式声明 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
laden
|
|
| adj.装满了的；充满了的；负了重担的；苦恼的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
brazen
|
|
| adj.厚脸皮的，无耻的，坚硬的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
wilderness
|
|
| n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
brass
|
|
| n.黄铜；黄铜器，铜管乐器 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
phantom
|
|
| n.幻影，虚位，幽灵；adj.错觉的，幻影的，幽灵的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
feigned
|
|
| a.假装的，不真诚的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
hearty
|
|
| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
assent
|
|
| v.批准，认可；n.批准，认可 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
hawk
|
|
| n.鹰，骗子；鹰派成员 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
cleft
|
|
| n.裂缝；adj.裂开的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
prey
|
|
| n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
adversary
|
|
| adj.敌手，对手 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
fortress
|
|
| n.堡垒，防御工事 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
forfeited
|
|
| （因违反协议、犯规、受罚等）丧失，失去( forfeit的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
dart
|
|
| v.猛冲，投掷；n.飞镖，猛冲 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
avenging
|
|
| adj.报仇的，复仇的v.为…复仇，报…之仇( avenge的现在分词 )；为…报复 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
miserable
|
|
| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
remarkable
|
|
| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
offender
|
|
| n.冒犯者，违反者，犯罪者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
sanctuaries
|
|
| n.避难所( sanctuary的名词复数 )；庇护；圣所；庇护所 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
transgressor
|
|
| n.违背者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
drawn
|
|
| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
hew
|
|
| v.砍；伐；削 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
bishop
|
|
| n.主教，（国际象棋）象 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
emblem
|
|
| n.象征，标志；徽章 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
fugitive
|
|
| adj.逃亡的，易逝的；n.逃犯，逃亡者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
vile
|
|
| adj.卑鄙的，可耻的，邪恶的；坏透的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
viler
|
|
| adj.卑鄙的( vile的比较级 )；可耻的；极坏的；非常讨厌的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
trifling
|
|
| adj.微不足道的；没什么价值的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
torment
|
|
| n.折磨；令人痛苦的东西(人)；vt.折磨；纠缠 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
joyfully
|
|
| adv. 喜悦地, 高兴地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
immediate
|
|
| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
deliberately
|
|
| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |